I walk into a tiny room full of cool people. There’s an equally tiny band on stage. A young man who looks like he’s in his early 20s is playing the clarinet, but it eerily sounds like a saxophone.
You have to hear it to believe it.
I remember a friend told me a few days ago he wants to learn how to play both. I make a note to send him a video. His dreams are valid.
This cool clarinettist is blowing his own horn in a yellow-black-red classic shirt, the tightest black pants I’ve seen in a while, and yellow supra-like shoes. Remember those?
Behind him is the silent Richie who talks with his drums. And on the farthest right is a familiar face: Muema Nzomo, the veteran videographer and keyboardist. And yes, he’s playing melody and bass on the keys at the same damn time!
He’s also been playing with Mr Jemedari for the longest time. How long you ask? 12 whole years.
They’re warming up the stage for the Kenyan hiphop artist. They fill the cosy room with jazzy instrumental versions of a famous Naija song whose name I forget, Girls Like Me by Maroon 5, and even the classic Kenyan song Mwana Wa Mberi.
The applause increases the more local they get. Like when they play Lewa by Mejja and mash it up with Kwaheri by Jua Kali and Sanaipei Tande. Finishing off with Ninanoki by Nameless and Amani.
Maryolive
I am seated in the second row. I chose this chair because of its upright back, posture muhimu. Plus the lady next to me came alone too, si you know loners have to stick together.
She also looks familiar.
She tells me she’s a classical singer. Opera kinda music. However, her original music is a fusion of R&B, pop and classical.
Her name is Maryolive Mungai.
I say cool. Nice to meet you. I forget to mention that I’ve listened to her song in Waithaka’s all-female Kenyan album Odes by Queens.
While we wait for the main event to start, we talk about why we love Kenyan plays. I’m fresh from watching Milliaz Productions’ The Backstreet at Kenya National Theatre the previous night. And it absolutely blew me away, from the hilarious script to the impressive acting.
We agree Kenyan plays are better than watching movies at the cinema. Why? They’re immersive, relatable, and so deep they stick in your mind way after you leave the theatre. That’s why I’m looking forward to watching I Will Marry When I Want at The Kenya National Theatre before May ends.
I feel like I have found a sister. So I share a random thought: recording videos of stage performances disconnects me from enjoying the show. And she agrees!
As a performing artist on the other side, she also feels the disconnect when she’s singing to cameras instead of people. Even Beyonce stopped a concert once just to tell her fans to put their phones down.
So for the whole event, none of us records anything. That’s what the photographers and videographers are there for, right? Plus do you ever rewatch those videos after the show?
Welcome Mr Jemedari
A couple of jazzy instrumentals later, the man of the hour finally appears. He’s in a classy blue suit, buttoned-up shirt and shiny black shoes. All that’s missing is a glass of whisky or Hennessy in Jemedari’s hand.
Kidawa joins him on background vocals whom he introduces as music royalty. After all, she’s the daughter of Juma Tutu.
Both Kenyan musicians are both from Kilifi – the county not the town.
You can’t tell she has a cold because she sounds fantastic. It should be over by the time she performs at the first Roysambu Culture Fest on Friday 27th May alongside 9 other Kenyan musicians. All from Roysambu!
Jemedari takes centre stage. A red carpet beneath him, warm orange lights above him, and a painting by Msale like a halo around him, this is his moment.
We’re here to hear him perform his latest music project which he released on the 6th of May.
According to him, “Suits & Mics EP is a collection of smooth hiphop flows over jazzy tunes, curated specifically for the chill listener.” Blending together live music elements with hiphop lyricism, the mood curator meticulously created a 6 track rollercoaster of vibes.
He eases in with the first track Easy, a classy hiphop track which is all suited up. It reminds me of as long as I got my suit and tie – remember that Jay Z Justin Timberlake classic?
This is the Kenyan version.
You make it so easy to one, twostep
And wanna do the dance with you my baby
The whole time, he keeps it Grown & Sexy – wooing his lady love with the suavest lines. The crowd sings along to the sexy second track. Clearly, they had done their homework before coming to this intimate show.
