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
Selina
Eric Wainaina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitamruhusu akuchape
Nami silali, sipati usingizi
Kula siwezi, ukilia
Selina Nyambok
You're so beautiful
Selina Nyambok
Selina Nyambok, you′re so beautiful
Ulitoka kwenu, bila alama
Huu si upendo, hiyo si heshima
Watu wazima, huongea
Kama si hivyo
'Ngeoa kondoo
Selina mrembo
Wooh
Selina Nyambok, you're so beautiful
Ntakuwakilisha, mbele ya wazee
Kama ni shuka, kama ni mbuzi
Ntawarudishia, mara mbili
Selina Nyambok
You′re so beautiful
I want to marry you
So very, very beautiful
Selina Nyambok
You′re so beautiful
I want to marry you
So very, so very beautiful
So very beautiful
In Eric Wainaina's song Selina, the singer is expressing his admiration for a woman named Selina Nyambok. He describes her as beautiful multiple times throughout the song and says that he cannot sleep or eat because of his love for her. He also mentions that he will not let anyone harm her and that he will defend her honor in front of anyone who speaks ill of her.
The lyrics also touch on the subject of arranged marriages in traditional African society. The line "Kama si hivyo 'Ngeoa kondoo" translates to "If it's not like that, I will marry a sheep." This line implies that if he cannot marry the person he loves, then he will not marry anyone at all. It is a criticism of the societal expectation to marry based on practical considerations such as wealth or status rather than love.
Overall, the song is a love letter to Selina Nyambok, a celebration of her beauty and a plea for her love in return.
Line by Line Meaning
Selina Nyambok, you're so beautiful
The singer praises Selina, acknowledging her beauty and drawing attention to it.
Sitamruhusu akuchape
The singer won't allow anyone to hurt Selina physically.
Nami silali, sipati usingizi
The singer is so taken with Selina's beauty that he can't sleep at night.
Kula siwezi, ukilia
The artist is so consumed with thoughts of Selina that he can't eat and cries.
Ulitoka kwenu, bila alama
Selina left her home without any indication or warning.
Huu si upendo, hiyo si heshima
Selina's actions aren't motivated by love or respect.
Watu wazima, huongea
Grown-ups talk about Selina's behavior behind her back.
Kama si hivyo, 'Ngeoa kondoo
If Selina's behavior isn't motivated by love, the artist won't hesitate to leave her.
Ntakuwakilisha, mbele ya wazee
The artist promises to represent Selina in front of elders as her advocate and ally.
Kama ni shuka, kama ni mbuzi
If Selina leaves the artist, he promises to go retrieve any gifts or tokens he gave her.
Ntawarudishia, mara mbili
The singer promises to return twice the amount of anything he takes from Selina if they break up.
I want to marry you, so very, so very beautiful
The artist expresses his desire to marry Selina and highlights her beauty once again.
Writer(s): Lord Lornhold, Stephanie Luzie, Shadrak, Azmo
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iangitau1272
Who feels this song is underrated 😪...... Btw.. Eric... You should make a karaoke video😂😂
@laceyloops
Was just about to say this.. then I saw this
@ivymuinde6472
I'm planning on karaoke -ing on this soon. I love it!!
@horbartkoweru9162
7yrs down and the song still hits fresh every time
@eddie.mango.
Watu Wazima Huoengea 💯🤍
@KeithMhott
This man is such a legend in Kenyan music...and you know you're Kenyan When you identify with beat 2:41 to 2:56 :)
@YvonneWaitheraMusyimi
That guitar 😁
@robertgitonga235
Nakumbuka tukiimba "Túkúruga mariko meerí tondú nyúkwa ní múkoroku😂😂😂"
@ceokibariatravel1290
Who is here in August 2019...say Yeeeeees🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
@yasshassan1270
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssss