Kenyan Music

Opinion
5 reasons To Hate Kenyan Music 

In Kenya, there is some shallowness that comes with beefing. Instead of looking for poetical content, musicians are busy tweefing...about some Ksh. 90,000 royalty cheque they missed.   

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Story by Derrick Kubasu

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Y

ou are young, poor and troubled, but supporting Kenyan music is not part of the troubles. You tried, you are trying and I am sure you will keep trying. The mojo is just not there.

It is Sunday afternoon, you are alone at home. You are switching radio stations. You settle on this particular one playing Nicki Minaj’s ‘All Eyes on You’. Probably because it has a fancy urban name (and fancy music too). You are annoyed because the whole song is censored. After 10mins, they bring some vernacular you don’t understand. You are relating it to a certain video you saw while visiting shosh. You sneer and keep switching.

Another station with an average name and average presenters, is playing hip-hop. The musician (uumh…aaah...a failing one) is really struggling keeping up with the beats. Like he has not eaten in days. Then you are thinking why Communication Authority is supporting Kenyan talents; why is it even there? Why is 45% such an issue? Especially on radio. You then connect up your phone with the woofer, open music tab and choose Kanye West’s “Ni**as in Paris”

Let me tell you why you chose Ni**as in Paris.

1. Musicians in Kenya are all in Radio (not their music)

There is a new trend. No. this has been around for a while. All musicians in Kenya are job seekers; in radio. Probably so they can force us consume their music. The same song will be played every three minutes. They call it part time job. They keep talking non-sensible things…and playing their music.

Worse still, some musicians start off as radio presenters. I am not sure who inspires them…or who their mentor is. But we should stone him. He tells them that they can sing. So they release a song. They keep playing the song over and over on the show. Four months later, they have never performed on stage. A year later, they wish they never sang.

International artists release a hit in their first three songs of the career; an international hit.

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Then they wonder why MCSK never rewarded them. Real musicians don’t rely on royalty (you know that, hahaha).

2. Beefing stupidity

In Kenya, there is some shallowness that comes with beefing. Instead of looking for poetical content, musicians are busy tweefing on why they deserved that sh.90,000 royalty cheque, because so and so has never held concerts while he had three. What were they performing in the concerts? Wait, three concerts the whole year?

I really don’t understand how someone is proud after releasing 27 songs without a hit; in Kenya. International artists release a hit in their first three songs of the career; an international hit.

3. Overcrowded industry

Uumh…do we really have to talk about this? I don’t think we need. Every high school leaver is joining Mdundo. Producing backstreet music and posting it. I really dunno who is supposed to download that music.

Do we have Wall Street in Kenya?

4.   Long music breaks

In Kenya, things are a lot different. Release a couple backstreet hits; probably three. Announce a break. Go make (five) kiddos. Come back. Relate stories about how you divorced three times. Be a guest in late night shows. Then complain how the government does not support talent. I mean which fan supports that?

5.  No concerts in Kenya

We stream international concerts (or Kenyans who host concerts internationally) and we dance to it. The sound system, the dance group and everything in between is perfect; and professional. The only Kenyan you find on the net is a flopped birthday bash in Dubai.

Fans want to come to your concert, they want to stream and watch you go down. Not underpay a poorly choreographed dance group to feature in the video.

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