5 Gospel Artists Who Made Everyone Sing Along Their Hits But Have Since Disappeared Without A Trace. I Wonder Where They Went to?
Like sand in an hour glass, the gospel industry was once streaming with artists from all walks of Kenya, who were committed to spreading the word via gospel music. To some, unfortunately the spotlight faded out on them and whether they are making efforts to come out of the darkness or not is still a puzzle.
During their heydays, their names made it on top of Kenyan gospel charts and their songs were reverberating on everyone’s ears. They gracefully gained admiration especially from the youths and rocked airwaves across the country though it now seems like our well celebrated artistes are venturing into different avenues.
Eko Dydda with his ‘stammering’ was the thing of the day. No other musician young or old ever thought of ‘stammering’ as a style and to date, no one and I say no one with affirmation, here in Kenya, has tried the unique swag Dydda brought to our ears. Songs like ‘Ghetto’, ‘Me and My House’ from some of his albums made the younger generation sing with calculated rhythms of ‘staggering’ (who would miss imitating the stammering when the stammers themselves don’t stand upright when struggling to complete a sentence)
Exodus and Alemba on the other hand braced the airwaves with his downtown rap that would leave everyone wondering if his songs were gospel or a rendition of pop and some funny genre yet to be identified. The most popular and probably the only one that Kenyans can identify with is ‘Am Walking’. The two, however, never stood the test of time and could not keep up with the dynamics of the gospel industry.
Danco..Danco..Danco, where on earth is this alumnus from Egerton University? This one needs no introduction as he first made it as the king of collabo and everyone would mistake him for Daddy Owen’s shadow. Together with the king of kapungala, danco dominated the airwaves with his inaudibly high pitched alpha voice. He was the only artist who could sing in fluent alien language and make his fans sing along. “ari thataka pumpaa thorio pumka…” (Part of the lyrics from Kupe De Kalle [Tobina] hit)
She is so lost that there exists no good photo of her on Google. Talk of Henrie Mutuku with her superb sexy voice that would make any female wish to be born a musician. She made heaven and earth come close with her glory filled tunes that every station would love so much to repeat every hour, if not every time. Her song ‘Usichoke’ not only stood the test of time but also won her awards like KORA and Kisima Awards. Though underground, the industry still needs her presence and voice. Seems the songstress is still spending the amount she got after winning KORA Award half a millennium ago. (2003 to be precise)
Last on the list is Ambasada; the melancholic Ugandan singer who juggles between the pearl of Africa and Kenya. He was among the gospel heavyweights who made it big in those days despite ‘Inkane’ being the only hit that forged its way out of his numerous songs. Unfortunately, he tried a comeback to limelight but it was an epic fail; he simply couldn’t find his old mojo. Maybe he should try something else like jazz gospel, if that exists.
Where are they hiding?
