Eric Wainaina is one of those select personalities who need no introduction. The artist who was catapulted into fame in 2001 with his hit Sawa Sawa and went on to win the Kora Awards for Best East African Artist, as well as the Kisima Awards, has contributed immensely to the Kenyan music scene.
The Veteran musician has been producing music for over two decades now, starting back in the 90's with the band that ruled the airwaves then, Five Alive.
With Five Alive band members Victor Seii, Bob Kioko, Chris Kamau, and David Mageria, the artist took his first tentative steps into the world of socially and politically conscious music. Yet, what many don't know is the cost that this placed on Wainaina, not only in the political sphere but in the spiritual landscape as well.
In a media interview on August 24, 2019, the Nchi ya Kitu KIdogo genius confided the toll that his musical trajectory placed on his religious life. Wainaina, whose musical background has its foundations rooted and nurtured in the church, experienced a shadow pass over his twin-loves when the church raised issue with his music.
This was in 1996 after his band, Five Alive released their debut album and began getting national acclaim. The unravelling of their ties to the church, to which all of them were attached, became clear when the institution displayed disapproval towards the Band's new direction away from gospel music.
“We were five guys with a particular talent but [members of the church] wondered ‘Are you singers who minister or ministers who sing?’ But we were just 5 young men [aged], 19, 20, 21 trying to figure out life.”
Wainaina, voiced his regret that the questions that were placed upon him and musicians of his generation still informed the biases of the modern church.
“I feel bad that musicians still have to negotiate that today, I feel there's too much pressure that the church is putting on people to be a particular way. Guidance is important but dictating is bad.”
In characteristic good humour even while speaking on what must have been a painful experience, the musician illustrated when the break from the church fully crystallised into open, undisguised hostility.
“We went to Baptist, our home church, to sing at a kesha on the 31st of December. The church told us we couldn't sing because we had just come from singing at Carnivore [Restaurant].”
Wainaina conveyed the toll that the rejection placed on him and his band members, stating that many of them were disillusioned by the move. Paraphrasing his words, the musician questioned why the church could not acknowledge their intentions given that rather than remain at Carnivore they had opted to make their way to Baptist to worship.
The artist went on to clarify that what moved them to stick to their convictions in spite of the church’s decision to withdraw its support and stand against them was the growing movement towards multi-partyism and the consequences it bore.
“One of the members of the group, Victor Seii, was coming from Kerio Valley and saw houses on fire by the side of the road. He said that if we were going to have people's attention we'd have to address what was going on.”
Wainaina conceded despite his conviction that the music they were doing was not the evil that the church was trying to make it out to be, he still sought further counsel. For this, he made a call to his mother and explained the genesis of his faltering faith.
He fondly recalls the wisdom his mother imparted that set his doubts to rest, "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. If you are singing the truth then you are singing gospel.”
The celebrated artist, in a memorable remark, clarified that for him God was not tied to a particular place, but was wherever one was doing what they loved.
“God is everywhere, God is not only in the sanctuary. If I'm going to sing or play a song then I’m going to play because God is here. I don't think it's right to throw me off stage for the songs I'd be happy to sing anywhere.”
He maintains that even though the church booted him out, he does not consider that he exited but rather that his notion of faith expanded.
