Emmanuel OyierThe biggest Ajawa/Ohangla musician, the self-proclaimed Kenya’s musical doyen, Prince Indah has gotten in trouble with his online fans in what they describe as being out of touch for promoting a show during under the cloud of anti-tax protests.
The musicians has sparked online debate on whether musicians who rely on live shows should push through their pre-planned gigs in as Kenyans mourn brutal police killings from street protests this week.
Artists and brands are having a tough time navigating the recent protests that has led to shutting down of business, while marketing push tend to come out insensitive.
Misread room
On June 26, as netizens were posting online discourses around planned protests in various cities and towns dubbed occupy state house in dissent to the country’s poor governance, Indah promoted a live performance he had been booked for in one of Nairobi City’s clubs along Mombasa Road to the dismay of a section of his fans. Embed link or poster or both.
As if to add salt to injury, on June 27, the Ohangla maestro took to his social media to alert revelers of a planned performance in Homa Bay County on a day that was meant to mark the climax of the anti-tax protests under the slogan #OccupyStateHouse.
This did not go well as online users bashed the musician and called out his public relations team for failing to read the room.
Fans split
One of the Meta users David Dishon posed: “Do you even consider the situation of the country currently; several people are in mourning of their beloved ones who lost their dear lives.... relax ...we are still trying to make our country function well....”
John Omanya also added: “Sometimes this guy is insensitive, we love your music but it's not always about making money wuod Luo, we are in a state of devastation as a nation and as a people, omera!,” reflecting views of thousands of Indah’s fan.
In defense of the musician, Dorothy Adika responded: “Some of them are condemning Indah and yet they're at their workplaces, dhano tije tek.”
An avid fan and Kisumu businessman Vincent Opar also called out those castigating Indah’s planned live shows as full of hatred for the young musician working hard to change his background quipping: “Sasa Rodi Kopany kuna maandamano that you don't want Prince Indah to go and perform to his fans?”
Not first time
The is not the first time the musician got into trouble with his online fans who raised similar online debate when he announced that he had lost a member of his crew and three fans in a tragic case of a motor vehicle ramming into a club he had performed in then proceeded to announce that he would perform in a show the next day in Siaya while a section of his fans felt he could have called off the show as they mourn the loss of lives.
Indah would somewhat redeem himself from public backlash when it was clarified that the show was meant to raise money to pay the hospital bills for others who were injured in the Kisii incident then later that night performed a heartfelt song in tribute to the victims of the Kisii accident where he is seen to have been overtaken by grief, and kneels before being whisked backstage.
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