I like music and singing, this was one of my favorite lessons in school. When it was introduced in primary it was so confusing for many. For me it was a piece of cake because this had long been a family hobby.
During the Nyayo era, there were many choirs singing in praise of the President and the Government achievements. Music festival in Kenya was a very important fete and finals were done at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).This has since changed and it is nowadays celebrated in one town to the other making it is difficult for music lovers like me to follow up the events.
During NARC era Music has not been an important issue as it was during Nyayo era. It is only during political campaigns and special public holidays that much of music is heard. Musicians also match with the society demand and compose songs in that line. It seems now we will be getting more songs before the elections at the end of the year. It also seems that music is used in Kenya to gratify political ambitions other than as a profession. This is surely a bad trend.
The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) have tried all ways to stop corruption unsuccessfully. The commission is now turning to singing in its attempt to fight the vice. It has launched a 10 million music kitty to boost the fight on corruption. See details under http://allafrica.com/stories/200708090590.html . This is very interesting. Personally, I cannot participate in such a kitty. It is like “kumpigia mbuzi kinanda” (playing music to goats). If other campaigns have failed how will music succeed? Can this worsen corruption instead as the funds may be disbursed discriminatively to friends and relatives of the commission members.
The same money may be diverted to campaigns for politically right parts. Another form of corruption. Will the money go to real musicians or persons who shout well in the political tunes regardless whether their shout is music or sheer noise?
The kitty would work well if it was to be used both to fight corruption and promote music profession.
May be it can work when they name people they know are corrupt for example Bwana X acha ufisadi, amka kumekucha tuijenge inchi yetu (Mr. X stop corruction, wake up its morning we build our country).
The Kitty may be a good idea but it might worsen the corruption status.
3 comments:
I think what you have said here is right Sue-going all over the country singing songs is not fighting corruption. its not even raising awareness of corruption-if corruption is a cancer, which it is, you don't sing and hope it will go away. you remove it-can you imagine a surgeon singing to a tumour the size of a football on a patient in an operating room?
The best way to raise awareness about anti-corruption is to make examples of those who are caught being crooked-throw them in jail, take THEM (whoever they may be) around the country (their pictures or stories or something like that) etc that way no one will be left in doubt that there is zero tolerance
The truth though (i think) is that KACC is a toothless bulldog whose bark is worse than its bite
But Kudos to them for providing our budding musicians with employment and i can presume good pay. This can only be a good thing for our fledgling music industry
Luke you made my ribs crack when I tried to imagine a surgeon singing to a tumour the size of a football on a patient to go away. The same way corruption cannot be sung away. Especially the way its being handled in Kenya, the small fish are caught but the big ones are left.
The musicians are lucky for getting part of goodies on offer this year.
I think KACC is a corrupt institution.Have you thought of what happens when you have a criminal watchman. That is the watchman Kenyans have employed.KACC is corrupt and cannot fight corruption.
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