Is Kenyan Music Whack? Al Jazeera Puts Up The Debate And This Is What Its Panelists Said

Kenyan artsites and their music has been put on the spot recently, with its ranking globally very pathetic and wanting.

Kenyans themselves have not shown much appreciation to the efforts put by artsites to come up with tracks, as some argue that their work is just whack and pathetic.

The other day a section of artistes took to the streets to demonstrate and demand that Kenyan media house play at least 60% of local music. They argued that their work has been neglected in favour of foreign stuff, something that has jeopardized every effort they are making to curve a niche for themselves.

And perhaps this is the reason why Aljazeera sampled a panel of experts to discuss Kenyan music yesterday. Among them were Muthoni the Drummer Queen, Wiyo and DJ EDU of BBC.

And as the discussion generated on, it emerged that MDQ and Wiyo, who are Kenyan artistes, had different views regarding Kenyan music.

The debate was that Kenyan Music lacks originality and all the artistes do is ape foreign artistes.

While MDQ argued that no one should blame Kenyan artistes because this is what they grew up listening to, Winyo said that Kenyan artistes are pathetic because they are too lazy to go retreat to their root and come up with something authentic.

While some would say that Kenyans do not appreciate and support their local artistes, others will tell you for free that no one will appreciate and support shoddy and pathetic work.

So what has Radio Jambo’s Gidi Ogidi have to say after watching the debate?

This debate reminded me of some info that I got today that the ongoing coke studio music show being recorded in Kenya, which was graced by American star Neyo, has the worst ratings in Kenya as compared to other countries in Africa.

Some of the reasons being given is that Kenyans don’t appreciate their local Artists. No single urban Kenyan Artist has a fanatical following as Diamond in TZ or Davido in Nigeria. The few that get airplay or media limelight do not live to expectation. Few Kenyans get bothered to watch them even if they are featured with top African n American Stars.

Do you agree? And why is it so?

Where has the Kenyan music industry gone wrong?

Can’t we have such debates on our local tv stations too instead of those tired irritating dj video mixes?