For years now, the conversation surrounding the Kenyan music industry has been that it has constantly lagged behind, compared with our East, West and Southern African counterparts, never mind that they almost began at the same time.
Time and again, it has been argued that it is neither creative enough, nor diverse enough to cater for a market outside Kenya. But most importantly, it has been claimed that Kenyan artistes do not support each other.
The Kenyan music industry has undoubtedly made significant strides as compared with the early 90s when such music was just a hobby and was barely heard on radio. Still, the rate at which Tanzania’s and Uganda’s music scenes have flourished and defined African culture makes Kenya’s industry dim in comparison.
The biggest reason for our neighbouring countries’ success, it seems, is that their artistes are, or rather seem, united. They support each other’s careers and present a united front. It has taken a long while for Kenyan artistes to jump onto that bandwagon, but steadily the support for each other’s work, be it in dropping in a single or launching an album, is starting to show.
Artistes are drumming up support for each other on social media when launching projects such as upcoming albums, or announcing the release of hot singles. Concert dates and venues are shared across all major platforms, with fans in high anticipation of what could be epic and memorable live shows.
But is it a case of doing too little too late, considering the “Nigerian invasion” is at an all-time high? Will coming together to make more and better music ensure that Kenyan fans have enough content to deter them from, or at least lessening, the high intake of Kwaito, Nigerian and Western music?
Last month, rapper Rabbit launched his album Legend of Kaka in an impressive star-studded event that many artistes, including comedians and actors, attended. The launch brought together some key players in the entertainment industry to celebrate an important milestone and achievement in Rabbit’s remarkable career. They came to support “one of their own.”
Artistes at the launch included Nameless, rapper Abbass Kubaff, singers Avril and Habida, femcee Shikow Femi One, Wyre, Khaligraph, Kristoff, Sudi Boy, Rich Mavoko and Mr Lenny. Actors and comedians included Abel Mutua, Catherine Kamau, Owago Nyiro and radio presenter Jalang’o.
And at Juliani’s Na3 Concert last weekend, the celebrity and artiste turnout was overwhelming: Larry Madowo, Holy Dave, Sauti Sol, Size 8, Lady B, Ecko Dydda, Rabbit, Daddy Owen, Wahu, Nameless and DJ Pinye, among others.
Rabbit says this support was a long time coming and it’s a fact that unity is needed in entertainment circles, especially in music, to stretch its limits.
“New-age musicians have discovered we can go far if we are united. Some of us are friends and we, as an industry, have matured. It doesn’t mean that you will outshine another artiste if you show up at his concert or gig,” he says.
Rabbit emphasises that there is space for each and every artiste, considering the growing number of genres and unique styles, so supporting each other should not be that difficult.
“The more you do music the more you realise that nobody can do it the way you do. My product can never be the same as, say, Juliani’s, and vice versa. I bought tickets to his show the other day and bought his album too; he did the same for me. My music can never invade his space and neither can mine invade his,” the rapper says.
As much as supporting each other is noble and beneficial to musicians’ careers, is it a ploy to edge out Nigerian playlists from clubs, radio and television? “It is an automatic aim because the amount of non-Kenyan music consumed shows that we need to unite further,” Rabbit confirms.
“I will keep pointing fingers at the media until the message is conveyed. It is the media and DJs that poison everyone. For example, the quality of Kenyan videos has gone way up, and if they are not playing them, then no one is watching. Play Kenyan music,” says the rapper.
Pioneer disc jockey DJ Pinye agrees that, yes, artistes are supporting each other... but on the flip side, they have to because they are not doing very well. He attributes the lackluster performance to big egos, with artistes refusing to talk to each other.
He says that for artistes to further show a sign of unity, more concerts should be organised.
“There are not enough concerts for Kenyan musicians to go around. But then, the logistics of organising just a single show are very high, and this is where corporates need to come in and offer support to artistes,” says Pinye.
He said DJs were getting more shows compared with artistes. So, shouldn’t this ensure that DJs play exclusive Kenyan music as a show of solidarity?
“Kenyan artistes need to meet and match the standards of international artistes. Personally, I play music for fans to dance to, whatever their requests are,” he says.
It is not just musicians that are striving to give local content to the entertainment industry a push forward through showing up for events or drumming up support for important milestones. Comedians, too, are attending their peers’ events.
Comedian Mc Jesse affirms that support from artistes is now high since genuine friendships are being formed and little spats that become beef are almost no longer an issue.
“Comedians have always been united, attending each other’s shows or parties, and they stick together,” says Jesse.
“Why should we have beef just because we work for different stations? We are one big family and we don’t segregate each other because of the stations we work in; all we have to offer is love and laughter,” he says, adding that comedians support each other more than musicians do.
“I never knew that someone so significant was watching. We love to support musicians and they love us, too. Someone like Jaguar never misses a show, and other artistes come to the show not to perform but to enjoy it, they are reciprocating the love, he says.
The Churchill Raw comedian quips that comedians do not do Nigerian stuff, but musicians have allowed Nigerians to take over the music scene.
He says he does not trust them because they are egocentric, something Kenyans see as hard work.
“They only have this ‘I’ mentality; remember what Iyanya did to Jaguar with the remix to One Centimeter? A comedian from there who comes for a show in Kenya will never say he met Mc Jesse or Churchill, he will say I was funny and I made them laugh,” says Jesse.
