When the popular Kikuyu benga maestro John Ng’ang ‘a alias De’Mathew breathed his last on Sunday night, August 18 a year ago, the internet would be awash with all manner of stuff pertaining the artiste as every Tom, Dick and Harry sought to tell what they knew and did not know about the fallen giant.
By Ndung'u Wa Gathua
A year later, doing a quick Google search on the internet gives you a whole new different story. Not even the local media houses had a mention of Demathew's first anniversary on their digital platforms (websites).
But on the days following his death, they couldn't simply afford such a big miss as it would have a negative effect on their balance sheets. I do not mean to ostracize anyone but the image that the media more oftenly portrays while covering some of these events, might be misleading to laypersons.
Unknown to many is that all this media fanfare and glamour that you usually see, has got its bottomline on the shilling and cents. The public interest blah.. blah narratives are Abunuwasi folktales.
That said, Demathew memories remain alive by themselves just like a well-built fortress that does not require regular repairs. Below I enumerate just but a few of them.
1. KBC Studio Mashinani in Gatanga, Muranga County.
A month ago KBC Managing Director Dr Naim Bilal announced tduring the groundbreaking ceremony that the Sh25 million state-of-the-art studio will be complete in 14 weeks time.
The studio will be a fulfillment of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s promise to establish a KBC Studio Mashinani in Gatanga during De’Mathew's burial in his memory and honour.
2. 'Nikio Ngukuraciria' (Why I will pay dowry for you)
The song that was posthumously released on April this year, has got DeMathew praising his second wife because of ending his sexual frustrations among other things. The controversy that came with its release by his second wife not withstanding, it remains a great hit and can only serve to keep Demathew's good memories alive.
By the way in this particular song, truth be told, Demathew had shot the message with the precision of a neurosurgeon. The song is like a worship hymn song for many Kikuyu men enduring domestic hell. In it, they find solace and hope. Don't they?
3. 'Twambe Turihe Thiiri' (We pay the debt first)
As things continue to head deep south politically for Deputy President William Ruto, this song released some few months before Demathew died, might be Ruto's ultimate saviour as pertains to the Kikuyu vote.
It is a stark lyrical reminder and warning to Central voters against betraying Ruto at the ballot come 2022. Through this song alone, Demathew's relevance and memories are sure to remain evergreen at least up to 2022.