Before Lying to Odongo, Bongisa Had Done It Before: Abiro Gi Diel Achiel by Boyieta Wuod Awasi

We've finally put a face to Bongisa! Here is a footage in Boyieta's video showing someone who looks like the mysterious Bongisa leading the way while behind him is Boyieta with his one goat. 

Bongisa and Odongo Swagg

In the first post we did about Bongisa, we described him as an ideal advisor to a musician, the type that may not be professional but has a great influence on them. But he lies too much. Bongisa as popularized by Odongo Swagg is a friend, a man in whose words he trusts. 

Odongo, who we learn has known Bongisa for some time now and friends, sought his counsel when he first betrothed Nyambita. But it appears Bongisa may have lied to him. Bongisa told Odongo that the only way to win over Nyambita, is to lie. To lie, was the lie here. 

So in Nyambita Mama (Nyambita Part One) Odongo went ahead and promised Nyambita big things. He promised to pay an aeroplane for a dowry. He promised her a car. And you see, by the time Odongo was promising Nyambita all these, he was actually being fed, dressed, and housed by Nya'Kowino (also Nya-Kagan), the woman who together with other "cartels ma Kisumo", abused him in Kisumo.

This is the story behind his dramatic start in Chwade gi Nyundo which is also Nyambita Part Two but was originally named Aoch Wat Ilore Mos. Odongo is reminding his fans that, he may be relatively successful now but, still he is  the one who was once embarrassed by woman in Kisumu. 

Ani Odongo omin Daddy ochako omako waya kendo

(It is Odongo brother to Daddy, I am holding the mic again) 

Simba wuod Nyasiaya ochak omako thum

Simba (he calls himself a Lion) son of Nyasiaya is back again (in music)

Mang'ang'a an ma nyoche oyanya Kisumoo

Mang'ang'a (another one of his praise name) I am the one who was abused in Kisumu

An ema nyoche ochaya Kisumoo

I am the one who was treated with contempt in Kisumu 

Ka ng'ato (ma en Nyakagan) wacho ni aonge kata nanga

Someone (he is implying Nyakagan) claimed that I didn't even anything to wear

Simba an ma nyoche oyanya Kisumo

Simba, I am the one who was abused in Kisumu

Ka ngato wacho ni aonge kata ot

Someone claimed that I did not even have a house

Ka ng'ato wacho ni opidho Ogwela manene

Someone claimed that she (because now we know) had been feeding me for ages. 

Odongo swears, at the very beginning that Bongisa will never lie to him again. We should believe him for now.

Bongisa is a Career Lier!

But while working on the first part, I discovered that Bongisa has been in this business, the business of giving his musicians false advice, on matters women who have left. I now come to realize that it may have even been better with Odongo Swagg. Long before, Bongisa had tricked yet another Ohangla sensation, Boyieta Wuod Awasi. Lies that became one of his, Boyieta, most controversial hits titled Nyalela Part 2 or famously known as Abiro gi Diel Achiel. 

In Nyalela, we learn that Boyieta has had serious disagreements with his wife and she has since left their matrimonial home for parents' home. They were young couples, it seems. Boyieta is now a Misumba, a man without a wife. He is sorry that they had to part ways. He admits-and this he speaks to himself on the background- that he tried ndi! 

A be natemo ndi. Omuoma amuoma!

I also tried my best. It couldn't just hold anymore. 

It has been some years now and Boyieta again admits that he has been crying, begging and pleading with her to come. In fact, he puts it in the most desperate manner. 

In ema agoni uwiii

You are the one for whom I am desperately wailing.

Agoni uwiiii, to iling' aling'a 

I am wailing for you but you won't respond. 

In Separation, Luo Culture Blames the Man

In the first two stanzas, Boyieta seems to have been a humble man, a family man, who must have loved and cared for his wife. It is culturally so. Even when she left, he still wanted her back (an awero madwaro-I am singing for the one I want (back)). He even appeals the vilification of his parents, clan members and friends who have been criticizing him for chasing the woman away. Boyieta's blames are not unique. 

Among the Luo, the culture hardly sees a wrong in the woman during seperation. They may listen later but at the point of separation, when the woman has gone back to her parents, it is the man who bears the blame. 

The late Omondi Long' Lilo also spoke about this in Caro Jaber. Omondi tried to remind the Luo Society that sometimes, it could be the woman who is wrong. Men almost always take the blames they shouldn't. The evidence is in words such as;

Dhako oweye-His wife has left him. 

Dhako oringe-His wife has ran away from him.

Oriembo dhako- He has chased the wife away. 

Bongisa Lies to Boyieta

After many years of humility, wailing and begging without any positive response from Nyalela, Boyieta seeks counsel from some of his friends. Unfortunately, one of his friends is none other than our man, Bongisa! Even the most unfortunate bit is that it is Bongisa he listens to last, and mentions, before beginning to sing the very first stanza. 

Bongisa Wuod Owila Osiepna!

Symbolically, he has trusted Bongisa's counsel over all the others. I don't know exactly what Bongisa told him (to do) but we can learn early enough that it must have been a radical resolve. 

Listen to him declaring, after calling "Bongisa Wuod Owila Osiepna", that wang'ni to obet ne gi aleng'a, wang'ni okethore (this time round, it is business unusual. It will be bad for them). 

Somehow, Bongisa has convinced Boyieta that the best thing to do is to follow after her wife. Boyieta is going to square issues with her wife at his in-laws. Boyieta luwo dhako kor gi. Among the Luo, this is the most tricky visit you will have at your in-laws. It has all the risk a man can think of. By cultural arrangement, the culture I am convinced does not favor a man in such cases, it was meant to deny the man his base, ego, and have him trimmed when he is at his lowest moment. 

And while there, anything can happen. A friend of mine, who once accompanied us to our in-laws, told us how one man from Ugenya was caned by his brothers-in-law when he went on such a visit. They decided to teach him a lesson for being an irresponsible man. 

Another one was shocked when, after paying fares for ten of his male friends and relations to go and back him up, they all turned against him and testified before the in-laws that it was their son who was in the wrong. But they later told him that it was a trick for them to bring back the girl. 

So Bongisa knowing all these risks, must have gassed up his friend Boyieta and (mis)advised him to go in the most chaotic self he could afford. Boyieta is no longer humble. The Boyieta that emerges on the other hand (after Bongisa's wise counsel) is crude, rude and clearly, high on something. Something he also requests to be part of the diet at his in-laws! The way of humility has failed to work. This time round, it is business unusual. And Boyieta has send this message ahead of him! 

He is clear about the dos and don'ts. It is a request but the request is his pleading voice, not in the words. He is literally dictating things for his in-laws. And he is broke!

Listen now, 

Abiro koru, abiro thuru 

I am coming to your place

Abiro gi diel achiel, makwayo go ng'uono

I am coming only a single goat to ask for forgiveness

Be kik utedna kuon maam, an njaga ema amadho.

Do not cook me Ugali, I will only use bhang! 

And I think it is here that he lost it. This was the killer advice that Bongisa gave to Boyieta. Who does this at his in-laws? And why did Bongisa have to do this? And how did it turn out? 

Well, I don't think it all went well because I have gathered that just like Odongo Swagg learnt his lesson with Nyambita, Boyieta also learned and he had to do a Part Two where he declares that he did not mean it. 

Perhaps, in Odongo's words, Bongisa ok chak wuonde kendo!