Bindu Bichenjanga by Amos Barasa: The Making of a Hit! Video, The Politics, Hidden Symbolism & Powerful Message

Bindu Bichenjanga is contemporary Bukusu pop music song by Amos Barasa. Amos- a young man probably not yet thirty- represents this breed of new age musicians comfortable singing in vernacular. A talented generation of Luhya entertainers who like their peers in Kapuka (AfroPop if you like) are brave in their sound. Revolutionizing  traditional vernacular music with hip hop, house, calypso and even Rhumba .

Amos Barasa in scene from the Bindu Bichenjanga video. Image: YouTube/Godricks/Amos Barasa

Going by his 'swahili-nised' Lubukusu, Amos, who's said to have begun his signing career in high school, must hail from Kimilli, Kamukuywa or Tongaren thereabouts. Anywhere where the W'Amutala -the speakers of this dialect of Lubukusu- hail from. Thanks to this accident of nature, unlike Steve Kay who in "Mbe' Omukhasi", had to layer Swahili and English to increase the crossover appeal of  his run away hit, Bindu Bichenjanga, Barasa's native way of speaking does the crossover work  for him.

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Bukusu Naming Traditions: A Synopsis

Having many children is considered a blessing, and childlessness (Bukumba) among the Bukusu-like many African cultures is taken as a great misfortune. Traditionally, many births took place at home by self or assisted by co-wives, mother, sisters, mother-in-laws or even the pregnant woman's relatives if she had chosen to go give birth at her maiden home.

The placenta (engobi) and the umbilical cord (lulela) were buried at a secret spot so that they aren't found and tampered with by a witches (omulosi).

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Kutalang`i By Wanjala wa Mandari & The Untold Story of Micheal Kijana Wamalwa & Musikari Kombo: A review

"Kutalang`i" is a Bukusu song that's closer to Wasike W'Musungu roots than the modern Bukusu pop sounds of Steve Kay. It was done by Wanjala Okumu and Wanjala W`Mandari and released in 2008.

Kutalang`i is Bukusu for the Lion King. 

Male lion (Kutalang`i)

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A portrait of Moses Masika Wetangula through Bukusu music, urban legend and hearsay

Politics is war. Without the bullets, bombs and hopefully refugees. And so Mudavadi has Michael Osundwa Sakwa to do a job on Oparanya in the manner that Wetang`ula has Khalwale on. Ababu’s overflowing with brotherly love as he shovels propaganda to bury Mudavadi.


The Wamalwa-Uhuru bromance comes second only to the defiance of a good wife by the side of her public figure husband battling accusations of improper sexual relations-in the manner that Hillary Diane Rodham stuck on Bill- sitoki. Sibanduki. But as they say, all is fair in love and war.

Politics like chess, is a game of strategy

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