Elani, Alliance and Maize

If I start most of my statements with 'Now...' just know that I went to State House Primary School for 2 terms within which time I managed to acquire and entrench the habit which was used by the principal, sorry, the headmaster at the time.

Now, who remembers the days when you'd pass by Alliance Francaise and find groups of Nairobian post-high school lads and lasses bumming with guitars and voices? When Sheesha, Weed and Blue Moon and Supras were comparatively less popular?

Remember when every two months, a new band existed with no concert but a fistful of fans who gathered at Alliance on Fridays to listen to some urban Afro something-fusion,soul,pop,acoustic etc? Only thing is that these fans weren't specific. They would attend all Afrofusion concerts. They had the downlow on where Aziza, Sauti Sol and Dela were performing at any one time...kwanza the free ones.

They were loyal and if anyone needed to sip something frothy, they'd head to Mwenda's (before Qube) and then head home.

On one of these chilly evenings, I found Chweya and Meshack with a guitar.

'Hebu sikizeni hii song. Imeandikwa tu leo'

That would be Elani's Brian Chweya. He was still working on the verses, but the chorus was definite. It went,

'Mahindiii, Mahindiii, Raia wanataka unga ya ugali...'

The progression was/is simple but it touched some nerve that still throbs to date whenever I hear the song.

They later finished the chorus, cut the loose strings hanging around it, made sure the bottom was hemmed and it now features every time they go on stage. Mahindi is about how maize is a core part of the country and its people. Maize is that one thread that cuts across every hill, plain and river. From Turkana to Rongai. More than just the literal meaning, it is symbolic.

The guy in Buruburu with his iPad waits for maize-flour to get to the Tuskys in Phase 3 and it is all dependent on some farmer in Kitale with a stub of grass in his mouth. None can do without the other. Maybe it should be used as the theme song for the #WeAreOne campaign. (pauses to lq)

In the video that refused to upload, look out for the break after the transposition after the bridge. I love it especially because of the harmony change-I think they make it a 7nth. It makes me go kuku everytime I hear it. So kuku that I heard it today and typed this in the spur of the moment.

They have a single out (Jana Usiku) and are launching an album on December the 6th at the Alliance Francaise gardens. Tupatane huko. For now, want a bite? Here goes:

ELANI-MAHINDI video

No Offence, You Might Be Blonde

It is cool to be deep these days. Now, without punctuation that statement makes no sense. So here goes: It is cool (hip) to be 'deep' (be a critical thinker) these days. Now, without clarification, that statement fails to convey my exact sentiments. So once again: It is cool to seem 'deep' nowadays. Now, without further ado I'll stop bsing you and get on with it.

I found myself watching the popular series, Crossing Lines. It stars William Fichtner. For the old souls who don't follow red carpet updates (Sharon, don't point a finger), this was the cop in Prison Break who had Scoffield cornered at every turn. He was and is great, especially at acting characters who are sharp, damaged and drugged. The last two go together.

Oh, Crossing Lines has the ICC somewhere and I bet this might explains why Kenyans are bonding with its themes. Speaking of which, it is interesting how for a movie to hit in America (even if the whole point is to have a European elite police unit), the lead role has to be given to one of their cocky types. This of course excludes the Harry Porter movies.

As I was saying... I watched, finished then switched off the laptop and went to sleep.

Rewind Selector!

I'm watching then there's this part where one of the ladies (the one with the rough, hoarse, coughy voice that we all call sexy) asks this other guy-the tech guy-something. Poleni, I'm sorry I watched it a month ago and I don't remember the characters' names.

So she goes,
'No offence but...'

He interrupts with,
'How come that statement is always followed by something offensive?'

At this point I watch the 'deep' ones go to their FB pages and post this. Don't worry, I was once like you. What happened? Now we dive. :)

Saying 'no offence but you are too much of a wuss to reason' is preparing your mind to critically analyse that statement OBJECTIVELY. What the person is telling you is that they are, incapable as it is, consciously setting aside their biases and giving you an honest opinion or reading of the facts.

That statement actually means, 'I am about to say something offensive without intending to offend you' so you can't say 'How come it's followed by something offensive??' THAT WAS THE POINT! It's like saying how comes when someone says 'Come' it's always followed by 'Here'?

I may be wrong but I think there is no really big deal when I say, 'with all due respect sir, you are being irrational' so long as I say it with respect :)

*********

I have a headache! Wah! Remember in Mofaya when Chizi explains how in there country, the number of Wahs are directly correlated to the intensity of shock/suprise/excitement/pain. This headache actually warrants two, no three Wahs!

So long folks!

Top Three Anthems

One, my apologies for the silence. The plan was to have at least two posts every month. My laptop fell face-first so I've been bila screen and net. But half of that has been sorted...or not!

We got robbed and the laptop mentioned above took a trip, hands and feet tied with sisal rope and since the screen was shattered I felt nothing. I did feel something! That was my first baby. Enehu, c'est la vie.

Moving on swiftly...

I'm all for musicians coming together to create music specifically for social awareness. Of course, knowing the whiner me, I have an issue with boring songs forced down the ears of Kenyan listeners in the name of a good course. Poor production/music/video quality funded by NGOs who don't bother on getting something worth their money.

I could cite many bad examples but I'll be positive and say these three videos have stood out in terms of quality and itendidy, as my Lunje friends would have it.

1.SIMAMA

I first saw this video on the Beat way back in 2008 when I had just started campo. The beat caught my attention for two reasons, it fits my afrocentric belief that our influences (hiphop/ragga) should not wipe our own identity. We should not create music that does not have our own 'feel'. This beat does. The video was short live at the performance, which I've just found out was at the godown.

The people nodding look shady but Atemi's voice stands out besides the fact that she is just doing ad libs. Jimw@at was in it. Whatever happened to him.

p.s. some guy in the background is off, but its okay, he can't be heard.

2. BWANA MKUBWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTD6-IRjH_I

Eric Wainaina and the Lwanda cast crew did great on this one. Listen out for the bridge where Atemi goes 'talk, talk, talkiiiing'. My bro and I wait for that part. I found another favourite recently though. After the bridge listen out for the background vocalists singing 'all we want to say' and Owiyoo's ad lib which doesn't just blend in but carries it to some other place. At least to me.

NB. The tune has been used in Orutu Special (Love and Protest, the album) which I think dwarfs in comparison to this 'activism' anthem.

3. WAKENYA PAMOJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y7O857Q1jk

The country was up in smoke. It was January, 2008. I was in the house (Parklands at the time) and I couldn't go to town or anywhere really. I had to wait for months for school to reopen. I felt like I was being held hostage. This feeling was forgotten whenever I heard gunshots being fired  from some slum across the ridge, sides za Huruma I think.

This song would move me and I felt like it carried that season.
Sounds jerky when I listen to it now, but it was worth the effort. Listen out for the chorus where Pete Odera gets to match her vocals with Eunice Njeri who gives it everything as always. The power-duo lead it into the transposition and leave the song to soar.

For recent 'tragedies', we've fallen back on songs that already exist to rally people to unite and act. We Are the World during the Kenyans for Kenya drive and Daima Mkenya too. Much as I love these two songs, they were not created to fit the need at the time and therefore should not, in my humble (hehe) view be included in this list.

The next time you listen to an 'anthem' as I'd like to call them, ask yourself whether it sounds thought out or hurriedly put together. I am kinda disappointed that we don't have a 50-year celebration anthem for this year.

P.S. As I type this, Kaligraph has released a #WeAreOne video. What d'you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUAVN40sZx4&sns=fb

P.P.S. I'll try be more consistent in my posts from now on.