Music is food to the soul and any beautiful tune remains that way no matter the language. The world itself is becoming smaller and different people from different corners of the world can meet at anytime they want. Since am talking about a global thing here, I would even include Kenya in to the rest of the African states. It all came as surprise when Wyre the love child did a collabo with Cecile the bad gal, the song was a major hit and it received a very good airplay in local radio and TV stations. Nevertheless, another collabo with Alaine came just within a short time. That’s a positive sign to Kenya, it is clear that our music is appreciated and accepted even outside. When Demarco came to Kenya he did a song with Redsan and it was wonderful.
Our brothers and sisters in Uganda are not left behind too; Chameleon did a song with Beenie man a while ago though it didn’t receive much airplay. Bebe cool did several songs with Mr.G and it drove the masses crazy, whenever Jamaicans do songs with their brothers in Africa, they both produce good stuff. Demarco completed his Kenyan tour and headed to Uganda, which was where he met Peter Miles and did a collabo. Peter Miles is a respected artist and he has been in the game for a long time, he even worked with Elephant man and their nice and polite song was a hit.
When you watch most of the videos where Jamaicans collaborate with Africans, you will notice that there is a phrase written ‘Jamaica Africa connection’. Africa is the biggest market for Jamaican music, which has been the norm ever since the colonial days when Bob Marley toured several African states. The Jamaicans on the other hand have not failed to show their love and affection for their motherland that’s why this collabos intensify every day.
When we get out of East Africa and head to either South or West Africa the scenario changes. South Africans and Nigerians dominate the music industry in Africa, their music is rich of originality and their videos are amazing compared to us.
It has been different with how Jamaicans work with south Africans or Nigerians. Busy signal for instance, has shown his love for P square and Mafikizolo music and decided to do remixes respectively, those songs are now rocking airwaves in every street. Konshens too did a remix with Fuse odg and the song is still a hit.
Above all, when I come back to kenyan music again, I see a lot of improvement but a lot is still needed to be done. We expect more collabos with foreign artists and Kenyans should put more effort musically, the landscape is already attractive but our creativity should be more and more.
