With a General Election stashed somewhere around the corner, marriages of convenience between politicians and musicians are re-emerging. Can our artistes survive the potentially career-killing lure of the moneybags? CAROLINE NYANGA and GEOFFREY KORIO find out.
Before the mammoth crowd gathered at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) that Sunday afternoon, sensational gospel star Ringtone took to the stage to belt out his popular song Talanta Yangu, which features Maji Maji.
The National Alliance (TNA) launch had been a highly hyped affair and there, amidst politicians and their supporters, the gospel singer stood tall and ready to stir the moment.
A day prior to the event, it is understood that the man of the moment, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, had requested Ringtone to feature because he is a crowd-puller. It was a last minute choice as money exchanged hands among leading stables and artistes who wanted a share of the political windfall.
Even though no one is willing to disclose the finer details, Kigeugeu hit maker Jaguar, Genge Godfather Nonini, diminutive Size 8 and Chantelle are said to have turned down the offer, before the organisers settled for P Unit, Jua Cali and Ringtone, who were paid Sh200,000, each for their performance.
Amidst the animated applause and wild ululations, Uhuru Kenyatta and Eugene Wamalwa — both politicians of national stature — joined Ringtone in song and dance with the TNA slogan renting the air.
This may have been taken to mean Ringtone was endorsing Uhuru; something that artistes who had given the ceremony a wide-berth, feared to be associated with.
“I was invited there as a musician and equally as Uhuru’s and Eugene’s friend. As a gospel artiste whose music has managed to cross over to the secular world, I felt that this was a perfect opportunity to use my song to minister,” Ringtone defended his actions when Pulse reached him for comment.
guys in the big deals
“I wasn’t trying to endorse TNA and it is not that I have taken sides with any political leader. I would do the same if another presidential candidate invited me. It is a win-win situation,” he added.
As the political wind sweeps across the land with the next General Election somewhere around the corner, political party strategists are banking on top entertainers as a ploy to woo the youth into their respective camps.
In fact, politicians and musicians started ironing out the deals last year when Jaguar, Juliani and Daddy Owen, as well as Ogopa Deejays were approached with whooping seven figure cash offers.
Initially, Jaguar was being offered Sh5 million to remix his Kigeugeu hit song into a leading political party’s campaign anthem besides fronting the party’s political rallies.
Early this year, another political party extended yet another lucrative bid for him. He is yet to buy into any of the tempting and mindboggling offers.
The King of Kapungala Daddy Owen is still being wooed after he stormed out of negotiations during which a political party offered him a Sh5 million-endorsement deal, which was also to see the singer traverse the globe selling the party to Diaspora voters.
Pulse can also confirm that three leading entertainment stables have been approached with mega-money outdoor and media advertising deals, composition of campaign jingles and packages for art and performance crusades and road show campaigns across the country.
Reputable events organisers are also in politicians’ payrolls after having signed contracts with political parties to run their events.
Top hype-masters, deejaying units and popular actors and actresses are not left out in this heady mix. Almost all political parties have contracted youthful people with insightful information on the youth and entertainment in their campaign teams. Reportedly, that is just the entree; the best is yet to come.
For artistes, the line between endorsing political outfits and entertaining their fans during political crusades remains thin. Confusion is growing among musicians who fear to be branded political parrots in deals that could turn to be life changing because on the one hand, they offer a lot, but on the other, they may leave a sour aftertaste.
“The fact that an artiste features prominently in a political rally leaves the image that they believe in the party. After all, they become part of the campaign package,” Philip Mulenda, a student at the University of Nairobi, quips.
peace initiatives
The curse of political endorsements has in the past been career suicide. There are those whose image could not survive beyond a given political era after losing fans because of the perception borne out of their aligning with politicians that their fans did not necessarily support.
Worse, the same celebrities are opinion leaders expected to shape the political direction among the youth in the country. It all remains a twisted affair.
Nonini, the self declared Godfather of Genge, states that he is not ready to board any political train during these political campaigns.
The star, whose controversial Kataa Hio 2009 hit single rubbed politicians the wrong way, as the rapper touched on widespread corruption, says he is yet to come across a politician or political party whose manifesto can benefit him and the youth in the country.
“It is betrayal for any artiste to align himself or herself with a given political demography before first seeking the views of his fans, especially if the move is being driven by money,” Nonini told Pulse.
“In the West, artistes usually come out and endorse a given presidential candidate out of informed choices and not through the lure of cash. Our political arena is yet to grow to a point where having an artiste endorsing a given candidate can be taken seriously,” notes Daddy Owen, supporting Nonini’s remarks.
The Saluti singer says it is confusing for fans to see their favourite entertainer carrying a politician’s flag high while claiming to be living to the aspirations of the fans.
“It all boils to issues of integrity on the side of the artiste in the face of his fans. The political image in Kenya is that of corrupt leaders who take advantage of ignorant and unemployed youth to further their interests. It is wrong for them to use us,” he asserts.
In fighting political corruption and such acts of being taken advantage of by politicians, several groups led by celebrities have been created to preach peace and unity among the youth. However, the groups are being viewed sceptically simply because these artistes are yet to find a common voice. Besides, interest groups that seem to have affiliations with the self-same ruling class are funding some of those groups.
Despite the fact that many celebs are coming together to form the so-called peace initiatives, it is the same musicians who are being used in the political campaigns.
“The same celebs who are in these peace initiatives are the same ones being bought to go to the political rallies. They just want to make money,” declares Nonini.
Sassy Calif Records budding singer Kendi received some lashing from her fans after she composed a song dedicated to Nairobi City Council Town Clerk Phillip Kisia who has shown interest in running for the Governor’s seat in the city.
curse of political cash
“For me it was no big deal since besides being paid well, the song was not in support of a party, rather than an individual who wanted to be recognised as one of those vying for the position of governorship,” the Kuwa na Wewe singer defended herself.
Her sentiments were echoed by her stable boss Clement Rapudo aka Clemo.
However, Kendi admits that the song was political as it was made to popularise Kisia’s bid in eyeing the new political post.
“It took a week for me to record the song. Prior to that I made it known that I did not want to get involved in politics. However, I was doing it to earn a living,” she admits.
“I am not against people in the spotlight having the chance to back their own political favourites, I am, however, against them using their larger stage to influence others to their way of thinking,” remarks Q-ty, a fast rising musician.
Gidi Gidi Maji Maji’s popular hit single Unbwogable ruled the charts across Africa and its remixed version was the theme song during the Narc campaign in 2002.
Unbwogable no doubt did wonders in popularising the campaign and brought a new government to power. But as the new government was settling in, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji were, eerily, no more — not in the music scene.
Mombasa based musician Prince Adio was at the political forefront during the 2007 political campaigns. His Nikiwa Ndani was the Party of National Unity’s (PNU) campaign anthem. Even though the singer made a kill back then, his singing star dwindled just after the campaign. He has since been fighting for a come back.
Other artistes who were involved in the political song-fare include DNA’s whose Banjuka hit song alongside that Esther Wahome’s hit Kuna Dawa also featured prominently in PNU party campaigns.
