Why John Ndichu Died a Pauper Despite Crowning Kikuyu Benga Music for 10 Years, Plus 2-Hour-Long Video Mix of his Greatest Hits
As the Kikuyu secular music fraternity continue to commemorate the first anniversary of celebrated benga maestro John Demathew since his death, it is only good that we peruse the files of Kikuyu benga history where we come across the great icon credited with clearing the path that the likes of Demathew would later use to accelerate their way into stardom. |
And he is none other than the late John Ndichu. Ndichu alongside the late Jimmy Wayuni, Kariuki Kiarutara, the late John De'Matthew, Joseph Wamumbe, Timona Mburu, Peter Kigia, Kimani Thomas among others, comprise the group that is today considered as the second generation of Kikuyu Benga music.
However, it is John Ndichu whom before his sudden death in 1997, that was considered at that time (1975-1985) to have been the greatest force to reckon with as compared with the rest.
In fact, Ndichu who was born in Gatanga in Muranga County, in 1960, was so popular that for a decade of releasing one hit after another, he dethroned the then King of Kikuyu Benga music, Joseph Kamaru who belonged to the first generation of Kikuyu Benga. But who was this wonderboy really as he came to be nicknamed in the Kikuyu Benga musical circles?
Well, Ndichu, according to Kikuyu Music blog that documents about Kikuyu Benga artistes, is said to have recorded his first songs like Cucu wa Gakunga and Akinyi while still a student at Gatunyu Secondary School. 'Cucu Wa Gakunga' that is still relevant and popular with today's Kikuyu Benga fans, would go to become a favourite in the then Voice of Kenya (VOK) enjoying massive airplay as a result.
After high school, he would first become a guitarist with the leading bands of that time before later forming his own band, Rwengo Brothers, together with his brother Wamumbe and Waithaka Mboce.
Around that time his villager, Kimani Thomas had just finished high school and was trying his hand in Kikuyu Benga music. Ndichu, the blog notes, could not help notice the immense vocal talent of Kimani Thomas leading him to quickly recruit him into his band.
With Kimani Thomas, Ndichu would record hit after another like nobody's business releasing classics such as Mwendwa Veronica, Joyce and Carolina in the early 80s.
He would go to become a Kikuyu Benga superstar due to his ingenious ability to compose songs that were able to resonate with his fan base of that time.
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He would sing on themes like love, financial struggles, and alcoholism which were prevalent during those days. His fusion of sorrowful tone into his early songs is said to have often moved revellers to tears during his live shows.
He would, however, move from the sorrowful themes to infusing humour as evidenced in the song Uthoni Wa Ndagwa (1985), Mugathi Wa Kuona among others.
Throughout the 80s, Kikuyu Music blog adds, Ndichu's band, was the most sought after in Central Kenya and beyond with its only worthy competitor being Kamaru's.
Rwengo brothers at its peak prided of the likes of the late Makibi James on the bass, Joseph Wamumbe on the rhythm, Kimani Thomas and Timona Mburu on the vocals, all of whom as we know today, went to launch successful music careers on their own.
With such unrivalled popularity, Ndichu flourished financially enjoying a superstar status and would stand out in leather jackets, cowboy jeans and Texan hats, Kikuyu Music documents further.
Ndichu's fortunes would, however, begin to nosedive when the industry turned to audio cassettes and in with it came piracy, a malignant cancer that continues to bedevil the industry to this date.
Consequently, popular artistes like Ndichu were left to ride on their big names but without money. Without money, bands including Ndichu's, crumbled like a house of cards.
Then came early 1990s when Moi's tyrannical regime started to tighten the noose on Kikuyu Music artistes seen to compose songs critical of the regime as the push for multiparty democracy gained momentum.
With these among other challenges, Ndichu took a beating financially and he would later die a pauper at the then Thika District Hospital in 1997 before even hitting 40. He was reported to have died of stroke.
Kamaru, his fiercest band rival, would thereafter compose a number of tunes in honour of the fallen youthful Kikuyu Benga music giant.