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Kenya: Soldier Turns to Music to Heal Nation
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The Nation (Nairobi)
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Kenneth Ogosia
Nairobi
Military intervention in the Kenyan post-election violence took various forms, but her personal intervention, away from the barracks, made an indelible mark in the healing process among the internal refugees and bitter social revellers at joints dominated by the "charged" tribes.
Kenya Air Force senior private Doris Chepchumba Tanui composed songs in her cubical at the 7KR (Kenya Rifles). She uses them to entertain and educate Kenyans about the biblical equality of all human beings.
She was horrified by the gruesome and spine-chilling burning of children, women and men alive in her home province of the Rift Valley where a Catholic priest was also stoned to death for belonging to another tribe.
Ms Tanui visited the people camping at the Jamhuri Park and was heart-broken at the suffering of humanity who are not separated by anything but tribe.
Expressions for peace
She wants the Ministry of Education to use music messages to start lessons on nationalism.
The fifth born in the family of retired prison warders, Mr John Komen, and Josephine Kiptanui, says she started developing talent in music in primary and secondary schools where she excelled as the best dancer and vocalist.
Ms Tanui epitomises the immortal music of celebrities such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Brenda Fasie and Miriam Makeba from whose scripts she borrowed many expressions for peace, love and respect for our parents.
Her talent made the Army department poach her from the Air Force because the dwindling fortunes of Maroon Commandos needed an angelic voice and colour.
She attributes her deep focus on music as a soldier to their commanding officer, a colonel Nguku. He has even sponsored a production of the patriotic songs which will soon hit the market.
Ms Tanui was crowned the best vocalist in a 2006 music extravaganza sponsored by media partners at Ibiza club, Nairobi and won Sh200,000 prize.
She believes her talent and that of several youngsters has not been used to inculcate positive social lessons.
"I used the money to buy my parents land and educate my siblings, one of who is now a military recruit. Others are still in school but I aspire to take my messages of peace even to Kenyans in the diaspora because they were also sharply divided," she said.
Ms Tanui sings at Ranalo Foods (Kosewe) where Maroon Commandos play live and at the drop of her voice, revellers take to the dance floor with total disregard to social or ethnic backgrounds.
Ms Tanui, 24, started a military intervention without spilling blood by reminding Kenyans that God created human beings in his own image, without prejudice or features given to animals like horns, tails, wings, and anything else that could make one community or race think they are special.
Although a military career is believed to develop people into heartless mortals, Ms Tanui's patriotism, love for peace, equality and humanity, reveal that the country was probably not utilising the talents of the youth in various professions to achieve national cohesion.
Booming voice
At the Lang'ata Barracks, Ms Tanui is a no-nonsense soldier ready to swing into action with her gun when duty calls and an approachable singer, dancer and peace campaigner in Nairobi's social clubs.
Ms Tanui hopes to get a promoter to produce a video series, which will disseminate her music.
Her new approach to music is helping the once famous Maroon Commandos regain its glory.
Her inter-changing shrill and booming voice brings out the twist lyric in a way and with a message only comparable to hits played by musicians like Daudi Kabaka, Fadhili William and David Amunga in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.
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"Why didn't God create the Luo with horns, Kikuyus with tails, Kalenjin with wings...all communities with distinct identities... if we are not equal", she ponders in a song castigating the post-elections violence.
Ms Tanui then asks why people were burning food stores, schools, houses, forests, hospitals and even vehicles, when the items are all for the human welfare and now without them, what next?
A vigorous dance follows, as she gives an impressive jig with a soldier's fitness and athletic frame.
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