Maureen Ongwae
22 September 2007
Nairobi — The Lake Victoria region may over the years have been defined by two major music genres - benga and ohangla - but hip-hop is now gaining popularity. Budding artistes have decided that, to reduce the monotony, the only option is hip-hop.
And the musician behind the revolution is Geoffrey Arthur Ogalo, known to his fans as Tera Mos (Dholuo for be patient with), who says he has put everything else aside to concentrate on hip-hop and release at least two albums before the year ends.
He believes that this genre can be used in the region to effectively engage the youth in social change, crime prevention, peace promotion and other positive community initiatives. "Musicians have the power, space and support to drive social change through music," he says.
Ogalo adds that hip-hop is commonly sung by young people, and that the youth, if adequately sensitised on social issues through music, can help to bring about positive change.
Most of his tracks, he says, bear messages encouraging people to be morally upright, arguing that "Aids kills". Other themes are environment conservation and poverty reduction - the major constraints to development in the region.
Inspired by father
The young artiste was inspired at an early age by his father James William Otiende who, though not a musician, always had him accompany him to entertainment joints.
"Most of the times I would accompany my father to entertainment places, especially live shows, and he was greatly amused when, later, I tried to imitate musicians at home, although he encouraged me, saying that I would make it," he recalls.
He realised this at Nyabondo high school in Nyando district in the mid-1990s when he performed during entertainment days. His ambition came to fruition in 1999 when he released his debut album, Funguo la Tisa (The ninth key). He then collaborated with his brother Duncan Owuor and a friend, Hardco P. Charles, to form a group called D-Squad, with his mother Celestine Otiende as the manager.
After two years the group acquired an American promoter, but he left for home in 2002, leading to the group's disintegration.
In 2003, Ogalo produced his most famous track, Tera Mos, which he officially launched at Kondele in Kisumu town during a Coca-Cola-sponsored concert attended also by more renowned artistes such as Redsan, Cone People and Budha Blaze. After the launch, Ogalo fell ill, probably due to stress, and briefly stopped singing. He says he wanted to proceed to college for a certificate course in sales and marketing which he has now completed. He intends to enrol for a diploma course.
"After producing Tera Mos, I went through hell because pirates reproduced thousands of the track, and I did not recover even the production cost," he recalls.
Besides, some matatu owners used the title to brand their vehicles, and he had to battle with them - even in court - to ensure nobody intimidated him and his music. But a year ago, his current producer advised him to withdraw from the case and pursue his music carer.
In 2004, with the help of his mother, Ogalo got back to serious business and released the songs, Sinyorita and Chacha.
He later joined fellow hip-hop artistes to form the Kikosi cha Wachokozi group, comprising Echo Mann as the leader, Chinness, JG, Wizo Wizo, Ticha D, Nasoro and Cubid.
Their coming together has inspired them to open two studios in Kisumu - Holgin Records and Clout Records - to freely record their music. They will soon be launched, Ogalo promises.
The group has produced an album, Uchokozi, which has 18 songs and the musician says it will be launched before the end of the year. Among the tracks Ogalo has solely produced six, including Tera Mos, Bounds, Wamekukataa, Otonglonea, Mazingira and Ferrari.
He says Tera Mos is his favourite, arguing that it touches on the problems that the youth encounter in their day-to-day lives, and advises them to "go slow on life or regret later". He adds: "The phrase "tera mos" itself means don't hurry me up because I need to be sure before I leap."
In Mazingira, Ogalo puts the message across that people should protect the environment and suggests ways to do this. His other songs concentrate on poverty, HIV and Aids and environment conservation.
A differrent style
He says hip-hop artistes in Kisumu are not like their colleagues in the rest of the country, arguing that the former have adopted a different style. One particular area the Kisumu artistes are working on is the type of language.
"In the recent past, hip-hop has been associated with vulgarity because most artistes use obscene language, and this should stop as it discourages the old from listening to the music," the musician says, adding that music is supposed to appeal to all age groups.
"Today children as young as four years seem to know what they want, and it is very wrong to introduce them to vulgar language at this tender age," he points out.
"Most of them listen to the radio and watch television and tend to ape what they see. It is upon us as musicians to ensure we guide them in the right direction."
He says the genre was introduced in the lake region by DJ Charlie (late), who sang with a lot of vulgarity and acquired the beat of Chaka Demas, and the culture "dug deep into many artistes' minds".
Although the genre has creative and distinct slang, it is better when it is simplified to enable other people who do not like Sheng and to listen to the music and enjoy it.
Right now, he and his colleagues are committed to producing hip-hop music in Dholuo and Kiswahili. They have performed at various shows, the most successful ones being at Backyard Club in Kisii town last year and Kitale.
In Kisumu, they have performed at various spots, among them Kimwa Grand, Ofafa Memorial Hall and Basement.
And they preparing to tour Mombasa soon.
Hip-hop music was first introduced in the US in the 1970s and gained momentum in the 80s. It involves rap accompanied by break dancing and instruments such as drums and turntables.
Ogalo says most budding musicians mistakenly associate the genre with wealth and the bling bling that goes with it, and believe that for any artiste to be involved in it, they must have lots of money, fancy cars and expensive jewellery and haunt expensive social places.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
