Kenya: Genge and bongo supremacy battles

Going by the local charts they are bold, big
and popular. One is a mix of hip-hop,
dancehall and African styles, while the other is
predominantly hip-hop fusion.
While there is no doubt genge and bongo
music enjoy a massive following in East Africa,
the debate over which is more popular rages
on.
Florence Ntinyari says genge is the music of
choice. "It communicates issues that many
listeners can relate to. It sounds like a real
story," says the college student.
Many music fans echo her sentiments,
especially the urban youth who have
experienced ghetto life. Citing Bidii Yangu
track by Juacali, they say genge music is a
reflection of real life of the youth.
Genge, which is Swahili word for masses, is a
mix of hip-hop, dancehall and African styles. It
is sung in ‘sheng’ (a blend of Kiswahili, English
and local languages). It is exclusively Kenyan
and popular among the urban youth. Leading
artistes in this genre include the self-
proclaimed ‘godfather of genge’ Nonini, Meja,
Juacali (popularly known as ‘king of genge’),
Flexx, Jimwat, Pilipili and P Unit among others.
On the other hand, bongo flava is a popular
genre mainly Swahili rap from Tanzania and is
predominantly hip-hop fusion. Bongo is a
Swahili word for ‘brains’. Bongo flava
combines African beats, Arabic melodies,
dancehall and hip-hop beats, done in Swahili
and English. And like genge, bongo has its
share of admirers in East Africa.
Dj Eazy B based at "Sohos" attributes its
popularity to the artistes’ understanding of
their audience needs.
"They know how to read their crowd and
address their different moods," he says.
However, despite its massive following, lately
genge has received criticism among fans. Caleb
Muriuki, a young executive, considers the
music shallow. He claims "the producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements"
compared to bongo.
"Bongo musicians seem to be alive to what is
happening in society." He quotes Nakaaya’s hit
Mr Politician as a classic example of this fact.
He says most bongo tracks are centred on love
and romance. "We are humans and
relationships are core of humanity," says
Muriuki.

source: Standard Digital News - Genge and bongo supremacy battles

key points:
⇨ genge music is shallow

⇨ genge music producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements compared to bongo fleva.

⇨ bongo fleva artists understand
their audience needs.

⇨ bongo fleva artists alive to what is happening in the society

⇨ most bongo tracks are centred on love and romance

CC Geza Ulole , waltham , lawmaina78 et al .

here is another fact why genge is beaten hands down by bongo fleva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr0frkul_lI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTqsWF8ERl0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

What a stupid thread! Music by definition is subjective. The only valid measure is international success, international awards etc and by those standards, more Kenyans have had continental and global success than Tanzanians.

PS: Kenyan music is not Genge. Genge is just a sub-genre. Mordern Kenyan music cannot be put in a box, it is very diverse. Jemimah Thiongo and Ayub Ogada on one end, Camp Mulla, STL and Xtatic on the other end and Sauti Sol or even Winyo completing the loop.

kadoda11 said:

Going by the local charts they are bold, big
and popular. One is a mix of hip-hop,
dancehall and African styles, while the other is
predominantly hip-hop fusion.
While there is no doubt genge and bongo
music enjoy a massive following in East Africa,
the debate over which is more popular rages
on.
Florence Ntinyari says genge is the music of
choice. "It communicates issues that many
listeners can relate to. It sounds like a real
story," says the college student.
Many music fans echo her sentiments,
especially the urban youth who have
experienced ghetto life. Citing Bidii Yangu
track by Juacali, they say genge music is a
reflection of real life of the youth.
Genge, which is Swahili word for masses, is a
mix of hip-hop, dancehall and African styles. It
is sung in ‘sheng’ (a blend of Kiswahili, English
and local languages). It is exclusively Kenyan
and popular among the urban youth. Leading
artistes in this genre include the self-
proclaimed ‘godfather of genge’ Nonini, Meja,
Juacali (popularly known as ‘king of genge’),
Flexx, Jimwat, Pilipili and P Unit among others.
On the other hand, bongo flava is a popular
genre mainly Swahili rap from Tanzania and is
predominantly hip-hop fusion. Bongo is a
Swahili word for ‘brains’. Bongo flava
combines African beats, Arabic melodies,
dancehall and hip-hop beats, done in Swahili
and English. And like genge, bongo has its
share of admirers in East Africa.
Dj Eazy B based at "Sohos" attributes its
popularity to the artistes’ understanding of
their audience needs.
"They know how to read their crowd and
address their different moods," he says.
However, despite its massive following, lately
genge has received criticism among fans. Caleb
Muriuki, a young executive, considers the
music shallow. He claims "the producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements"
compared to bongo.
"Bongo musicians seem to be alive to what is
happening in society." He quotes Nakaaya’s hit
Mr Politician as a classic example of this fact.
He says most bongo tracks are centred on love
and romance. "We are humans and
relationships are core of humanity," says
Muriuki.

source: Standard Digital News - Genge and bongo supremacy battles

key points:
⇨ genge music is shallow

⇨ genge music producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements compared to bongo fleva.

