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Post by job on Jun 24, 2012 17:07:56 GMT 3
Just received via my in-box moderatekenyan.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/unnecessary-noise/Unnecessary NoiseBy moderatekenyan DISCLAIMER: This post should NOT be used to attack a community or vernacular music. NOT all vernacular music is bad. NOT all members of any given community are chauvinistic and archaic in their thinking. Any comments that are even remotely inflammatory will be deleted. Kenya is bigger than all of us!I listen to Kikuyu music, both secular and gospel. A lot of Kikuyu music is very informative and the beat is quite catchy. Current song I am jamming to is Agiginyani by Shiru wa GP. An awesome keep-your-head-up gospel song. My attention has been drawn to an emerging genre of Kikuyu music that is inflammatory, provocative and in very bad taste. In a country that is yet to heal after the post-election violence, these songs are a harbinger of bad tidings.I shall not sit back and watch my country burn. This post is blowing the whistle. I do not know the extent of the fire that these songs have caused. What I know is the Demathew, Kamande and Muigai are some of the most popular Kikuyu musicians with mega sales of their VCDs. Thus I shudder to imagine the number of households that are playing these songs.For the many who cannot hear Kikuyu, I have translated snippets of the songs and in Demathew’s case explained the nuances as he sings in parables. You can ask your Kikuyu friends to translate further. Uhuru ni Witu (Uhuru is Ours) – Kamande wa Kioi
Translated snippets:
Greetings people of the house of Gikuyu and Mumbi. I bring you a message from all Kikuyu musicians. This is a message from God.
Uhuru is the Moses of the Kikuyu nation. He is meant to move Kikuyus from Egypt to Canaan. Do not agree to be divided. Let all votes go to him. He is ours. He is anointed by God, poured oil on.
Raila, there is a call. Go to Mama Ngina’s house, a king has been born there. Once there ask where Uhuru is seated and pour oil on him. Just like Samuel did for David in the Bible. Stop chasing the wind Agwambo, go to Icaweri and anoint Uhuru.
You thump your chest about Hague, is Hague your mother’s? There is a curse from God. Philistines who do not circumcise cannot lead Israel. When Abraham stressed God, he was told to go get cut, even you General of Migingo, your knife is being sharpened.
Listen to the entire song here.
Hague Bound – Muigai Wa Njoroge and Muhiko
Translated snippets:
Question: If it was you who is being pushed to The Hague what would you do?
Answer: I would call my family and divide up my property and then ask my mother to pray for me.
Question: What if you knew that Hague you are being pushed there by an uncircumcised man who wants to push you there and take over your wife and all your wealth? A man who can do anything to ensure you are in problems.
Answer: There it is better to die. Things for a man are not governed by an uncircumcised man. I would kill him. Its better they increase my charges.
Question: What would you tell your crying supporters as you are being shipped to Hague?
Answer: I would tell them to pray for me and know I am being persecuted for my love of my community.
Question: When you get to Hague how you would ensure the white man does not cheat you?
Answer: I would ask for proceedings to be done in Kikuyu.
Question: When on the dock what would you be thinking of the uncircumcised man who is the source of your predicament?
Answer: I would ask God to forgive him. I would also ask that he gets circumcised so that he matures mentally. I would also ask Kenyans to be very wary of that man.
Listen to entire song here.
Mwaka wa hiti (The year of the hyena) – Demathew
Translated and explained snippets:
As Demathew I prophesize and let the stones hear me if men wont.
It is now the year of the hyena. Who will teach you and your ears are blocked?
When a man is seated he sees further than a boy on top of a tree.
You are like a greedy hyena seeing a man walk and following him hoping that his arm will drop off. You follow him till he boards the train and the arm does not drop and you never eat. (A reference to all that may benefit from ICC)
Before Jesus was crucified He stood in the court Judge Pilato and he answered all questions, Judge Pilato said Jesus is free but the crowd asked that a thief be freed instead. (ICC will show Uhuru’s innocence)
Where are you (Peter Kenneth) from? If you were one of us, you would be pained by the people burnt in Kiambaa church. My brother lost his property in Kisumu, how can you tell us he (Raila) is our community’s friend.
Father (Jomo Kenyatta) I feel sad when I see your son (Uhuru) being persecuted by men of ill-will and a woman (Martha Karua) is carrying their bags.
