KAYA: What You Missed at Mr Jemedari’s album launch

One of my favourite things about being an events junkie is discovering new artists and music I probably wouldn’t have heard of. This is why I attend so many events, for those who’ve been asking. And that is exactly how I met Mr Jemedari.

Sometime in May 2017, I got a Whatsapp from an old friend from primary school. Jeff surprised me with an invite to an album launch called Kaya by a certain Kenyan hiphop artist. He also happened to be his manager.

With nothing to lose, I said yes. Still, I didn’t know what to expect.

Suits & Mics presents KAYA album launch

Welcome to Michael Joseph Centre

Since events rarely start on time, I arrived an hour late at 19:19 (angel number hello!). I found Scott the Violinist on stage, not alone but with a jazz band! Am I the only one who thought he was a one-man band?

In this new formation, they performed instrumental covers of familiar 90s R&B songs. Can We Talk? by Tevin Campbell had me loudly filling in the lyrics myself.

Girl I want to know your name.

The band members also did individual solos, as focus periodically changed from the keyboard to guitar to drum set to violin to bass guitar. They finished off with instrumental versions of popular Kenyan hits that sent us into deep nostalgia. Jua Cali would have been honoured.

Scott the Violinist and band on stage

Tugi Mlamba on guitar and Muema Nzomo on keys

Until then I hadn’t seen Jemedari. I only spotted familiar faces of Kenyan spoken word artists Tess and Mufasa, and Kenyan musicians Ythera and Chizi who were there to support.

As we waited for the main show, the intimate crowd held cups with juicy cocktails from 2Soc Bar. I opted for a taco that resembled a chapati with chicken and vegetables wrapped inside.

Fidel of Le Band later walked in during the show. He sat a few seats from me. We said hi to each other with our Colgate smiles.

The beginning

At 8 pm a burly man in a clean-cut suit and well-trimmed beard came on stage as if on cue. Before the show’s MC introduced Jemedari, he did an intense rap verse that left me wondering who he was. I didn’t find out until later.

Then the man of the night showed up. He looked dapper in a fitting black suit, black belt, and matching shoes. The Kenyan hiphop artist in black. With an African choker for an accessory.

Real name Joseph Wambua, Jemedari looked neither Giriama nor Kamba – maybe because he’s a blend of the two. He appeared taller than he is in real life. The stage must have uplifted him.

Jemedari promised us a live hiphop experience during his album launch. I didn’t understand what he meant until he called up his three-man band and three female background vocalists to stage. Ythera was one of them.

Armed with his suit and mic, Jemedari kicked off his one-hour live performance.

As a starter, he introduced a new word to us. Artism: art with a hint of activism. His first song A Letter To The President deeply reflected this. To emphasize his pain for the state of the nation, he blended Kanye West’s Heartless in his heartfelt performance.

This was only an introduction.

Swahili Love

After warming us up to his sound, he lightened up the mood with his love songs. Ms. Okinda, Ythera, and Ashley began singing the popular Swahili song, Aisha. However, it turned out not to be the original but his own version of the song.

I still remember the line “kifundo chake chanizengua”. It takes a Swahili man to be turned on by a woman’s ankle.

Ms Okinda enjoying the Kaya show

During the one-hour show, the three ladies fused other songs like Mfalme Wa Mapenzi and Kwaheri by Kenyan female musician Sanaipei with Jemedari’s original songs. Jeff later told me it was to make the songs sound familiar to the audience. ‘

Smart move bro.

I was quite surprised when Jemedari called my neighbour Fidel up on stage. Apparently, they had worked together on the album to create a sexy song called Do It (Like Your Ex Can’t). Ladies couldn’t hide their exhilaration as the two men shouted “legs up like a peace sign!”

He then invited Dan Aceda aka Chizi whom he referred to as the Prince of Benga. As he rapped the love song Zaidi Ya Wote, Chizi conducted the band in the background like it was his own. Kibali Muriithi also got screams from the crowd as he lent his mellow voice in God Engineering.

