John Boniface Maina populary known as JB Maina or simply as JB, catapulted to fame from a humble background becoming not only a household name, but one of the most formidable forces Kikuyu Benga Music has ever produced.
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| Kikuyu Benga recording and performing legendary artiste, JB Maina. |
JB Maina is also among the few Kikuyu Benga artistes of his time who have withstood the test of time to remain relevant and upbeat in an industry where many have come and faded to oblivion after a while. It's thus remarkable that JB has remained evergreen to present and yesteryears fans particularly through associate acts including Salim Junior and Wyre.
JB was born in Othaya, Nyeri but at an early age, his family relocated to Nakuru and later Nyahururu where he spent much of his childhood life. Interested in music from a tender age, JB set on a professional musical journey after primary school aged 15, Kikuyu Music documents.
It was an encounter with the then thriving Maranga Wa Gatonye at a pub in Nyeri that opened the path for JB. Gatonye not only gave him inspiration, but also a modest token to facilitate his travel to Nairobi to try his luck.
In Nairobi, JB would soon partner with Joe Mwangi (of Mercury Records fame) who was running a music production company and would also manage artistes under his label. The young JB would be deployed as Joe's studio hand and would stand in for live performances whenever big names such as John Ndichu and Wahome Wa Maingi failed to show up.
It is during this sting that JB would sharpen his vocals and live performance skills. At 16 and already a well known name within the corridors of River-Road, JB would come to impress a retired KBC engineer who offered to pay for production of his first album. JB recorded his first songs, Kirindi and Maundu ma Ngai at Joseph Kamaru’s studio.
After an initial lukewarm reception, the record would later gain momentum after being played on the then only national radio broadcaster, VoK (KBC).
This would sooner than later prove a booster shot in the arm that would give JB Maina the initial footing in the Kikuyu Benga Music scene then dominated by heavyweights like Joseph Kamaru, DK and Mwalimu James Mbugua. It also enabled him to shortly thereafter release a string of other relatively successful hits like Muthoni, Wahakire Murungu na Kii.
Muiritu Wa Kabete
Released in 1990 in cassette format, Muiritu Wa Kabete was undoubtedly the most popular and successful album JB has released to date. The 10-truck album included classics and chat toppers including the title song, Tiga Kumute, Ndwara Cece, Tuhua twa Rose and Mundia Tawa.
This album not only made JB Maina a household name, but also propel his fame beyond the traditional Kikuyu Benga fanbase in Central Kenya with his contemporaries being the likes of Sammy Muraya, John De’Mathew among others.
However, as any other technological shift would have it, the emergence of radio cassettes would sooner pose a great challenge because it was now much easier to reproduce music otherwise known as piracy.
Emergence of piracy meant less revenue for JB and other artistes, if not a final nail on the coffin of their musical careers already on a downward spiral owing to the then prevailing political climate that seemed to specifically target Kikuyu Benga musicians.
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With financial struggles a commonplace, JB would fade to oblivion for the good part of the decade save for a few political and social commentary recordings here and there.
Enter Mugithi
Towards the late 90s and early 2000s, a group of young musicians were emerging with the then catchy and fresh 'one-man' style where past songs by other musicians would be performed over a slow-paced rhythm style guitar with leud lyrics sometimes infused.
From this phenomenon, such artistes like Salim Junior, Mike Rua, Mike Murimi among others, would claim the Kikuyu Benga Music scene with a storm. It is, however, Salim’s rendition of JB's songs in the one-man style that would give a new leash of life to the now faded and almost forgotten musical giant.
Soon, thanks to Salim's renditions, JB’s songs would once again begin to top music charts with young revelers of the time being able to learn and appreciate his yesteryears hits. JB would cease the moment and the emerging interest in his old songs to go on a recording and performing spree that endeared him to the new generation of fans.
Collabo With Wyre
On the musical scene, new age artistes like Wyre would also discover a ripe opportunity in JB's and other yesteryears artistes revived fame and which they would seek to exploit. Wyre, on his part, would ride on this fame by redoing JB’s popular hits like Tiga Kumute (Mwanake) in a Dancehall style. The resulting collabo was a huge success that enjoyed massive airplay on vernacular and other radio stations.
Legal Issues
JB was involved in a protracted legal battle with leading telecommunication firm, Safaricom, over the use of his songs as ringtones in the company’s ‘Skiza’ promotion. The case was settled after Safaricom agree to pay the singer Sh15.5 million as compensation for the alleged infringement of copyright.
Legacy
JB continues to perform in popular entertainment joints to date. His songs have been covered over and over. Tiga Kumute (Mwanake) has been covered by among others, George Parseen (a leading saxophonist and Jazz artiste), Makadem (redone in Swahili and dholuo words) and Ayrosh.
JB has won several local and international musical awards and is widely regarded as one of the Kikuyu Benga Music GOATs (Greatest of All Times).
The original version of this article was first published on Kikuyu Music.