Wainaina first stepped into the world of music with Five Alive, a gospel a cappella group. Five Alive consisted of Victor Seii, Bob Kioko, Chris Kamau, and David Mageria, who was replaced by Joe Kiragu. They drew their musical influence from Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Take 6. Dominating Kenya's airwaves in 1995, Five Alive released their debut album ‘Five Alive’ in 1996, and even went on to tour Europe the same year. His experience with the group convinced Wainaina to pursue a professional career in music. In 1996 he performed and appeared in the video for Get in the Driver’s Seat, a song commissioned by the United Nations Drug Control Programme for a highly successful anti-drug campaign spanning 20 countries. This not only set the stage for his eventual emergence as a solo artist, but also got him into the social concern and activism that characterizes much of his music
When the group disbanded in 1997, Wainaina went on to join the Berklee College of Music in Boston—USA, from which he graduated with a degree in Music, majoring in Songwriting and Record Engineering. He graduated with honours.
During his years at Berklee, Wainaina and his band traveled to different parts of the country to perform, as well as holding regular shows in Boston. Together with his producer, Christian Kaufmann, he worked to produce a sound that would be distinctively Kenyan both in the music and the content of the lyrics. In order to do this, he made sure that he released a new track every time he returned home for vacation, This was well received by his growing fanbase, with his performance at Kenya's 'Beats of the Season’ concert in December 2000 being watched live by 15,000 fans and broadcast nationally.
His notable releases include 'Kenya Only', a song that instantly made him Kenya's favourite modern musician. After the 1998 terrorist bombing in Nairobi where over 200 Kenyans lost their lives, 'Kenya Only' was adopted as the unofficial song of mourning, receiving extensive radio and TV airplay nation-wide. His adaptation of a Kikuyu folk tune 'Ritwa Riaku' was added to the playlist of every radio station in the nation soon after.
Wainaina returned to the top of Kenya's musical agenda after he released 'Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo' (‘Land of Small Things’ in Kiswahili)[refers to small bribes that once were required to get the most ordinary things done] in 2001, a song that launched his crusade against rampant corruption in the country. With the chart success of 'Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo', Wainaina received international accolades. Transparency International (Kenya) supported him as an artist who would help educate people on the negativity of corruption, appointing him an ambassador. He was also appointed Ambassador for the NGO MS Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission and by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights for his commitment to fighting the abuses to justice through music. This anthem against corruption (Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo) was not so highly appreciated in all quarters, however, with the government of the day putting up resistance to it by refusing to air it on the national broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. In one instance several attempts were made to keep him from performing at a national event, the Kenya Music Festival, including intimidation and attempts to switch off his microphone.
Following the suspicious death of Father Anthony Kaiser in 2003 , Wainaina was commissioned by the Mill Hill Fathers to write a song about this. This became Ukweli, a call for justice despite efforts that were being made to cover up the true nature of Father Kaiser’s death, which was reported as suicide despite strong evidence to the contrary.
In 2001, Africa Almanac.com listed him amongst the top 100 Africans of the year 2000, which included high profile names such as Nelson Mandela, Joseph Kabila, Yash Pal Ghai, Baaba Maal and Ousmane Sembène. His first record, Sawa Sawa, released in 2001, remains one of the highest-selling solo albums in the country.
Wainaina returned home from Berklee in August 2002 after his graduation with two degrees. He was also honored with the Jack Maher award for his exceptional performance as a songwriter. The annual award is given to students who have been recognized for their potential to become leaders in the international music industry.
Wainaina's music receives international appeal. He received the MNET (South Africa) award for favourite male vocalist in February 2001, and was one of the first Kenyans to receive an award for Best East African Artist at the pan-African 7th Annual KORA All Africa Music Awards on 2nd November 2002. He is also the only Kenyan artist to have performed live at the KORA ceremony. He was nominated for another KORA Award in 2003, and in 2005 he received his third Kora nomination, this time for the prestigious Artist of the Decade award.
In 2002, he played at the launch of the International Criminal Court at the UN Headquarters in New York, presided over by Kofi Annan. He has toured in Switzerland for 4 consecutive years and has performed at Holland’s Festival Mundial (2003) as well as Harare International Festival of the Arts(HIFA) (2003), receiving outstanding reviews for both performances. He also performed at the 2004 Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar, a celebration of East African Music.
