I’m alive and kicking, benga musician Joseph Kamaru says
Benga musician Joseph Kamaru entertains guests during Madaraka celebrations in Nyeri on June 1, 2017. He has assured his fans that he is alive and kicking. He is admitted to Avenue Hospital in Nairobi from where he says he hopes to be discharged by Monday April 30, 2018. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He said he was hoped he had hoped to be discharged on Friday to attend a meeting of musicians from Mt Kenya.
- Kamaru said he hopes to oversee changes in the music industry and mentor upcoming musicians.
- Mr Kamaru started his singing career in 1956.
- Some of his popular his hits include Tiga Kũhenia Igoti and Mũhiki wa Mĩkosi.
Celebrated Kikuyu pop musician Joseph Kamaru has trashed rumours that he is dead.
The benga musician has told the Nation that he is recuperating at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi from an illness which he did not disclose.
Mr Kamaru said he was admitted to the hospital on Monday and was to be discharged Friday but the doctors advised him to stay for a rest until Monday.
"I’m alive and kicking; tell my fans and the extended family members that I am well and recuperating and (they should) ignore the reports of the haters.
"I dedicate them (the haters) to God to deal with them for misleading the country that I am no more. Whoever takes the role of the Lord to “kill” his people can only be dealt with by him," he told the Nation by phone from his hospital bed.
MEETING
He said he was hoped he had hoped to be discharged on Friday to attend a meeting of musicians from Mt Kenya to advise them on how to revolutionise the music industry but his doctor advised to stay.
He sent a representative to the meeting who will later brief him on the deliberations.
He said he hopes to oversee changes in the music industry and mentor upcoming musicians to come up with the best songs for their audience.
Mr Kamaru started his singing career in 1956.
Some of his popular his hits include Tiga Kũhenia Igoti and Mũhiki wa Mĩkosi.
The legendary musician said he intends to build a cultural home on one of his farms in Murang’a to safeguard the Kikuyu culture.
"I want this country to get back to 1975 when the musicians could control the price of their songs and could discipline the artistes who went against the ethics and standards set out by the Kenya Association of Phonographic Industry (Kapi)
"I will also establish Agikuyu home in Murang'a as the first of its kind where we will be advising the youth on our culture," he said.
Musician Kamande Wa Kioi urged people to be responsible with what they write on social media platforms saying such reports (of death) could scare the family members.
"I was with him on Wednesday and on Thursday when rumours spread that he was dead. People need to get their facts right before writing anything," Mr Kioi said.