You don’t even have to think about him tonight
I’m just trying to keep it grown and sexy
Passion Juice and Gin sounds perfect on this Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by keys, drums and clarinet, Jemedari shares the story behind this jazzy tune.
He was inspired when one day he was seated on the beach with a drink in hand (take a guess). While watching the sunset, he had a moment where his mind went silent. A moment of pure bliss and peace. Where everything was just perfect.
Have you ever experienced that?
Taratibu is a quintessential heartbreak song. After his heart was broken and stomped on, he asks the lady who picked it up to be gentle with it. Take him slowly. Nipeleke pole pole.
He shows off his soft vulnerable side with Swahili lyricism: Taratibu mpenzi usiwe na choyo, Taratibu mpenzi promise you’ll be loyal.
Proof he’s still in touch with his Giriama roots.
Bedroom is the only collaboration in the EP. It features the sultry Sage who couldn’t make it because she was celebrating her mother’s birthday – on mother’s day.
They made the smooth R&B bedroom jam for Valentine’s Day. No wonder it ended up on my Kenyans LOVE love playlist released in February 2022. He gives us a tantalizing teaser, before promising he’ll finish (it) when Sage is around.
The last track is the most unique piece. Falling features the voice of English philosopher Alan Watts asking why is it called “falling in love” and “not rising in love”.
This outro is pensive and reflective. Jemedari admits he once fell out of love with himself, his partner, his friends, his family, and his art.
“See a while ago I forgot how to love and I fell and I kept falling”
At the end, he reveals he made it to the other side.
Before Suits & Mics
During the 2 hour concert, he fuses his new songs with his old songs. The sexy song Do It Like Your Ex Can’t, sounds refreshingly different, minus Captain Charisma. Since it’s an election year, he once again reads his gritty Letter To The President which he strings together with Heartless by Kanye West.
And of course, the famous Msenangu where he samples the famous Giriama song. You might have heard it on Green Calabash, the famous Kenyan vlog.
I don’t see the next part coming. He launches an explosive performance where the band mashups up Kenyan songs from the 2000s: Tuendelee ama Tusiendelee, Githurai, and Moss Moss. The storyteller he is, he later shares an interesting tale of how he started rapping.
While he was in high school, he was all about drama and music. Then he found out Kenyan star E Sir was playing in a nightclub in Nakuru. What was a boy to do?
That was the first time he sneaked out of school with his classmates. They even bribed the bodyguards to let them in (shhh don’t tell anyone).
Once inside, the young player stood front row singing along to all the lyrics. Nameless noticed him and brought him up to the stage. E Sir then gave him the mic to sing his song. He’ll never forget that moment.
The next day while dozing off in class, their cool TP (teaching practice) swaggers in. And he announces “E Sir is dead”.
Years later you can’t help but notice the symbolism. E Sir passed on the mic to him before he passed away in a car accident on the way back to Nairobi. That’s why Jemedari must perform that tribute performance at every show.
Jemedari ends this show with a Giriama dance party. He opens the top buttons of his shirt, makes us stand up, and teaches us how to kata Kiuno like the pro he is. Just like he did during his KAYA album launch event in 2017 at Michael Joseph Centre.
Welcome to Cheche Bookshop
Unlike the spacious Michael Joseph Centre, not more than 30 people can fit in here. It’s Cheche Bookshop and Cafe after all. Books take space here, they are everywhere you look – on walls, tables, almost spilling to the floor.
A busy bookshelf and a multicoloured elephant sculpture by Ocean Sole stand behind the drummer. Behind Nzomo is a glass window through which you can see the patio. And the iconic wall painting of influential African queens like Toni Morrison and Winnie Mandela. With our Kenyan hero Wangari Maathai as the centrepiece.
And beyond is a lush green garden with cushioned seats. Where you can sit, read a book, and relax on a Sunday afternoon.
