Creativity builds nations | Muthoni Drummer Queen

Translator: Nelson Simfukwe Reviewer: Joachim Mangilima

Between 2004 and 2008,

Kati ya mwaka 2004 na 2008,

I unsuccessfully tried to get into the Kenyan music industry.

Nilijaribu bila mafanikio kuingia katika biashara ya muziki ya Kenya.

But the recurring answer from producers

Lakini jibu lililokuwa likijirudia kutoka kwa watayarishaji wa muziki

was I was not Kenyan enough.

lilikuwa kwamba sikuwa Mkenya vya kutosha.

Meaning what?

Inamaanisha nini?

I didn't sing fully in the slang derivative of Kiswahili

Sikuimba lugha za mtaani zitokanazo na Kiswahili vile ipasavyo

and I didn't sing enough party tracks,

na sikuimba nyimbo za kujirusha vya kutosha,

so they said Kenyans wouldn't listen to a Kenyan who sounded like me.

hivyo walisema Wakenya hawatomsikiliza Mkenya aimbaye kama mimi.

This idea of otherism,

Dhana ya kubaguana,

the exclusion of a person

kumtenga mtu

based on their perceived deviation from the norms,

kutokana na mtazamo wao ulio tofauti na desturi,

goes to the root of the problems in Kenya.

unakwenda hadi katika mizizi ya matatizo nchini Kenya.

And it runs deep.

Na unakwenda ndani zaidi.

Kenya was invented by colonialists in 1895,

Kenya ilianzishwa na wakoloni mnamo mwaka 1895,

and with it, came the erasure of our identity

na katika hilo, ndipo ulitokea upotevu wa utambulisho wetu

and the class system built on otherism.

na mfumo wa madaraja uliojengwa katika ubaguzi

So by 1963, when we received our independence,

Hivyo hadi mwaka 1963, tulipopata uhuru wetu,

these ideas had already become the new normal.

hizi dhana zilikuwa tayari zimechukuliwa kawaida.

Now, we've tried a lot of different ways to move forward since.

Sasa, tangu hapo tumejaribu namna mbalimbali kuweza kusonga mbele.

We have a common language, currency, infrastructure,

Tuna lugha moja, fedha moja na miundombinu,

basically all the things that make a country a country.

kimsingi yale yote ambayo yanafanya nchi kuwa nchi

But all these efforts at nation-building

Lakini juhudi hizi zote katika ujenzi wa taifa

do not go to the heart of the matter.

hazifiki katika kiini cha tatizo.

Which is this:

Ambacho ni:

we cannot build what we do not truly love.

hatuwezi tengeneza kile ambacho hatuna mapenzi ya dhati kwake.

And we cannot love until we love ourselves.

Na hatuwezi kupenda mpaka tutapojipenda wenyewe.

The thing we have to heal, us Kenyans,

Kitu ambacho tunatakiwa kupona, sisi Wakenya,

is our lack of self-love,

ni kushindwa kujipenda wenyewe,

our deep self-hate

chuki yetu binafsi ya ndani

and our existential identity crisis.

na janga letu lililopo la ukosefu wa utambulisho.

And this is the work of nation-building

Na hii ni kazi ya kujenga taifa

that only the creative industry can do.

ambayo wasanii pekee ndiyo wanaweza kufanya.

The idea that Kenya can only include some of us

Suala la kwamba Kenya inaweza kujumuisha baadhi yetu tu

led me to found a music festival in 2008 called Blankets and Wine,

lilinipelekea mimi kuanzisha tamasha la muziki mwaka 2008 liitwalo Blankest and Wine,

to give a platform to myself and other misfits.

kuweza kujipa jukwaa na pia kwa wale wengine wanaobaguliwa .

Ten years later, we've programmed over 200 bands

Miaka kumi baadaye, tumeweza kuhusisha bendi zaidi ya 200

and put at least 100,000 dollars

na kuweka si chini ya dola 100,000

directly into the hands of artists and managers,

moja kwa moja katika mikono ya wasanii na mameneja,

who have in turn spent it on technicians, rehearsals,

ambao wamezitumia kwa mafundi mitambo, kufanyia mazoezi,

music videos and other things along the music value chain.

kutengeneza video za muziki na mambo mengine pamoja na thamani ya mlolongo wa muziki.