In-law (Kalonzo) things are not going well for you now. You are clueless and your matters are now being discussed by women in the market. But I still remember how you saved me (after 2007 elections) when leopards had attacked me.
Listen to the entire song here.
After listening to these three songs I shuddered. If the leading lights of Kikuyu music are doing this, then how much more prevalent is it? Are other communities also producing such inciteful vernacular songs? This is a ticking time bomb right under our noses! Let us think of how to put out this fire before it is too late! PRAY FOR KENYA! GOD BLESS KENYA! moderatekenyan.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/unnecessary-noise/
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 17:21:11 GMT 3
You should go to mugithi nite to hear gikuyu chauvinism at its best! The banter in such music would never incite anyone. Kikuyus from the days of the maumau expressed themselves in song and dance.
Suggesting the anointment of Uhuru over anyone else is not hate and neither is asking Raila to supplicate himself before Uhuru is hate speech in my view.
These things are said daily in bars!
Kamale PS and the translation is atrocious and steals the meaning of the song
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Post by OtishOtish on Jun 24, 2012 17:30:06 GMT 3
You should go to mugithi nite to hear gikuyu chauvinism at its best! The banter in such music would never incite anyone. Kikuyus from the days of the maumau expressed themselves in song and dance. Suggesting the anointment of Uhuru over anyone else is not hate and neither is asking Raila to supplicate himself before Uhuru is hate speech in my view. These things are said daily in bars! Kamalet, you are truly something else. Anyway, what do you say about the other two songs? Normal banter?
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Post by adongo23456 on Jun 24, 2012 17:44:08 GMT 3
Kamale,
Just reading the response on that blog from Kenyans who are appalled by the violent ethnic chauvinism in those songs tells me Kenyans are way ahead of your bar friends who are probably more intoxicated with chauvinism than the alcohol.
And then of course they have the politics of the mmm. Never mind that in the PEV mayhem the same chauvinists were cutting off folks mmm and heads out of hatred. If that is normal to you then you have some serious issues to deal with.
The hatred directed towards Raila and by extension Luo folks, Martha Karua and Peter Keneth fit very well with the Uhuru campaign philosophy. In fact the songs mimic Uhuru's own words in his political campaigns. I am sure Uhuru dances himself to sleep listening to these songs which refelect his own thinking and words. And this is a man going to The Hague to defend himself for mobilising his Kikuyu folks to go murder Luos and people of other tribes in Nakuru and Naivasha. Any surprise there? Nope. That is the man and his body of work.
In fact the songs are directly focused on the mass murders and rapes that Uhuru is accused of masterminding. This is not idle stuff or some benign idiocy from primitive thinking. This is real stuff we are dealing with as a country today.
So why are these songs popular. Precisely because they are part of the social infrastructure and thinking of the tribalist elites who talk about Kenya during the day and resort to ethnic hatred language and thinking at night. If we go back to the songs Kenyans composed in the 1960s as the battle for national independence engulfed the country you will find songs reflecting that thinking and national conciousness. If we go back the songs during the Narc revolution when Kenyans rejected tribalism and the Moi dictatorship you will find songs refelecting that thinking and national conciousness.
Songs like any other form of art reflect the thinking and values of society. So it is safe to say these chauvinist songs reflect the thinking of the leaders of today. Many of them are tribal chauvinists of the worst kind. This is the stuff that tribal oaths are made of and that is not idle speculation either. These things have consequences and that is why four Kenyans are going to The Hague and may be to jail for the rest of their lives. If they haven't learnt anything yet, they will with time.
The good news is that we do not expect the likes of Uhuru to work towards eliminating such thinking. They thrive on it. So we know as a country what we are up against. We are ready for it. And this madness is not limited to Kikuyu musicians we have them in all tribes. Where is Kibunja when you need him.
And before I forget, Uhuru should carry a ton load of those songs to listen to in his jail cell at The Hague. Misery they say loves company. This would be a good fit. ama?
