Young widow storms Kenyan music scene
Winnie Juma, the wife of the late Kenyan Rumba maestro Musa Juma has released a new album to mourn her departed husband.
Winnie, who has now assumed leadership of Limpopo International Band, composed the songs together with Millie Fedha, the late Musa Juma’s sister.
Ms. Winnie Juma,Leader of Limpopo International Band
The second track, “Omondi Tony”, jointly composed by Winnie and Millie, pays homage to the late Omondi Tony, who was Musa Juma’s younger brother and a musician.
The third track, “Wuon Vicky”, is a song Winnie composed in honour of her late husband expressing her sorrow at his untimely death. She also gives a brief history of their life together.
The album closes with “Mama Nyar Ukwala”, a praise song for the mother of the late Musa Juma and Omondi Tony.
Winnie’s husband died on 15th March 2011. His death motivated Winnie to become a musician. Though she had always had passion for music since she was a child, Winnie never joined her husband’s band while he was still alive.
The vacuum created by his death motivated her to step in and let her music talent emerge. Judging from this release and the positive response her concerts have attracted, there is no doubt that this young woman is heading for greater things.
Winnie says that it has not been easy managing one of the most famous bands in Kenya. But she is determined to help the band maintain its top rank. Winnie says: “The challenges are many. Being a young lady, it is not very easy managing a group of twenty members (each with their own opinions). Some look down on me as just a young girl. But I thank God for the strength and wisdom to manage the band that my late husband left in my care. With discipline and prayers, I believe Limpopo will go a long way with me as the leader.”
Winnie is happy that her very first release is doing well. “It was my way of expressing my pain due to my loss. So far it is being appreciated and fans are now requesting for more from Winnie Juma,” she says of the new album.
Winnie is confident that they’ll not let their fans down. “The future of Limpopo is bright since we are very determined to continue giving our fans the best music both locally and internationally,” she says.
Winnie appreciates the support she has received from their fans in all parts of the world. “We assure them that we will continue producing quality music just like Musa Juma did and I am grateful that people are appreciating our efforts this far. There is still more in store for our fans but this will only happen if they continue to support us by attending our live shows and buying original CDs and of course we need their constructive ideas and criticism in running the band,” she says.
Winnie is grateful to their fans for their prayers and continued support. “I appreciate all our fans all over the world who took it upon themselves to pray for us during our trying moments and even those who went out of their way in ensuring that my late husband got the send-off that he deserved,” Winnie says. “I would also like to thank them for their continued patronage that has culminated in our new release, ‘Rapar Musa Juma’. This goes to show that with their continued support, Limpopo with Winnie Juma is yet to rock their world. Watch this space.”
While the new album is already available in Kenya, it is yet to be distributed abroad. Winnie encourages music promoters and distributors in Europe and the US who would like to distribute the new album to contact her. There are also plans of uploading some of the tracks on YouTube and digital online music shops.
WINNIE JUMA’S LINK AND CONTACT
On Facebook, search for Winnie Juma and Limpopo International
Email:
By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a
