On the 9th of April 2023, a spectacle is expected to happen at the iconic Mama Grace Onyango Social Center in Kisumu County. For the first time, a Kenyan musician has an authorized biography in his name; a publication that has received high acclaim and been well welcomed in the music and literary circles.
The book was pre-launched at the German Cultural Centre, Goethe Institut’s Muziki Santuri Vinyl Records Exhibition on the 25th of February; an event that was well attended by who is who in the music industry, including by Octopizzo, and George Achieng of Kenge Kenge Band; intellectuals; University dons and many literary connoisseurs.
Dr. Osito Kalle is to perform live at the launch of the book. He will be flanked by his Nabii Kings family including Odhiambo Tusker, Linet Aluoch, and Opiyo Bilongo.
The great Benga sensation George Kembo of the hit ‘Affline the Pretty’ will attend. Jim Likembe and Tom Kodiyo of the former CK Dumbe Dumbe will also be in attendance. To cap this off, the launch whose Chief Guest is H.E Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Governor, Kisumu County, is organized with the support of the Kisumu County Government Department of Sports, Culture, Gender, and Youth Affairs and the CEO of the Mama Grace Social Center, Mr. Akech Obat Masira.
Mr. Maxwell Odeka, a Benga and literary enthusiast had a glossy review for the book and the quality of the writing: “In high school, we used to say “It is more” for anything or anyone that was deemed super and I say, ‘Benga Maestro’ is “More!”.
The duo have done this job so assiduously that even the greatest nitpicker might lack a mistake. Good sentence structure, accurate verb-noun agreement, great sense of humour, proper usage of punctuation marks, good vocabulary and adequate literary techniques like: flashback, symbolism, oxymoron, onomatopoeia, alliteration (Ambrose Adeya Adongo and Odhiambo Oloo Ombok), suspense (the last chapter), dialogue, dream sequence, reflection of recent trends, vivid description, good characterization etc.
They have, indeed, proven that to them, writing is a forte and they are no slouch at it. Their ability to inhabit two places at the same time: the land of facts and that of fiction is just wow! It must have been their rhapsody that has led to the creation of this blockbuster. Kudos for this knack guys! Had I been a fan of hats, I would have doffed and shown obeisance while chanting “Igweee! Igweee! Igweee!” upon meeting them.
The writers are great virtuosos who deserve praise and I say with absolute certitude that this work is going to get the widest readership the world over and earn them both aggrandizement and stardom in equal measure.
I, particularly, like the last chapter- a whodunit, that tells us about Oguda Aballa; a man who had just gotten the carte blanch only to be killed by his own people over suspicion and allegation. Quite sad!
Above all, may God continue to grant Osito Kalle more days and keep his voice as mellifluous as it has been so that we may continue to enjoy his songs particularly the one that has the leit motif “Ere jahera na, ere Anjelina alos go yawa?” and also “Asembo Piny Maber “.
To the authors, Agutu Onagi and Okeyo Sojah, keep the fire burning guys!”
Mr. Jay Alwala also spoke highly of the work: “Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. It was funny, sad, and inspirational at the same time and I was invested in the characters. One of my favorite books of 2023!”
Music producer Jojo Jakaleo, and Cultural expert Mr. Agan Odero Aghan, who is the Director Emeritus of the Kenya Cultural Center, have both lauded the book as a trailblazer and a good step towards filling the dearth of publications on Music and its leaders in Kenya and Africa.
Yet the greatest of endorsements for the book comes from Prof. Wallah bin Wallah who has given high praise for the authorship which he refers to as “a first of many in the publication of biographies” and “a beautiful detour from the stale, often facts-tabulated biographies”. Prof. Wallah who started his literary career from around Lake Victoria, Ziwa Kuu, once taught at Mbita High School where he first took note of Dr. Osito Kalle’s music. He has written a powerful Forward for the book.
The rare text, explicates and contextualizes the world in which Dr. Osito Kalle performs. It chronicles the journey of Benga from its initial sprout around Nam Lolwe to the modern Social Media era, touching albeit passingly, on the other giants of the genre like D.O Misiani, Collela Mazee, George Ramogi, Ouma Moore, Ochieng’ Nelly, and Okatch Biggy, amongst many others. It is thus a pleasurable exploration of both the kingly Kalle and the benign world of Benga.
