Rosemary Ogonya’s kwe kende song calls for peace, unity

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

When she released the song Kwe (peace) in July last year, Rosemary Ogonya did not know the hit would rock all corners of the country.

In the song, she appeals to Kenyans to embrace peace. The song became so relevant during last year’s political  campaigns that Ogonya received several invitations to perform at public functions to preach peace.

The song was later nominated for the Groove Award’s Nyanza Song of the Year. Even though she did not win the overall prize because of a few hitches on the system, she is grateful Kwe inspired Kenyans.

“I believe the song was inspired to lift people who were aggrieved during the election period and it gives me joy that I inspired positively in preventing violence through preaching peace,” says Ogonya.

Theme of peace

Most of her songs have a theme of peace, discouraging youth from participating in violence instead remain united regardless of tribe.

“Kata telo ka wadwaro Nyasaye yiero moloyo (when we want leadership God provides better),” the song goes. Kwe is one of the six songs in Ogonya’s third and latest album ‘Weka Kwe Kende’ (Embrace peace always).  Ogonya, who has been through many hurdles in life, is renowned for songs in her debut album Malit Osiko (Society is tainted with miseries). One challenge Ogonya faced in life was that it took her several years after completing her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) to proceed to secondary school.

She was orphaned while in primary school and lived under the custody of guardians who were not able to meet the expenses of enrolling her in any secondary school.

“The only option I had was pursing a tailoring course. This was cheap and the guardians could afford, “recalls Ogonya.

She also did odd jobs to provide for her personal needs, and that is when she ‘had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.’

Regardless of the aborted efforts to continue her education, Rosemary realised she had talent and embarked on using it to serve God.

“I was ambitious and released some songs that did not hit,” she recalls. However, the producer saw talent in her and sponsored the songs as she did not have resources.

“I did not give up though. I believed I could do better and continued composing more songs,” Ogonya says. Her talent in music gave her a lifetime opportunity that saw her join Form One. The twist in her life came one day in 2005 when she was performing at a function where the late former Ugenya MP Archbishop Stephen Ondiek was in attendance.

 The late Bishop requested to see her immediately after the event.

 

Taken to school

 “He said he was impressed by my performance but was not satisfied by my semi-literate state”, adds Ogonya. Bishop Ondiek took her to school, a decision which took Ogonya so long to make being that her agemates were married and had families.

“He promised to cater for all my expenses while a student and true to his words he did take me back to school, “she explains.

She adds,  “At school, it was not easy fitting in because of the age difference, but I decided to make the best of the chance and I released the first album,” reveals Ogonya. Unknown to many, Ogonya launched Malit Osiko, a hit she produced while in Form Two. The album contains songs like malit osiko, piny ni galagala (Society is enigmatic), singo polo (Heaven’s promise), among others. Her second album was, Nyarombo e Tacha (the lamb is my light), with songs like We Uru Galoru Epiny. In 2009 she succeeded in releasing video for her second album and continued performing in churches and during Missions and Conventions.

Miracle through music

Another surprise miracle came to her through music. This time it was a call from a fan, Prof Jack Kamiruka. “He got my mobile phone number that I had indicated on one of CD covers of my albums, “she reveals.

Through Dr Kamiruka, a lecturer at Great Lakes University, Ogonya got sponsorship to study Diploma in Theology.  However, things have not been smooth for her to complete her Bachelor’s Degree course after sponsorship was later called off.

“It has taken me quite a struggle to raise the balance of Sh150, 000 to enable me graduate, but thank God I have completed my Diploma course,” Ogonya says.

Currently, despite ministering the word of God, she is advocating women empowerment in Nyanza region.

“It’s my desire to see women in the ministry from this region rise like others,” she says.