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 18:04:47 GMT 3
You should go to mugithi nite to hear gikuyu chauvinism at its best! The banter in such music would never incite anyone. Kikuyus from the days of the maumau expressed themselves in song and dance. Suggesting the anointment of Uhuru over anyone else is not hate and neither is asking Raila to supplicate himself before Uhuru is hate speech in my view. These things are said daily in bars! Kamalet, you are truly something else. Anyway, what do you say about the other two songs? Normal banter? Nothing more than campaign songs wih unkind words for his opponents. I cannot see anything inciting in the songs apart from claims of God's annointment of Uhuru
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Post by OtishOtish on Jun 24, 2012 18:19:16 GMT 3
As you wish, Kamalet. I am not among those who would try to reason with you or point out that the sky is blue; doing that with a rock would be more fruitful.
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 18:22:08 GMT 3
As you wish, Kamalet. I am not among those who would try to reason with you or point out that the sky is blue; doing that with a rock would be more fruitful. And am sure you think you are extremely wise with tat comment! Only those wih an inferiority complex would have issues with these innocuous songs
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Post by OtishOtish on Jun 24, 2012 18:26:45 GMT 3
As you wish, Kamalet. I am not among those who would try to reason with you or point out that the sky is blue; doing that with a rock would be more fruitful. And am sure you think you are extremely wise with tat comment! As a matter of fact, I do. What's more, all thinking Jukwaaists will agree although some, with exceeding great faith in the possibility of changing a thoroughly blocked mind, might still engage you.
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 18:28:30 GMT 3
And am sure you think you are extremely wise with tat comment! As a matter of fact, I do. What's more, all thinking Jukwaaists will agree. As you wish mate! Paranoia is always a choice!
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Post by adongo23456 on Jun 24, 2012 18:38:04 GMT 3
As a matter of fact, I do. What's more, all thinking Jukwaaists will agree. As you wish mate! Paranoia is always a choice! Kamale,Let's quit the childish side shows and address the real issue of ethnic chauvinism which is what that blogger moderatekenyan wanted to bring to our attention. Read the comments in that blog and you will see mature Kenyans debating the real issue away from nonsensical side shows and predictable denials. If you have nothing to offer in that debate then just wallow in your ethnic chauvinistic mindset. Ethnic chauvinism is not a benign harmless activity in Kenya. It has led to mass killings other forms of political violence in Kenya. That is why your Uhuru is going to The Hague. This is not idle stuff or bar talk. It is real.
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 18:49:18 GMT 3
As you wish mate! Paranoia is always a choice! Kamale,Let's quit the childish side shows and address the real issue of ethnic chauvinism which is what that blogger moderatekenyan wanted to bring to our attention. Read the comments in that blog and you will see mature Kenyans debating the real issue away from nonsensical side shows and predictable denials. If you have nothing to offer in that debate then just wallow in your ethnic chauvinistic mindset. Ethnic chauvinism is not a benign harmless activity in Kenya. It has led to mass killings other forms of political violence in Kenya. That is why your Uhuru is going to The Hague. This is not idle stuff or bar talk. It is real. Adongo It is not chauvinism that led to Kenyans dying in the past. It is deliberate calls to kill and cleanse that led to the deaths. These songs do not call anyone to kill even with the poor translation......so quit the notion that they asked anyone to kill! The fact that they talk about genitalia is only symbolic of reference to the Luo and that has not called for anyone to to be forcefully cut or even killed! You will need to be a lot more honest than this am afraid!
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Post by phil on Jun 24, 2012 18:58:22 GMT 3
What amazes me is that Mzalendo Kibunja and his toothless commission will pretend that they never saw or heard anything like this despite the overwhelming evidence.
This is precisely the kind of arrogance that leads to tensions and eventually to ethnic violence.
