Born to Use Words and Mics?

A Word & A Mic went down yesterday at Timers restaurant amid fanfare after a long slumber. This comes after a vicious onslaught in a local daily against Spoken Word artists and the outbreak of poetry events that have come to define Nairobi.

The show themed 'I vote peace' 'I vote love' 'I vote unity' started one and a half hours late with Siri ya Muziki band getting on stage with their song ‘Maisha ya Nairobi.’ Siri ya Muziki is a band of five ladies- four on the vocals and one on the drums together with two gentlemen on the guitars.

Next on stage was Kelvin Kaesa D’gothgeek who captured the audience with his ‘Jesus Pieces’ to round of applause and ululation. The crowd did not have to wait for long because Siri ya Muziki was back this time with a soulful piece entitled ‘Gari la Moshi.’ They followed it with a sentimental ballad done in English, Kiswahili and Kikuyu.

 

However, the electrifying performance of Ernest Wamboye-a self published novelist –left the audience in pearls of laughter with his refrain of ‘Creek-Crack.’ Unlike other performers, he dazzled the audience with his lively storytelling skills marked with calculated movement on the stage.

Flowflani-my favorite performer who has taken rapoetry to stratospherical levels entertained the audience with his usual witty wordplay accompanied by self-composed beats on the microphone.

Koa Jagero’s highly satirical poem ‘Violence is Good’ became the standard parameter for the audience to briefly reflect on the ramifications of turning against one another because of election results. Koa, a passionate photographer, read from his poem: “I come from the ghettos where cowards never lived. I come from where peace never lived. Violence runs the city.”

A fellow called Rampho later diluted the jazz feel in the restaurant with his forced rhymes. An example of fakes masquerading in poetry events. One could as well have chosen to watch the ‘Final Submissions’ of Jubilee and CORD rallies on Citizen TV beaming live though muted in the restaurant. 

Siri ya Muziki returned later with ‘Kwaheri.’ However, not before one of the vocalists-a bespectacled angel- reminded the audience on the need to maintain peace during Monday’s elections. This band will go places. Mark my words. Their last song left people cheering and fidgeting in their seats-a majority were shy including this writer to arise and shake a leg.

D’gothgeek returned with his combative piece ‘Nimechoka’ that questions the divisive nature of our politicians. The piece reminded the audience on the need to cast one’s vote to bring change.

After straight two hours of fun against a backdrop of political madness on the streets-final campaigns by leading presidential contenders, the show was wrapped up by Wamboye. The audience laughed so hard, I bet some had stomache.

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Only for Manchester United to pound Norwich courtesy of Kagawa. Barcelona again saw daylights beaten out of them by rivals Real Madrid.