Music

After some serious discussion with Mshairi and this thing about lists of music I worked on a list of favourite music and to be honest it is one of the most difficult things to do. Music has been a constant in my life it goes back years with my love for music and there are also life defining moments when I hear certain type of music. As a child, my Dad had a friend who called me Miriam Makeba as I sang endlessly. I resented being called Makeba because I did not understand what the name meant. While I was training at the Kenya School of Hairdressing, my sister called me from Toledo, Ohio and she said hear, listen to this is one of my favourite songs and that is how I heard Brandy by the Ojays, I could not get a record of that song and it like ten years later that I heard the full version of it and it features in my catalogue of music.

My list has to take into account where I am right now and to be honest, it is a spin off of Desert Island, what music would one take to a desert island, the selection is normally 8 but this is my list so it is going to be a number of my choosing. You know the iPod which would take 3000 songs, my iPod would have a trailer attached to it for music that would not sit comfortably in an iPod.

However, before I start there is mention of other musicians and forms of music that I just love as in the intensity of Mark Knopfler and his Brother in arms, wow, the gravelly tones of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, Percy Sledge When a man loves a woman, Otis Redding Sitting in the Dock of the Bay. What can I say about Salif Keita and the joy I had in discovering his music, Franco and Tabuley, Sam Mangwana, Kofi Olomide and those Congolese musicians who played in Nairobi like Mangelpa(sic). Zaiko Langa Langa who I went to see in London and got myself well and truly drunk.

Angelique Kidjo saw at the Afica Centre and just loved her music and that she is one hell of a woman. Baaba Maal, Youssou Ndour, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Anita Baker, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, India Irie, Yolanda Adams, Dennis Taylor, Mario, Tyreese, Nelly, Patti Labelle. Aretha Franklin and Emma Franklin, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Earl Klugh my oh my the list is endless, some of these do not appear anywhere in my list but they feature very strongly in my life. I have not forgotten other music that I was weaned on like the Hindi films music which we heard growing up, the Taarabu music.

I will never forget a concert that I took 8 teenage girls to in the 90s of MC Hammer in his heyday. I shall not mention any names but that was one of the fun moments at Wembley Stadium. Brothers Johnson with Stomp, Bob Marley, Santana, last night these names just came trickling in my mind- Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder would feature prominently in my list and I would have their music played anytime anywhere, Lionel Richie and of course the Commodores, Randy Crawford. I would fill the pages of this blog with the music that I love. Yet I do not like all music like Joss Stone who may be an Elvis come-back(clone), notice the white person singing like she/he black!!! Will Young, George Michael, Robbie Williams and let me not have another list of music that grates my ear.

Here is my list and it is no particular order
1. As-Stevie Wonder
2. Secret Garden- Quincy Jones and Co
3. So sad the Song- Gladys Knight
4. Only Love-Luther Vandross
5. Juicy Fruit- Mtume
6. Love Twins- Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
7. Brandy- O’jays
8. Malaika- Fadhili Williams
9. The Click Song- MIriam Makeba
10. Let’s Get It On- Marvin Gaye
11. Human Nature- Michael Jackson
12. Stay- Temptations
13. Track of my tears- Smokey Robinson
14. Something Inside so strong- Labi Sifre
15. Why can’t we live together- Timmy Thomas


This list is endless and could strtech so far, and it is not carved in stone

Taken a page out of Mama Junkyard Here is a quiz for those who may or may not know me. No prizes for this one just take part

Take my Quiz!

If there is something that may haunt me all my life it is the Kenyan national anthem, we were often told we had to stand up every time we heard the music start and once a long time ago as I was lying sick in bed and the radio was on in the background the anthem was played...... lying there in a foetal position and when it started playing I pulled myself up straight, mind you still lying in bed, I stretched out straight and stiff as a board until it ended. I would have hated to be found slouching when the "great anthem" was playing. I was four or five years old……….

Not so long ago while out driving in Eldoret the Kenyan flag was coming down at the District Commissioner's (DC) office and I did not stop as one was meant to do. Now at the driving school you were taught all the signs and traffic rules that you had to obey. However, there was not one rule that mentioned that you had to obey this particular rule of " the flag coming down or even hoisting the flag ". So when the Administration Police (AP) started screaming at me that I should have stopped I had this perplexed look on my face as this was a traffic rule that seemed to be made on the spot. I later found out that for those who happened to walk near the DC's office at these times you had to stop walking, talking or whatever you were doing and stood to attention.

