LUENCE OF LOCAL MUSIC ON YOUTH IDENTITY
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Date
2005
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
One of the most fundamental things I have learnt in my three years of college life
is how people are proud to be African especially when they have come back from foreign
territory. The most important thing to them is the joy of being Kenyan or any other
African nationality. They come with stories and stories of how they had a difficult time
interacting with the foreigners. Some of these things many of us are yet to experience and
we only get them through class and stories from those who have be fortunate or
unfortunate enough to go out of the state. One of my closest friends, who is studying in
one of the smaller towns in Australia, told me how a lady saw her shopping and rushed in
to burst in frenzy of how happy she is to see her. The whole idea was that they were both
from Africa and in this particular town there are very few Africans. The lady saw this as
an opportunity to gather contacts and build a local relationship with the young lady.
these are things that are displayed all across the world. If we look at it from a
Kenyan perspective, we do notice that there are thousands of Kenyans living outside our
borders mainly in America and Europe with some scattered in the east. But as this picture
is being painted, what we read in the press now and then, and even from personal
interaction, they still don't feel quite at home. Even in their thousands whereby they are
even neighbors. We often hear local artists going to perform abroad and when they do
this they are performing to the Kenyan fan base in these countries. The events are being
organized and promoted by the Kenyans themselves who are abroad. And if the reports in
the press are anything to go by, the places get full beyond capacity.
5
Music is an entity that is available all around the worlds even in these foreign
countries. Infact in these countries they (music) comes in abundance. The artists release
songs every other day because they are paid huge amounts to do so. It is so much to the
extent that they export it to our countries. One of America's biggest foreign exchange
earners is music. They have indeed capitalized on this to and extent that everyone in the
music industry is benefiting. So lack of music in these foreign areas is not the cause for
such organizations. Kenyans themselves probably fill up concerts of the foreign artists.
But the numbers would differ considerably. The question that arises from this is why do
the Kenyans abroad save up huge amounts so as to bring in their home artists? Large
amounts of people in these foreign countries are the youth who have been there for years
in search of a better life. Some have even started families that to some is a burden and
take so much of their time and resources. But they still avail time and resources to bring
these artists over the borders and pay them quite handsomely. Some travel long distances
to see these artists perform their life out on stage.
However the buck doesn't stop with music. Innovative minds come up with
various artifacts and accessories that have something to do with home. We have instances
where clothe lines have been started with names of Nairobi estates or local names such as
Jamhuri Wear, Slum Wear among others. All these are sold to the Kenyans abroad and
the people who are interested. These acts spread to other areas where by the Kenyans
have meetings where they spend time together something they wouldn't ordinarily do if
they were back home. I would think this is a clear show of people who want to be
together and share attributes and resources to the people whom they identify with.
Identity plays a big role in these areas where home is so far away
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LUENCE OF LOCAL MUSIC ON YOUTH IDENTITY