Caroline Nyanga
22 March 2008
Nairobi — The American presidential race remains a vicious battle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The world watches with bated breath, who could be the next most powerful man or woman in the world, after George Bush.
And the wait is even more critical in Kenya as Obama is the son of a Kenyan.
But if the Obama euphoria has dominated the political scene, then the kind of attention he has attracted in the entertainment scene remains unmatched sincethe days of Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass and other famous artistes.
The heat generated worldwide has attracted many celebrities across the world. Musicians, through their songs, are endorsing their favourite candidate.
A recent media research indicates that Obama has more celebrity muscle going by the number of A-List entertainers rallying behind him, and urging their millions of fans in America to do the same.
William, of the Black Eyed Peas did a pro-Obama song Yes We Can and its videos have generated more than five million hits on YouTube.
Internationally renowned Jamaican reggae singer, Cocoa Tea, recently released a song titled Barack Obama in praise of the Illinois senator.
"This is not about class nor colour, race nor creed", the veteran dancehall crooner sings in a version posted on the video Website Dailymotion.
"It's about the changes, what the Americans need."
The song goes on to call Obama a "trendsetter" and urges Americans "to unite as one" behind him. Cocoa Tea, whose real name is Calvin Scott, said the tribute song, Barack Obama would be released soon by New York's VP Records.
"The young people supporting him want change - and that's what he represents," said the singer, whose laid-back lyrical style made him a local star in the 1980s.
He becomes the second major Caribbean musician to endorse Obama in song, joining Trinidadian calypso star, Mighty Sparrow who recently recorded a track entitled, Barack the Magnificent.
In Kenya, Cocoa Tea's Obama song has continued to rank top in a local radio station as "Beat of the Week" and is said to have one of the largest endorsements.
Locally, King of Ohangla, Tony Nyadundo leads the way with his album, Obama. The album has taken the local music scene by storm.
Revellers in Kenyan dancehalls usually go into a frenzy and dance with abandon, as soon as Obama's song rends the air.
In the song, Nyandundo talks about meeting Obama when he was last in Kenya. Obama asks him how he is, and he tells him he is doing just fine, man.
Elated by the fact that Nyadundo is familiar with the English language, Obama then asks him what he would like to have as a reward for his efforts as an artiste and he chooses a guitar.
The Illinois senator then gives him Sh100,000 to buy his favourite equipment. In the song, he expresses his desire for the senator to be voted in by the Americans, saying he is worth the cause he is fighting for.
Roaring business
Well, contrary to the belief that the two actually met - Nyadundo was just doing what an artiste does best - creativity. He composed and recorded the song within a span of two days during Obama's visit to Kenya.
Nyadundo says Obama has all the qualities of a leader.
Huge following
"His connection with the masses is greater than any of his competitors and I can only compare him locally to the Prime Minister-designate Raila Amolo Odinga who also happens to be a man of the people," he says.
Although Nyadundo gave two copies of the CD to Obama's "contacts", to date, he is slightly disappointed that he has not received any response from the senator. He is not sure if Obama actually received the CDs.
"But I guess if he did, he is too busy now campaigning for the nomination and plays them during his flights across America. Perhaps when he comes back to Kenya, he will look for me," says Nyadundo.
Despite this, Nyadundo has sold a huge number of his Obama CDs. At one point during one of his concerts in Nairobi, he sold 1,000 copies to fans at Sh500 each.
He has done this in various towns within the country and has sent some copies abroad, in particular America, where a huge number of Kenyan fans requested for them.
Others are available in various music outlets within and outside Nairobi. Asked why he did the song, Nyadundo says, it was for personal conviction as opposed to money.
Nyadundo has garnered a majority of fans from different ethnic backgrounds with his Obama song. Besides being played on matatus plying various routes in Nairobi, it has also become a club banger and a "national anthem" to some extent.
Anthony Maina, an ardent fan of Nyadundo's Obama song, says he never misses out on his performances whenever he comes to Nairobi for shows.
But he is not the only one.There are many other people of diverse communities who love and appreciate the song although they do not understand the words. "What matters is that besides being part of the Obama euphoria, it is good music to the ear," says Maina.
He observes that several Kenyans enjoy and dance to Lingala music but hardly understand the lyrics.
In their own small ways, other local musicians who have thrown their weight behind Obama include Benta Nyakoyugi, Lady Maureen, Princess Jully and Ouma Basement.
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