Tujiangalie by Sauti Sol

Unlike any of the songs Sauti Sol has written, Tujiangalie is one curated specifically for Kenyans, asking us to ponder on our behavior and reflect on what we can do to ensure the betterment of our country.

A guitar introduces the song making it very homely before lead vocalist Bien introduces the song. He says he received a letter from pre-colonial freedom fighters, inquiring on the state of our nation and he sings the response he gave them. He says things have gone left and it began with Tom Mboya’s assassination to Kenya’s hefty debt with China. Bien sings of the mismanagement of funds in the government and follows with the chorus that calls listeners to evaluate ourselves. The key phrase echoes the proverb, “A stitch in time saves nine,” — begging us to try an solve the problem now lest it gets worse.

The second verse by Savara exposes the reality of the crisis in the church – the corruption from some pastors and the mockery they make of their congregations, while the third by Chimano delves into the aftermath of the 2007 election still on-going today.

The song features Kenyan lyricist, Nyashinski, who winds up the song by summarizing all issues discussed and concludes with the fact that almost all people making wrong choices have a Kenyan flag bracelet on their wrists.

Tujiangalie tells the truth in a raw way, but with the fine tunes of the singers, listeners can only want to reflect on themselves – and this goes to show the power of music and words.