Entertainment
Music Brought Me Fame Not Money: ‘Emily Chepchumba’ Composer Now Runs A Posho Mill
When he crossed the finishing line in the 3,000m steeplechase race during the London Olympics in August 2012, Ezekiel Kemboi broke into a dance.
He was dancing to a popular Kalenjin song ‘Emily Chepchumba’ by Philip Yegon.
One would expect that with the publicity and the song’s popularity, it must have brought its composer fortunes. Far from it.
But Yegon says he has nothing to show for the popular tune.
Yegon, who ruled the Kalenjin secular music scene for more than 20 years retreated to Kirait village in Bomet County to start a new life. Today, he earns a living from farming and business.
The 49-year-old father of two, popularly known by his stage name Bamwai, said he quit music due to dwindling fortunes.
“I can say this without fear, music only gave me a name and fame but not money. That is why I decided to retreat to the village to start a new life in farming and business,” Yegon told The Standard in an interview at his home.
‘Emily Chepchumba’ is a song about a beautiful woman Yegon met at Kaptarakwa in Keiyo in 2004. The woman, according to Yegon, had requested him to compose a song about her. The two love birds in the song, separated by long distance, expressed desires to meet again.
The jovial musician who hang his boots five years ago said music created a false image of his life, adding that when he returned home many thought he was a millionaire.
“Initially, when I came back home I was treated with a lot of respect by villagers who thought my life as a musician had earned me lots of money because I dined with the who is who in politics and athletics. They were taken aback when I built a grass-thatched house,” he said.
Yegon said vernacular stations came in handy in marketing his songs. ‘Emily Chepchumba’, he said, became an instant hit and he made regular performances where he earned money that he used to stock his music store.
Learning from experience from fellow musicians who sold their music rights to their producers, Yegon reserved rights of all his music.
“Many Kalenjin musicians were duped to sell their music rights and ended up only being paid as little as Sh5,000 with producers later earning millions from the songs,” he said.
He said he does not regret returning to the village and will soon be on his feet again.
He said neighbours are supportive of his business ventures; a retail shop and a posho mill.
Yegon remembers how his career in music started in 1996 on a high note, saying at first it was passion and later turned into a career.
Yegon says after dropping out of school in Form Two due to lack of school fees after the death of his father in 1990, he ventured out to do menial jobs, shuttling between Kaplong and Soimet trading centres.
He says one day while working as a waiter at a hotel, he bumped into members of a music band who had come for lunch.
Months after meeting the band, Yegon said he found himself scripting songs during his free time, and soon he was in studios recording songs and performing them in public events.
Barely two years after Tanasha Donna and Bey T stormed the internet to fight over a catchphrase, Tanasha has finally given details on her beef with the rapper for the first time.
According to the musician, the misunderstanding came after they both disagreed on an issue.
In an interview with KISS FM, the musician cum entrepreneur said Bey T was young and was misled by people into instigating petty quarrels.
“Honestly speaking I think it was just a misunderstanding, it started over a quote, the ‘Kenya to the world’ thing. And I like she was young at the time and like people tried instigating drama. You know how people can be… people can easily corrupt one’s mind, especially when there is nothing going on,” she said.
According to Tanasha, it is easy to have the feeling that people are out to kill your shine when starting, especially as a young girl in a competitive industry.
“Talking from experience as a young girl you can feel easily like people are out to get you or steal your shine…but I feel like she’s a great artist so she was trying to spit some bars which she is amazing at and I’ll give her credit for that,” she added.
The mother of one confirmed that they have a good relationship following their beef and now are both open to the idea of collaborating with Bey T even though the two have never met yet.
“Why not? I mean I like her music and she’s amazing. Plus, right now, we’re at a good place, we haven’t really met but we have people in common whom we work with,” she said.
Amid their banter, Bey T went ahead to drop a diss track called ‘Don to the Donna’ attacking Tanasha for allegedly sampling her music in 2019.
“Someone tell Tanasha to stop wave riding,” Bey T wrote on Instagram at the time.
According to the rapper, the phrase “Kenya to the World” originated from her, but Tanasha stole it.
Oscar award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o made the educational dreams and ambitions of 40 students come alive by offering them $10,000 (GH₵ 75,546.42) in scholarships.
The Hollywood actress delivered a wonderful surprise at the 13th convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Official details from NAACP indicate that the young students received the scholarships during the ACT-SO award ceremony in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
ACT-SO is a year-long program targeted at high school students to promote their growth in disciplines from visual arts, business, and performing and culinary arts.
NAACP partners with Lancôme to offer the Write Her Future Scholarship Fund, which focuses on empowering women through literacy, mentorship, and entrepreneurship.
Lupita, who is the Lancôme Ambassadress, indicated that she always had big dreams from childhood and education played a huge part in helping her realize them.
“I believe that learners change the world. I am so thrilled to join Lancôme, on behalf of their Write Her Future Scholarship Fund, to award this incredible group of women with these game-changing scholarships,” she said.
Popular Kenyan website, Tuko.co.ke, reported that two years ago, Lupita Nyong’o was nominated for four awards in the 51st edition of the NAACP Image Awards.
The actress, who did not manage to attend the award ceremony, emerged as a winner in two of the four categories she was nominated.
Lupita won the Best Actress award for her role in Jordan Peele’s movie and her second award was for Outstanding Literary Work Children for her book Sulwe.
Corporate Training Telemarketer at People FOCO
Care Team Senior Supervisor at Cigna
