Kenyan benga singer wants to come home

The artist, whose real name is Mboya Ang'ang'a, went into self-exile in July after receiving death threats from members of his Luo community for composing a song castigating Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, ahead of the 8 August presidential elections.

The song, ‘Uhuru Nyale’ (Uhuru is Capable), was not received well by Odinga's supporters who hail from the western part of Kenya. In the song, Ang'ang'a urges the Luo community to pledge allegiance to Jubilee Partee presidential nominee and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ang'ang'a then recorded three songs in support of Odinga and his coalition, the National Super Alliance (NASA). However, the songs could not redeem the artist's reputation, which led to his self-exile to Tanzania.

Ang'ang'a told Music In Africa that life in Tanzania meant coming to grips with a new culture, language, social norms and laws.

“Life has been tough since I left Kenya,” he said. “I’ve have been staying with a friend. He has been very supportive but I am not used to being taken care of. I began taking care of myself as a teenager after my parents passed away, so I need to work because I also have a family back in Kenya that depends on me.”

Asked about whether he was paid to compose the anti-Odinga song, Ang'ang'a said: “I was promised $5 000 by a certain Jubilee Party activist who approached me to compose the song. I was paid $400 before commencement of the work and the balance was to be sent to me after the song was released. This is yet to happen.”

But in just a short time after leaving Kenya, Ang’ang’a has managed to involve himself in musical propaganda once again, now singing the praises of Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli. “I am currently composing songs in praise of President John Magufuli. I hope that he will come to my aid once he gets to hear the songs,” Ang’ang’a said.

He said Odinga is the only individual capable of ensuring his safe return home. “My life is threatened back home. Just recently my shop in Homa Bay County was looted. On that note I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to Raila Odinga and the entire Luo community. They should understand that I was only trying to make a living the only way a musician can, which is through music,” Ang’ang’a said.

Since his departure from Kenya, Ang'ang'a has been unable to secure any shows in Tanzania, mainly because he sings in his native Luo language, whereas Tanzanians speak Swahili.