Musically Minded | Ari Kellen

When you think of country music, the first thing you think of probably isn’t Kenya. You think of the United States, of cattle ranching, of cowboy boots, or line dancing. But Kenya is the place where one local musician, Sir Elvis, is finding growing popularity.

Nairobi, Kenya has nearly 4 million people, including local celebrity Elvis Otieno, also known as Sir Elvis. He was born in a rural area. He’s the son of a preacher. He has always found country music to resonate with his life, even if it’s far away from the cowboys of the United States. Says Otieno, “My mom and my dad loved Elvis Presley and so when my mom gave birth to me, that was the year Elvis Presley died. Mysteriously, I became a musician,” Otieno said.

He also says that while it may surprise some back in the states, there is actually a huge audience in Kenya that loves country music. It’s not just him. “Way back then from 50’s and 60’s there has always been a country music program on the airwaves on Kenyan soil,” he explains.

Strings of Country is a popular television hosted by David Kimotho. Kimotho claims country took hold after Kenya freed itself from British colonial rule in 1963. He’s a big fan of Sir Elvis, and he understands why the performer is able to connect with country music in such an earnest way.

Sir Elvis loves to perform, and often shares the stage with other local favorites like Esther Konkara, an up-and-coming Kenyan country singer who emulates American country legend Dolly Parton. “I really love singing her songs. Most people say I sing like her, or she sings like me,” Konkara said. “Country has such rich themes, like love, God and country roads.” And they’re not alone.

For country fans in Kenya, country music has universal appeal in it’s themes and lyrics. The storytelling aspect of the music can be connected to and enjoyed by anyone. Everyone experiences loss and love, from Texas all the way to Kenya. Country lovers in the south might find that they have more in common with listeners in Kenya than they ever thought.

Rock and Roll has been widely considered to be a music of a young generation. In the late 1960s it was pegged as a teenage musical movement. Every generation has one of course. As a source of rebellion towards authority. But what was widely considered to be common knowledge for decades may turn out to be a fallacy.

Teenagers did love rock and roll, it defined their youth and still is blasted by all the members of the Boomer generation I can think of. But what was once thought as music that their parents turned their noses up to, is now being brought into question. It turns out the older folks of the time, who are often portrayed as buzz-kills telling children to “turn that racket off”, were listening and enjoying as well.

TIME was the original magazine to publish the demographic target of teenagers back in 1965 for rock. Now they are speaking to the elders who, in vast majority, said, “Yeah we liked it, it was awesome”(not a real quote).

Record labels were said to know of this adult “underground” of rock and roll fans from looking at their sales and numbers over the years. Folks who grew up listening to the likes of Elvis Presley never outgrew him, but enjoyed rock and roll as well. This does not surprise this writer as I have seen first hand how one can enjoy music of the past and present, even a mixture of the two.

Some interesting facts from research is that in today’s day and age, primarily teen targeted music is consumed by people over 20, 40% of the total consumption market. This goes to show that the “music of the youth” might be purely a facade as everyone enjoys good music no matter age, or time of release.

To read the original TIME article, click here.

Country Music in Kenya

Rock and Roll, Not Just For Kids