Which brings me to the anthem standing or in my case sleeping to attention, I haven't heard the anthem played in a long time and when l do l wonder if I shall remember what it is to have the fear of God drilled into you as a child that you have to obey certain rules and also where do we get this insane justification of disrespecting a flag or that we lack patriotism if we do not stand to attention.......

I have been thinking, dreaming and seeing rings: wedding rings, engagement rings, friendship rings, all sorts of rings and I hope to God this has nothing to do with Camilla and Charles and maybe it is a reflection of my singledom like I don’t wear rings……

Which brought it to mind when I was fifteen or sixteen—the mists of time blah blah fish cakes. Oh well had a crush and the man/boy gave me a ring as a token of love. I remebered it had blue stone and I wore it faithfully and a few day later my finger had swelled to a fat sausage. Mum and I had a laugh trying to pry the ring out of my finger using soap and baby oil and I remember to this day my finger had a blue shaped ring which faded into time as surely as the crush did. Can not wear anything unless plated with gold, sterling or the real stuff…..

The ring business has me worried as I took off my gloves I realised that my fingers were rather bare. Then to top it off one of the sleazoid who has the persistent hard on in his eye stopped me and and he said I have very soft hands and was going to kiss my hand and the look on my face and the eeeuuuw that was shaping my mouth was a sight to behold. Anyway I told him that these were hard working hands and the softness was hereditary. This guy is rather creepy and everything about him leaves me with that feeling of I have walked through slime, after encounters with this person a hot shower is always called for.

To MamaJunkyard thank you very much for this wonderful exercise as it has me thinking what makes me a Kenyan like I would never thought of it before good fun!!

Favourite Kenyan food –
guache, marigo, mbocho na bebe and it is not irio which is done with mataha
Favourite Kenyan drink-
Tusker Premium
Favourite Kenyan TV programme-
The one that had Masunduku Smithi or is it Vihoja Mahakamani??
Top 3 Kenyan hang outs-
Wagon Wheel, Woodlouse(Eldoret) na Stardust (Malindi)
Top Kenyan holiday destination-
Malindi, Malindi,Malindi
3 Kenyan Phrases you use a lot-
Shenzi Umbwa Mjinga; Shauri Yako & Mapenzi ya pesa nane
7. Three things about Kenya/Kenyans that make you go 'hmmm'-
1. Fitina or Juko
2. Depending on whether it is friend or foe- "You have lost or put on weight!"
3. How long have you been in England without going back to your motherland?
8. Three things non-Kenyans say about Kenya/Kenyans that make you
go 'hmmm'----- in response to some of the comments they make
I have some Kenyan friends or my best friend is Kenyan
Corruption and tribalism is not synonmous with Kenya
Animals are Kenyans too but we have ours in national parks and have not exterminated them as in the West but give us time!
9. Three things about Kenya/Kenyans which non-Kenyans ought to
know.
I speak English because that is what we were taught from the time you entered Standard one
We bleed as well
Not all Kenyans are athletes
10. Complete this sentence: I am Kenyan because...
hey what else could l be or do I have a choice ?
And finally - list 3 members of the Kenyan Blog Ring you would like to see complete this quiz.
Enjoy!
Itina Rasi
Chanuka
Au Lait

Effing Valentines Day no wonder there was a massacre whenever, I am not cribbing because the day passed just like any other I could not even walk into supermarket without seeing all the red roses, champagne flutes and chocolates. Someone looked at me strangely though to my recollection I have not strangled or smothered anyone lately highly tempted too!!!!

I have been away to the countryside for some R&R and I know that I did not rest but worked so hard it felt like going to a shamba as wake up was either at 5.00 am or at the very latest 6.00 am and would work solidly until 3.00 pm. Good honest work, mind you and I have new recipes up my sleeves. I went to see a friend who has been a friend for many years and I am sure if I put the age of the friendship this will surely age me. However, this is one friendship I really value as we have come a long way and the amount of nostalgia we packed into a week was extraordinary. I am glad to be back in London though the Valentines Day set me back a little.