Pusha review: Aslay receives a makeover

Unlike most musicians his age in East Africa, he has mastered the art of steering sensitive sentiment, giving advice to married couples and young women. Kenyan and Tanzanian girls sing along to him on Facebook live, their screams at his concerts testaments to their connection with his music.

Aslay was one of the four members of Yamoto band but five months ago he angered his colleagues by releasing his single ‘Angekuona’. The band split two months later, citing irreconcilable differences, marking the beginning of Aslay’s solo career. He followed with ‘Usiitie Doa’, then came the love song ‘Muhudumu’. In the past few months, he has released ‘Baby’ and ‘Likizo’. ‘Pusha’ was released three weeks ago.

On ‘Pusha’, Aslay is an angry man. “Kuna kijana ananisumbua sana, Mke wangu raha hana, nyumbani amani hakuna,” he sings. (There is no peace in my house. My wife is unhappy, there is a boy trying to seduce her.) He sends a warning message to him through his friends: “Mwambieni ama zake ama zangu nitakufa nae” (Warn him against provoking me. I do not care if we all end up dead.)

The song is based on what is called the bro-code: A bro’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend is off-limits. In this case, Aslay is willing to do the unthinkable, kill and be sent to prison: “Tutabadilishana majengo ya serikalini, Mimi niende jela yeye aende monchwari” (We shall both end up in different places. He will be taken to the mortuary and I to prison).

Performed entirely in Swahili, and riding on guitar strings and piano, this gentle bongo flava song is pensive and gentle thanks to its reggae rhythm. An additional instrument, the flute, imparts the aura of coastal towns along the Indian Ocean in East Africa.

'Pusha' is the first time Aslay is "out of control", smoking weed with his friends as he narrates his situation. “Ushawasha, Mimi nina stress zimejaa kwenye kichwa.” (I am too stressed with a bad headache, please lit it up.)

The video is well choreographed, with the inclusion of a crippled young man who runs away with one shoe making the video comical, perhaps a sign that Aslay is no longer angry after speaking his mind.

However, Aslay’s costume is nothing close to what a married man should wear, and the use of a pistol towards the end is extreme, but it does show the lengths he is willing to go to protect his love. The video has been well received, having been seen just under a million times on YouTube since its release. 

Artist: Aslay
Song: ‘Pusha’
Label, year: Dingi Music, 2017