⇨ bongo fleva artists understand
their audience needs.

⇨ bongo fleva artists alive to what is happening in the society

⇨ most bongo tracks are centred on love and romance

CC Geza Ulole , waltham , lawmaina78 et al .

Click to expand...

You can't base an argument on an individual who evidently lacks taste or touch in music. While Bongos have been whipped into one order and fashion day in day out we are a free and creative society winning all kinds of awards. Our flavors are diversified such as Boomba music,kapuka rap, Genge music, Riftsyde flava, Ohangla, Taarab, Coastal flavour, Benga music, Kamba pop, Mugithi etc the list is endless.
Bongos once stuck in a particular order can take tractors to pull them out. Diamond tried bringing up Ngololo but fizzled out even before it attempted to fly. You need to learn how to diversify....punguzeni ujamaa

kadoda11 said:

Going by the local charts they are bold, big
and popular. One is a mix of hip-hop,
dancehall and African styles, while the other is
predominantly hip-hop fusion.
While there is no doubt genge and bongo
music enjoy a massive following in East Africa,
the debate over which is more popular rages
on.
Florence Ntinyari says genge is the music of
choice. "It communicates issues that many
listeners can relate to. It sounds like a real
story," says the college student.
Many music fans echo her sentiments,
especially the urban youth who have
experienced ghetto life. Citing Bidii Yangu
track by Juacali, they say genge music is a
reflection of real life of the youth.
Genge, which is Swahili word for masses, is a
mix of hip-hop, dancehall and African styles. It
is sung in ‘sheng’ (a blend of Kiswahili, English
and local languages). It is exclusively Kenyan
and popular among the urban youth. Leading
artistes in this genre include the self-
proclaimed ‘godfather of genge’ Nonini, Meja,
Juacali (popularly known as ‘king of genge’),
Flexx, Jimwat, Pilipili and P Unit among others.
On the other hand, bongo flava is a popular
genre mainly Swahili rap from Tanzania and is
predominantly hip-hop fusion. Bongo is a
Swahili word for ‘brains’. Bongo flava
combines African beats, Arabic melodies,
dancehall and hip-hop beats, done in Swahili
and English. And like genge, bongo has its
share of admirers in East Africa.
Dj Eazy B based at "Sohos" attributes its
popularity to the artistes’ understanding of
their audience needs.
"They know how to read their crowd and
address their different moods," he says.
However, despite its massive following, lately
genge has received criticism among fans. Caleb
Muriuki, a young executive, considers the
music shallow. He claims "the producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements"
compared to bongo.
"Bongo musicians seem to be alive to what is
happening in society." He quotes Nakaaya’s hit
Mr Politician as a classic example of this fact.
He says most bongo tracks are centred on love
and romance. "We are humans and
relationships are core of humanity," says
Muriuki.

source: Standard Digital News - Genge and bongo supremacy battles

key points:
⇨ genge music is shallow

⇨ genge music producers lack
variety in beats and music arrangements compared to bongo fleva.

⇨ bongo fleva artists understand
their audience needs.

⇨ bongo fleva artists alive to what is happening in the society

⇨ most bongo tracks are centred on love and romance

CC Geza Ulole , waltham , lawmaina78 et al .

Click to expand...

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHICH INDUSTRY IS BETTER ORGANIZED AND PAYING THE MONIES TO LOCAL GUYS, KENYA ANY DAY


[h=1]Kalenjin Junior Kotestes band and DNA top music earnings in 2014[/h] By: Eugene Odanga 2014-03-04 16:23 Nairobi - A not so well known band, Kalenjin Junior Kotestes has emerged as the highest earning group in 2014 in records released by the Music Copyright Society of Kenya MCSK.

DNA follows suit in the list with Nonini, the previous year’s highest earning artist in 3rd place. According to the MSCK website, P unit has emerged as top earners and most popular artists in four (4) radio stations including Kiss 100, Homeboyz radio, Ghetto radio and Hot 96 FM albeit the group was beaten to the number one spot by KALENJIN JUNIOR KOTESTES BAND who emerged as the highest overall earners in the broadcasting category of MCSK royalties distribution declared on 28/02/2014.”

The top ten earners and / or most popular artist’s lists is as follows:

1) Kalenjin Junior Kotestes band

2) Dennis Waweru Kaggia aka DNA

3) Hubert Mbuku Nakitare aka NONINI

4) Collins Mike Majale aka Collo

5) David KamoniMathenge aka Nameless

6) Gloria OwendiMuliro

7) Jean Pierre Nimbona aka Kidum

8) Angela ChibalonzaMuliri

9) P UNIT

10) Linet Masivo Munyali aka Size 8

Daddy Owen and Victor Mbuvi were the fourth and fifth top earning gospel artists having taken 11th and 12th positions respectively. Other artists in the top 20 include the likes of Octopizzo, Sauti Sol, Wahu and Camp Mulla among others.

MCSK have been the epicenter of what I would call the downfall of the music industry in the past few years with a lot of artists signed to them claiming that they have not been paid in years and others claiming bias in the payment process. From the top ten list, it seems that there is a nice spread of artists form different genres and classes and many hope that this will be the changing point in the music industry. All we can do is wait and see what happens next.

[h=1]List Of Top 20 Highest Earning Kenyan Artistes[/h]

• Celeb News
• Celebrities
• Entertainment
• Featured

February 27, 2014

Music Copyright Society Of Kenya (MCSK) has released a list of top earners and most popular artists in Kenya and surprising enough it is dominated by the music veterans. Another shock is that at the very top of the list is a vernacular artiste Kalenjin Kotestes band which has emerged as the overall highest earner in the year 2014.

Music bigwigs such as Nameless, Collo and Wahu have also maintained their positions in the list with the only rappers making the list being Nonini, Camp Mulla and Octopizzo. Over the years, the highest earning celebrities in the country were P-Unit and Nonini but as days go by, they are facing strong competition from other artistes and especially regional-based ones.
Here is the full list,
1.Kalenjin Junior Kotestes Band
2.Dennis Waweru Kaggia (DNA)
3.Hubert Mbuku Nakitare (Nonini)
4.Collins Mike Majale (Collo)
5.David Kamoni Mathenge (Nameless)
6.Gloria Owendi Muliro
7.Jean Pierre Nimbona (Kidum)
8.Angela Chibalonza Muliro
9.P Unit
10.Linet Masivo Munyali (Size 8)
11.Daddy Owen
12.Victor Mbuvi
13.Octopizzo
14.Dennis Mutara
15.Sauti Sol
16.Wahu
17.Pastor Joel Kimetto
18.Les Wanyika
19.Ulopa
20.Camp Mulla

INCLUDING TZ LES WANYILKA GOT ROYALTIES IN KENYA BOY.


[h=1]Music Pays!! : Here Is The List Of The Highest Earning Gospel Artists In Kenya Currently[/h] By Link Press on February 27, 2014@ulizalinks

[h=2]Music like any other career pays and to those who work hard get rewards from the MCSK. MCSK is a Non-Profit making Collecting Management Organisation for Authors,Composers,Arrangers and Publishers of musical works.[/h]

[h=2]Its main Mandate is to collect Royalties on behalf of its members and other affiliate Collecting Management Organisations and distribute the same to them.[/h] They have released a list of top earning artists and as always we had to collect information about the gospel artists in Kenya. Here are the names of highest overall earners in the broadcasting category of MCSK royalties distribution declared on 28/02/2014.
[h=2]1.Gloria Muliro[/h]
2.Late Angela Chibalonza

3. Linet Munyali Muraya (Size 8)

4.Daddy Owen

5. Victor Mbuvi

6.Dennis Mutara

7.Pastor Joel Kimeto

MCSK is happy to announce that there has been an increased number of artistes who will receive six (6) figure royalty cheques in comparison to last financial year. In this year distribution the top forty (40) musicians have all received six figure payments. Last financial year, it was only the top ten who were within six figure amounts.
Full list will be updated in the coming months
You May Copyright Our Content As Long As You Accredit Our Website (c) Uliza Links - Turning Your Dreams Into Reality



- See more at: List Of The Highest Earning Gospel Artists In Kenya Currently - Uliza Links

Mekatilili said:

What a stupid thread!.

Click to expand...

mkuu,my thread talks about music,i've put right where it's supposed to be-kenyan sports &
"entertainment" forum
calling it a stupid shows how unaware you're about it.

kadoda11 said:

mkuu,my thread talks about music,i've put right where it's supposed to be-kenyan sports &
"entertainment" forum
calling it a stupid shows how unaware you're about it.

