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It has been an exciting year for music and we have seen amazing videos and music come out of East Africa. My only problem though is that it is the same old artists we have grown used too and only 3 new artists have managed to capture our imagination  so far this year. Just A Band, Zogo and Sauti Sol have made a push into the scene but the only thing is the existence does not go beyond cyberspace. In my opinion they deserve a whole lot of mention and ample airplay. One might ask what is my issue with the old artists and my issue is nothing we need young blood  to keep the industry alive. We need  new sounds and voices!

Nonetheless, Nameless, Redsan, DNA…… are at it again and we feature their cross over hits from last year in the countdown. There are a couple of Calif records joints we would have loved to feature but they are still stuck in 1980 i mean amazing songs with terrible videos so they did not make the list.We got the best of the best here for you! ……Enjoy!

10.    KAMA KAWAIDA BY DNA

9. SUNSHINE BY NAMELESS

8.  NASEMA NAO BY AY FT CHAMELEON

7.  TOGETHER BY BLUE 3

6. LEO BY ZOGO

5. IF I COULD BY JUST A BAND

4.  NIAMBIE BY PROFF

3. SHE GOT IT BY STL

2.LAZIZI BY SAUTI SOL

1. YULE PALE BY REDSAN

When i was told that i will be doing an article on someone i work with i was a little bit shocked, i mean we are a small company but do they not have rules about conflicts of interest? No! they would have nothing to do with what i was saying and since i was the harshest (read loud mouth) everyone decided i was going to be stuck with an article on ZOGO and his music. Luckily, only one song and a video was i supposed to listen to and review and i though to myself, “incase it sucks, i can always make up for it and took on what was to be the most controversial review of my five month career.

THE SONG

I was handed the song in a not so glamorous event and for relevancy’s sake i will keep the details out. I got into my car and realized the envelope in which the CD was had an audio CD and a DVD and the lyrics to the song. I skimmed through the verses and one thing i realized was that lots of imagery had been used. The lyrics were entertaining and the swahili reminded me of my first encounter with my swahili teacher who was a walking ‘kamusi’ and had what i now refer to as ‘flowery’ speech. The kind of speech that is full of metaphors and poetry was what we grew accustomed to and the piece of paper with the lyrics reminded me of that. As i turned on my car, i inserted the CD in my stereo and hoped that what i was about to listen to would be good and I WAS SHOCKED….

The song starts of with strings, Very familiar strings that draw you to the beat from the onset, It is an afro beat that has elements of hip hop with a very catchy bounce kicks. The strings and melody sound out of this world and it is truly an exotic musical safari.

ZOGO  delivers what to me is a lyrical master piece. His flow is relaxed and controlled and i could tell there is a whole lot more from where that came. His ability to maintain a calm delivery , his intonation and most importantly the ease with which he delivers the song tells you he is someone that can do almost anything on the mic.  The lyrics for this piece are just amazing and once you get the message a picture is painted and all you can do is stay mesmerized! The song touches on lots of things from his struggle as a young man to what is going on back in his native Kenya! 

In the second verse he launches an attack on the  Kenyan government. He says every  Kenyan wants a good life and to live a relaxed life becoming tourists in Africa and Europe but the Members of parliament only care about their salaries even In Migingo (an island in the middle of an ownership dispute between Uganda and Kenya) Kenyans were deserted by their government as a foreign force flew its flag and occupied the island. 

“Kenya nzima tunataka kuishi poa tugeuke watalii wa Afrika na Ulaya

Lakini wabunge wanajali tu mishara yao, hata migingo watu waliwaachwa  pekee yao

Haya kibera twende tukango’e reli

Labda baada ya hao ndipo watatusikiza

Lakini polisi watatumwa na risasi ni salamu yao toka kwa kamishna Ali”

i can go on and on about the song but you just have to listen to it to get what i mean. Truly this is one of the best songs i have heard this year………….

THE LYRICS

Leo

Zogo

Big up kwa Ma engineer wote,

Fundi wa Mitambo!

KD

Nishaipata Leo

Verse 1

Naipenda sana kama tende Ramadhani Naipenda sana mimi mjuukuu wa Sosoni!

Nikiikosa kweli mbele me sioni Nikiwa nayo tabasamu tu Usoni!

Nishaipata leo Sitaiwacha tena

Ni ndoto yangu  naifuata fuata

Kuna vitu vingi ambavyo mimi ninataka Chukua vyote ila usninyime  ndoto 

Sote tunawaza juu ya siku za usoni nataka raha ye nataka shillingi (+)

Kama mwitaliano pindi akifika Malindi nataka joto,  Yeah ninataka bibi 

Na ninafanya leo Mambo mengi leo 

Sijali wabishi roho juu kama simba

Kidole cha kati kati kwao na cha gumba kwao

Wote wanaoamin najua Sote tutafika 

Chorus

NIshaipata leo……….

