Singing their hearts out to President’s ear

They were not our usual media celebrities, so when the seven Kenyans received the President’s award, it was sweet music to their ears.

Those who received the music awards at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture headquarters on Tuesday have contributed immensely to Kenya’s music industry and culture.

Work backstage

Apart from gospel singer Esther Wahome and Suzanne Gachukia, the others were people who work backstage to present various choirs and bands to Kenyans, but who never feature in the real presentations that Kenyans get to see.

One of them was Bwire Thedeus Ojiambo, who heads the cultural dance troupe at the Bomas of Kenya. Ojiambo is the man who ensures that every weekend — and even weekdays on request — the world is treated to the best of Kenyan traditional music and culture at the government-owned Bomas of Kenya.

Over the years, Ojiambo has ensured that visitors to the centre located at the edge of the city get to sample Kenya’s diverse heritage. “Bomas is the microcosm of the Kenyan cultural experience,” said Culture permanent secretary Jacob ole Miaron, who spoke on behalf of the President. “We encourage all people interested in our culture to visit it.”

Another recipient of the State investiture Award was Jacktone Hongo. Hongo is the director of the Dero Community and Cultural Organisation, a movement that has been marketing Nyanza Province as a cultural tourist destination.

Hongo is the founder of the Kogelo Obama Cultural Centre, which, together with the Ministry of Heritage are behind the proposed cultural centre. Kogelo is the birth place of US President Barack Obama’s father. Hongo has been the force behind a number of music and cultural events in Nyanza, featuring musicians from the grassroots. He leaves on Sunday for the US on a mission to promote his work.

The other recipient is James Ruto, who has been a music trainer, teacher, conductor and producer in the Rift Valley Province for many years. He has taught music in many schools and is currently the Rift Valley provincial director of the Permanent Presidential Music Commission.

Then there was Joseph Muyale, who founded the Boys Choir of Kenya. His choir composed of boys from Nairobi’s slums, were the only Kenyan music group to perform at president Barack Obama’s inauguration in Washington. The trail-blazing choir has landed a recording deal with Universal Records, one of the leading music labels in the world.

Anyone who is a gospel music fan must have heard of Esther Wahome. Wahome has been a leading figure of contemporary gospel music, and her songs such as Kuna Dawa and Daktari are well known not only in churches, crusades, radio, TV but also in bars. She is among the leading gospel musicians in the country.

Others who got the presidential awards were Suzanne Gachukia, who was among the founding lights of Kenya’s hip-hop. Suzanne has been a member of Zanazziki and Musically Speaking band, and is currently the secretary of Kenya Music Producers.

John Njenga Kamau was honoured for his services to the visual arts industry. Kamau, whose artistic name is Wanyu Brush, is a pioneer of self-taught artists, who practice their trade in Ngecha Village, Limuru. Ngecha has produced many of the Kenya’s leading visual artists. Present during the awards was Heritage secretary of culture Said Athman.