Click to expand...

I qualified that statement. Perhaps if you read past the modifier then we will be on the same page. Do not quote a part of my comment and cry wolf!!

Mekatilili said:

What a stupid thread! Music by definition is subjective. The only valid measure is international success, international awards etc and by those standards, more Kenyans have had continental and global success than Tanzanians.

PS: Kenyan music is not Genge. Genge is just a sub-genre. Mordern Kenyan music cannot be put in a box, it is very diverse. Jemimah Thiongo and Ayub Ogada on one end, Camp Mulla, STL and Xtatic on the other end and Sauti Sol or even Winyo completing the loop.

Click to expand...

lawmaina78 said:

You can't base an argument on an individual who evidently lacks taste or touch in music. While Bongos have been whipped into one order and fashion day in day out we are a free and creative society winning all kinds of awards. Our flavors are diversified such as Boomba music,kapuka rap, Genge music, Riftsyde flava, Ohangla, Taarab, Coastal flavour, Benga music, Kamba pop, Mugithi etc the list is endless.
Bongos once stuck in a particular order can take tractors to pull them out. Diamond tried bringing up Ngololo but fizzled out even before it attempted to fly. You need to learn how to diversify....punguzeni ujamaa

Click to expand...

same old stories from the technical bench of a loosing team.
ooh kenya music this....oooh kenya music that......ooh bongo fleva this.....ooh bonge fleva that.

BTW ,all the negative views about genge music in the thread are not mine,were spoken by kenyans.

kadoda11 said:

same old stories from the technical bench of a loosing team.
ooh kenya music this....oooh kenya music that......ooh bongo fleva this.....ooh bonge fleva that.

BTW ,all the negative views about genge music in the thread are not mine,were spoken by kenyans.

Click to expand...

"Kenyans" are not a monolithic group and Kenyan music is not called "genge". Genge is a sub genre!!!!! Can someone translate this to Swahili please?

Mekatilili said:

"Kenyans" are not a monolithic group and Kenyan music is not called "genge". Genge is a sub genre!!!!! Can someone translate this to Swahili please?

Click to expand...

if genge is a sub genre,what's is the main popular gerne that identifies your country (kenya) musically?.
its name pls.

Genge music, or simply Genge , is a genre
of hip hop music that had its beginnings in
Nairobi, Kenya . The name was coined by
Clemo and popularized by Kenyan rappers
Jua Cali and Nonini who started off at Calif
Records........

source : en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genge

hahaha mr.google master waltham , thanks for the longest post.i knew you will drag in stuffs from google cos that's your last option.

kadoda11 said:

hahaha mr.google master waltham , thanks for the longest post.i knew you will drag in stuffs from google cos that's your last option.

Click to expand...

google or no google this is a digital age.where do you harvest yours in soft copy.sio gazeti lamwanainchi au.

translation ya nini mzee, tatizo hujaelewa thread, the man is comparing genge na bongo flavour only,
likewise Tz music isn't a monolithic one, kuna taarab, bolingo, mduara etc, kama ilivo kwenu.
jamaa hapo juu yeye analinganisha bongo flavour type of music ya tz na genge music ya kenya.

Hoshea said:

translation ya nini mzee, tatizo hujaelewa thread, the man is comparing genge na bongo flavour only,
likewise Tz music isn't a monolithic one, kuna taarab, bolingo, mduara etc, kama ilivo kwenu.
jamaa hapo juu yeye analinganisha bongo flavour type of music ya tz na genge music ya kenya.

Click to expand...

huyu jamaa huwa ananishangaza sana.ukimbana sana atakimbilia kukwambia yeye siyo mkenya.leo anataka tumtafsirie post yake kwa kiswahili kujifanya hawezi kuandika kiswahili.namsubiri arudi.

kadoda11 said:

if genge is a sub genre,what's is the main popular gerne that identifies your country (kenya) musically?.
its name pls.

Click to expand...

Popular music is consumed by different segments of the population. I suspect you do not understand the implications of what you refer to as "gerne" [sic], but I will be happy to illustrate.

The following are examples of Kenyan musical genres that are widely celebrated in Kenya and across Africa. None of these artists perform Genge and are among the most successful Kenyan Artists with continental awards and distribution.

Within Nairobi's popular music scene, the most popular musical styles in Westlands are different from the most popular musical styles in Eastlands and the most popular musical styles in Nairobi are different from those from Mombasa....Note! This is within the popular music segment and does not include the traditional-old-styles. It is a very diverse scene.

