This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
November 21, 2019, marked a significant moment in Kenyan music history when a new genre, gengetone, emerged. Introduced by Ethic Entertainment, this genre was initially met with enthusiasm and praise from music fans.
However, not everyone was a fan of gengetone. Ezekiel Mutua, the chairman of the Kenya Film Classification Board, was vocal about his disapproval of the genre's lyrics. He argued that the explicit content was not suitable for all audiences.
One song in particular, 'Tarimbo' by Ethic Entertainment, sparked a heated debate. The song's lyrics were criticized for promoting violence against women, leading Ezekiel Mutua to call for its removal from YouTube. He wrote on Facebook, 'I have spoken to Google to take down the damn crap called Tarimbo by Ethic Entertainment which advocates for rape of women. Promoting violence against women is criminal.'
Despite the controversy, some Kenyans sided with Mutua, feeling that the song's lyrics had gone too far. However, others defended the artists, arguing that the music was intended for a specific audience that enjoyed the explicit content.
As the debate raged on, some artists began to stand out from the crowd. Sailors, a group known for their hit song 'Wamlambez,' took a different path within the gengetone world. They insisted that they didn't do gengetone but 'dabonge style.' Other artists, such as Zzero Sufuri, Rico Gang, Ochungulo Family, and 34 Gang, also seemed to have mastered the business.
However, the genre's monotony began to take its toll. Fans started to feel that the songs were all similar, with the same message, beats, and lyrics. The rapid release of songs by groups like Boondocks Gang only added to the problem.
