Longing for a Kenyan Sound
by: Matthew Hundley
M: I read in other articles how you would like to see a distinctive Kenyan sound emerge. How would you describe that sound? Are there guitar riffs, percussive elements, or vocal styles that are unique to Kenyan recordings?
A: Yes, I would love to see a Kenyan distinct sound as is the case with music from other regions of Africa, like Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Congo and Nigeria. It is easy to tell music from those places. As it is now, most of Kenyan music is imitation of America’s hip hop, Congolese Rhumba and Seben and so on. A distinct Kenyan sound would be anything from a fusion of Western instruments like guitars, keyboards, with traditional instruments like the marimba (xylophone), chivoti (traditional flute), kayamba (shaker with stones or seeds) etc. On the album you have an example of that sound would be what you get when you listen to Muchimbire Shethani (flee from Satan’s influences). Already there is somewhat some of that sound in some recordings, but a lot more needs to me done.
M: You have recorded Swahili, Giriama, Kiswahili and Kigiryami songs. Help me, as a Westerner, to understand differences here in language and musical style.
A: My recordings are in Kiswahili (national language) and Giryama (my mother tongue). The differences between these languages are in the lyrics and style. The Giryama songs are more repetitive and only end when the singers are tired. In African music, the songs don’t have clearly marked endings. A song can end any time the performers feel it should end. Now on the album you have, the Giryama songs some of them take traditional tunes with a pentatonic scale and some take the normal scale with much more modern instrumentation (meaning guitars, harmony etc). If you listen to Muchimbire Shethan, you will find that there is no harmony. All the singers sing in unison. This is typical of Giryama music.
M: From articles I read it seemed like you have garnered much respect as a musician first; and that reviewers seem to respect your choice to proclaim the Gospel through your music. Am I reading this correct?
A: Yes, I have earned much respect in proclaiming the gospel through music. Recently I met a muslim friend and he asked for my music. After three or four days he called me and this said that he enjoyed the music. After that call he sent me two short text messages and this is how they read: “Bro, you have a good team. Next one will, it will be a top ten brother..bro take it from my heart.” The second one read, “Brother your VCD is good. I enjoy. Bro, I have faith you and your wife can make best songs. AMIN. Hope God will answer my prayer. AMIN.” So I may not be making alto of money from my music, but the impact it has had on people’s life is great. In Kenya there is a clear demarcation between Gospel music and Secular music. However a majority of people who are may not even be Christians enjoy listening to Christian music. There are Gospel music retailers who are not even Christians. Gospel music plays in almost all FM radio stations, supermarkets, bars, and even in government gatherings. This distinction is clearly marked and there have never been cases of gospel musicians recording secular albums.
M: Here in America there is a marked distinction between Gospel music and secular music (though some musicians are breaking through those barriers).
A: America gospel and Praise music has had a great impact on urban churches especially those in big cities. In such cities you may hear songs by Michael W Smith, Hillsong etc. Africans in those cities will sing while reading the lyrics on an over heard projector. However I have reservations on this kind of approach. First, the music may sound foreign to people, secondly Africans are not used to singing while reading an overhead projector, leave alone singing the exact words in a western song. When Africans are singing music that’s their own, they tend to put variety. For instance, the soloist will always add a new word to the same stanza when it is repeated. An example Ingia Ingia, ingia ingia, ingia ingia, Uwe mmoja wa kondoo (enter and be one of the sheep), the second time the soloist may sing we baba ingia, mtoto ingia, kijana ingia, uwe mmoja wa kondoo (enter father, enter child, enter young man, and be counted as one of the sheep.) The meaning of the song of course invites the people to accept the Lord as their savior. So there is variation every time a stanza is repeated in African music. American gospel and Praise is yet to try to penetrate the rural areas. I am not trying to talk bad about American gospel music, in fact with globalization taking place, music of all cultures tend to fuse and bring up a new music culture.
M: What is the impact of American Gospel and Praise music on churches in Africa? What challenges do you face as a Christian artist?