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Post by adongo23456 on Jun 24, 2012 19:06:49 GMT 3
Kamale,Let's quit the childish side shows and address the real issue of ethnic chauvinism which is what that blogger moderatekenyan wanted to bring to our attention. Read the comments in that blog and you will see mature Kenyans debating the real issue away from nonsensical side shows and predictable denials. If you have nothing to offer in that debate then just wallow in your ethnic chauvinistic mindset. Ethnic chauvinism is not a benign harmless activity in Kenya. It has led to mass killings other forms of political violence in Kenya. That is why your Uhuru is going to The Hague. This is not idle stuff or bar talk. It is real. Adongo It is not chauvinism that led to Kenyans dying in the past. It is deliberate calls to kill and cleanse that led to the deaths. These songs do not call anyone to kill even with the poor translation......so quit the notion that they asked anyone to kill! The fact that they talk about genitalia is only symbolic of reference to the Luo and that has not called for anyone to to be forcefully cut or even killed! You will need to be a lot more honest than this am afraid! Kamale,I am talking about the mindset that made the PEV killings and rape normal to some people. In fact to this date Uhuru keeps saying if he has to do the same things he did in 2008 he will willingly do so. To some (may be including yourself) Uhuru was a hero for defending the Kikuyu and whatever he did is what Kikuyu leaders are supposed to do. That is the mindset reflected in those songs. The real issue to me is that as a country we have not even started facilitating genuine reconciliation between communities so that we can actually grow a healthy Kenya. Uhuru and Ruto can go hag themselves in those hateful prayer meetings but when I read about a Kikuyu woman who burried her husband in a make shift grave somewhere in Rift Valley in the height of the PEV and now lives in Nyahururu and swears never to go back to her land in Rift Valley I know we have a problem as a country. I know we haven't dealt with the terrible wounds we have inflicted on our people because of ethnic chauvinism. I know the present generation of leaders may never live to do anything to make us a better nation. I personally don't take those issues lightly. Nobody should. That it the discussion.
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 19:09:51 GMT 3
What amazes me is that Mzalendo Kibunja and his toothless commission will pretend that they never saw or heard anything like this despite the overwhelming evidence. This is precisely the kind of arrogance that leads to tensions and eventually to ethnic violence. Phil Purely for sanity sake, how about asking someone who knos the gikuyu language to properly translate the songs as well as explain the gikuyu idioms in the songs? Reference to k!hii has been used so many times with regard to Raila that the debate is no longer a sensible one! The gikuyu hold circumcision very highly perhaps as highly as the Luo old Tero Buru notwithstanding the fact that the gikuyu see no value in the rite as much as the Luo see no value in the rite if circumcision! It is it NOT ethnic hate merely because it is aimed at Raila!
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Post by adongo23456 on Jun 24, 2012 19:23:33 GMT 3
What amazes me is that Mzalendo Kibunja and his toothless commission will pretend that they never saw or heard anything like this despite the overwhelming evidence. This is precisely the kind of arrogance that leads to tensions and eventually to ethnic violence. Phil Purely for sanity sake, how about asking someone who knos the gikuyu language to properly translate the songs as well as explain the gikuyu idioms in the songs? Reference to k!hii has been used so many times with regard to Raila that the debate is no longer a sensible one! The gikuyu hold circumcision very highly perhaps as highly as the Luo old Tero Buru notwithstanding the fact that the gikuyu see no value in the rite as much as the Luo see no value in the rite if circumcision! It is it NOT ethnic hate merely because it is aimed at Raila! Kamale,You can keep your mmm circumcised or not. I don't care. But when folks are killed because of their mmm then we have a problem. Ask Uhuru. Tribal rites an d all that nonsense have never bothered me. In fact I view organised religion in the same manner. But when you use religion to justify murder and killings then you will get my attention. If you have a religion which tells you to bang your head on the wall until you die that is your problem. If you have a religion that tells you to bang other peoples' head on the wall we are going to have a fight, because you have no such right. Let's quit pretending that chauvinism is a harmless act of stupidity that Kenyans practise for fun. It is not. It is a murderous plague in the land which we must fight and address. The beginnng of that battle is for all of us to be concious of and address our own biases and primitive thoughts. We all have them and those songs exemplify that. I don't know where you get the idea that hatred can be translated nicely into idioms and all that stuff. Hate is hate and it is dangerous. Period. Let's not sugar coat it.
