Lingala is probably the fastest growing indigenous African language largely due to Congolese music (Rumba, soukous, chatchto and the like). Some of the greatest composers and singers in Africa have sung in this language producing some renown hit songs that have dominated the African airwaves for decades while introducing some endearing phrases and catchphrases that never just never fade from our collective memory. Lingala is reputed as Africa's most romantic language and it has surely lived up to this reputation. Lingala phrases are a pure joy to listen to, especially when you understand them. Some of these phrases are priceless pieces of wisdom while some overflow with sardonic humor and wit. But one thing is for sure, these phrases are simply unforgettable, for one reason or another. Maybe it's because we tend to be fascinated with exotic languages and ideas. Or maybe, the Congolese people are just damn good at composing music. Either way, their singing, their music and mann...

"How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!" These are the words of King David of Israel in 2nd Samuel 1:25-27. Listening to him, you would imagine that he was commentating the AFC Leopards' match against Wazito FC. They lost that match 2-0. AFC Leopards have set the bar really high of how a team falls from the very top of their game to the very rock bottom. The one-time East African giants are now a shadow of their farmer selves, literally. They have lost their identity, style and minds and their dwindling fan base has endured perhaps the most harrowing times of their lives. If you've got a heart, you must feel for them. But it has not always been like that. Less than seven years ago they were the most successful club in Kenya having won the league a (then) record 13 times. They used to beat Gor Mahia and other clubs around them like Brock Lesner beats Roman Reigns. But fast forward seven years later: Gor Mahia has beaten them seven times in a row, co...

Allow  me to shock you. "Lingala" is not a genre of music like many people tend to think. The genre of music most Kenyans mistakenly call ‘Lingala’ is actually known as ‘soukous’. Lingala is a Bantu language spoken in four countries on the African continent. Lingala usage in popular culture in Kenya is rising on an epic scale, propelled, no doubt, by the influence of Congolese music. Radio shows like rhumba bakulutu, rhumba attention, and the like where listeners are constantly bombarded with Lingala phrases they barely understand are all the rage. Guess where you first heard the phrase “ tozali kokoba nse kokoba lokola koba akobaka” (we go on, and on like a totoise crawls) Was it not in a rumba music show on Qwetu FM? Internationally acclaimed artistes like Fally Ipupa, Ferre Gola, Werrason, JP Mpiana, Le General Defao, Koffi Olomide etc all predominantly sing in Lingala language. And these are artistes with huge following in Nairobi.  It's therefore of little surprise ...

Women have for many decades fought to be made equal to men. They have only succeeded in creating a list of perceived feminist heroes and nothing else. I personally do not think that gender equality is something worth fighting for. If women wanted something to fight about they would rather fight for equal representation or a dinner date with Jimmy Gait. I am not saying a date with Gait is worth fighting for, though. All I am saying is: it is about time women found something worthwhile to do. I do not understand why women struggle and create so much fuss all in the name of pursuing gender equality. I wonder why women want to be thought equal to men. I mean, men are such a mess! If anyone wanted to fight for equality with something then a computer or a dinosaur would be better candidates, not a man for heavens sake! Women are aiming too low, that's my point. Again, we do not see men fussing around wanting to be made or thought to be  equal to women. At least men get it: it is not abo...

In two month’s time Kenyans will be going to the polls again. The only real choice Kenyans have is between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta. All the other candidates clearly lack the numbers to upset the current political establishment. Our economy isn’t doing too great and with the rising cost of living, plummeting living standards, rampant job losses and appalling rise in national debt, the Jubilee government will be hard pressed to find answers or be thrown out in August. We can all make a pretty good stab at Jubilee’s failures but does NASA provide any real alternative or is it just another bunch of power hungry hard-left politicians craving “their chance to eat”? That is the question this articles attempts to answer. Jubilee is coalitions of chaos. 4 years ago they romped into victory on the back of hundreds of bogus promises most of which have remained un-kept. Even the very nature of their victory was questionable, at least as far as CORD was concerned. All they have been ...

Luo benga is a crowded scene. It is a boiling pot teeming with hundreds of artistes, both dead and alive, young and old, male and female jostling for space in this very competitive music world.We have legends like the late George Ramogi, the late Owino Misiani (also known as DO Misiani), The late Okatch Biggy, the late Prince July, the late Prince Kassam, the late Omondi Tony, the late Kollela Maze, The late Kodiyo, to sample but a few. We also have an emerging crop of young talents like Dolla Kabarry, George Dume, Otieno Small, Kamaliza Majengo, Aluoch Jamaranda, Reggie Kabaselle  (son of the late Ochieng Kabaselleh ), Aluoch Jipanoran, Ogina KoKo, Omondi Longlilo, and the old guards like Jerry Jalamo Ka'John  and Osito Kalle to mention but a few. We cannot all agree who is the best and I am not going to impose my choices on you. But we can agree that from the long list of Benga artists in Luoland a few names stand out and a few songs stand out from the bunch like giraffe in...

Igwe Prezida Bandasson is probably Kenyan’s biggest name in the rumba music scene. The founder and leader of Patron Musica has been a major influence on the Kenyan Rumba scene for close to a decade now. He started purely as a rumba musician and when many upcoming artistes took jabs at him for sticking with rumba because he couldn’t compete in the more popular Benga, he bridged into the genre and outdid them on their own turf. Such is his versatility. He can sing in four languages with mind-boggling ease, even in the ones you would think he stood no chance to excel in like Lingala and Swahili. Bandason has awed many fans with his ability on the microphone. His high toned voice blends so well with the guitar and slow rhythm of rumba beats. Since 2010, the maestro has continued to churn out album after album of quality music at an enviable rate. Little wonder then, that he has thrust himself into the music elite so fast attracting attention from as far as Congo. You have probably...