In December 2004 Wainaina premiered a 21- song musical theatre piece, “Lwanda, Man of Stone”, based on a local folk story. One of the first of its kind in Kenya, the show ran for a hugely successful theatre season, and a concert version of the same show continues to be performed at major cultural events. A contemporary adaptation of this musical, 'Lwanda-A Ghetto Story" had a very successful run at the GoDown Arts Centre, Nairobi, in December 2006. Plans are underway to find a permanent home for 'Lwanda' in Nairobi.
Together with Mumbi Kaigwa and Andrea Kalima, Eric co-wrote and arranged the music for Kigezi Ndoto, a Kenyan play written and directed by Kaigwa, which went on tour in Europe under the auspices of the World Theatre Music Festival- 2006. He has also written the music for Owen & Mzee, an upcoming documentary about the touching story of an unusual friendship between a tortoise and a baby hippo at the Kenyan coast. This documentary is based on a best-selling children’s book by the same name.
Wainaina was involved in the 2006 launch of Kenya’s National Civic Education Program (NCEP II), Uraia, which aims at fostering a mature political culture in Kenya: a culture in which citizens are able to exercise their rights and responsibilities—and to participate effectively in the broadening of democracy. Wainaina also performed at the inaugural Nairobi-hosted North Sea Jazz Festival in February 2006, and at the Holland-based version of the same in July 2006.
December 2006 saw the release of "Twende, Twende", his second solo album. At the 2007 Kisima Music Awards Wainaina won three categories: Afro-fusion, best song and best video from Kenya [1]. He was among 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in August 2007
Fungeni Macho
Eric Wainaina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tuliibiwa ardhi
Bendera ya Mungu ilipeperuka
Mwafrika akikaa kwa imani
Cheupe kilijiuza
Cheusi kilifukuzwa
Tuliambiwa, ‘Imbeni alleluia,
Fungeni macho imbeni.'
Tumegongwa tumeamka
Tumekanyagwa tumejitoa
Tumelazwa tumesimama heye!
Tumebanwa tumeepuka
Kusulubiwa tumeshuka
Tumeuawa tumefufuka aye!
Mwaka wa 1963
Tulijishindia Uhuru
Bendera ya Mzungu iliteremshwa
Mwafrika alianza kujitawala
Tuliambiwa, ‘Harambee! Harambee!
Vuruteni mzigo.'
Tuliambiwa Fuata Nyayo!
Fungeni macho fuata Nyayo!
Tumegongwa tumeamka
Tumekanyagwa tumejitoa
Tumelazwa tumesimama heye!
Tumebanwa tumeepuka
Kusulubiwa tumeshuka
Tumeuawa tumefufuka aye!
Machozi ya mKenya inagonga mchanga wa Afrika kama laana
Damu-victims kosana
Colonization aftermath ya urbanization
Matokeo ghetto kibao zenye homeless, landless
Merciless, visionless leaders
Kuendeleza nepotism, tribal clashes, capitalism
Division ya social classes
Division from Runda to Kibera, Kileleshwa to Dandora
Tulisahau rangi za bendera
History, haki na Ukweli
Swali. Mtumwa wa kiakili unaenda wapi kama umefunga macho?
Juu yako na vizazi vijavyo
Hurry mKenya
Kuamka au kutoamka
Kilio cha Mama Afrika
Kunajisiwa kisiasa.
Na bado twangoja wokovu
Twaangalia milimani
Twauliza Mwokozi wa nani
Twafaa kutazama kiooni
Kila mmoja ni kiongozi
Kila mmoja ni mwalimu
Kila mmoja ni mjenzi
Kila mmoja achukue madaraka
Tumegongwa tumeamka
Tumekanyagwa tumejitoa
Tumelazwa tumesimama heye!
Tumebanwa tumeepuka
Kusulubiwa tumeshuka
Tumeuawa tumefufuka aye!
Tumegongwa tumeamka
Tumekanyagwa tumejitoa
Tumelazwa tumesimama heye!
Tumebanwa tumeepuka
Kusulubiwa tumeshuka
Tumeuawa tumefufuka aye!
