It’s the end of the year. Everyone is busy making an inventory of their life. It’s very important to take stock of one’s life. I think when we are doing this, like now, we should not just look back at things we did and/or did not do, but also look at what makes us different as individuals.
We need to answer the question, “how am I differently wired from others?” Understanding difference will help you discover your purpose in life e.g. you have a safaricom line and not airtel for reason of difference. You buy pizza at Pizza inn and not Highlands inn for reason of difference. Knowing the difference you have in your life will make you valuable to others for you will be able to solve their problems.
I will not put my difference here. In fact, I want to review what was common in Kenya in 2011. I’ll pick three things; music, movies and trends.
Musically speaking
The three biggest tunes in Kenya in 2011 were;
1) Sawale
This song was a bit hit in Kenya. I don’t know the name of the artist who did it. I’ll sleep better at night if don’t attach a face to the song. I hear the meaning of the song is vulgar and the song is actually banned in some countries. There are several reasons why I don’t like it including but not limited to me not understanding what he is singing about and I generally don’t like Nigerian music and movies. But chiefly, there is a shop attendant who played this song every day, yes, every day, since the time it became a hit. He routinely used to do this early in the morning when he was opening shop at 6:30am. For you to get the picture, imagine an Ukwala supermarket promotion at 6:30am. On one occasion I actually told him I’ll call NEMA on him.
Why did most Kenyans like sawale?
I suppose the admiration of Nigerian culture is a growing trend in Kenya. It is considered comical to talk like a Nigerian in Kenya. Since no tribe in Kenya has a Nigerian accent, all Kenyans can get away with this. I believe the sawale song complemented this fun trend. I will not be objective if asked whether the music was good or not. But you will agree it was a really bad song!
2) Kigeugeu
Yesterday I watched Jaguar’s interview on TV. This was the first time I got to hear his life story. It got my attention how he kept referring to God. He said he believed God must be rewarding him for all the days he hustled. He added that God will never leave you. His advice to the youth was that they should keep way from drugs and alcohol and if you didn’t know, he doesn’t drink or do drugs. This talk sounded much like discussions I have with my Christian friends. Which really emphasizes that the gospel is not “you can be saved and this is how” but rather “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Rom1:1-3).
Jaguar said one more important thing. He said he didn’t expect Kigeugeu to be a hit. I was not surprised by this. How can that song be a hit? I thought the melody was really wanting and the beats would have suited an auto-tune piece by Danko. But the song was a big hit in 2011.
Why did most Kenyans feel kigeugeu?
I imagine Kenyans have great disappointments in their lives. Many guys have aspirations but feel trapped in a web of poverty. Nearly all my friends have a tale about how they were let down in their relationships, or even by Christians. I remember one of my friends mum was involved in an accident along thika road. When they rushed her to hospital x the nurses refused to even give her first aid until they had paid ksh10, 000 which he did not have. He was so frustrated.
Jaguar’s kigeugeu song does not give a prescription of what to do. It’s a simple lament. I would call it a dirge for the living and that’s why Kenyans loved it.
3) Furifuri
People should stick to their professions. Bob Collymore, Julie Gichuru, and Jeff Koinange, should all stick to their respective careers. Music isn’t their thing even if it is for a charity cause, unless they want to scare away philanthropists. But Jimmy Gait and the other guy he sang the original furifuri song with had a big hit this year. The only time I came to enjoy this song was seeing teens in our church dance to it.
Why did Kenyans like furifuri?
I assume Christians and non-Christians had different reasons. For Christians I’ll consider the song talks about giving one’s life to God fully which is a great desire for them. For non-Christians, I guess it’s the sense that you are listening to a gospel song and enjoying it.
My music preference is different and I know what I like
What’s trending
The top three trends in Kenya this year were;
1) #Kenyansontwitter
If there were awards for group trends in Kenya, this group of people would have gotten “the most narcistic group of the year” award. They are ever claiming to be the cause of change in Kenya. They ever took the credit for anything major that happened in the country this year. Allow me to pull some of these narcistic tweets
we have raised all millions for relief through social media campaigns alone, bravo #kenyans4kenya
attending a surprise birthday bash at the Ole Sereni, my friends are the best
Granted there are some which have proved to be funny, like the ujinga ni, tunga sentensi…which have found themselves as groups on facebook.
On facebook, most of the guys on my timeline this year have been putting up Christian updates. I am usually worried for I don’t think all these 2000 or so people are born again. I also believe some of the Christians on my timeline need to keep journals to put some of their thoughts down and only share that which is for the masses with their updates. A blog can also do justice.
However there are updates that have got me in stitches, others have really worried me about the doctrines we preach. My top two posts are;
“Kenya has so many sins and that is why Al Shabaab is winning. Repent Kenya.”
“There are some demons from your tribe that pretend that they do not hear nor understand English declarations. But I sense a shift in the spiritual realm for you child of God! You need to rise up and pray in the next 3 hours in your mother tongue…so that they can hear and understand.. go ahead and decree; ”MY STORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE!” shout that in your mother tongue!”
The funny thing is these guys had people liking and commenting in support of their posts!
Kenyans through the year have generally joined various social media platforms.
2) Dancing
In the last quarter of this year the solidarity song has got to be the most over used strike song in Kenya. Strikes have been very trendy. I remember in 2003 December, I acted in a play where God said he was going to go on strike. Then after reasoning with the prophets he decided to come as a baby that he may not be judged for not feeling guys. It was fun!
But the union guys have this monotonous dance of holding hands while singing the solidarity song. They are not as creative as Ezekiel Kemboi. He performed my favourite dance this year in Daegu. It gets me shuffling every time I see it. Much like the pampers baby dancing blowing a whistle. My nieces (6yr and 4yrs) love that advert. At least COTU has a different theme song for their strikes and Francis Atwoli, the secretary general, has a dance too. This year, AFC danced their way back to the league beating Gor on several occasions.
3) Inflation
The free fall of the shilling this year was not interesting. Raiyaa.com guys defined inflation as “kusota ya ubabi/majuu”
Movie review
I’ll only share one movie, the Adjustment bureau. If you haven’t watched it, you need to watch it before the year ends. It has a great Christian message. Of course, there are some things which are not theologically right. But, if you have ever asked yourself if God has a plan for your life, you need to watch this movie. Spoiler alert, we are freewill agents self determining our possible futures. That is my Christian take out from the movie.
May you remember that we are wired to solve problems in life. Doctors solve health problems, preachers solve spiritual problems, lawyers solve legal problems…As you close the year, may you remember to take stock of our life and see your difference that you may know which opportunities you can venture into next year by solving those problems.
PS:
Next year the blog moves here www.alexshianda.com to allow for more flexibility in management and new content.
Happy New Year!
