Ohangla star causes ripples in men’s domain

By Emmanuel Mwendwa

After nearly three years of entertaining music fans in Kisumu, Maureen Achieng Otiu aka ‘Lady Maureen — Queen of Ohangla’ —has come of age.

She has set her focus beyond the lakeside region.

Early this year, she thrilled music enthusiasts during the ‘Ngoma Club: Muziki wa Kenya’ concert at the Goethe Insititut in Nairobi.

Lady Maureen is determined to make a mark in male-dominated Ohangla music and is fast swaying fans from rivals Tony Nyadundo and Osogo Winyo.

"In recent weeks, I have been working hard to repackage the way this traditional Luo music is delivered by infusing a personal, distinctive signature to my songs and performances," she says.

Lady Maureen is also good at playing instruments. [PHOTOS:EMMANUEL MWENDWA/STANDARD]

She adds: "What a man can do, I believe I’m equally capable of achieving, perhaps even better".

She recounts overcoming numerous hurdles to find a footing in the genre.

"Though I knew I wanted to be a singer, it took me a bit longer to identify the style of music to pursue," she notes.

She even once differed with her parents when she dropped out of school to pursue her heart’s desire.

She drew her inspiration from benga songstress Princess Jully’s meteoric rise.

"I was especially encouraged by Jully’s determination to contribute positively to the fight against HIV/Aids through her hit single Dunia Mbaya," she explains.

But Lady Maureen’s major breakthrough came knocking somewhat unwittingly. "Princess Jully had noticed that I rarely missed her shows whenever she performed in Kisumu. One day, I gathered courage and approached her for advice on how to nurture my interest," she says.

Within months, the benga star took Maureen under her wraps, granting her curtain raiser slots during her concerts.

And by dawn of 2005, she was all set to take a leap of faith into the unknown.

Captivating flavour

"I was so excited I could finally compose and sing my own songs. I also gradually realised that like a fish takes to the water, so does singing come naturally for me," remarks Maureen.

But it was not until early 2006 that her musical dalliance took a turn for the better. "I had made a casual visit to the Kisumu Social Hall when I bumped into a group of men performing what sounded like traditional Luo songs," she says.

She was struck by the captivating flavour of the songs. "As I listened to the guys, I realised the style was much more engaging and I instantly knew this was the music I wanted to focus on," notes Maureen.

She promptly approached the group and requested to join them for a gig. "I remember the musicians exchanging glances, their faces awash with unmistakable doubts. Some asked me if I was joking, but I stood my ground."

Instant hit

Any lingering doubts were quashed shortly after she was given the microphone. The crowd was instantly enthralled.

Previously sceptical members of Nyamolo Traditional Dancers had no choice but to enlist her.

Barely four months later, her restless spirit saw her move on to establish her own outfit — Nyarng’ato Traditional Dancers Troupe.

"It dawned on me I could actually build on my strengths and establish my own group, hence the name Nyarng’ato — Dholuo for someone’s daughter," she remarks.

The outfit comprises 25 members. Her debut CD aptly titled Wang’ni Wabiro (this time we are coming), released in 2006, thrust the singer into the limelight.

It features among other tracks Obama Wuod Alego (Obama son of Alego) in praise of then US Senator Barack Obama.

Her second album, Ji Gombo Neni (many would like to see you) was inspired by Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid in 2007.