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Questions that Kenyan artistes need to answer


Have you ever wondered what goes through an artiste’s mind when he sits to pen down lyrics to his or her next hit song?

We have heard it all, from well-structured lyrics to those that are downright insane. But it seems all that matters is how well a musician executes the beats to the song.

Just ask Victoria Kimani. In her song ‘Toto’, she repeats the same words throughout the song. That did not stop it from being a massive hit.

Nairobi News takes a look at questions Kenyan musicians need to answer in relation to their songs.

1. Nonini – Wee kamu

In 2002, Nonini released his hit song Wee Kamu in which he begged a woman to come visit his crib. Did she ever arrive? The song remains one of Nonini’s greatest hit that some say helped launch him in the music industry. It is still famous for its chorus Leo niko kwa keja, sitoki hapa, kwa hivyo ukitaka, wee kamu……

2. Mr Lenny – Helena

In 2007 Mr lenny decided to go solo and released his song ‘Helena’. In the song, he keeps asking where the girl went. Has he ever found her, or is it that he has found her and she could be the reason that Mr Lenny is nowhere to be seen in the music scenes?

According to the song, Helena is the singer’s girlfriend who runs away from their house not explaining where she went. Is Mr Lenny still searching for her?

3. Wakimbizi – Mariko

‘Halo halo nataka kuongea na Mariko, Tafadhali dada kwangu hii ni wrong number.’

Did the lady finally find the real Mariko?. The phrase was a common chant for both kids and adults.

In their hey days, Wakimbizi were one of the best lyric masters in the country, with  their songs famous for their underlying themes.

The song ‘Mariko‘ was about a woman making a desperate phone call to trace the apple of her eye. So, did she eventually find Mariko?

The group later came out with the song ‘John‘.  So, who or what exactly is john?

According to the lyrics of the song,  John anaishi msituni na ni kiziwi. The lyrics might seem innocuous,  but if you have passed the legal age of childhood and haven’t lived a sheltered life, then getting the multiple meaning to ‘John’ won’t be rocket science.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lAXMfTgsbo

4. FLEXX – NYUNDO

If you are a fan of old school local songs then the name Flexx cannot be a mystery. The ‘Number Yako‘ singer has been MIA for a while and the last time anything was heard of him was that he had relocated to Sweden.

However he left us with a riddle from his song ‘Nyundo’ that was a collaboration with Juacali.

We know Nyundo is a Swahili word for hammer, but the lyrics to the song left doubt in the mind as to what kind of hammer they are talking about.

Nashindwa jo nizame wapi, nyundo yangu sasa itauwa wapi,” and if you have an active mind like mine, getting other illusions of something totally different won’t be hard.

Part of Flexx’s lyrics says ‘kamu ubonge nayo inazusha , lakini chunga inaweza rusha,’…. So what exactly is this Nyundo.