Verse 2

Kenya nzima tunataka kuishi poa tugeuke watalii wa Afrika na Ulaya

Lakini wabunge wanajali tu mishara yao, hata migingo watu waliwaachwa  pekee yao

Haya kibera twende tukango’e reli

Labda baada ya hao ndipo watatusikiza

Lakini polisi watatumwa na risasi ni salamu yao toka kwa kamishna Ali

Haya wanajeshi weka mikono hewani, piga saluti weka mkono kifuani

Mko tayari simama attention toka turukana kenya nzima hadi pwani

Ndio twafanya leo Mambo mengi leo 

Sijali wabishi roho juu kama simba

Kidole cha kati kati kwao na cha gumba kwao

Wote wanaoamin najua Sote tutafika 

Verse 3

Naipenda sana kama tende Ramadhani Naipenda sana mimi mjuukuu wa Sosoni!

Nikiikosa kweli mbele me sioni Nikiwa nayo tabasamu tu Usoni!

Nishaipata leo Sitaiwacha tena

Nabaki safi huu ni mwanzo tafuta shillingi mwaya jasho bila shida

Napaa juu kama mawingu angani, Kila siku nayo lazima tubaki safi…

Bridge * 2

Na ninafanya leo Mambo mengi leo 

Sijali wabishi roho juu kama simba

Kidole cha kati kati kwao na cha gumba kwao

Wote wanaoamin najua Sote tutafika

Chorus

Kenya’s female artist Wahu won the Best Female Award at the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMA) held in Abuja, Nigeria.

The biggest winner on the night was charismatic Nigerian music sensation, D’Banj who took home three MAMA ‘Golden Microphones’ including Best Male, Artist of the Year and Listener’s Choice.

Created by MTV’s African music channel, MTV base, the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain was conceived as the ultimate celebration of African contemporary music and talent.

Best Video went to Ikechukwu from Nigeria for his video, Wind Am Well, while Alicia Keys won the honours in Best R&B.  South African alternative act, Seether, took home the gong for Best Alternative while energetic hip hop outfit Jozi were a popular choice for Best Live. 

Best New Act was won by Naeto C from Nigeria while fellow countrymen, P Square, beat off the competition in Best Group.

Speaking during the ceremony Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa said “The first MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain has been an incredible celebration of the music and artists that we support on MTV base in Africa every day.  African youth culture and music has a place on the world stage, and I am thrilled that the MAMAs have shone a light on this positive and vibrant aspect of the African continent.”

Speaking about the Awards, Mwambu Wanendeya, Zain Group Communications Director for Africa said, ‘The passion shown by the audience at the show and throughout the concerts in Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos and Abuja has been amazing.  Zain is proud to have given people around the world the opportunity to see and hear some of Africa’s most talented musicians.’

Highlights of the star-studded awards show included an electrifying duet between Kelly Rowland and D’Banj. 

The most poignant moment of the night came when MTV paid homage to two of Africa’s most beloved and influential music giants including ‘MAMA Africa’, Miriam Makeba, who passed away earlier in November. 

Another African music great spotlighted was legendary Afro Beat star Fela Anikulapo Kuti, whose seminal track ‘Army Arrangement’ was performed by his youngest son and standard bearer, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, and Fela’s Egypt 80.  Seun Kuti subsequently accepted the inaugural MAMA Legend Award in honour of his late father.

Performers at the MAMAs included 9ice, Asa, Cassette, Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80, HHP, Jozi, P Square, Kelly Rowland, D’Banj, Flo Rida, The Game, Jua Cali, Naeto C and Ikechukwu.

The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain each received an iconic ‘Golden Microphone’ trophy featuring a retro pop microphone emerging triumphantly from a globe of the world, with the African continent placed triumphantly at the top.

WINNERS SUMMARY

BEST FEMALE   

Wahu (Kenya)

BEST MALE

D’Banj (Nigeria)

BEST LIVE PERFORMER

Jozi (South Africa)

BEST GROUP

P Square (Nigeria)

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Seether (South Africa)

BEST HIP-HOP

9ice (Nigeria)

BEST R&B

Alicia Keys (USA)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

D’Banj (Nigeria)

BEST NEW ACT

Naeto C (Nigeria)

BEST VIDEO

Ikechukwu (Nigeria) – Wind Am Well

LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD

D’Banj (Nigeria) – ‘Why Me’ 

MAMAs LEGEND

Fela Anikulapo Kuti

MY VIDEO

Jide Rotilu

If a picture is worth 1000 words, then this song is worth 1000 pictures and I hope you read in between the lines because I read in between the rhymes and was impressed! If he is not the greatest Swahili poet out there right now then I don’t know who is. Together with the amazing Enika who gives the song a cultural feel they bless us with this soulful joint called Niimbie (sing for me )

Thesong however captured my imagination with its amazing imagery a skill that the calif records front man has perfected and is using to take his music to the next level. Le t me see just how keen you are? Listen to the song and try to think of the message and then read my interpretation of the song. Ps I had to listen to it 15 times before I finally got the message to let me see if you will understand this genius then check out the analysis of the lyrics below….listen…..I present …

Juakali ft Enika in Niimbie…

Now, if you think that he is singing about a girl then …….you are wrong! I thought so to after my first 2 listens and it was until I heard the main line that I understood him.

He opens the the first verse with

“Nani amekunoki kunishinda ukiniita kila siku naitika, unakumbuka pahali nilipokuona mara ya kwanza nilikuwa 5 years hapo kejani na brother, nili kuchukua nikakuweka kwa tape nikakuskiza nikasema ehhhh!”

This was the opener that made me get the song. He is referring to the first time he came to contact with her, he was 5 years old in his brothers room.  He took her and put her in a cassette listened to her and was impressed . In the same verse he goes on about how he  loved dancing with her and also said

“Ukikatika nakuunganisha”

That  line brings memories coz I when I had cassettes, their tapes would break and I had to fix them using cello tape.  Hehehe! So do you get where he is heading with this? Read on…

In verse two he open with…….

“Saa hii umegeuka unaitwa LP lazima nijichunge usinidunge na pin, unaruka ruka na sijui ni kwa nini, dawa yako ni kukushikilia na shilling”

He opens this verse by pointing out how she has changed and now is a LP. Back in the days when the LPs were the most popular for music storage I had issues with our player that would skip ……if you have handled an LP before you know what he means.

He goes on and says….

“Mbuyu siku hizi umembamba na lugha mpya inaitwa lingala”

 This is another clever line where he is pointing out how now even his dad likes her because she uses a new language called lingala. For all of you who are with me you know he is referring to the days when lingala was the most popular genre of music in Kenya! (Genius)

He finishes the verse by pointing out how he loved dancing with her and just how sweet it was.

Verse three is a conclusion of the story. He opens it with……

“Unapenda video sana siku hizi kila mtu amegeuka anakuita CD, naona umeoga umepunguza uchafu, dance basi mbele ya watu angalautukuone, wanakuharibia biashara na kipindi hii ni ya lala salama. Nakuingia unapumua reggae mtoi wetu wa kwanza ataitwa Genge!”

He says now she is called a CD(Compact Disc) and she is now clean, peharps reffering to the fact that there has been a push to rid Genge of lewd lyrics. He also says their first child will be called Genge and this is a reference to the spread of Genge music all across East Africa! He finishes the song by stating his intentions to marry her. He also mentions that her friends, the radio deejays and presenters are present and it is a journey they will take to the summit!

but the line that sums it all is

“hii safari mpaka kilele sauti yangu nakupa milele”

he vows to be with her to the end to give her his voice forever!

I am still baffled by his level of thinking and creativity. In this song he took his music and with powerful imagery made it the woman of his life and took us through its journey from the days we only used radio cassettes to the days LPs were the in thing and now the advent of the CDs that has seen phenomenal growth of the genre he has helped create! This man is a musical Genius ……….I rest my words.

NEXT….Nonini’s song with the same theme! shocked? ……in 2 days!

NONINI FT LADY BEE

As i had promised, i will also let you in on a project nonini has been working on with a bootyfull lady who goes by the name lady Bee. As much as the juakali and Enika track was amazing, this track by nonini will knock your socks off and make you appreciate genge even more. it is almost as if juakali and nonini had planned to do songs with the same theme and even release them at the same time.

nonini’s kumbuka is the sweetest journey down memory lane and he does not deploy his poetic skills but makes this song as simple as a jam can be. he simply reminds you of the days when local was still local and he uses deejays and presenters who were instrumental in the rise of kenyan music and made time for us.

its a simple track that simply reminds you of those days…..of Fred Obachi Machoka to the days of Dan Oloo who to me is the grand presenter and of kenyan music.