This is my first time at Cheche Bookshop and Cafe which sells African books, particularly by women. The community event space also regularly hosts film screenings, storytelling sessions, clothes and book swaps. Polycarp Otieno aka Fancy Fingers once had a children’s book reading and live performance here.
A 10-minute walk from Lavington Mall, It’s also next to Chekafe. Just in case you’re feeling like Japanese cuisine. Konnichiwa.
Book Lovers H(e)aven
If Maryolive is on my left, on my right is Joan of Bookstagram. Jemedari calls her a book influencer since she reviews African books and organizes monthly bookish events. Not a book club (like Chasing Books) or book swap in the park (like mine); her intimate events in Nairobi combine bookish conversations, games and live music performances by alternative Kenyan musicians.
Joan also likes taking herself out to cafes and reading a book for 3 hours. Talk about self-care.
This could be one of those places.
Books and coffee go well together. As long as the coffee doesn’t spill on the pages. And if you’re not into coffee, there’s tea too.
You can get books about Kenyan history such as Dedan Kimathi’s inspiring story, and children’s books about Kenyan superheroes. Before she leaves, Joan buys a Black American history book she’s been looking for but couldn’t find elsewhere. She found it at Cheche.
I like that you can pop by any day from Tuesday to Sunday to read a book there. If you like it buy it. If not, go home and try again another day.
Shoutouts
Before getting off stage, Jemedari mentions a few more influential people in his life. Kasichana, the MC who’s been missing in action for years has reappeared with sculpted arm muscles and a long black dress revealing her lean figure. Mufasa the roaring king of spoken word arrives late. And Gufy is glowing in his black boy joy (and blonde hair) after the success of his poetry show.
Jemedari also acknowledges his fellow Coastal musician Abbih Nguma (who came with his young daughter #parentinggoals). Abbih is the one who coined the phase “zungusha kiuno kama feni mbovu”.
And we meet Jemedari’s brother Chwom Tisa who produced the Kenyan hip hop jazz EP. Hao wawili, tumbo moja.
I’m surprised Jemedari remembers when I interviewed him on my campus radio show The Music Junkies on USIU Radio back in 2017. That radio show which later won a Sondeka Award is what started me out in this music journalism career. And it was one of his first Kenyan radio appearances.
Listening to it 5 years later, I can’t believe how far we’ve come.
The story behind Suits & Mics
Why do a Kenyan hiphop jazz music project? I ask him.
“I’ve always been in the Jazz headspace. I grew up listening to Coastal Jazz and the saxophone sound has been a staple in my playlist.
This music is inspired by my new age. A maturity of sorts that speaks to experiences and life-changing moments that have shaped me to this moment, especially in the last 2 years.
I am falling back in love with myself and the things that made me feel alive.”
Even after being away from the Kenyan music scene busy riding bikes and doing voiceovers, he’s maintained his unique factor. That is performing live hiphop music while looking sharp and dapper in clean-cut suits.
His new EP sounds different from his 2017 sophomore album KAYA, which is a good thing. Evolution. He’s now fusing his signature Swahili hiphop style with jazz influences from Coastal music. After all, bango is all about the horns, just ask Mzee Ngala or Juma Tutu.
Suits & Mics EP marks the renaissance of Mr Jemedari. And his ever-loyal fans were present to witness his rebirth during this Cheche Sessions.
Like Jidenna he’s a classic man – doing hiphop music the classy way. No wonder his next event in Nairobi is at the uptown Social House Lavington on Saturday 28th May 2022 from 1pm.
Show up in your suit (and tie). I bet Davie will also show up with his clarinet/ saxophone.
Photos by Murathe Ngigi of Pichad
P.S. Listen to Mics And Suits EP on Spotify or Apple Music. Or if you like, both!
Love to discover new alternative music? Get my top 100 Kenyan music playlist for FREE
Now this is some brilliant writing. The way you captured every minute detail. Thanks for the mention ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Joan. It was a pleasure to meet you. To more bookish events 🙂