Eric Wainaina's Fungeni Macho is a rallying cry for the Kenyan people to wake up and take ownership of their country's future. The song begins with the image of a group of people praying with their eyes closed, only to find that their land has been stolen from them. The mention of the flag of God fluttering over Africa serves as a symbol of hope and faith during a time of struggle. The reference to the black and white colours of the flag creates a metaphor for the divide between the races in Kenyan society. Wainaina sings that the white colour betrayed them while the black colour was chased away.
The song then shifts to a call for action. The Kenyan people have been beaten down, but they have awoken and are ready to stand up and fight for their rights. The lyrics suggest that they have been oppressed, persecuted, and killed, but they have also risen again after each challenge. The mention of Harambee, a Swahili word meaning "let's all pull together," is a reference to the moment when Kenya won independence from Britain. The lyrics urge the people to unite and follow in the footsteps of their ancestors.
The final verses of the song touch on various issues facing Kenya, including political corruption, poverty, and tribalism. Wainaina makes a call for each person to take responsibility for their own actions, and to work together to create a better future for themselves and for future generations. The repeated refrain of "tumegongwa tumeamka" ("we were hit, but we have woken up") serves as both a call to action and a reminder of the resilience of the Kenyan people.
Line by Line Meaning
Tulifunga macho kuomba
We closed our eyes and prayed
Tuliibiwa ardhi
Our land was stolen
Bendera ya Mungu ilipeperuka
God's flag was waving
Mwafrika akikaa kwa imani
An African sitting in faith
Cheupe kilijiuza
The white sold themselves
Cheusi kilifukuzwa
The black was chased away
Tuliambiwa, ‘Imbeni alleluia, Fungeni macho imbeni.'
We were told, 'Sing hallelujah, close your eyes and sing.'
Tumegongwa tumeamka
We were hit and we woke up
Tumekanyagwa tumejitoa
We were stepped on and we stood up
Tumelazwa tumesimama heye!
We were lying down, but now we stand here!
Tumebanwa tumeepuka
We were cornered but we escaped
Kusulubiwa tumeshuka
We were crucified but we descended
Tumeuawa tumefufuka aye!
We were killed but we have been resurrected
Mwaka wa 1963
In the year 1963
Tulijishindia Uhuru
We won our freedom
Bendera ya Mzungu iliteremshwa
The white man's flag was lowered
Mwafrika alianza kujitawala
The African began to rule himself
Tuliambiwa, ‘Harambee! Harambee! Vuruteni mzigo.
We were told, 'Let's pull together! Pull together and lift the load.'
Tuliambiwa Fuata Nyayo! Fungeni macho fuata Nyayo!
We were told, 'Follow in the footsteps! Close your eyes and follow in the footsteps.'
Machozi ya mKenya inagonga mchanga wa Afrika kama laana
Kenyan tears hit the African sand like a curse
Damu-victims kosana
Blood-victims clash
Colonization aftermath ya urbanization
The aftermath of colonization is urbanization
Matokeo ghetto kibao zenye homeless, landless
Results of numerous ghettos with homeless, landless people
Merciless, visionless leaders
Leaders without mercy or vision
Kuendeleza nepotism, tribal clashes, capitalism
Continuing nepotism, tribal clashes, capitalism
Division ya social classes
Division of social classes
Division from Runda to Kibera, Kileleshwa to Dandora
Division from Runda to Kibera, Kileleshwa to Dandora
Tulisahau rangi za bendera
We forgot the colors of the flag
History, haki na Ukweli
History, justice, and truth
Swali. Mtumwa wa kiakili unaenda wapi kama umefunga macho?
Question: Where are you going as a mental slave if you've closed your eyes?
Juu yako na vizazi vijavyo
For you and future generations
Hurry mKenya
Hurry, Kenyan
Kuamka au kutoamka
To wake up or not to wake up
Kilio cha Mama Afrika
The cry of Mother Africa
Kunajisiwa kisiasa.
Being politically contaminated.
Na bado twangoja wokovu
And yet, we wait for salvation
Twaangalia milimani
We look to the mountains
Twauliza Mwokozi wa nani
We ask, 'Savior, for whom?'
Twafaa kutazama kiooni
We ought to look in the mirror
Kila mmoja ni kiongozi
Each and every one of us is a leader
Kila mmoja ni mwalimu
Each and every one of us is a teacher
Kila mmoja ni mjenzi
Each and every one of us is a builder
Kila mmoja achukue madaraka
Each and every one of us should take charge
Contributed by Aiden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.