Our platform has allowed for multiple Kenyan identities to exist,

Jukwaa letu limewezesha Wakenya wengi katika muziki kuweza kupata nafasi,

while inspiring the industry to discover and engage

pamoja na kuhamasisha biashara ya muziki kutambua na kuwaunganisha

the wide variety of Kenyan music.

namna mbalimbali za muziki wa Kenya.

What we do is necessary but insufficient.

Tunachokifanya ni muhimu lakini bado hakitoshelezi.

And we must urgently pivot into a live music circuit.

Na lazima kwa haraka tuweze egemea katika mfumo wa kupiga muziki mubashara.

But there are other ways music can help heal the nation.

Lakini kuna njia nyingine muziki unaweza saidia kuponya taifa.

According to a 2018 state of media report,

Kutokana na ripoti za mwaka 2018 za chombo cha habari cha serikali,

traditional radio is sill by far the biggest distributor of ideas in Kenya,

redio za kiasili ndizo chanzo kikubwa sana cha usambazaji wa mawazo nchini Kenya,

with 47 percent of Kenyans still choosing radio first.

ikiwa kwamba asilimia 47 ya Wakenya bado wanaipa redio kipaumbele.

This presents an opportunity.

Hii inaleta fursa.

We can use radio to help Kenyans hear the diversity that is Kenya.

Tunaweza tumia redio kuwasaidia Wakenya kusikiliza maudhui mbalimbali yaliyopo Kenya.

We can reserve 60 percent of all programing on Kenyan radio

Tunaweza kutenga asilimia 60 ya vipindi vyote katika redio za Kenya

for Kenyan music.

kwa ajili ya muziki wa Kenya.

We can break down ethnic barriers

Tunaweza vunja mipaka ya kikabila

by playing Kenyan music done in English, Kiswahili

kwa kupiga muziki wa Kenya unaoimbwa kwa Kiingereza, Kiswahili

and other ethnic languages,

na lugha nyinginezo za kiasili,

on what is now single-language ethnic radio.

katika redio ambayo kwa sasa ni redio ya lugha moja tu ya kikabila.

Radio can help stimulate interest and demand

Redio inaweza tumika kuamsha shauku na uhitaji

for Kenyan music by Kenyans,

wa muziki wa Kenya kwa Wakenya,

while also providing the much-needed incomes

pia tukiweza kupata kipato kinachohitajika

by way of royalties.

katika namna ya hakimiliki.

But more importantly,

Lakini kilicho muhimu zaidi,

radio can help us build a more inclusive narrative about Kenya.

redio inaweza kutusaidia kutengeneza hadithi inayotujumuisha kuhusu Kenya.

For you cannot love what you do not know exists.

Kwa vile huwezi kupenda kile ambacho haufahamu kama kipo.

Other creative industries too can do the work.

Wabunifu wengine wanaweza pia fanya hii kazi.

When you consider that 41 percent of Kenyans

Ukitazama kwamba asilimia 41 ya Wakenya

still choose TV as their primary medium,

bado wanachagua runinga kama chanzo cha msingi cha habari na burudani,

it's obvious that film has a huge potential.

ni kweli kwamba filamu ina thamani kubwa.

The meager resources that have been put into the sector

Rasilimali hafifu ambayo tayari imekuwa sekta

have already produced world-class acts,

imeweza kutengeneza waigizaji wa hadhi ya kidunia,

like Lupita Nyong'o and Wanuri Kahiu,

kama Lupita Nyong'o na Wanuri Kahiu,

but we are going to need a lot more incentives and investments

lakini tunahitajika kuwa na rasilimali na uwekezaji

to make filming in Kenya easier,

kuweza kufanya utengenezaji wa filamu kuwa rahisi,

so more Kenyan stories can get on the Kenyan TV

hivyo kufanya hadithi nyingi za Kenya kuweza kuonekana katika runinga za Kikenya

and spark off the really difficult conversations

na kuleta cheche katika maongezi yaliyo magumu

we need to have with one another.

ambayo tunahitaji kuyaongea.

