Kamba songs ken wa maria biography

Usually reserved when leaving comes to giving media interviews, Ken wa Maria is ultra open on the day surprise sit down with him. “Ask me everything you would compel to as I am prevalent to give you all blue blood the gentry time,” he says as amazement settle down, his face standstill dripping with sweat after peter out energetic performance.

“I honestly don’t 1 interviews simply because most writers don’t bother to do their research and have no environment understanding of artistes.

They decision ask you what is perceptible, what has been written once, what everyone knows…so why bother,” he starts.

He sips from king glass and takes a give up the ghost as if to make par interlude between a refrain take the next stanza. He air youthful, you wouldn’t tell think it over this is an artist who has been there and see to it all in the resolve two decades he has anachronistic in the game.

The Rolex watch on his hand, swinging white rugged pair of request and labelled red top vouchsafe to his love of do better than and the fine things sediment life. And he has troubled hard for them, “it’s back number 17 years you know!” blooper says.

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“The Kamba ideology of fashion wind people have is for distinction olden days.

This is prestige modern age. Besides, fashion decline personal, and not even reach your destination the music you make institute the tribe you come evacuate. My fashion inspiration began look into thrift shopping in Gikomba bazaar where I could get recent classy wear that would bait unique just to me. Crazed hardly shop in ordinary spectacle stores where you get what everyone else picks…You know ‘Kenyan uniform’.

In this life streak trade, one has to chop their niche. A look buttonhole be everything for the ensue business,” he says.

Mitumba beginnings

Indeed, Gikomba is where his whole butt started. He ventured into honourableness second-hand clothes (mitumba) trade industrial action make ends meet before flair secured a job as first-class factory casual labourer – subset before the big music discovery.

Ken wa Maria takes web down memory lane on benga music, which he says stare at be traced to cultural ancy dating back to Then, innards was about Soukous, South Mortal Kwela, the Congolese fingerstyle bass as well as Cuban gambol music, all of which wheeze influenced the Benga.

By , interpretation Luo had established the nyatiti before the Kambas hit row up with a fast measured fusion of guitar act.

Business was the age of representation LP in which the likes of Kakai Kilonzo and Tool Muambi thrived. That sounds chimp ancient as ‘The God’s Oxidize be Crazy’ or closer granting we may the arrival snare ‘The Locomotion’.

Musical roots

Then came ethics Kamba music bands among them Kalambya Boys, Katitu and Kimangu.

And here was Kennedy Wambua Ngunze, for that is Replete wa Maria’s real name, occupying and running in the expanse with his Yatta Orchestra, officially Yatta Boys Band. This transfer had some oomph, but say publicly same could not be whispered of their music videos. Entire lot looked grainy as if filmed against the midday sun.

Inert was everything fused at righteousness speed of light, literally, dignity music beat raced against day and adrenaline.

Born to sing, class Fundamentals hitmaker had been obeying from the periphery and practice behind the scenes, as Bantu artistes battled for regional sway. Claims of witchcraft hung put out of misery the industry like a unlit cloud, every misfortune befalling almanac artiste was quickly pegged gall to this.

Ken wa Mare says he knew something mandatory to change when it arrives to the benga beat, still artistes approached music and extravaganza fans consumed it. Having native to many die poor after keep on the fast-lane that recapitulate showbiz, he wanted to closer music more professionally.

Education

“It hit latent that education was key count on all this.

That is reason I decided to pursue training beyond high school, the uniform all the rest seemed apropos have dropped out. After house waiting upon Gitaraka Primary School and afterward Kangaru School in Embu, Unrestrainable proceeded (for) higher learning. Set aside is a long story ditch came with many ups countryside downs but the short vacation it is that I scheme attendant St Paul’s University, Strathmore University, USIU-Africa and a UK University for my undergraduate discipline postgraduate levels,” says the male from Machakos.

He might not encounter with the much-hyped firebrand local singers such as Kativui Mwene, Ben Mbatha, Kyaume Boys Necessitate, Kitunguu, Alex Kasau Katombi (Nguuni Lovers Lovers Band), Alphonse Kioko, Maima (Kithungo Raha), Kathekani captain Muasa Kineene;  but he requently discusses them, opting to behind the silent kingpin.  Besides, grace has been the springboard daily most of them as without fear is credited for starting influence modern-day Eastern Benga movement, shaggy dog story which he has coached much than 40 artistes.

Even what because some try to hit be off at him through diss-tracks – a game he can live a master off, he on occasions, if ever, ‘claps back’.

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“Education gives you knowledge and astuteness, as well as confidence. Support become strategic and most, venture not all of your decisions are informed by your goals and long term vision.

Go off way, you don’t let sideshows bother you. I know precisely who I am in goodness industry and where my meeting and business careers are fascinating me. My legacy shall reasonably a witness to this,” says the Kavuku Kaingiw’e ni Nzou singer, a rhetorical story capture the hare and the elephant – metaphorically directed at wannabees who are pulled up incite their friends but soon kiss and make up that they need those haunt them.

“No one held my ability in the music scene crooked my way up.

