Friend of Musicians: Bongisa, Orieri and Ogonji Wuod Andare.

In my yet-to-be-written book Friends Who Took Them With Water: The Musician Advisors, I will focus on people like Bongisa. These are never the main characters in the song. If it is a praise composition, they are not the friends of the person being praised. And they are not some of us who throw in something small M-pesa when Jathum is recording so that we are mentioned.

No, I am not talking about Oyoo Mboya who was mentioned by his friend Ndogo Jaraha or Berick Jawaseda who, I have not told you, has been chogod by Javan McAjudo in one of his best this season. I don't know what he (Berick) told the boy but looks like he put Javan under duress to mention all his three names like they appeared in the register at Chianda High School. All, just so that he is not confused with other notable Jo-Waseda.

And they are not, in the modern organizational structure of (Ohangla or Benga) Bands, part of the management tasked to provide professional advice.

But they may be part of the team. Or when they are not part of the team, they are very close or around or friends to the musician. They are not high ranking members but they have their hearts and ears on things that may not be directly related to music, most of the times very personal issues.

They are the ideal advisors and sometimes the musician may downgrade professional advice for what these people say.

Sometimes they are family. Like "Lazaro Wuod Mama", a brother to Dola Kabari who together with Otieno Ogalo, helps him escape with Nyar Josakwa.

Okatch Biggy had Ogonji Wuod Andare (Trust Condom). Ogonji, as I have been able to collect from my friend Odhis Jkay hails from Uyoma. He was a great fan, dancer and a friend to Okatch and his team. In many of his compositions, Okatch Biggy mentions Ogonji Wuod Andare and what follows is Trust Condom. Nothing else. His name just pops up anywhere. We know him but we don't know anything much about him.

It is what he said to Okatch that stuck with him to his grave. Whether 'Trust Condom" was his nickname or what he was telling Okatch Biggy to do (trust condom) is something I am yet to know. He never forgets. Yet Okatch had a great team around him. People like Adwera Wuon Okello. Adwera, who he refers to as "ng'ama ng'ongo" ( a big person in both body size and wise counsel). In Adwera's presence, things cannot go wrong. But still, Ogonji Wuod Andare with his Trust Condom message is indispensable.

Sometimes their advice can go wrong and the musician can realize that the advice was wrong but they will never stop going for more.

And the results can be almost tragic.

Kamaliza Majengo, in his Song Teresa, tells us about Orieri his friend. We don't know who Orieri is to Kamaliza but in the story, Orieri advices him on personal relationship issues. When Teresa, his wife, abandons him for the debauched life at Mbita Beach, Oriare brings him the information. He goes ahead to convince him that he must go after her. But Orieri is not just talking, he accompanies Kamaliza to Mbita in search of Teresa.

When they finally find her, she is in the company of a man who is now calling her "dear", "lover" and all other sweet names that, until that point, Orieri believes should be reserved to Kamaliza. In fact, he points out to Kamaliza that it is a show of Madharau. Kamaliza must fight for his thing. Kamaliza does not even think twice about it. He starts the war but soon he is overpowered. He thinks Orieri will come to his rescue only to look back and see Orieri fleeing the scene at a neck-breaking speed.

And then there is Bongisa and Odongo Swagg. The latter is the artist. In his 'hit' "Aoch wat ilore mos", Odongo begins by declaring that Bongisa will never trick/cheat/lie to him again. The title is misleading and I agree because as soon as we begin to dance, we realize that it is about a lady called Nyambita (and many more).

The curiosity that killed a cat then sets in and we ask who Bongisa is and why or how did he lie to Odongo.

The answer is in Nyambita part one (they are not titled as such but those who follow Odongo can connect the dots). In part one, Odongo confesses to Nyambita, his love to whom they are now engaged but are having some conflicts, that it is Bongisa who told him to lie to her.

Bongisa told him to lie a lot, and about many things. But it was in good faith. Bongisa was simply telling Odongo that ladies like to be lied to, to be promised things that are non-existent. Like he told Odongo to lie to Nyambita that he'll bring an aero plane for her dowry.

Na Ndege no to hakuna!

Na gari no to hakuna!

In part 2, Odongo is now clever. He has learnt. He says that Bongisa will not lead him astray again. And as many fans have observed, the part two is "Okoa Nyumba" campaign. Save the family. It is about making it up for Nyambita. For the lies. For the neglect. For underperforming!

In some wisdom, Odongo now advices us that it is useless to go out there and please friends while at home, there is a broken rhythm. Friends are not just people like Bongisa. Seems Odongo had some other friends that were competing Nyambita.

Friends who "measure the middle".

But now Odongo has realized, changed and has come back home to Nyambita.

And we all agree, in the way he has done Nyambita, that Odongo has made his house!

Oh! You remember Boyieta? He of the Abiro Gi Diel Achiel? That man who asked his in-laws to prepare for him Marijuana?

It is Bongisa, again, who lied to him too! The same same Bongisa.

Did you hear him, Boyieta, mention "Bongisa wuod Owila osiepna?"

Who is this Bongisa!