Roselyne Obala
9 May 2008
Nairobi — At 62, Mr Wilson Omutere Ongaro, popularly known as Sukuma bin Ongaro, is still going strong in the music industry.
Ongaro believes his time to retire has not come despite the local music sector having no returns.
What inspires him is his belief that music is about service to society and spicing up life, which to him is a lifetime affair.
For some time, Ongaro has been hosting live shows in Nairobi hotels.
He says only the aged should quit. The benga-cum-omutibo-cum-rhumba artiste is still deeply rooted in the music industry despite the many challenges he has encountered with producers and pirates.
"Piracy will remain our greatest nightmare. We spend so much to produce music only for the songs to be pirated and end up benefiting others," he says.
In an interview with The Standard at his humble Khwisero home, the Western Province benga star has nothing enviable.
"I have nothing to show for the many years I have been in the music industry despite having made a name for myself," Ongaro says, showing us his home.
Ongaro is not only a specialist in singing and playing guitar, but also has his own style of entertaining his fans.
"With no academic background, I only work to earn a little to sustain my family and myself instead of begging," he says.
Ongaro mainly sings in Luhya and Kiswahili.
His two wives, Mrs Beatrice Sukuma and Mrs Rose Sukuma, have borne him 12 children.
Sukuma Bin Ongaro. Picture: Isaac Wale
He says Kenyan music is underutilised and the Government should come up with proper policies to uplift artistes' living standards.
So close to his heart is music that he could not immediately remember the year he was born and the number of children he has, but instantly recalled his music hits.
Ongaro realised his talent in music at the age 16.
At 17, he had moved into his own apartment in Muthurwa, Nairobi, where he continued to compose, practise and record songs.
Songs such as Nilimpenda Leonida Anyinyo akiwa shuleni, Nereha wekomola obweni and Kazi ya msumeno imenishinda are popular, especially his native Western Province.
He has been recognised alongside other artistes like the late David Owino Misiani and Joseph Kamaru, whose following among Kenyans was overwhelming.
He recalls how veteran musicians David Amunga and Isaiah Mwinamo, to who he attributes the discovery of his talent, inspired him.
"I did not have passion for music until I started liking the artistes' songs. I later decided to make a home guitar," he says.
But his quick rise to fame did not come easy, especially when he left home for the city to look for a producer.
"When my mother realised I had a talent in music, she offered to buy me a guitar. That was the beginning of my journey as a musician," he says.
Ongaro recalls how his late mother struggled to bring him and his other siblings up after their father's death.
She sold chang'aa to provide for the family and saved some money to buy Ongaro a guitar.
Ongaro later acquired one for Sh17, which he used to entertain locals at their home before he relocated to Nairobi.
"I had never travelled past my home since I was born, but on this day, I decided to relocate to the city to boost my talent," he said.
Before he moved, he had coined his stage name, Sukuma bin Ongaro, which sounded original to him.
"My name was also connected to the guitar, 'kusukuma na waya'," Ongaro says.
Born in 1946 at Ebukambuli, Mulwanda village in Khwisero, Butere District, he was notably a lazy boy who evaded farm work to stay home.
His mother, Jessica Khuvundo, would return home from the farm only to find his fourth born son entertaining fans in the homestead.
He later set off to the city through Yala, where he boarded a train in 1962.
"When I reached Nairobi, I did not know which way to go. I stayed at the station with the askaris for three weeks," he recalls.
One day he met a cousin from his rural home who offered to help him find a producer and his elder brother who lived in the outskirts of the city.
Ongaro says he was lucky to be accepted by his first producer, Amunga, who was impressed by his music.
His first music was recorded a few weeks later, and he earned Sh50 for the single.
The song was a hit dedicated to his late father Ongaro, which was also the title.
He stayed with his brother for a year. Since then, Ongaro has never looked back.
Three of his sons have followed in his footsteps.
He recently released another single hit, urging Kenyans to remain in harmony and called on President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to promote peace.
Ongaro did not openly support any party during campaigns last year.
He appeals to producers who exploit artistes to stop the vice and help upcoming musicians achieve their goals.
"If I record 12 songs with a producer, I am paid Sh7,000, which is not enough to pay the band," he says.
But he encourages upcoming artistes not to give up the struggle, as music is a wonderful thing if taken seriously.
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