In this article we look at the 5 top trending songs from the luhya community.

Bolela Yesu-Jane Rose Khaemba

The song was released in December 2019 but was a big trend in 2020 after a video of the singer performing at a crusade went viral. “Bolela Yesu” is a song that urges peolpe to shun sin and pray to God.

Watch Bolela Yesu here

One Metre Away-Pst Timothy Kitui ft Ben Mukabwa

This is a corona virus sensitization campaign piece on hand washing and respiratory hygiene. Timothy Kitui’s ft. Ben Mukabwa perform the song done in Luhya with his traditional instrument Litungu. Kitui is celebrated for his great music including “A night of Praise in Luhya”. In 2020 he was gracious enough to bless us with this amazing tune.

Watch One metre Away here.

Bindu Bhichenjanga- Amos Barasa

This was song done back in 2017 but was more popularized by the elections campaigns by the NASA team. Amos was singing about how life changes everyday basically asking people to be humble in all they do.

Watch Bindu bhichenjanga here.

 Amba Khu Yesu – Grace Sunday

This was song done gospel artist Grace Sunday four years ago. The song dominated most music charts including major playlists in Kenya thanks to its intriguing beat. Lately it became a sensation to tiktok dancers who jammed to it. Many considered it a vibe that is adopted in many of the dances during the Drama Festivals.

Watch Amba Khu Yesu Here

However in this case we look at the hopeless romantic Luwi Hausa, who acts as the guy in love with a ghetto orphaned girl Maria. Their life becomes a rollercoaster with antagonism and protagonism of life.

Luwi Hausa is another character in the series where he seems to be in love with the slum girl Maria. He is a spoilt child who despised Maria but later fall in love with her.

Below are some facts about him.

He was born in the year 1987 making him 33 years of age. He comes from a Christian family and he is a born-again Christian. As at now he is married with 3 children. Brian doesn’t share too many details about his personal life . Just enough for the public.

Luwi and his children at the Parents magazine shoot

His real name

Luwi Hausa is just his stage name but his real name is Brian Ogana. He went to Mukumu boys and after completing his high school education he went to the University of Nairobi to persue his degree in Computer engineering.

His profession and experience

Despite doing a degree course in Computer engineering, he later changer and did journalism. He is also a writer, communication strategist and a thespian. Brian Ogana works with Good News Broadcasting System (GBS) as a news anchor, host and reporter. He is also an actor, where acting is his part-time job.

Brian Ogana’s father was a massive influence in his love for linguistics, and consequently, he pursued a short course relating to communication. These short courses strengthened his profile as a potential journalist, and his passion did the rest.

As he went through life trying his chance in music,in 2015 he lost his mother Moza Mohammed to high blood  pressure. This is the time he felt so broken but it did not deter his musical dream.

For the young lad, he proved that his talent was something to go after when he later formed a boy band group under Mkubwa na Wanawe called Yamoto Band.

Yamoto band included Aslay, Mbosso, Enock Bela and Beka Flavor who also broke to stardom in 2015  with big hits like, Nitakupwelepweta, Niseme Nisieme, Basi,Cheza kwa madoido among others.

However, the band broke up in 2017 due to irreconcilable reasons, the boys  decided to go solo  on their careers.

Fortunately, Aslay has had it easy since then. With a successful career so far we can  say he is one of  the biggest RnB artiste in East Africa.

He has  had big hits including Usitie Doa that he featured Khadija Kopa, Mhudumu,Hautegeki,Ananikomoa, Kwatu, Natamba, Wifey, Nyang’anyang’a, likizo,Naenjoy, Angekuona,Moyo Kiburi just to name but a few.

Having had such big hits and a consistent flow of releases we can say Aslay is a clearly definition of resilience and artistry and yes East Africa loves him.

The most common ones being celebrated in this year’s holiday festivities.

In this article we review some of the traditional events that graced the 2020 festivities.

Khunwingisia enju(House warming)

This is small ceremony held by an individual who intends to start his life in the village. More like your typical house warming, however in this case a thanks giving service ceremony is held with the owner’s family members and close friends. This new house later blessed by the chosen priest who officiates in blessing all rooms of the house with prayers being the immediate factor.

Khukhwalusia

This happens when the boys that had been circumcised are celebrated for transitioning from boyhood to manhood. This is a function held in December 3 months after the circumcision sometime in august. This time the initiates(Bafulu) are officially handed over to the society. In the event, a thanksgiving service before making merry and dance. In the ceremony the boys are reminded on what the initiation process was all about. In the three months in isolation the boys are taught on the traditions and what the initiation means to the initiate and society at large and what is expected from him.

Family Get-Together

This is a tradition that basically makes the “Luhya travels” from the cities to the villages. This is an opportunity where families from nuclear to the extended families get the chance to reconnect as a whole.

Bhukhwe (Eng’anana)

This a common event in most communities, where families have dowry negotiations for their children. In what the BUkusu call Eng’anana, this is where final dowry payments are done or rather agreements. In essence this allows for a couple to get married in the ways they desire. Further it allows the two families to create a bond of respect and honor.

Bar, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association (BAHLITA) said the time restrictions has forced them into huge losses over and above laying off their workers.

The lobby claimed that the two hours the bars are open, during weekdays, would not be sufficient.

“While the resumption of operations by bars is welcome, we would like to ask the President to consider increasing the hours of operation,” BAHLITA secretary-general Boniface Gachoka said.

“An extension of a number of hours would enable us to resume business in a more complete manner and facilitate the resumption of business by the more than 15,000 bars that have been forced to shut down completely due to the vagaries of the pandemic.”

As a demonstration that their business was hurting, the bar owners now want the County governments to cut their taxes and levies in order to cushion their businesses

“We are pleading with the counties that are around and also the national government that we only pay one license that is the liquor license,” BAHLITA chairman Simon Njoroge said.

Restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 have affected the sales of alcohol in the country.

Not even East African Breweries Ltd has been spared by the effects the bar owners are lamenting about. The giant alcoholic manufacturer posted a 3 per cent loss

On the other hand, Koffi lauded Diamond Platnumz for his hard work in pushing the African music to the world where he has gained respect He crowned Diamond as the King of African music.

“I’m happy to be here to meet the king of the country,,,Diamond….I’m here to work with Diamond …uh to do something to amaze Africa and the world and am sure it will be a very big success. My matter is music his matter is music so we are doing music together.” said Koffi.

However Diamond took off the crown and instead termed Koffi as the King while he-Diamond is the Prince of music.

The two have already shared pictures of their studio session and hours later were seen shooting the video of their song. From the snippets seen on Koffi’s Instagram account,it is obvious the world is going to dance to this much anticipated hit.

Further more, Koffi revealed that he will celebrating his 30 years in the music industry come February next year.

Being a legendary artist fans are happy that the “Nyataquance” hit maker chose to work with Diamond Platnumz . Talk of music geniuses brought together.

Below is snippet of the video:

Koffi Olomide ft Diamond Platnumz