Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Where are these artists who once rocked the scene?

The late 90s and early years of this century witnessed a generational change in the music industry. There is a crop of musicians who decided to change the trend of things by improving on creativity in recording and performance.

During those days it was not easy for a local artist to organize a crowd pulling show. The word ''LOCAL'' meant mediocre hence most fans would only be excited on hearing names like Kanda Bongoman, Olomide, Shawn Paul, Makoma and the likes. What Kenyans didn't bear in mind is that even the same foreign artists they were adoring were local artists back in their countries of origin. I remember the days when we tried to organize shows with the now renown Gospel artist Rufton Machakos, Kakamega and Naivasha. We would go and position posters on our own because the organizers and venue owners couldn't believe in a local artist doing stuff that is worth paying for. Many other artists went through this hardship to see the industry become a reality. Then came the emergency of more production houses and more artists came up with nice songs. Our music started competing with the foreign music and becoming popular. For those that were there, you remember names like Five Alive, Pete Odera, Kalamashaka, Rufton, Mandugu Digital, T.T Solomon, E-sir, K-rupt, Googs and vin Banton, Maji maji, Gidigidi, Wikmosh, Darling P, Nameles, Nonin, Jua Cali, my self (Abedi Dotkom) among many others. When I see the way the industry is now big I always remember the hardships we faced as upcoming artists. I couldn't believe it when my song was one of the first local music to be pirated yet Kenyan music had not been taken that serious in the past. It wasn't easy.

I realize some of the artists named above have since disappeared from the music scene. Aren't they Mashuja?


Any one with an idea on their whereabouts?

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