The burial of Teso Benga maestro Palinyang Obasie will finally take place this Saturday after Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong helped raise Sh800,000 to help offset his funeral expenses.
The body of the renowned artiste who died on May, 9 aged 83 had been reserved at the morgue as his family struggled to raise money to foot his medical and mortuary bills.
Ojaamong said the musician, who was his ardent supporter and even sang songs in support of his candidature as MP for Amagoro and governor for Busia deserved a good send off.
"I have to stand with the family of Mzee Obasie for he (Obasie) honoured me with praise songs like Kaseutu Ojaamong (let us elect Ojaamong) at his prime as a musician. He sang the praises in the face of my opponents who could have easily bought him off because they were wealthier," he said.
The governor noted the musician was not only a praise singer but a change initiator, who sang songs that spurred the construction of Kamolo Secondary School, Kamolo Dispensary and a local bridge.
“I am disgusted some Busia residents living in Nairobi kept saying Obasio was never honoured by the county as he lived, such allegations are a pack of blatant lies,” said Ojaamong.
At the same time, the works of the veteran musician who started singing in 1973 will be documented.
Dr Nicodemus Anyang, who is in charge of documenting the over 70 songs Mzee Obasie composed said the compositions would be archived for future generations to learn the Teso culture through songs.
"Residents will be sold the recorded songs at subsidised rates," he said.
Popular songs which the legendary musician produced include Susy, Atwanare, Emanyit Lo Aapi, Emuria koliae, Kochoitet Eseny, Akidaun Ipejok, Abalang Kimusa and Eloo lakotoi.
Obasie learnt music from his grandfather Okomo Obasie in 1958 and managed a band that played several instruments, including the accordian, the adeudeu and the eggereger (a single-stringed instrument similar to the orutu).
The band also used a special drum called atenus, and had formally dressed female dancers whose dance moves remained modest to avoid "hurting" the largely rural Teso audience that formed the bulk of Obasie's fan base.
