Singing for the needy

By Stevens Muendo

There has been a whirlwind of major music concerts in Nairobi lately — from international superstars to continental music icons, entertainers have lightened up the city, brightening up lives of Kenyans.

Gospel musician Ron Kenoly was the first to jet in a few months ago. Then came Kirk Franklin, Gyptian, Akon and Wyclef in quick succession. And there seems to be no end to this showbiz awakening as more international stars among them Beenie Man are set to come over before the close of the year.

Suzanna Owiyo, Wahu and Oliver Mtukudzi were among the musicians at the Bomas of Kenya. Photo: Pius Cheuiyot and Boniface Okendo/Standard

In such economic challenging times, we all need the therapy brought about by the concerts’ joy and relief to both souls and minds.

They say music comforts even the most wounded of souls.

Last weekend was exceptionally great for the families as some of the best musicals sons and daughters of Africa visited the city.

The Free the Hungry, Stand Up and Take Action family concert at the Bomas of Kenya saw hundreds of fans — young and old, diplomats and laymen — brush shoulders and do the gig oblivious of their social standing. The city residents, too, did not disappoint.

Led by Zimbabwean legendary troubadour Oliver Mtukudzi, popularly known as ‘Tuku’, an array of about 30 international musicians thrilled the enthusiastic crowd, which danced to the revelling renditions, classic ballads and other timeless compositions. Strutting to his legendry hits Ndakuvara and Wasakara, Tuku and his band worked up the crowd with a once in a lifetime performance.

Cocktail of artists

Kenyan songstress Suzanna Owiyo, famous for her Kisumu 100 single, wooed her fans with a riveting live performance. Others who stole the night included singers Diwi Awadi and Carlou D (from Senegal), poet and activist Ntisiki Mazwai (from South Africa) and Kenya-based Burundian Kidum. Tanzania’s King of hip-hop Joseph Haule aka Professor Jay, MTV award winning couple Wahu and Nameless, and Neema were among those who ushered in a youthful appeal to the concert.

Of importance, however, was the mission of the event. The artistes were answering a global anti-poverty campaign call. The family concert was part of the worldwide anti-poverty activities on the UN designated day.

During the event, the artistes launched a CD, Music for Freedom and Justice, as a tribute to the millions of poor and hungry people whose right to food and freedom from hunger is threatened by gender violence, conflict and greed. The charity concert takes us back to 1985 when Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie recorded the We Are the World single dedicated to fight famine in Africa. The hit spurred a major food charity crusade around the world.

Fond memories

It is such concerts that attract massive crowds from all walks of life, bringing the family and the society together. Unlike the new generation showbiz concerts popular with the youth and hosted in city clubs over weekends, family concerts and charity shows are tailored to thrill all — the young and old.

They come with live bands that give fans the lost and longed for entertainment touch of yesteryears. They bring in the memories of great performances by great bands and maestros such as Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba of the famed 1990’s Lingala concerts — which saw tickets, sold out weeks before their arrival besides bringing business to a standstill. Those were the days. Moses Moriro, 46, who attended the Bomas concert says: "Such concerts are hard to come by. Unlike the past when music and artistes were known to unite the society, entertainment has now been watered down and become less appealing to the greater majority."

"Music concerts should have a massive appeal to people from all walks of life. It should be an opportunity for a family outing where food, refreshments and entertainment go together," he added.

Suzan Ominde, 35, supports him: "I love family concerts. I can’t stand those new generation concerts in clubs, but I support the upcoming artistes. Family shows relax the mind. They also provide an avenue for friends to bond and reflect on life. They bring the society together.

Fitting messages

"Oliver Mtukudzi and Suzzane Owiyo, for example, have songs laced with messages for the society. Messages of peace, messages that bemoan political violence and call for political sanity and messages that make artistes ambassadors of the society," she says.

Even though they belong to the new generation of musicians, Kenya’s celebrity couple Wahu and Nameless have become role models for the youth. Their lifestyle, social behaviour and family life go a long way in defining the youth urban culture.

