[Note: This is archival material extracted from an earlier version of the Top 40 list published in 2015. The extract was effected to ease (speed-up) navigation up and down the Top 40 list]
Why is Alikiba so underrated, by seemingly everyone, when his singing is so good? He simply "don't get no respect". Let's hope that this ranking, fully justified by the musical quality of Chekecha Cheketua, will help. Let us hope, too, that the kind of exposure he has recently gained in Coke Studio Africa, and on Kenya's NTV, will begin to turn the tide and expand his fan base.
I am not so sure, though, that the format adopted in Coke Studio really enhances the stature, or self-image, of artistes already at or near the top of their game. Instead, it seems to level both, and the artiste's differentiating edge, downwards -- toward the LCD. Perhaps the attendance fee that they receive is too attractive for critical thinking, or simply saying no.
Another thing: the stage format does not avail the versatility that shooting on location does, and so it remains constricted and constricting training 'ground'. Nor do the organizers of Coke Studio appear to understand that providing for large live-audiences (costly as this may be) is crucial to having the performers really fired up and tightening the loose ends. No artiste has excelled in any of the video-clips (including the vaunted "mash ups") that I have looked at; but enough of that.
Chekecha Cheketua, directed by Meji Alabi, was shot on location in South Africa, as is evident in the video scenes themselves. It is a really good song, as the video availed below shows. Melodious guitar tunes thread through its entire spread, taking the listener's attention away from all potential distractions, and so focusing one's sentiments to the merriment at hand.
Alikiba's own voice is a fine-tuned musical instrument in itself, which he uses to captivating effect. Fine lyrics please the ear unceasingly, even if one does not understand a word of Swahili -- but I do. The dance elements are sensuous, and the dancers themselves are in unflagging high spirits from beginning to end. The costumes are colorfully and creatively selected for the various roles, and provide their own community of visual ebbs and flows. The Director's controlling hand appears effortless, but clearly controls with a knowing eye and ear. And there is, thus, a near-perfect harmony of strings, percussion, voice, light, colors, movement, dance and shifting micro-locations.
NOTE: This song was published on June 29, 2015. It recorded 2,071,728 YouTube views on December 29th, 2015, at 9:55 p.m. (GMT + 3).
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