KENYA: "WE ARE CRYING" CONTINUES TO GET AIRPLAY ON THE KENYAN STATE-OWNED RADIO STATION KBC

Record ID: 387716

  • Title: KENYA: "WE ARE CRYING" CONTINUES TO GET AIRPLAY ON THE KENYAN STATE-OWNED RADIO STATION KBC
  • Date: 24th August 1998
  • Summary: INTERVIEW WITH JOHN KALANDA HARRISON: (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) "THIS SONG IS TRULY A REFLECTION OF MY FEELINGS AND THE BAND'S FEELINGS BECAUSE AS ARTISTS WE ARE ALWAYS MOVED AND TOUCHED BY SUCH
  • Embargoed: 8th September 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Conflict,Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8HQHZV69XFWMIUP19Q128CMCJ
  • Story Text: A song marking the emotions of Kenyans following the
    bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi, is continuing to
    get airplay on the nation's state-owned radio station KBC, two
    weeks after it was recorded.

    One of Kenya's best-known bands, 'Them Mushrooms'
    recorded the song 'Twalia' - Swahili for 'We're Crying' -
    seven days after the bombing on August 7.

    Group member John Kalanda Harrison said they'd been
    recording a song for their latest CD in a nearby studio when
    the bomb exploded.

    "We were in the middle of a recording session and when the
    bomb went off, we interrupted the session for some time,
    thinking it was a gas cylinder explosion," Harrison said.

    He said the idea of recording a song came to him minutes
    after the blast, which claimed the lives of 253 people - 241
    of them Kenyan nationals.

    "After we heard the news, say after about ten to fiteen
    minutes, that's when this idea popped into my mind.I said we
    have to come up with a song and it was even more after seeing
    the pictures on tv."
    He says the song is a reflection of the feelings and
    emotions of all the band - and was made without earning money
    in mind.

    "This song is truly a reflection of my feelings and the
    band's feelings because as artists we are always moved and
    touched by such incidences.I really don't care (about earning
    money) because all I wanted to do is get that thing that was
    bugging me inside and say it loud and let the whole world
    hear, and that's what actually matters to us."
    John Katana Harrison, the group's keyboard player, says
    that one of the phrases in the song came after hearing people
    in the street saying "Kwanini Sisi?" - Swahili for "Why us?".

    The Mushrooms are one of Kenya's longest established
    musical acts - they've been making music for over 25 years.

    Although without international success one of their songs
    'Hakuna Mata' or 'Jambo Bwana' established itself as a
    regional hit and remains a favourite among tourists visiting
    Kenya.
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