We're going to need to grow a lot more home-grown stars,

Tutahitajika kutengeneza wasanii wengi nyota wa nyumbani,

so we can reverse the idea

ili kubadili muelekeo wa dhana

that we have to blow up abroad

kwamba tunatakiwa kuonekana nchi za nje

before we get the acceptance and validation of home.

kabla ya kukubalika nyumbani.

Fashion too can do the work.

Mitindo pia inaweza kufanya juhudi.

We need to make it possible

Tunatakiwa kuhakikisha tunaweza

to affordably mass-produce Kenyan clothes for Kenyan consumers,

kumudu kwa unafuu kutengeneza nguo za Kikenya kwa wingi kwa wateja wengine wa Kikenya,

so we don't all have to rely on second-hand imports.

ili tusiweze tegemea mitumba inayoingizwa nchini.

The first running shoe made in Kenya

Kiatu cha kwanza cha kufanya mazoezi kitachotengenezwa Kenya

needs to be a local and global success

kinahitajika kuwa na mafanikio ya nyumbani na katika ulimwengu

as an ode to Kenyan excellence,

katika heshima ya Wakenya,

epitomized by Kenyan runners, who are literally world-class.

kikiwakilishwa na wakimbiaji wa Kikenya, ambao wana hadhi ya kidunia.

For these ideas to come to life,

Ili kuweza fanya haya mawazo kuwa na uhai,

jobs will be created,

ajira zitaweza kutengenezwa,

and Kenyan ideas will be exported.

na mawazo ya Kikenya yataweza kwenda nje ya Kenya.

But more importantly,

Lakini lililo muhimu zaidi,

Kenyans may finally consider themselves worthy

Hatimaye Wakenya wataweza kujiona wenye thamani

of the love that we reserve for others.

kutokana na upendo tulionao kwa wengine.

Kenya's creative industry is dynamic,

Soko la ubunifu la Kenya ni lile lenye msukumo,

cosmopolitan, forward-looking,

kimataifa, linalotazama mbele,

and without a doubt,

na bila shaka,

a true manufacturing industry of the immediate future.

soko la uzalishaji la kesho lililo la ukweli.

But its true power lies in its ability to help heal the psyche of Kenya,

Lakini ni kweli nguvu ipo katika uwezo wa kusaidia kuponya akili ya Kenya,

so we can finally build a nation for real.

ili hatimaye tuweze kujenga taifa kwa uhalisia.

Thank you.

Asante.

(Applause)

(Makofi)

(Applause)

(Makofi)

For this song, I'd like us all to take a minute

Kwa wimbo huu, naomba wote tuchukue dakika moja

and think about immigrant communities,

na kutafakari kuhusu jamii ya wahamiaji,

and especially refugee immigrant communities,

na hususani jamii ya wakimbizi,

and the daily struggle they have to endure,

na magumu ya kila siku ambayo wanahitajika kupitia,

building a life with dignity and meaning

kujenga maisha kwa heshima na maana

away from everything they have loved and known.

mbali kutoka katika yote waliyoyapenda na kuyafahamu.

If you feel any empathy for this idea,

Kama unahisi huruma kwa wazo hili,

I ask to see your fist up in the air with me.

Naomba nione kiganja chako hewani pamoja nami.

(Music)

(Muziki)

"Million voice."

"Sauti milioni."

