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.

Bindu Bichenjanga: The Magic of  the Crossover Hit

Over 100K views on YouTube for a Kenyan song published on 13th January of 2017 is no mean feat. That's a mega hit!

How did a song sang entirely in vernacular manage to entice and enchant a nation of 43 tribes replete with hundreds of dialects?

Now, the differences between Luhya dialects are often exaggerated. Truth is, any Luhya who knows his mother tongue well, will understand his Mulembe brother. Nonetheless, it cannot be under estimated how  Amos Barasa's manner of speaking Lubukusu- akin to Gideon Moi's delivery of  Kalenjin- propelled "Bindu Bichenjanga" to mass appeal across and beyond Mulembe Nation.

At the go, "Bindu Bichenjanga" hits the listener with  a burst of an expertly strung, excellently strummed Litungu. The star instrument quintessential to Bukusu music is part of a cast of musical instruments consisting of a drum improvised from a used 20 liter jerrican drum (at least during public performances) .

Amos Barasa performing Bindu Bichenjanga live in Kitale. Barasa tickles the Litungu while a band member cajoles the improvised drum. Image|YouTube/Godricks/Amos Barasa

Wait a minute! Did someone say Sifwototo too? Sifwototo as in the a flute like sound produced when air is blown through the space between the approximated thumb fingers when one claps their hands together creating some sort of chamber? The sound whose pitch is varied by alternate rhythmic finger movements much like the manner in which one plays a wind instrument?

Well, I'm not certain about the Sifwototo, but that characteristic high tone punctuates the full length of "Bindu Bichenjanga";serving to stir the nostalgia of Bukusu music gone by.

"Bindu Bichenjanga"! A song of the people- Amos Barasa & Steve Kay Compared

First, this isn't unwarranted pitting of amwavo against each other. A fight between the fans of our brothers is contrary to the spirit of MNN. This comparison exercise is done so as to decipher the matter at hand. A good pop song is an annotation of the time. In fact, as betrayed by the nomenclature, the word 'pop' denotes the here and now.

Therefore, as we had reviewed and characterized Steve Kay's "Mbe Omukhasi" as a annotation of the evolution of love and marriage customs among the Luhya; for its sheer popularity, "Bindu Bichenjanga" demands the same. More so because many have erroneously taken "Bindu Bichenjanga's" popularity to stem from it being a political song.

Far from it. To aid our digest of these Bukusu pop music hits, consider the two songs as potential dates. Lets call them Selina and Serah.

Bindu Bichenjanga & Mbe Omukhasi Dating Analogy

Sarah is young attractive. Raised and schooled in peri-urban settings. She is a no frills down for whatever type of girl. Sarah finds the perennially crowded Pirates beach in Mombasa much more fun than the lonely white sands of Kwale county. To get there, for Sarah, a trip on the SGR would be such an adventure. For Christmas, all Sarah wants is a goat to slaughter and the uneasy laughter of family at shags.

Selina ( also young attractive) considers herself a city girl. She has been to Mombasa and hates Pirates beach. She says that public beaches doesn't allow for sufficient lovey-dovey time. Adventure for her is Diani by air. Snorkeling at Kisite-Mpunguti National reserve and Wine tasting is her preferred Christmas.

Pose for a moment and consider who you'd date. Consider also who you'd marry. While the answers to these two questions are sure to varied, the answer to who of Selina or Serah matches the profile of the many people you know is less volatile.

"Bindu Bichenjanga" aka Sarah in our analogy, is the people's song, annotating our lived experiences. It's Riverwood style only serves to fortify this perception. Conversely, "Mbe Omukhasi", aka Selina annotates our  aspiration as a people.

In this regard, "Bindu Bichenjanga" is you and me. Here and now together with our kin and kindred. "Mbe Omukhasi" is  other hand is tomorrow. Our dreams of tomorrow are intimate and personal. Not even a mother knows the in and outs of his child's dreams neither does a husband know the secrets of his wife's desires.

To Nafula, Muhonja, Wanjiku, Chebet, Akati and Wandera; from this standpoint (the future and the now)  it's easy to see why "Bindu Bichenjanga" pips "Mbe Omukhasi". But there is a reason for this.

Steve Kay & Amos Barasa are at different stages of their careers

You have to admire the courage of Steve Kay in "Mbe Omukhasi". Here, Steve tries to elevate Luhya vernacular pop music across the borders. His audacity in showing us tomorrow is nothing short of admirable. He is at that stage of his career where he has to elevate his brand and become an ambassador, sort of, of the Mulembe Nation.

Similarly, Amos Barasa stakes his claim as co-ambasador by remaining true to a maxim of Mulembe Nation's worldview: Simplicity is treasured among the luhya.His simplicity appears to be circumstantial. Amos is not a brand as big as Steve Kay. But by keeping it simple, Amos Barasa quickly touches base with his core fan base before going for the hearts of Kenyans as simplicity is a prerequisite for magnificence.

Jubilee government's missed opportunity with "Bindu Bichenjanga" & the cultural symbolism of the video

First, "Bindu Bichenjanga" is a simple sing along familiar tune that fits perfectly into political rhetoric. Kind of in the manner the late Otieno Kajwang' with "Bado Mapambano". Secondly, Bindu Bichenjanga is a jubilee government scorecard. Sort of actually but it's easy to see how a master crowd mover like Kubende can mould it if he put his mind to it.

"Bindu Bichenjanga" highlights successful government projects. The message is clear and precise fronting contemporary themes like; devolution, accountability, youth leadership, digital migration, digital learning program etc. 

Amos takes us through the journey of Kenya's transformation in the last 5 years from analogue to digital transmission of information and digitization of education. At some point in the video, probably a symbolism of renewal, the viewer sees analogue television sets getting washed away in a swollen river. This being an election that's heavy on bibilical inferences, we've got to consider the symbolism here.

The strong message of change in "Bindu Bichenjanga" is fortified by symbolism in the music video

References to Bukusu culture in the video

Amos Barasa subtly incorporated Bukusu culture in making of the video to the song. On many occasions he sings/dances by a water fall, river bed and even right in the middle of the river. Among the Bukusu, the river is a holy and sanctified place. Alms and offerings are presented to the gods here and water was seen as a cleansing agent. The flow of the river, together with this cultural reference to cleansing reaffirms the song's key theme: Change.

Bindu Bichenjanga's powerful social message of humility and love

A message of love, humility, hope and economic empowerment- dare I say of Mulembe- dominates "Bindu Bichenjanaga". Amos Barasa urges the endowed and powerful in society to help and serve the poor. The choice of the word Bamanani translated as the poorest of the poor is deliberate.

This is the same powerful message that Amos passes on to leaders who promise heaven when looking for votes then fail to deliver.  Barasa urges listeners love one another and asks the people of Mulembe to carry themselves with humility in order to prosper.

Being a Bukusu proper, Amos doesn't fail to end the song by sending greetings recognizing his family, politicians and academicians.

Listening to Bindu Bichenjaga  makes one want to rise from his seat and shake a leg. This one is sure to make one hit the dance floor leaving their drink unattended from beginning to the end.

Overall rating the song gets 9/10.