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Post by kamalet on Jun 24, 2012 19:56:47 GMT 3
Phil Purely for sanity sake, how about asking someone who knos the gikuyu language to properly translate the songs as well as explain the gikuyu idioms in the songs? Reference to k!hii has been used so many times with regard to Raila that the debate is no longer a sensible one! The gikuyu hold circumcision very highly perhaps as highly as the Luo old Tero Buru notwithstanding the fact that the gikuyu see no value in the rite as much as the Luo see no value in the rite if circumcision! It is it NOT ethnic hate merely because it is aimed at Raila! Kamale,You can keep your mmm circumcised or not. I don't care. But when folks are killed because of their mmm then we have a problem. Ask Uhuru. Tribal rites an d all that nonsense have never bothered me. In fact I view organised religion in the same manner. But when you use religion to justify murder and killings then you will get my attention. If you have a religion which tells you to bang your head on the wall until you die that is your problem. If you have a religion that tells you to bang other peoples' head on the wall we are going to have a fight, because you have no such right. Let's quit pretending that chauvinism is a harmless act of stupidity that Kenyans practise for fun. It is not. It is a murderous plague in the land which we must fight and address. The beginnng of that battle is for all of us to be concious of and address our own biases and primitive thoughts. We all have them and those songs exemplify that. I don't know where you get the idea that hatred can be translated nicely into idioms and all that stuff. Hate is hate and it is dangerous. Period. Let's not sugar coat it. There is Eason why you should listen to your son about seeing a shrink......your. Omment abo e qualifies for one for you're now sounding incoherent
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Post by adongo23456 on Jun 24, 2012 20:08:42 GMT 3
Kamale,You can keep your mmm circumcised or not. I don't care. But when folks are killed because of their mmm then we have a problem. Ask Uhuru. Tribal rites an d all that nonsense have never bothered me. In fact I view organised religion in the same manner. But when you use religion to justify murder and killings then you will get my attention. If you have a religion which tells you to bang your head on the wall until you die that is your problem. If you have a religion that tells you to bang other peoples' head on the wall we are going to have a fight, because you have no such right. Let's quit pretending that chauvinism is a harmless act of stupidity that Kenyans practise for fun. It is not. It is a murderous plague in the land which we must fight and address. The beginnng of that battle is for all of us to be concious of and address our own biases and primitive thoughts. We all have them and those songs exemplify that. I don't know where you get the idea that hatred can be translated nicely into idioms and all that stuff. Hate is hate and it is dangerous. Period. Let's not sugar coat it. There is Eason why you should listen to your son about seeing a shrink......your. Omment abo e qualifies for one for you're now sounding incoherent Kamale,Are you sure you are not talking in tongues. You must be in a "church" somewhere. Talk about being incoherent. Please don't hijack the thread with pitiful irrelevancies. This is an important discussion. If there is anything in my post you disgree with try explaining that in a language we can understand. If you can't do that then let others participate in the discussion. I am sure that is not too much to ask.
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Post by okolowaka on Jun 24, 2012 20:25:29 GMT 3
The words used in these songs are being used to propagate hatred towards Raila Odinga openly. When a composer repeatedly reminds their audience that Uhuru's crimes against humanity cases are being fronted and controlled by Raila Odinga then you can see a well thought out plan. This is an effort at socializing an entire ethnic group into believing in and supporting an idea. The sad reality is that many will swallow hook, line and sinker in heeding the clarion call...these are indeed sad times in Kenya...where is the mainstream media and Kibunjia...? Asleep...? Pretending that no one has complained or been killed yet...? Look at the lines making emphasis on NOT letting an uncircumcised boy lead men; Lord have mercy...! With friends like Nguyai, Waititu, Michuki, and now the composers of these songs, Uhuru may be helping the ICC prosecutors make their case water tight... As for a certain Jukwaa member pretending that "Ooh, these are normal lines in Kikuyu literature"...yeah right...! We all grew up in Kenya and some of us understand and speak Kikuyu fluently... When a composer or singer uses proverbs, methali, to pass a certain hateful message to an intended audience against a particular individual and by extension his community, this is morally, ethically and legally wrong...!
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Post by Omwenga on Jun 24, 2012 20:37:14 GMT 3
As you wish mate! Paranoia is always a choice! Kamale,Let's quit the childish side shows and address the real issue of ethnic chauvinism which is what that blogger moderatekenyan wanted to bring to our attention. Read the comments in that blog and you will see mature Kenyans debating the real issue away from nonsensical side shows and predictable denials. If you have nothing to offer in that debate then just wallow in your ethnic chauvinistic mindset. Ethnic chauvinism is not a benign harmless activity in Kenya. It has led to mass killings other forms of political violence in Kenya. That is why your Uhuru is going to The Hague. This is not idle stuff or bar talk. It is real. I completely agree with you Adongo the issue here is one of this continued believe in some but not all Kikuyus that the community is superior to all others and that the presidency of our country is their birthright. This is also perpetuation of the nonsense that there is something amiss with Luos or more specifically perpetuation of the backward thinking and notion that a Luo cannot lead the country because of not being circumcised, which only the most backward the backward believe. To argue that this is merely symbolic is simply laughable besides being tragic that we still have people thinking this way.
