J.M. Kariuki

Album: not on an album (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Josiah Mwangi Kariuki served as a minister in the Kenya Government from independence until his assassination on March 2, 1975.

    It was widely believed that he was killed at the behest of someone in the government. Kariuki was of a left wing persuasion, probably his most famous quote was that after independence, Kenya had become a nation of ten billionaires and ten million beggars. The irony is that although not a billionaire, he was himself a very wealthy man. Kariuki died intestate, and his three wives were still squabbling over who got what a decade and more on.

    Kariuki was popularly known as JM, and this benga song, written by Joseph Kamaru, says whoever ordered his assassination would one day be rolled in a beehive watched by the entire population - a traditional punishment for thieves and witches.

    Clearly it struck the wrong note as it was banned by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation on June 20, 1975. According to an essay by Peter Muhoro Mwangi in a 2006 book about music censorship in Africa, it is said to have earned Kamaru and his collaborators a whipping by the President himself after their arrest. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.