Remembering the late Kaikai Kilonzo, Kamba legend and pioneer

By Anthony Malesi | 6yrs ago | 2 min read

Kakai Kilonzo was born Michael Kilonzo Mwendandu at Kyeleni Village in Kilimambogo Hills.

The legendary Kamba lead guitarist belted a succession of music albums playing under the Kamukunji, Utanu, Azimio, Kalambya Sounds, Kilimambogo Brothers, Kakai Kilonzo Sounds and ‘Les Kilimambogo labels.

Kakai Kilonzo died of cerebral malaria on February 28, 1987 and was buried at his home in Nguluni Village, Kangundo District of Machakos County.

Like most legendary musicians, he died young. He was 33.

Malta:

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is recognised by the United Nations as a sovereign nation-state (with its own government, laws, passport, and population) and which has diplomatic relations with over 109 countries.

However, Malta has no land; let’s just call it a ‘territory in water’, a group of very tiny islands. The official language is Italian and their (now defunct) currency is the Maltese scudo.

Slaves:

Abolition of the trade in slaves began soon after the first slave cargo ship docked at Jamestown, Virginia US in 1672.

Over time, not all abolitionists were successful until William Wilberforce appeared on the scene with a universal bill at the British parliament to end slavery in the world in 1807.

With the support of his friend, the then British Prime Minister Pott, he succeeded where others before him had failed.

However, the Moresby Treaty of Capt Moresby in 1822 succeeded somewhat but did not fully halt slavery. The Hermatton Treaty came into force in 1845, but was still unsuccessful until the Frere treaty of 1873 of Sir Battle Frere, which ended slavery in East Africa, especially in Zanzibar, the epicentre in the East African coast.

Afghanistan:

Although the US force in Afghanistan today is some 15,000 strong, at its peak on the ‘War on Terror’ it hovered at around 100,000 troops.

And after 16 years of boots on the ground of Afghanistan and aerial vehicles of all types and sizes, it appears not to have sunk into all invading armies that none has ever come out an outright victor.

Afghanistan has hosted invaders since Alexander the Great. Then Arabs, Mongols, the British, and the Soviets. There should be hung a humongous signboard saying: “Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires. Enter at your own peril.”

Crosswords:

When crossword puzzles debuted in the early 20th Century, the New York Times was very critical of them, terming them “a primitive sort of mental exercise.” In 1942, the New York Times published its first crossword puzzle, and today, the New York Times crossword is the most famous in America.

What transportation do council askaris take in the evenings after they crack down all day on matatus and boda bodas?

Do they board these while clad in their official uniforms? Do they also buy green veggies and fruits from the hawkers they chase around all day?

And where do all those female guards who usher you into CBD buildings go to after 5pm? Are they exempt from the night shift?