Jemedari lured his Swahili beauty with Aisha, and seduced her with Do It with the help of Fidel. And when it was time to move on, he reminded her “nilikupenda kutoka Jadi”.

Mr Jemedari and Fidel heating things up on stage

Hardcore Jemedari

The burly man came back on stage, this time introduced as Point Blank. With the main act, the two Kenyan rappers performed Slave Now King Later – a heavy hiphop track that brought the house down. Jemedari showed us he knows how to trap too.

By now Jemedari had lost his well-pressed jacket and choker. He had also opened the top buttons of his black shirt. One by one he rolled up its sleeves to reveal a thin black watch, blending with his dark melanin skin.

He also showed us his cocky side, something even the greats possess. In a freestyle session, he shut down some Kenyan rappers who claim to be kings yet ran away to Ulaya.

But soon we went back to Kaya.

He wasn’t afraid to confess that at one point he had lost his faith. But after recently finding God, he knew it wasn’t all about him. You have to be humble sometimes.

Swahili dance party

Jemedari’s music was drenched in Swahili culture from the beats to the lyrics. His final song turned Kaya into a full-blown Swahili party. With the band playing a taarab soundtrack, he asked the ladies to shake that Kiuno, and we gladly obliged.

He even got his own sister seated on the front row to move her flexible waist. His Giriama mum refused to be left behind; soon she was also up on her feet showing us how to do it right – with a leso loosely tied around her waist You almost wished you were in their family.

If you can get your mum to dance in your show, you’re doing things right – MC Point Blank later pointed out.

During the encore, some ladies formed a mduara aka dance circle in front of the stage. I was tempted to join them in whining their waists but settled to take a video instead. KAYA had become a chakacha party.

The end

The live performances ended exactly at 9 pm, just as was advertised. So sometimes we do keep time. (Unlike a certain somebody, my editor says).

Before he left the stage, Jemedari poured out his gratitude to his fans and friends who attended his previous concerts and listened to the KAYA album before it was released. He confessed he had doubts about it and wanted to know what people thought.

You’re not alone bro.

Like a gentleman, he also thanked his mum but in a unique way. He stepped off the stage and bowed down in front of her in humility. And all the ladies said awww.

On background vocals: Ms Okinda, Ythera and Ashley

As promised it was a live Kenyan hiphop experience; something amiss in most local shows. The band featured Willo was drums, Karuga on bass and Muema Nzomo whose keyboard skills had me wishing I was his apprentice.

He was grateful to the Kenyan musicians on the album including Ythera, Fidel, Dan Aceda and Chris Adwar. He also shouted out Kaki of Flag 42 studio, his brother who produced Slave Now King Later, and Keys the humble producer who did not want to be seen.

Jemedari’s journey all started with being pushed to perform a choral verse back in primary school. He recalled how he once performed in an empty bar to the waiters only. Now he was launching his sophmore album to an urban crowd at the Michael Joseph Center. The guy couldn’t be more humbled.

He appreciated Point Blank for pushing him relentlessly to record and write. When your mentor booms in front of everyone in the room that no one works harder than you, you know you’re doing something right.

It was beautiful to see the underdog rise.

Before I left the underground Swahili hiphop scene, I still had to know one thing. Why the name Jemedari?

Looking shorter now, he told me he had dreams of being a general when he was a kid. So the Swahili name stuck.

He also revealed that Kaya is a Giriama word for village. That’s when I realized what makes Jemedari unique from any other Kenyan hiphop artist. He reaches out to his Swahili roots to create authentic African music. And looks good doing it too in his 56 Authentique suits.

He has a great team behind him. Jeff, the guy in charge of Tronic Entertainment, does the tough job of making strategic decisions. He also has the coolest mentor Point Blank who has over 20-year experience and raps like a charged beast.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7NGynbxZPM&w=560&h=315]

After going through Jemedari’s YouTube channel, I cannot wait to hear more from the Swahili hiphop artist. And if this is how Kenyan album launches go, please sign up the events junkie for more.

Now to look for the next event in Nairobi to attend.

Event photos courtesy of Live It Live

Follow Mr Jemedari on Instagram