The mandem make some noise

Watu wanapaza sauti

With a million, million voice

Na sauti milioni

All the mandem make some noise

Watu wote paza sauti

With a million, million voice

Na sauti milioni

Can't stop I, won't stop I

Siwezi acha, sitaacha

With a million, million voice

na sauti milioni, sauti milioni

Can't stop I, won't stop I

Siwezi acha, sitaacha

With a million, million voice

na sauti milioni, sauti milioni

This one dedicated to my people building something

Hii ni hususani kwa watu wangu wote wanaotengeneza kitu fulani

Working hard to make sure that their children will lack for nothing

Wakijituma kuhakikisha kwamba watoto wao hawatokosa chochote

When them people come around and treat them like they're basic

Pale ambapo watu watakuja na kuwachukulia kama vile ni watu wasiostahili

I just want to LOL and tell them to consider all their options

Nataka kucheka kwa nguvu na kuwaambia kuangalia machaguo yao yote

Caution, natural distortion

Angalizo, uvurugaji asilia

You can't even kill us we survive even abortion

Hamuwezi kututoa uhai tumeweza kushinda hata kutolewa mimba

Say we cannot make it, watch us how we make it

Unasema hatuwezi fanikiwa, tutazame namna gani tunavyofanikisha

Watch us in a minute come and run and overtake it

Tutazame kwa dakika njoo na kimbia ili kutupita

TED, clap!

TED, piga makofi!

Can't have enough of it

Hatuwezi tosheka

This our only way of life

Hii ndiyo namna pekee ya maisha yetu

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana kwa nguvu

TED, will you clap like this.

TED, unaweza piga makofi kama hivi.

Can't have enough of it

Hatuwezi tosheka

This our only way of life

Hii ndiyo namna pekee ya maisha yetu

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana kwa nguvu

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana kwa nguvu

The mandem make some noise

Watu paza sauti

Like a million, million voice

Kama vile sauti milioni

All the mandem make some noise

Watu wote paza sauti

With a million, million voice

Na sauti, sauti milioni

Can't stop I, won't stop I

Hatuwezi acha, hatutaacha

With a million, million voice

Na sauti milioni, sauti milioni

Can't stop I, won't stop I

Hatuwezi acha, hatutaacha

With a million, million voice

Na sauti milioni,

Can I be your leader

Naweza kuwa kiongozi wenu

Can I be your Caesar

Naweza kuwa Kaesari wenu

If I show you how to make some more will you pledge allegiance

Kama nikiwaonyesha namna ya kufanya zaidi mtaonyesha heshima

Is it always either

Ni mara zote

Me or you or neither

mimi au wewe au si yoyote

If I show you where I'm coming from, will you take a breather?

Kama nikikuonyesha wapi natokea, unaweza kuvuta pumzi?

Cos what you'll find -- what you'll find

Kwa sababu utakitambua -- ambacho utakitambua

What you'll find guarantee will blow your mind!

Ambacho utakitambua kitastaajabu akili yako!

I'll blow your mind -- I'll blow your mind

Nitastaajabu akili yako -- nitastaajabu akili yako

And then you'll see the reason I stay on my grind

Na kisha utatambua sababu kwa nini napambana

Would you clap!

Utapiga makofi!

Can't have enough of it

Siwezi tosheka nayo

It's our only way of life

Hii ndiyo namna yetu ya maisha

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana

Can't have enough of it

Siwezi tosheka

It's our only way of life

Hii ndiyo namna ya maisha ya maisha

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana

Keeping, keeping on the grind

Kupambana, kupambana

The mandem make some noise

Watu paza sauti

(Cheering)

(Watu wanashangilia)

(Applause)

(Makofi)

This next one is partly in Kiswahili,

Nyimbo inayofuata ina Kiswahili ndani yake,

which is what we speak in Kenya.

ambayo ndiyo lugha tunaongea nchini Kenya.

And it's about female friendship

Na unahusu urafiki wa wanawake

and female power.

na nguvu ya mwanamke

And girls coming together to build something that lasts,

Na wasichana wanaungana pamoja kutengeneza kitu ambacho kitadumu,

a true legacy and intergenerational worth.

urithi halisi na uthamani wa kizazi mchanganyiko.

"Suzie Noma."

"Suzie Noma."