Their styles and lyrical content as well as presentation has gone through a metamorphosis — from sexual explicit lyrics to more society-friendly compositions. That is how they have won appeal of a wider audience.

Wahu’s award winning release Sweet Love, adoration for her then unborn baby, won her many fans. Both young and old relate to the song and no wonder the number became an instant hit, rising to the top of music charts in East Africa and around the continent.

Nameless followed with his Salary and Sunshine singles, which were a great migration from his previous club and dance-oriented youth-slanted releases.

family entertainment

"Experience has taught us much. Our music has grown through time. It all goes down to the kind of message and image we want to give the society," says Nameless.

"As a parent, I have learned a lot and this has definitely affected my music. As much as music is entertainment, it remains an education tool in the society. This concert has re-defined my presentation," notes Wahu.

And Suzzane Owiyo backs them: "Most of my performances are usually a family package. It entertains both parents and children. It is time we revived the culture of whole family entertainment where a single show would thrill both young and old."

cry for better music

There has been a great outcry from the older generation on how the modern music is helping the spread of societal vices. From local to international stars, lewd sexually-toned and drug abuse adoring lyrics seems to make the big cut at the expense of social morals.

Many people argue that ‘black music’ is breeding a new culture of strive and violence among the youth. And it could only get worse with the new technology that has brought all these to mobile cell phones.

Franklin, during his recent visit to Nairobi, told the Sunday Magazine: "I am reconsidering my relationship with some secular artistes whom I have been working with. Black music seems to be moving towards lewd sexual appeal and this does not really reflect well in the society. I am against this.

"Music should be pure. Entertainment, too, has its limits. As artistes, we mould the society by the way we tackle issues in our songs," added Kirk whose Spread the Love family concert at Carnivore raised funds to help prisoners. The funds were used to buy beds for inmates at Industrial Area Prison. They were distributed by Mavuno church last Sunday.

Franklin, who has openly discussed his family problems and his struggle with pornography addiction, got a wild following as hundreds paid the Sh1,000 fee to watch the afternoon concert.

A city church sponsored the concert. This gave parents more liberty to join their children for it. Michael Kamau, a 33-year-old accountant said: "I do not mind paying Sh1,000 for a worthy concert. Old or young; we all love entertainment. But we must be cautious about what gets to our ears. This explains why many artistes cannot impress the mature lot."

Even though American Grammy award winner Wyclef Jean admitted his love for marijuana, he advised the youth against it.

"I advise the youth to stay away from drugs. I am an adult and at my age, I can control my habits," he said. About being a role model to thousands of youth around the world who would want to copy him, Wyclef said: "I do a lot good things (which can be copied). I have even started a movement to help refugees and the less privileged people in Haiti. I preach unity and brotherhood."

humanitarian projects

Just like Tuku and Hugh Masekela, who have been fronting humanitarian projects around Africa, Wyclef heads the Yele Haiti organisation, which in conjunction with UN’s World Food Programme, distributes food to the poor in Haiti.

Locally, we have had initiatives such as Jaza Lorry and Artistes against Hunger concerts, which saw musicians, pull resources together and host free concerts in aid of a starving nation.

And as the post-election violence threatened the peace of the land, singers from different ethnic settings held hands together and released a peace album whose songs were played at several peace concerts in different towns.

Musicians such as DNA, Ringtone, Pilipili, Moustapha, Roughtone, Cynthia Kuti and Harry Kimani have now engineered sole charity projects geared at helping the less privileged in the society. And in July, Owiyo joined a host of reputed internationals among them Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys during the Mandela Day Concert to create peace awareness.

Locally, such concerts have hardly been forthcoming. The society continues to thirst for quality family shows. Not even the theatres have quenched the thirst among local fun lovers.

Major family entertainment activities, which used be goodwill shows in aid for the less fortunate during holidays, such as Christmas, seems to have faded away.