The year 2004 was a great year for the celebrated Kamba musical king, Ken Wambua alias Ken Wa Maria. He released his debut album which had the controversial hit, We Nzamithya Mwelu (Mwelu, let me taste). The song shocked Kamba elders due to its obscene lyrics.
The soft-spoken Kamba Benga king has continued to release songs whose lyrics do not marry his soft nature.
In the We Nzamithya Mwelu, Ken Wa Maria accuses his purported lover of frustrating him. He says Mwelu is not honoring her dates.
The song infuriated elders because it contravened the Kamba's ethical requirements. There are issues that elders and other conservative Kambas feel are not to be discussed in public. Such matters are kept away from children, yet Ken Wa Maria was not minding the young generation.
Ken has revolutionized Kamba Music and steered it away from what legends like Bosco Mulwa, Peter Muambi, and Les Kilimambogo Brothers band led by Kakai Kilonzo. They were conscious of societal moral concerns.
However, Ken speaks his mind regardless of how the society will react. ‘Fundamentals’ was another song that received a good share of criticism from conservatives.
Despite the controversy, Ken Wa Maria is among the most successful musicians in Kenya.
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