Dan Oloo was on metro fm and his top three at three show plus the 2 hours of kenyan music was and still will be the number one show from kenya! i heard of the longombas and nameless first on his show and i also remember hearing the first E-sir joint on his show and if a simple song can bring those memories back then nonini as an artist makes a serious killing with this joint!

its definitely one of his best songs!

nonini ft lady bee in kumbuka!

necessary noize is as old as all my memories of kenyan music! they were three and now are two and even more appealing! nazizi (the first lady of kenyan music) and wyre (the love child) are the remaining members of the group and as i listen to this song memories of how they sparked  my interest and love for kenyan music fill my mind. their first album necessary noize 1 was the best thing i had ever heard then, but necessary noize 2, their last album is still the sound that defines kenyan music to me!

from their last album is the song forever; an amazing song that in true necessary noize style strikes a chord with the lover, the party starters,  and anything that has blood pumping in its system!!!!!
this melody is a testament of love, a  conversation between lovers crafted to express one’s feelings as precisely as its humanly possible
“rude gal me no need diamonds and pearls or trips around the world, you are my king so its you i will serve give you anything that you deserve”
that verse may as well been the only words in the song and the message would have been delivered! with the same punch and intention that is served up by the whole song!
i mean necessary noize is pure genius!
the setting for the video is the coast (nyumbani) and the video is done by dada productions and the white sandy beaches and sights of the kenyan coast not only infuse a dose of culture into this video but also gives that hazy view that one has only when in love!

2007 is the year of the ladies, led by wahu here in this amazing joint titled sweet love, i thought the song was dedicated to her hubby, nameless but seems like its actually for their daughter, Tomiso. the video has been done by newcomers, alternative concepts who are behind the video for the mega hit salari by nameless and mambo bado by wahu. the colors definitely bring forth the warmth and diversity of the kenyan sound and the muliticultural experience that is kenya.

the layout is simple, its a perfomance video with scenes of her daughter playing around in the house. wahu is next to her and watches over her. she later on falls down and wahu picks her up and comforts her, she cries for a while and once in her mom’s arms, she relaxes and starts smiling and playing again. now. its her pledging to be there for her daughter always and to comfort her whenever she is in pain.

the lovely message is amplified by a lovely performance of the beautiful wahu and her bandmates in a shed. through the whole video a distinct african feel is present. it reminds me of home and the sweet memories of childhood.

bottom line……….wahu is amazing and beautiful too!!!!!!! i love this song and its the best out there right now!

yes its true and you heard it from me this late! Nairobi, Kenya is the home of the new idols Africa. for you who do not have a clue what the show is all about, wikipedia will be most useful right now! seven countries are represented in the idols house in nairobi and its on fire people! 

THOSE WHO NEVER MADE IT ARE DEFINITELY THOSE WHO MAKE THE SHOW WORTHY SO BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE LETS STUDY THESE FOLKS..

first,the hadcore rapper..!!!! 

then, a strange man who claimed he loves animals, people lock up ur animals…..

and…there was this dude who thought he was brittney spears. the strangest thing however was that he was actually heart broken when he got a no….

and the west africans deserve a mention too look at the abundance of talent in that region. beat it baby!

music is my religion and Africa my musical mecca! the variety and diversity that greets anyone who is interested in African music is mind blowing! Africa has always had a rich musical history. music was used all the time to mark events and express feelings that spoken word could not effectively. so lets get to the listening part as i share 2 of my favorite African bands!

freshly ground- south AfricA This south AfricAn group has redifined the sound from the south with their afro fusions that appeal to the mind and soul! as if winning numerous awards is not enough, they continue to serve the masses with a blend that is as unique as south AfricA and the essence of the rainbow republic. 2 of my favorite tunes from them are: doo bee doo which won an mtv award and pot belly that tickles my fancy due to its amazing message!

doo bee doo

pot belly

yunAsi-kenyA this is undoubtedly the most exciting band to come out of Africa to date. what makes them unique is the fact that in a pop thrilled world, their work is as traditional as it can get but still rocks even a person whose never heard of Africa before! they sing in swahili and four other kenyan languages, english and french. the songs i absolutely love are jiopogore, a title that directly translates to people are like fingers. the song is in luo (kenyan language) and won an award at the International Song Writing Competition awards (ISC) in world music part in 2006 and ndi ndi ndi a song that won the band the next big thing award in 2007 a global competion by BBc that searches for the best band in the unsigned world!

jiopogore

ndi ndi ndi

kumbe kumbe

another hot fusion from yunasi

there is something that is happening in kenya! it is a revolution! a revolution so influential and effective that a new breed of artists and genres of music are manufactured almost daily! these artist are adding onto what is undoubdtedly the most diverse music scene in africa! the world needs to hear

the next 2 weeks ill add to this list those fueling this revolution!

vqee

manjeru & just a band!