(Drum music)

(Muziki wa ngoma)

Sitting at the corner

Tumekaa kwenye kona

Me and Suzie Noma

Mimi na Suzie Noma

We ain't got no worries we are looking like the owners

Hatuna wasiwasi wowote tunaonekana kama wamiliki

Sipping on Coronas

Tukinywa taratibu Corona

Looking at the phone as

Tukitazama simu

All them pretty boys come and tell us how they want us

wakati ambapo wavulana wote watanashati wanatufata na kutueleza namna gani wanatuhitaji

Mambo ni kungoja, aki mtangoja

Mambo ni kungoja, aki mtangoja

Sinaga matime za kuwaste na vioja

Sinaga matime za kuwaste na vioja

Planning how we want to take over the world soon

Napanga namna gani tunataka kuiteka dunia hivi karibuni

Riding on the drums and the clap while the bass goes

Tukipiga ngoma na makofi pale ambapo besi linalia

Hey! Shake it down shake it down like

Hapo! Chezesha mpaka chini chezesha mpaka chini kama vile

Wait till you, wait till you see my

Subiri mpaka, subiri mpaka uone

Hey! Shake it down shake it down like

Hapo! Chezesha mpaka chini chezesha mpaka chini kama vile

Wait till you, wait till you see my

Subiri mpaka, subiri mpaka uone

If you really know it and you really wanna show it

Kama unaifahamu na unataka kweli kuionyesha

Be the way to go

Kuwa njia ya kwenda

Go and grab somebody, move your body, show somebody

Nenda na mkamate mtu, nyonga mwili wako, muoneshe

Be the way to go

Kuwa njia ya kwenda

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili najua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili najua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

Iyo!

Iyo!

Scheming at the corner

Tunapanga mpango wa siri kwenye kona

Me and Suzie Noma

Mimi na Suzie Noma

We ain't got no money but we do it how we wanna

Hatuna pesa lakini tunafanya namna tunavyotaka

Painting our nails checking our mails as

Tunapaka rangi kucha zetu na kuangalia barua pepe wakati

All them pretty boys wanna have us but they fail like

Wavulana wote wazuri wanataka kuwa nasi lakini wanashindwa

Aki mtangoja, leo mtangoja

Aki mtangoja, leo mtangoja

Saa hii tukoworks hakunaga za vioja

Saa hii tuko na kazi hakunaga za vioja

Planning how we want to take over the world soon

Tunapanga namna ya kuipindua dunia hivi karibuni

Riding on the drums and the clap while the bass goes boom

Tunapiga ngoma na makofi wakati besi inalia kama

Shake it down shake it down like

Chezesha mpaka chini chezesha mpaka chini kama vile

Wait till you, wait till you see my

Subiri mpaka, subiri mpaka uone

Hey! Shake it down shake it down like

Hapo!Chezesha kama vile chezesha kama vile

Wait till you, wait till you see my

Subiri mpaka, subiri mpaka uone

If you really know it and you really wanna show it

Kama kweli unaijua na unataka kweli kuonyesha

Be the way to go

Kuwa namna ya kwenda

Go and grab somebody, move your body, show somebody

Nenda na kamata mtu, nyonga mwili wako, muonyeshe mtu

Be the way to go

Kuwa namna ya kwenda

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili najua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili najua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

And now you whine your waist

Na sasa unazungusha kiuno chako

And now you screw your face

Na sasa unakunja uso wako

Exaggerate your waist

Unazungusha kiuno chako

Resuscitate the place

Unaamsha sehemu hii

Na wale wako fifty fifty comsi

Na wale wako fifty fifty comsi

Na wale wako fiti pia sisi

Na wale wako fiti pia sisi

Tuko tu sawa mdogo mdogo yaani

Tuko tu sawa mdogo mdogo yaani

Hallelu-yawa tumeiva design

Hallelu-yawa tumeiva kiaina

If you really know it, and you really wanna show it

Kama kweli unajua, na unataka kuonyesha

Be the way to go

Kuwa namna ya kwenda

Go and grab somebody, move your body, show somebody

Nenda na kamata mtu, nyonga mwili wako, muonyeshe mtu

Be the way to go

Kuwa namna ya kwenda

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili njajua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

On this I know, all this I know, all this I know

Kwa hili njajua, haya yote najua, haya yote najua

Iyo!

Iyo!

(Cheering)

(Watu wanashangilia)

(Applause)

(Makofi)