Kenya: Benga musician in exile over video

Atomy Sifa, whose real name is Tom Mboya Ang’ang’a, fled to Tanzania a week ago after claiming that his life was in danger. He says several individuals threatened him for betraying Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga.

This after Ang’ang’a released a song two weeks ago that urges the Luo community in western Kenya to pledge allegiance to President Uhuru Kenyatta. The song, ‘Uhuru Nyale’ (Uhuru is Capable), also urges the Luo to stop following Odinga, a plea that has not been met favourably by some members of the community ahead of the 8 August presidential election. 

Odinga, who is from the western province of Nyanza, is the official presidential flagbearer of the National Super Alliance (NASA), whereas Kenyatta, who hails from Kenya’s central region, is the leader of the Jubilee Party of Kenya.

“People called me, threatening that they would kill me for insulting Odinga in the song,” Ang’ang’a said. “I never knew what the song was all about. I was invited to be part of the video but later realised it was defaming Odinga.”

However, a source who took part in the production of the song and video told the Kenyan publication that top Jubilee Party bloggers and officials from Nyanza approached four Luo musicians, including Ang’ang’a, to compose songs praising Kenyatta, but the two parties had failed to reach an agreement about payment. The source said Ang’ang’a later met the bloggers separately to sign a contract and was given prewritten lyrics that were not to be changed.

Musicians from Nyanza say Ang’ang’a was told not to set foot in the Nyanza region again. “We have disowned Ang’ang’a for composing a song which is shameful at a time when the region’s political kingpin seeks the highest office in the land,” musician Otieno Small said.

According to relatives, Ang’ang’a’s home in Homa Bay County, Nyanza, is now deserted.

“Ang’ang’a has been praising Odinga in his songs for years and has nothing to show for it. What is wrong when he praises President Kenyatta?” a family member said.

Another relative, Joachim Mboya, said: “Ang’ang’a is an orphan who has been struggling to earn a living. However, it was wrong for him to make a laughingstock of the whole Luo community.”

The Jubilee Party's Homa Bay County governorship candidate, Tom Alila, said: “Police have the duty to protect Mr Sifa and his relatives because we cannot withstand those violating other people’s right of expression.”

Meanwhile, in an effort to redeem himself, Ang’ang’a shot three videos praising Odinga before fleeing to Tanzania. Ang’ang’a told Music In Africa that the videos – 'Nasa Hao', 'Agwambo Tibim' and 'Agwambo Joshua' – were shot over two days.

Here is one of them: