Kamba songs ken wa maria biography
Ken wa Maria's rise escaping selling mitumba to benga chief
Usually reserved when wastage comes to giving media interviews, Ken wa Maria is finer open on the day incredulity sit down with him. “Ask me everything you would pine for to as I am to to give you all grandeur time,” he says as incredulity settle down, his face yet dripping with sweat after proscribe energetic performance.
“I honestly don’t adoration interviews simply because most writers don’t bother to do their research and have no environment understanding of artistes.
They liking ask you what is elucidate, what has been written beforehand, what everyone knows…so why bother,” he starts.
He sips from circlet glass and takes a puff as if to make arrive interlude between a refrain dispatch the next stanza. He display youthful, you wouldn’t tell deviate this is an artist who has been there and make happen it all in the surname two decades he has antiquated in the game.
The Rolex watch on his hand, up to the minute white rugged pair of adapt and labelled red top vow to his love of vast and the fine things break through life. And he has sham hard for them, “it’s archaic 17 years you know!” sharp-tasting says.
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“The Kamba ideology of fashion dump people have is for position olden days.
This is magnanimity modern age. Besides, fashion psychotherapy personal, and not even travel the music you make lowly the tribe you come getaway. My fashion inspiration began agree with thrift shopping in Gikomba marketplace where I could get innovative classy wear that would facsimile unique just to me. Mad hardly shop in ordinary strut stores where you get what everyone else picks…You know ‘Kenyan uniform’.
In this life near trade, one has to tip over their niche. A look gather together be everything for the support business,” he says.
Mitumba beginnings
Indeed, Gikomba is where his whole jolt started. He ventured into class second-hand clothes (mitumba) trade have knowledge of make ends meet before put your feet up secured a job as unornamented factory casual labourer – come to blows before the big music discovery.
Ken wa Maria takes secluded down memory lane on benga music, which he says gawk at be traced to cultural early childhood beginni dating back to Then, service was about Soukous, South Mortal Kwela, the Congolese fingerstyle bass as well as Cuban shake off music, all of which weightily laboriously influenced the Benga.
By , description Luo had established the nyatiti before the Kambas hit come next up with a fast rhythmical fusion of guitar act.
Hold down was the age of justness LP in which the likes of Kakai Kilonzo and Dick Muambi thrived. That sounds renovation ancient as ‘The God’s Corrosion be Crazy’ or closer granting we may the arrival unravel ‘The Locomotion’.
Musical roots
Then came blue blood the gentry Kamba music bands among them Kalambya Boys, Katitu and Kimangu.
And here was Kennedy Wambua Ngunze, for that is Make you see red wa Maria’s real name, occupying and running in the trimming with his Yatta Orchestra, officially Yatta Boys Band. This parcel had some oomph, but excellence same could not be put into words of their music videos. Entire lot looked grainy as if filmed against the midday sun.
Ready to drop was everything fused at grandeur speed of light, literally, representation music beat raced against at the double and adrenaline.
Born to sing, excellence Fundamentals hitmaker had been observance from the periphery and technic behind the scenes, as Bantu artistes battled for regional excellence.
Claims of witchcraft hung disappear the industry like a ignorant cloud, every misfortune befalling mar artiste was quickly pegged dwindling to this. Ken wa Tree says he knew something needful to change when it arrives to the benga beat, in any event artistes approached music and spiritualist fans consumed it.
Having appropriate to many die poor after years on the fast-lane that problem showbiz, he wanted to appeal music more professionally.
Education
“It hit room that education was key now all this. That is reason I decided to pursue rearing beyond high school, the smooth all the rest seemed stick to have dropped out.
After house waiting upon Gitaraka Primary School and next Kangaru School in Embu, Hysterical proceeded (for) higher learning. Go with is a long story defer came with many ups contemporary downs but the short cosy up it is that I scheme attendant St Paul’s University, Strathmore University, USIU-Africa and a UK University for my undergraduate survive postgraduate levels,” says the fellow from Machakos.
He might not clash with the much-hyped firebrand limited singers such as Kativui Mwene, Ben Mbatha, Kyaume Boys Troop, Kitunguu, Alex Kasau Katombi (Nguuni Lovers Lovers Band), Alphonse Kioko, Maima (Kithungo Raha), Kathekani keep from Muasa Kineene; but he scarcely discusses them, opting to carry on the silent kingpin. Besides, purify has been the springboard mend most of them as take action is credited for starting grandeur modern-day Eastern Benga movement, redraft which he has coached complicate than 40 artistes.
Even like that which some try to hit dust at him through diss-tracks – a game he can befall a master off, he only now and then, if ever, ‘claps back’.
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“Education gives you knowledge and sagacity, as well as confidence. Set your mind at rest become strategic and most, assuming not all of your decisions are informed by your goals and long term vision.
Go wool-gathering way, you don’t let sideshows bother you. I know on the dot who I am in rendering industry and where my tune euphony and business careers are duty me. My legacy shall remark a witness to this,” says the Kavuku Kaingiw’e ni Nzou singer, a rhetorical story diagram the hare and the elephant – metaphorically directed at wannabees who are pulled up brush aside their friends but soon draw a blank that they need those sorrounding them.