A: As a Christian musician in Africa, I face my challenges ranging from piracy, distribution hassles, promotion of our music, and lack of equipment. I have started a band of 7 people, most of whom are family members, but every time we go to minister somewhere, we have to hire musical instruments for about 100 USD per day. We hope and pray that we will be able to acquire our own equipment soon. If that happens we will be able to move around preaching and teaching people on how to know God and also sensitize young people on the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
M: Can you tell me your Christian testimony? And how you feel called to serve God through music today? How are you using your music for witnessing and evangelism?
A: I am come from a large family. My dad has four wives and I happen to be the fourth born from his first wife (who lawful is the true wife lol). I came to Christ way back in 1978 when our family was faced with challenges of witchcraft. My dad was running a small shop and the rest of the neighbors were not happy about it. We could be woken up by strange sounds at night. It was at that time that I gave my life to Christ in a small village church. I was about 9 years at the time and did not really understand much about the Christian faith. For me I felt that becoming a Christian would also protect me from attacks of witchcraft. And indeed God was faithful. I was protected all through my life up to now. I joined the ministry of Bible translation in 1992 at the age of 23. Through interacting with the Bible daily, I have been able to use that to compose songs that are theologically sound. Some of my music is evangelistic while some of it is encouraging especially to those who are going through a hard time in their lives. I try to use my experiences to write songs too. With my band now called THE MTAWALIS BAND, we minister in crusades, weddings, and other kinds of outreaches. Sometimes we partner with the public relations office of my organization to promote the work of Bible translation in Kenya. In 2002, I was involved in promotion tour in Australia and New Zealand. As I write the music is being distributed in Australia.
M: How did you and Hellen meet? What is her faith and music background? What projects is she involved with these days?
A: I met my wife Hellen when I went to do a music course at Daystar University where she works. She happened to be one of the teachers for the course at the time. After that, I did my first recording (BWANA YESU) in 1997 and asked her to come and back me up. That’s how our friendship grew and finally we got married in December 1998. My wife is a musician by profession. She has sang in many people albums, however she has her own album called Ngima Polo and another one that came out recently called ECHO done with her group called Afrizo. Afrizo is comprised of students from Daystar University. She also takes part in music trainings for church choirs. She is known for her voice and choreography. Right now she is involved in a controversial star search program called Tusker Project Fame sponsored by a Beer company. Some people feel she should not take part in such, but some say she could take the gospel those non Christian organizers.
M: Do you have children?
A: Yes, we have one daughter her name is Neema. She is 6 years old. She loves to sing too, but we really can’t tell what genre of music she may end up liking and doing.
M: For you... What is the role of music in life? In worship?
A: According to me, music is like medicine. It can be therapeutic, entertaining and also a mode of my expression to God. There are times I have felt low, and sung my own song and got challenged by own words. In life music is supposed to help us to express ourselves where non musical words may not achieve. Music is a tool that we can use to communicate a message to people of all calibers. Music can reach places where the singer may not be able to reach. It may penetrate palaces and state houses to reach those in leadership roles. Music is the language of the soul.
M: What instruments do you play? Who taught you?
A: I play guitar. I learnt playing the guitar on my own. My elder brother, Simon, made his guitar and we would tune it using a friend’s guitar, after that I would try to play some keys, and with time I found out that I could play. Right now I can play all kinds of songs. I also play the E flat tuba, but my interest in that instrument is not as deep as that of the guitar.
M: What music styles are you most influenced by?
A: My music is influenced by Giryama traditional music, rhumba, reggae and a bit of jazz. In almost all the recordings there is a saxophone which brings in the jazzy feel. I also love the guitars in country music and I think I am influenced by it as well.
M: In America the picture we get in the papers of Kenya is mostly based on recent political issues. Have these things impacted you at all?
A: The situation in Kenya now is improved. Initially the violence had made the music sales drop tremendously because the retailers had to close their shops in fear of being looted. Right now the situation has improved that sales have resumed as usually. I have not written any peace song for the situation in the country, for I feel that other gospel singers have already written on the same and there enough songs already.
Posted: August 26, 2008  
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