Sauti Sol

[video=youtube_share;-4Ms2Fc_JoE]http://youtu.be/-4Ms2Fc_JoE[/video]

Fena Gitu

[video=youtube_share;cnxXlf-5dZQ]http://youtu.be/cnxXlf-5dZQ[/video]

Camp Mulla
[video=youtube_share;foFvn1eOtJ Y]http://youtu.be/foFvn1eOtJY[/video]

Tiri
[video=youtube_share;W5iusIA1M1 g]http://youtu.be/W5iusIA1M1g[/video]

OCTOPIZZO
[video=youtube_share;c36VfdqmfQ s]http://youtu.be/c36VfdqmfQs[/video]

XTATIC
[video=youtube_share;kIe22MPiCu 8]http://youtu.be/kIe22MPiCu8[/video]

On the other hand, this is a Genge artist, the genre-hip hop sub genre-that you are equating to your music.

MEJJA

[video=youtube_share;yCtLv88Endg]http://youtu.be/yCtLv88Endg[/video]

This is akin to having arguing about "the best color", it is all subjective. However, there are a handful of measures that we can use to gauge the relative success of artists, this includes: awards, distribution, earning, among others. The figures are incomparable; we know who wins the day.

I suspect you enjoy Bongo, GOOD FOR YOU!! I implore you to continue dancing to your favorites and avoid unnecessary, petty and illogical 'mud slinging festivals".

Mekatilili,thanks for your reply.you might be right about my poor implications in gerne.then teach me.

you have not answered my first question yet.what is the kenyan gerne peformed by sauti sol,camp mulla,octopizzo,jaguar etc?.

remember we're talking about the gerne that competes with bongo fleva.

i didnt know,within nairobi,the most popular musical styles in westlands are different from the most popular musical styles in eastlands!!!.lol

umeniongezea ufahamu.

kadoda11 said:

Mekatilili,thanks for your reply.you might be right about my poor implications in gerne.then teach me.

you have not answered my first question yet.what is the kenyan gerne peformed by sauti sol,camp mulla,octopizzo,jaguar etc?.

remember we're talking about the gerne that competes with bongo fleva.

i didnt know,within nairobi,the most popular musical styles in westlands are different from the most popular musical styles in eastlands!!!.lol

umeniongezea ufahamu.

Click to expand...

You just woke up one fine morning and decided to exhault yourself from your low self esteem by comparing your poorly scripted song lyriced music to music of other countries.Nobody owns music,its a well known fact buddy and any body who claims otherwise,i mean that they are the best in music,is exposing mediocrity,and lack of basic knowledge about what music is.Tell any Kenyan to mention any Bongo artist from the south,he will hardly mention 3,again ask a Tanzanian to mention Kenyan artists he will mention more than 30 and more.Popularity of music is equated to the success of music in a particular country.Bongo is popular?please tell that ---- to the marines,Ugandans listen to their music,Rwandans same,Ethiopians,Kenyans the same.Did you watch BET awards 2013?Ididn't see any single Tanzanian musician,but Nigerians,Kenyans-Camp Mullah and Collo with their Chafua song.There is nothing beyond Bongo music in T.Z i presume,therefore this creates boredom,and circumvents the need for variety of music in T.Z.Do you know the music America identifies itself with?No,they have hiphop,Rock,crank etc.So get you shit right mister.

Buru58 said:

You just woke up one fine morning and decided to exhault yourself from your low self esteem by comparing your poorly scripted song lyriced music to music of other countries.Nobody owns music,its a well known fact buddy and any body who claims otherwise,i mean that they are the best in music,is exposing mediocrity,and lack of basic knowledge about what music is.Tell any Kenyan to mention any Bongo artist from the south,he will hardly mention 3,again ask a Tanzanian to mention Kenyan artists he will mention more than 30 and more.Popularity of music is equated to the success of music in a particular country.Bongo is popular?please tell that ---- to the marines,Ugandans listen to their music,Rwandans same,Ethiopians,Kenyans the same.Did you watch BET awards 2013?Ididn't see any single Tanzanian musician,but Nigerians,Kenyans-Camp Mullah and Collo with their Chafua song.There is nothing beyond Bongo music in T.Z i presume,therefore this creates boredom,and circumvents the need for variety of music in T.Z.Do you know the music America identifies itself with?No,they have hiphop,Rock,crank etc.So get you shit right mister.

Click to expand...

mfamaji ana tapatapa ktk bahari ya hindi. life jacket pls.lol