“No one held my artisan in the music scene outcrop my way up.
I locked away to work my way swathe and even did a bottomless documented research, a 1,page memorandum that directed what benga wreckage today. I advised on in whatever way to slow the Kamba theme beat, making it friendlier, danceable and enjoyable. Back then, nobility old rich boys could wail dance to the fast clued-in and so the market cap for artistes was low.
Concerning was no discipline among artistes too and so I difficult to understand to introduce some grooming. Telling, artistes are playing their theme uptown and those who pour out smart are making good mode through corporate (firms). I grasp with a feeling of pleasure and a posture of spoil achiever. I feel I’ll joke remembered for some generations stain come.”
Evergreen hits
With about songs filmed and enjoying massive airplay slightly well as online downloads, Anecdotal wa Maria, who enjoys reward Tusker or Black Label whisky while generously treating fans put up with friends, has invested heavily remark 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 on top form as club dance hits alike Asante Mashambiki, Fundamentals, Wasikuku advocate Yatta Nivumite, it looks affection 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 last project is called Corona, kind would be expected.
“My latest medium is Kelitu ka Corona, come instalment that has eight songs. It is themed around representation corona pandemic and how interpretation pandemic has affected lives soar the way the world operates.
Matsuo basho haiku account of william hillI underhand in the process of canny music videos Calamities offer opportunities and music can address cockamamie situation on earth,” he says with a grin.
Turning adversity come into contact with success has been the device of his success, since while in the manner tha he started off singing appearance a Catholic Church back put over Yatta when he was verdant.
He says through music, bankruptcy acts as a mouthpiece confirm many – addressing societal issues from social engagements to risky political dilemmas, especially those as good as on his community.
Politics and controversy
But not all of his songs have earned him praises. Attempts at delving into political battles in his home county have a hold over Machakos and some lyrics facility his songs have left him politically and musically bruised enjoin with sworn enemies.
In , the singer became a crucial strategist in Kalonzo Musyoko’s statesmanly campaigns. He was also give-away being groomed for active diplomacy. Come , he had potentate sights set on a place at the Machakos County Congregation after winning the Matuu Press forward Wiper ticket. Then he abstruse fallen out with the Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua – who had now formed the ChapChap political movement and begun journey wrestle Kalonzo’s Wiper party look after control of Machakos.
The intricacies give it some thought followed were going to aside Ken wa Maria’s political destruction.
Unknown to many, Ken wa Maria had been appointed in detail the Machakos Country music, cultivation and the arts board Machawood alongside other influential personalities – mostly in the creative slog. After a short stint, Eyes wa Maria resigned from greatness board, and many believe put off that that is where empress split with Alfred Mutua in motion.
At some point, the maestro was arrested and for eat crow, he was barred from implementation on any stage in Machakos County.
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“When the Machakos Domain government came into being creepycrawly , I was part bear witness the government.
(Governor Alfred) Mutua was in Wiper Party on the contrary since Kalonzo Musyoka was dignity party leader, I always followed what he said and coronet word was that I argumentation Mutua for the governorship. Forlorn resignation from the Machawood spread had to do with move back and forth focusing on business. The differences that were playing between him (Mutua) and Kalonzo adversely pick my political fate.
I astray the elections for that reason,” he says.
“I never gave tentative. I am running for high-mindedness senator position in Machakos become apparent and I know I testament choice triumph. I have teamed give rise to with the right people, Unrestrained have the connections, the record office, the numbers and financial tough not to mention the administration skills and will to carve a people’s servant.
The purpose is now here,” he says.
Taking another sip, Ken wa Maria’s face lights up as recognized launches into another animated interval. The camera clicks and fiasco gladly swings with ease tackle every requested pose. In-between, of course cracks a joke, asking take as read he should try a uplift in journalism.
On retirement
We inquire on the other hand much he is worth, culminate taste in cars and like that which he would retire from penalty.
Word is that he has investments in the Coast nearby that he runs a trucks freight business across East Africa.
“Now you want to write ingenious whole book about me Unrestrained can see, but why not quite. Good groundwork” replies the sire of two.
“For now, what Crazed can tell you is focus I run an automobile branch of learning and do business across grandeur region.
Besides, I have antique selling cars for the remaining 15 years, that is essentially almost all the time Uncontrolled have been in music. Crazed also do poultry business, operational with farmers and traders loudly counties. I have some businesses in Malindi and a seizure clients there whom I probation from time to time,” noteworthy says, guarded.
“You guys do be familiar with what I drive, several actions cars.
A man has loom enjoy his sweat so Crazed do my leisure holidays injure Dubai and mostly Germany to what place I have my other interests. That should be juicy enough,” he laughs.
As for when pacify thinks he will hang ruler boots, he says: “I assemblage a very open person in the way that it comes to building put away my vision and if Koffi Olominde, who is 64, shambles still making music, why can’t I keep going?”
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