By Ogova Ondego
Published January 23, 2018
It is lunch time in the bustling African city of sky-clutching buildings, latest range of sport utility Vehicles and elegantly dressed ladies in high heels gliding in the corridors of shopping malls and city streets. While some people lie quietly, resting their heads on their shoes under the few shady trees in Jeevanjee Gardens, Uhuru Park and Central Park and others are listening to preachers, many more have their stomachs grumbling, are sipping a soft drink or are eating a meal of maize and beans called mahenjero by the abaLuyia, nyoyo by the Luo and githeri by the Gikuyu. Because it is mid-moth and most people are broke or almost penniless.
Fifteen or 18 days later, there is almost no one either resting under the shady trees or listening to preachers in the park; no one is eating mahenjero or window-shopping; almost everyone is enjoying a sumptuous meal during the 1:00-2:00 PM lunch break. It is lunch time in Nairobi, Kenya. And everyone has money. Because salaries have been paid. And so everyone (well, almost!) can afford the best that city life has on offer.
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What is this about?
I write this article, on the basis of Romans 13:7, to pay tribute to Gabriel Omolo Aginga, the social commentator, music Composer, benga vocalist and guitarist who created the popular and award-winning classic, Sasa ni Lunch Time (It is Lunch Time), who passed away on January 3, 2018.
Since January 4, 2018 when his death was announced, I have struggled with how to pay tribute to this Kiswahili benga maestro who sang alongside famous musicians like Fadhili William Mdawida and Daudi Kabaka for East African Records and Equator Sounds labels of Kenya in the 1960s.
Why am I writing this article 20 days after Omolo’s death at Busia County Referral Hospital in western Kenya?
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I admit that one of the most difficult tasks for a journalist is having to write obituaries. Because it is an emotional, if not heart-wrenching, exercise.
Omolo, whose parents came from Ugunja in Siaya County in western Kenya, was born and raised at the Kenya Railways staff quarters in Muthurwa and Makongeni on Jogoo Road in the Eastlands district of Nairobi. He attended St Peter Clavers Primary School on Racecourse Road in downtown Nairobi, the Roman Catholic Church-sponsored institution in which he sang in the choir and learnt how to play the guitar.
After performing with several music outfits for more than 10 years, the 1939-born Omolo formed Apollo Komesha, his own band, in 1971. The band went on to win the Golden Disc award for selling 150 000 copies of Lunch Time in 1974.
Overall, the band is reported to have recorded 20 singles for Phonogram label, with the Golden Disc-winning Lunch Time alone selling more than 500 000 units.
Musicians criticised the Government of Kenya for neglecting artists and only celebrating them posthumously during the burial ceremony of Omolo that took place in Ugunja on January 20, 2018.
And so to the late song writer, singer, guitarist and band leader–Gabriel Omolo, 1939-2018–ArtMatters.Info and I pay tribute.
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Lyrics of Sasa ni Lunch Time (It is Lunch Time) by Gabriel Omolo:
Sasa ni lunchtime
Tufunge makazi
Twende kwa chakula
Tuje tena saa nane
Wengine wanakwenda kulala uwanjani
Kumbe ni shida ndugu
Njaa inamuumiza
Wengine wanakunyua soda na keki
Huku roho yote kwa chapati na ng’ombe
Na wengine nao wazunguka maduka
Huku wakijidai wanafanya window shopping
Lunch time
Kufika mwisho wa mwezi
Uwanja tire mundu
Ukipata anaye lala ni asiye na kazi
Wamekwenda wote kula hotelini
Wengine kwa biriani
Wengine kuku na wali
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Watu wa Industrial Area watoroka maharagwe
Waenda hotelini
Kwa chapati na ng’ombe
Na wengine nao wale mishahara juu
Siku hiyo wote kwa hoteli za wazungu
Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kulala chini ya miti
Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kung’ang’ana na maharagwe
Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kuonekana kama mtoto
Nimeelewa ee nimeelewa oh
Nimejua kumbe ni shida oh
Nimeelewa ee nimeelewa oh
Nimejua kumbe ni shida oh
Twanga ngoma
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Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kulala chini ya miti
Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kung’ang’ana na maharagwe
Kumbe shida ndiyo hufanya
Mtu kuonekana kama mtoto
Nimeelewa ee nimeelewa oh
Nimejua kumbe ni shida oh
Nimeelewa ee nimeelewa oh
Nimejua kumbe ni shida oh
