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Kalamashaka are still miles a head of the pack

Features

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It's Jamhuri Day and in a smoky arena at Treehouse in Westlands, two members of Kalamashaka are launching the group’s latest effort, Mwisho Wa Mwanzo. Considering the circumstances, the 13-piece album launch was a milestone, from a group whose last album was Ni Wakati, back in 2001.

“We are so excited to be here. I had to escape some people to make sure I attended the launch,” says Vigeti, before their performance.

In the midst of their highly-charged performance, backed by DJ Governor and Yellow Light Machine band, Otero kept forgetting his lines, necessitating an explanation by Vigeti.

“He is just overwhelmed,” he explains.

A barefaced lie if there was any because, visibly, Otero was intoxicated. Intoxication has, unfortunately, been a nagging feature of this duo over the past decade.

Nevertheless, the two rolled back the years with hits like Tafsiri Hii, Fanya Mambo, Piga Bao, Wanabonga before coming to the present with their latest tracks like Moi Avenue in the presence of Nazizi, Judge, Kitu Sewer, Budha Blaze and Ken Ring among others.

Kalamashaka literally burst onto the scene in 1997, when Tafsiri Hii was released. The trio won over many fans' hearts with their deep Swahili and sheng’ lyrics with which they carried a witty and subtle assessment of the government, talked about police brutality and the social welfare of Dandora, the ‘hood they grew up in.

They were the first real Kenyan MCs, the trio broke barriers with music that won awards, made hip-hop lose the rebellious tag for a more conscious appeal and opened doors for overseas tours. The trio curtain raised for among others, Lost Boyz and Coolio when the American stars visited Kenya.

Kalamashaka went on to join Mau Mau, a ragtag hip-hop unit that comprised the second generation of Kenya’s hip-hop artistes such as Juliani, Warogi Wawili, Wenyeji and Mashifta.

Then came the highly acclaimed album Fanya Mambo, which was shot abroad and was in high circulation on continental music channels, even holding top position in the Channel O chart show.

This unit was to team up with Ukoo Flani from Mombasa to become the biggest musical ‘army’ in the country.

The super-group efforts led to two albums Kilio Cha Haki (2004) and Dandora Burning (2006), two albums that have some of the best hip-hop hits the country has ever heard.

Between their debut and 2006, Kalamashaka - also known as K-Shaka - had collaborated with the American MC M1, K South, Nikki, Nazizi, Ibra da Hustler and even vernacular artistes like Ayub Ogada.

The mid-2000s was also the time the three members started going downhill. Vigeti got into serious drug abuse, Otero became a staunch mogoka (khat leaves) and alcohol addict and Kama, who now resides in the Unites States grew an appetite for booze .

“Then I met Johnny K-Shaka. Everything about him was cool, we used (to) panguza his shoe just to be close to him,” Juliani recently tweeted.

According to Juliani, Kama K-Shaka was the revolutionary and teacher who used to share philosophies and history and they used to sit and listen to him. Interestingly, Kama still shares these philosophies in universities in the USA.

“Roba K-Shaka was in university so we hardly saw more of him, he was the intellect, the voice of reason, more organised and more focused,” said Juliani, tweeting about what was.

What few know is that much of K-Shaka success is down to a Swedish producer and rapper Ken Ring, who has seen the group through thick and thin, not giving up on the potential that the members had.

“Ken Ring loves Vigeti and knows what the group can do when they stand in a booth,” said a hip hop artiste at the sides of the launch. Ken Ring was present, sitting at the back, silently enjoying the product of his sweat.

Incidentally, a highly anticipated album, Hakuna Case, which was slated for 2009, went haywire after a series of unfortunate events. One strong claim is that Vigeti walked away with electronic equipment form Ken Ring’s house at the Coast, where the artistes were holed up to record.

“By the time Ken Ring came, Vigeti was already deep into cocaine abuse and he stole Ken Ring’s equipment and clothes to fund his (drug) abuse. It was so messy that Ken Ring left and the project stalled,” said another source.

Between 2009 and the present day, Vigeti has seen the inside of Industrial Area prison for allegedly stealing a side mirror. Otero has become dishevelled, to the point that he invokes pity to those who saw the group at the height of their fame.

Undoubtedly, Kalamashaka are still miles a head of the pack even in their questionable state. Their latest album is well organized with deep, good music grounded in better instrumentals and the maturity is evident in the lyrics and feel-good tone.

 

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