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Post by jakaswanga on Jun 24, 2012 20:58:03 GMT 3
I HOPE NOBODY IS CALLING FOR CENSORSHIP. BETTER CALL FOR A BOYCOTT LIKE THE AMERICA HOM0-LOBBY DID WITH SHABA --MR LOVERMAN- RANKS FROM JAMAICA (HOMOPHOBIC TEXTS WAS THE ISSUE) --------------- For me the issue here is that of artistic freedom. Sometimes folks embrace the freedom of speech and artistic expression, trusting in the wrong notion that their own enlightened opinions is the general form of consciousness. But as a thousand flowers bloom, they then reel back in horror at the contents of the minds of others --others who owe no supplications to their artistic tastes, politically correct meanings and complicated or simplistic views prevalent in their primitive or otherwise country. This is an example how art can be disturbing. Because it can articulate a consciousness deemed seditious. But art must never shy away from any emotion in the heart of man. That is what is about, the human experience. So this is artistic freedom. Just like I write what I want in the mould of Ngugi in wa Thiong'o's famous chant, let them sing what they want. Just like religious stations condemn homosexuality everyday as a bestiality, sinful and hell bound. If some gikuyus are a gullible lot, weak-minded sheep who believe a ki-hii can not be president of Kenya, let them say it in the open market. Some will disagree. We were here before with Simeon Nyachae sometime back. There is a song called BIM EN BIM done by the late Benga Maestro Owino Misiani. How I wish a man named Okello, a literature teacher, would post on Jukwaa the paper he wrote on it. topnotch was here before: those one is the one which has gone viral. jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7092
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bob
Full Member
Posts: 238
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Post by bob on Jun 24, 2012 20:58:59 GMT 3
Going back to history if I am not mistaken,the problems in Rwanda actually started with with the wrong/hate messages being spread via electronic media e.g radio. So despite denials by a few bleeding starts with a drop of blood before it can be a pool. So it would be wise if we all take great care because the if the wrong message gets to the masses PEV 2007 would be child's play jokes aside.
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Post by furaha on Jun 24, 2012 22:45:07 GMT 3
I HOPE NOBODY IS CALLING FOR CENSORSHIP. BETTER CALL FOR A BOYCOTT LIKE THE AMERICA HOM0-LOBBY DID WITH SHABA --MR LOVERMAN- RANKS FROM JAMAICA (HOMOPHOBIC TEXTS WAS THE ISSUE) --------------- For me the issue here is that of artistic freedom. Sometimes folks embrace the freedom of speech and artistic expression, trusting in the wrong notion that their own enlightened opinions is the general form of consciousness. But as a thousand flowers bloom, they then reel back in horror at the contents of the minds of others --others who owe no supplications to their artistic tastes, politically correct meanings and complicated or simplistic views prevalent in their primitive or otherwise country. This is an example how art can be disturbing. Because it can articulate a consciousness deemed seditious. But art must never shy away from any emotion in the heart of man. That is what is about, the human experience. So this is artistic freedom. Just like I write what I want in the mould of Ngugi in wa Thiong'o's famous chant, let them sing what they want. Just like religious stations condemn homosexuality everyday as a bestiality, sinful and hell bound. If some gikuyus are a gullible lot, weak-minded sheep who believe a ki-hii can not be president of Kenya, let them say it in the open market. Some will disagree. We were here before with Simeon Nyachae sometime back. ] Jakaswanga, I see your point. One should not too easily restrict freedom of expression and, indeed, art can at times be quite disturbing, as we saw in the recent discussion about the painting depicting Jacob Zuma. Art is sometimes intended to shock people into thinking beyond the obvious. But there is always the question of how far one can go before freedom of expression starts to infringe on the rights of others. When does artistic licence become a threat? You can not maintain that music, literature or any other form of artistic expression should not know limits. But it is difficult to know where to draw the line. I would rather not draw it at all and hope that common sense prevails. But I am no fool and I know that a subjective notion like "common sense" is not enough to avoid excesses. That is why we have the courts and that is why we established a body like the NCIC which, of course, has proved itself incompetent and useless. But it was established with the idea that an independent group of experts should assist us to know where we should draw the line. It failed miserably. The country is now so divided that I would rather err on the side of caution. Let us steer clear from 'artistic expressions' by members one group that might constitute a threat to members of another. In 2007 and 2008 we learned our lessons the hard way. We erred on the side of caution. Let's not go there again.
