Luo Benga on Pride that Comes With Wealth: Obonyo K'Onyuka by Oginga Wuod Awasi

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There is scarcity of literature on the perception of Luo Benga musicians and the nature of riches, wealth or people who are rich or wealthy. This lack does not signify the absence of such themes in this particular genre. It is partly because of lack of interest from scholars in cultural studies but wholly on the nonexistence of curriculum infrastructure to support comprehensive research on such themes.

Most of these pieces have been discarded and left to entertain with little to educate. It is also undeniably possible that since most of these pieces of arts are done in vernacular, majority of students today do not identify with them at the level of academic research.
 
But that is a furnished discussion for another platform. I just want to share with you one of the best Benga praise songs that I listen to so often, but most repeatedly when I have just earned something and we have secured a table at Harris Tavern.
This is one of the greatest hit by the little-known Benga artist, Oginga Wuod Awasi. In this song, Oginga has chosen to praise his friend called Obonyo Wuod Onyuka.

The song lasts 14 minutes and 59 seconds which was the only option for a piece that is set in both Nairobi (where Oginga performed for several years) and Homabay, Obonyo's birthplace. In the song, Obonyo is a considerably wealthy man who is worth praising in a song. He has not only helped others but has been exceptionally philanthropic to the artist. Just to mention, he has gifted him sheep and money.
 
Obonyo's wealth has earned him various virtues and praises such as Japesa Wang'e Lando (A wealthy man of pale (bright) face). He is also a reliable and trustworthy man and very different from other rich men who the artist recounts as talkative, full of promises but deceitful.
 
However, Oginga does not follow on the common script of praise songs that shower the character with virtues and unwarranted accreditation. While he chooses to praise him alongside his other wealthy friends like Ojwang' Soja Wuod Okana and other generous men mostly drawn from Kano (Oginga hails from Awasi, Kano), he takes the opportunity to educate his friend on the danger of pomp and pride associated with wealth.
 
His primary warning is that Obonyo Son of Onyuka should watch out not to be entrapped in pride because of his vast wealth. His reason is quiet experiential, clear and he has several examples to mention. Oginga tells Obonyo that all the rich men he knew have since passed on and none of them carried their wealth with them to the grave. Renowned men of unmatched riches such as Oseya Son of Songa and the magnificent king of Benga, Okatch Biggy, are just a few examples.

Here is an excerpt from the song with a direct translation.


Rateng' kik isungri wuod Onyuka ni in gi mwandu
(Rateng do not boast, son of Onyuka, that you have wealth)

Obonyo kik isungri wuod Onyuka ni pesa oromo
(Obonyo do not boast son of Onyuka that money is enough)

Jopesa mane ang'eyo ne otho orumo Obonyo wuod Onyuka
(Rich men that I knew all died Obonyo Son of Onyuka)

Oseya Mak'Songa oringo pesa lit makaparo
(Oseya Son of Songa died (ran) and left money, it is painful when I recall)

Okatch Wuod Otieno noringo gita lit makaparo
(Okatch son of Otieno died (ran) and left his guitar, it is painful when I recall)

Adwera wuon Okello nodhi e lo pinyni oyuma
Adwera father to (or son to) Okello went to the soil, this world is vanity)

Okal omin Job ne otho odhi e loo osiepna jaraha
(Okal brother to Job died and went into the soil, my friend who was fun-loving)

Olang'o omin Onyoro ne otho odhi e lo lit makaparo
(Olang'o brother to Onyoro died and went to the soil, it is painful when I can recall)

Achieng' min Apiyo ne oringo ode lit ma kaparo
(Achieng' mother to Apiyo ran and left her house, it is painful if I recall)

Omiyo kik isungri ni in gi mwandu, mwandu biro rumo
(It is why you should not boast that you have wealth, wealth will end)

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