Pros and Cons

On strange lairs,
I fall fast
But awake with the cock.
While on mine own,
Temptation finds an immovable
Rock.
Dare I lay to stretch,
And I awake with the lizard.

David Garibaldi. blackartdepot.com

bodo.2013

Weak Fences and Greener Grass

‘So he said that’s the reason he can’t make it today. He also said that you won’t understand.’

He was staring down at the ochunglo crawling up the wooden wall of the shed next to Kate’s mother’s house.

She was mad. Clearly. She clicked, ‘Kwani what’s...argh! Then why did he bother telling me to wait for him?!’

Silence. The things Jimi made him endure. He had already missed practice at their church since he had to stay and listen to Kate vent. He couldn’t just leave her like that. And by the time he got to church, the team would have gone through the praise songs and half the worship songs in the list he had in his phone.

He’d hopefully catch them walking home all excited about that day’s practice and catching up on each other’s weeks. Or having a word with Mwas, their mentor.

‘What the hell’s wrong with HIM?!’

By now Kate had sat down. 

Her demeanour and reactions did not match. People don’t shout while making themselves comfortable on cold cement stairs while picking up a Tropical sweet wrapper blown by the wind. 

He thought of leaving her, walking off since his job as messenger was done.

‘You know, you are not like him at all Kwame.’ She sighed and started twisting the wrapper in her hand before turning to face him.

He hadn’t expected that so he had to change the angle of his body. He ended up in a weird pose. His mind, wanting to leave had ordered the body to turn until she dropped the bombshell and now it hang and left the torso to figure out for itself what to do. 

‘A-m...’ he muttered. That wasn’t even a word.

She did not make it any easier, just staring. Waiting.

‘Oh No. Not this,’ he thought to himself.

It was getting dark. He needed to go. Now. So he decided to tell her,’ Ummm...we can’t be more than this.’

But instead said,’ Ummm...he said he’ll make it up to you on Tuesday when you guys hook up at the Barn, as you always do.’

Before she could reply, that Emmy Kosgei ringtone broke the silence.

Glancing at her, hoping that glance communicated his goodbye, he picked the call.

‘Hey, mmefika wapi?... We wacha!... By the way umebeat,.. Zii, nacome...’

On Our Own

I was pissed the other day (ain’t I always?) when a friend of mine told me about ex-TPF musicians who were complaining about how their kind of music is not appreciated out there. I felt, as I always do when they do follow-ups on ex-TPF superstars. A lot has been written about TPF that I won’t get into, other than this one bit.

How do you end up opting to become a sales assistant at a Juacali joint in Muthurwa two years after you swore on national television that you believe music is your dream? Better yet, TPF is your dream come true? How?

As you complain do you ever wonder how other musicians out there-Harry Kimani, Abbi Nyinza, Sautisol ever made it? None of them ever started out with as much money, as much fame and most important networks as you do. None.

Why can’t they do what other people do? When we realized that sometimes in this industry if you have no godfathers no one will create a name for you we went out on our own. Organising TwendeLele1 made us realize that it is not as hard as it seems. Your friends and family will support you if you get a venue, decent sound and green grass for a gig. That is all.

To make it worse, yes worse, these ex-TPF people already have a name out there that the lowliest restaurant will want to sponsor as a venue. And even if they are not, if this was your dream there is no excuse. At all.

Kenyans/Nairobians are listening to the same crap everyday on radio. They look up to you for that different taste that they haven’t heard before. They (who are looking for an alternative to fm stations' music) can be found at Open Mic events and Poetry nights. They can be found at weddings and TV shows. They can be found when you curtain-raise at the next Blankets and Wine. They are there at your friend’s album launch. 

There is no excuse. If this was your dream, that is.

If you support DIY musicians, check out what Mumala and the Penya Academy musicians are doing at Dass every month at the Gig Market Facebook page.