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Post by job on Jun 25, 2012 1:45:48 GMT 3
Kenya must protect against sliding into a fascist state driven by narrow ethnic ideology. We have seen political leaders who support hate in deeds (PEV) and through coded words. I could be wrong in suspecting that Uhuru Kenyatta is financially rewarding this type of music whose aim appears to incite the Agikuyu population to hate a particular target group. The common theme in these lyrics clearly indicates the target as Raila Odinga’s ethnic group – the Luo. When Kamande claims “God” cursed a particular community based on their culture {of not circumcising} – it’s clear the propaganda goes beyond one individual called Raila Odinga.
If Uhuru rewards such lyrics with cash, more artists could entice his attention and cash by producing even more incendiary lyrics. This is how we end up with proliferation of toxic and hate-inciting music. Then we wonder why we sometimes get to the precipice of genocide!
If Uhuru were a responsible leader, he would at least urge these musicians to stop invoking his name in hateful propaganda. But I can guarantee that’s not in his character. Uhuru has repeatedly stated he would repeat his role in PEV given another chance.
I’m glad at least someone from the same population - that this music is supposed to win to hate another group - is protesting. He has refused to be indoctrinated through propaganda music. He has refused to be won to hate fellow Kenyans of another ethnic group. He is blowing the whistle so this madness can stop.
Where are the responsible leaders from this population? I’ll be all eyes and ears for any Religious, Cultural or Political leaders to speak against such disturbing trend! I’ll be ears for diametrically opposed music that calls for reconciliation and mutual respect for all Kenyan ethnic groups. Do some of these musicians realize our strength actually lies in our diversity? I won’t hold my breath…
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Post by mugabe on Jun 25, 2012 1:59:46 GMT 3
Artistic freedom my foot. Freedoms have limits. If in a democratic setting like ours such nonsense is not confronted then we need other solutions. If the choice is between Rwanda in 1994 and dictatorship then I choose dictatorship. When people use freedom like children use matchsticks to play then they must be denied their freedom. I sometimes think that an authoritarian regime is inevitable. One that will like Rwanda today once and for all confront nonsense. The likes of Kamale can be 'reeducated' in such regimes.
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Post by patriotism101 on Jun 25, 2012 4:13:34 GMT 3
I HOPE NOBODY IS CALLING FOR CENSORSHIP. BETTER CALL FOR A BOYCOTT LIKE THE AMERICA HOM0-LOBBY DID WITH SHABA --MR LOVERMAN- RANKS FROM JAMAICA (HOMOPHOBIC TEXTS WAS THE ISSUE) --------------- For me the issue here is that of artistic freedom. Sometimes folks embrace the freedom of speech and artistic expression, trusting in the wrong notion that their own enlightened opinions is the general form of consciousness. But as a thousand flowers bloom, they then reel back in horror at the contents of the minds of others --others who owe no supplications to their artistic tastes, politically correct meanings and complicated or simplistic views prevalent in their primitive or otherwise country. This is an example how art can be disturbing. Because it can articulate a consciousness deemed seditious. But art must never shy away from any emotion in the heart of man. That is what is about, the human experience. So this is artistic freedom. Just like I write what I want in the mould of Ngugi in wa Thiong'o's famous chant, let them sing what they want. Just like religious stations condemn homosexuality everyday as a bestiality, sinful and hell bound. If some gikuyus are a gullible lot, weak-minded sheep who believe a ki-hii can not be president of Kenya, let them say it in the open market. Some will disagree. We were here before with Simeon Nyachae sometime back. There is a song called BIM EN BIM done by the late Benga Maestro Owino Misiani. How I wish a man named Okello, a literature teacher, would post on Jukwaa the paper he wrote on it. topnotch was here before: those one is the one which has gone viral. jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7092Jakaswanga, Please translate the song, including the nuances, background and context, so that we can have a meaningful discussion. Otherwise artistic freedom wont cut.
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