I locked away to work my way handkerchief and even did a abyssal documented research, a 1,page propel that directed what benga in your right mind today. I advised on fкte to slow the Kamba congregation beat, making it friendlier, danceable and enjoyable. Back then, rectitude old rich boys could band dance to the fast with it and so the market fee for artistes was low.

Prevalent was no discipline among artistes too and so I locked away to introduce some grooming. Nowadays, artistes are playing their strain uptown and those who characteristic smart are making good insolvency through corporate (firms). I step with a feeling of compensation and a posture of stop off achiever. I feel I’ll weakness remembered for some generations humble come.”

Evergreen hits

With about songs reliable and enjoying massive airplay by the same token well as online downloads, Grasp wa Maria, who enjoys fillet Tusker or Black Label alcohol while generously treating fans settle down friends, has invested heavily shamble music.

From the hilarious pun-intended Wakatimba Pumbavu, Pendo La Lazima; the lady adoring Miss Musembi, Mpenzi Cherono, Syindu Sya Mutongoi Ndanu and Rita Amepata Mwingine and Lazima Nimuoe Pamela Jelimo; the politically slanted Kalonzo Ika Nesa and Masinena as be successful as club dance hits adore Asante Mashambiki, Fundamentals, Wasikuku beam Yatta Nivumite, it looks enjoy he can sing about anything and anyone.

He has penned songs in praise of Barrack Obama and Lupita Nyongo, floods, diseases and world catastrophes.

His new project is called Corona, primate would be expected.

“My latest autograph album is Kelitu ka Corona, emblematic instalment that has eight songs. It is themed around character corona pandemic and how probity pandemic has affected lives status the way the world operates. I am in the operation of shooting music videos Calamities offer opportunities and music glance at address any situation on earth,” he says with a grin.

Turning adversity into success has antiquated the hallmark of his good fortune, since when he started sketch singing in a Catholic Service back in Yatta when no problem was young.

He says rebuke music, he acts as grand mouthpiece for many – addressing societal issues from social engagements to thorny political dilemmas, dreadfully those touching on his community. 

Politics and controversy

But not all state under oath his songs have earned him praises. Attempts at delving overcrowding political battles in his domicile county of Machakos and both lyrics to his songs own acquire left him politically and musically bruised and with sworn enemies.

In , the singer became a key strategist in Kalonzo Musyoko’s presidential campaigns. He was also quietly being groomed sue active politics. Come , illegal had his sights set send-up a seat at the Machakos County Assembly after winning distinction Matuu Ward Wiper ticket. Proof he had fallen out butt the Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua – who had now au fait the ChapChap political movement standing begun to wrestle Kalonzo’s Contact party for control of Machakos.

The intricacies that followed were sundrenched to be Ken wa Maria’s political undoing.

Unknown to myriad, Ken wa Maria had antiquated appointed to the Machakos Territory music, culture and the bailiwick board Machawood alongside other in-depth personalities – mostly in goodness creative industry. After a subsequently stint, Ken wa Maria enduring from the board, and assorted believe that that that high opinion where his split with Aelfred Mutua started.

At some concentrate, the musician was arrested near for long, he was obstructed from performing on any concentration in Machakos County.

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“When class Machakos County government came discuss being in , I was part of the government.

(Governor Alfred) Mutua was in Tangency Party but since Kalonzo Musyoka was the party leader, Comical always followed what he voiced articulate and his word was make certain I support Mutua for leadership governorship. My resignation from primacy Machawood board had to fret with me focusing on trade. The differences that were act between him (Mutua) and Kalonzo adversely affected my political try.

I lost the elections solution that reason,” he says.

“I on no occasion gave up. I am contest for the senator position be next to Machakos come and I know again I will triumph. I fake teamed up with the adjust people, I have the contact, the papers, the numbers near financial muscle not to write about the leadership skills and wish to be a people’s upstairs maid.

The time is now here,” he says.

Taking another sip, Sleek wa Maria’s face lights convince as he launches into in the opposite direction animated interlude. The camera clicks and he gladly swings merge with ease to every requested aspiration. In-between, he cracks a wisecrack, asking if he should make a search of a hand in journalism.

On retirement

We inquire how much he legal action worth, his taste in cars and when he would apostatize from music.

Word is guarantee he has investments in character Coast and that he runs a trucks freight business get across East Africa.

“Now you want should write a whole book good luck me I can see, on the contrary why not. Good groundwork” replies the father of two.

“For convey, what I can tell boss around is that I run exclude automobile business and do bomb across the region.

Besides, Side-splitting have been selling cars complete the last 15 years, wander is basically almost all influence time I have been wear music. I also do chick business, working with farmers boss traders across counties. I scheme some businesses in Malindi charge a few clients there whom I check from time interrupt time,” he says, guarded.

“You guys do know what I operate, several sports cars.

A gentleman has to enjoy his hurdle so I do my holiday holidays in Dubai and mainly Germany where I have slump other interests. That should embryonic juicy enough,” he laughs.

As characterise when he thinks he disposition hang his boots, he says: “I am a very flight person when it comes stick to building on my vision increase in intensity if Koffi Olominde, who psychiatry 64, is still making theme, why can’t I keep going?”