Pete Odera: ‘Messenger to the Metropolis’

By Naliaka Wafula

Imagine a time compact discs (CDs) were a rare commodity, burning music cost upto Sh16,000 and the only person who could help you was a young John Githongo. Pete Odera laughs when he recalls the state of contemporary gospel in Kenya 10-15 years ago. "There was nothing like CDs, we were working with cassette tapes so it was a struggle to just get our music on radio. Stations like Capital FM, then home to Phil Mathews and Caroline Mutoko, did not play local music," says Pete.

"John Githongo’s siste, Shiro ,begged him to burn our music and he eventually agreed because it was gospel," recalls Pete.

Pete Odera

Troubles

Nairobi Baptist had also ostracised them, a matter he says has since been amicably settled: "At the time we had nowhere to go, " says Pete. "The only venues open to us were secular ones open to new ideas," he says. This was effectively what led to Hart performing at the Carnivore, and other clubs within Nairobi.

They begun visiting private schools that had no CUs (Christian Unions) and performing for students who had never seen hip Christian musicians. " We were finally getting the point across that the word was not boring, we were offering spiritual nourishment."

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And that’s how the idea of Kisima Awards came up, at a living room in Woodley, Nairobi. Kisima was actually a way to reward youth in our sphere of influence, those who had made a contribution in sports, social development and entertainment," he says.

Soon after Tedd Josiah left Hart and they disbanded, Sally went to the US and Pete eked out a solo career releasing an album.

"Kisima took a life of it’s own. At its infancy stage we wanted to steer it and make it a global award headed it’s now in it’s teenage years and it’s still trying to define itself in terms of criteria, integrity, judges and growth."

Today Pete who admits to getting his calling to Christ at the age of twelve says the industry has changed immensely. "Today there are different niches developing, jazz, spoken word" he however points out that it is important for gospel musicians to understand their calling " for me it’s a ministry, I don’t live off my sales, God is my source, my calling is first as minister music is just an avenue," he says.

Wakenya pamoja

"It’s become very easy to become a gospel star, young gospel stars need to know that you are a minister first and a gospel artiste second."

Pete praises Gospel artiste like Esther Wahome who he says has managed to remain

humble and consistent. " I can’t say the same for others in the industry, secular or gospel"

He notes with some sadness that with some of today’s gospel music the gospel has gone out of the window. "The gospel is good news but it’s absent, you have to listen very hard to some songs to get the gospel message nowadays."

Though happily married with two daughters, Pete has unique understanding of the younger generation. For Peter the difficult path God chose for him as a gospel musician prepared him for his role of ministering. He is the founder and pastor of Waterbrook Church and Waterbrook Networks — a youth ministry both based in Hurlingham Plaza.

During the post election violence Pete and fellow Kenyan artistes including Abbi, Rufftone SK Blue, Mbuvi, Suzana Owiyo, Esther Wahome among others got together to record a song. Wakenya Pamoja was a rallying cry to fellow Kenyans to put down their weapons and come together. The song, which has garnered over 6,000 hits on YouTube, has been nominated for the Kisima Social Responsibity Award. Pete, who has eight albums under his belt, recently released his latest effort , Messenger to the metropolis. He is also producer and boasts production credits in Eric Wainaina’s Kora Award winner, Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo.