The Meaning and Message of Leo ni Leo: The Luhya Song by Emmanuel Musindi and Raila Odinga

Leo ni Leo: The Luhya Song That Became a Campaign Anthem for Raila Odinga

If you have been following the Kenyan political scene lately, you have probably heard or seen the catchy song Leo ni Leo (Today is Today) featuring ODM leader Raila Odinga. The song is a remix of a popular Luhya hit by Benga star Emmanuel Musindi, and it has become a sensation among Odinga's supporters and critics alike. But what is the story behind this song, and how did it end up being used as a campaign anthem for one of Kenya's most influential politicians? In this article, we will explore the origin, meaning, popularity, impact, benefits, and challenges of Leo ni Leo, and how it reflects the role of music in politics.

What is Leo ni Leo?

Leo ni Leo is a Luhya phrase that means "Today is Today". It is also the title of a song by Emmanuel Musindi, a renowned musician from Western Kenya who specializes in Benga music. Benga is a genre of Kenyan music that originated from the Luo community, but has been adopted and adapted by other ethnic groups, such as the Luhya, Kikuyu, Kisii, and Kamba. Benga music is characterized by fast-paced rhythms, electric guitars, prominent bass lines, and lyrics that address social issues, such as love, marriage, politics, religion, and culture.

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The origin and meaning of the song

Musindi released his original version of Leo ni Leo in 2016 under the title Lelo ni Lelo, which is also a Luhya phrase that means "Today is Today". According to Musindi, he composed the song to encourage people to live in the present and enjoy life without worrying about tomorrow. He said that he was inspired by his own experience of losing his wife to cancer in 2015, which made him realize that life is short and unpredictable. He also said that he wanted to uplift his listeners with his positive message and catchy tune.

The chorus of the song goes like this:

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

Lelo ni lelo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo

Lelo ni lelo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

Lelo ni lelo lelo lelo

The verses of the song talk about various aspects of life, such as love, marriage, work, education, health, wealth, happiness, sorrow, success, failure, faith, hope, and destiny. Musindi uses metaphors and proverbs to convey his message, such as "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush" (Kinyonyi kimoja mkononi ni bora kuliko viwili kichakani) and "The sun rises for everyone" (Jua huangaza kwa wote). He also uses humor and sarcasm to poke fun at some social norms and stereotypes, such as "A man without a wife is like a house without a roof" The popularity and impact of the song

The song became a hit in Western Kenya, especially among the Luhya community, who appreciated Musindi's talent and message. The song also crossed over to other regions and audiences, who enjoyed its upbeat tempo and catchy chorus. The song was played on various radio stations, TV channels, social media platforms, and public events, such as weddings, funerals, rallies, and festivals. The song also inspired many remixes, covers, parodies, and memes, some of which were humorous, while others were offensive or controversial.

The song also had a significant impact on the social and political landscape of Kenya. The song resonated with many Kenyans who were facing economic hardships, political uncertainties, health crises, and social injustices. The song also became a symbol of hope, resilience, solidarity, and defiance for many Kenyans who were dissatisfied with the status quo and demanded change. The song also became a rallying cry for some political movements and parties, such as the National Super Alliance (NASA), which was led by Raila Odinga in the 2017 general elections.

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How did Raila Odinga get involved in the song?

Raila Odinga is one of Kenya's most prominent and influential politicians. He is the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is the main opposition party in Kenya. He has also served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, under a power-sharing agreement with former President Mwai Kibaki. He has also run for the presidency four times, in 1997, 2007, 2013, and 2017, but has never won. He has also been involved in various controversies and conflicts, such as the 2007 post-election violence, the 2017 election nullification and boycott, and the 2018 handshake deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The role of Winnie Odinga in connecting the artist and the politician

The connection between Musindi and Odinga was facilitated by Winnie Odinga, who is the youngest daughter of Raila Odinga. Winnie is a journalist, activist, and aspiring politician, who has been involved in various campaigns and causes for her father and her party. She is also an avid fan of music and culture, especially from Western Kenya.

According to Winnie, she first heard Leo ni Leo on a radio station while she was driving in Nairobi. She was impressed by the song and decided to look for the artist online. She found Musindi's Facebook page and sent him a message, praising his work and asking for his contact details. She then called him and invited him to meet her father at his home in Karen. She also suggested that they should do a remix of the song featuring her father.

Musindi was surprised and honored by Winnie's message and invitation. He agreed to meet her and her father, and he also agreed to do the remix. He said that he was not affiliated with any political party or agenda, but he respected Odinga as a leader and a fellow Luhya. He also said that he was happy to collaborate with him on the song. The making of the remix and the music video

The remix of Leo ni Leo was recorded at a studio in Nairobi, with the help of Winnie Odinga and some ODM officials. Musindi and Odinga met for the first time at the studio, and they exchanged greetings and compliments. Musindi said that he was honored to meet Odinga, and Odinga said that he was impressed by Musindi's talent and message. They then proceeded to record the remix, with Musindi singing the original verses and chorus, and Odinga adding some new lines in Luhya, Swahili, and English.

Some of the lines that Odinga added were:

Leo ni leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo leo

Leo ni leo tuko pamoja na Musindi

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Mungu

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Wakenya

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Baba

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Mama

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Vijana

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Wazee

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Walemavu

Leo ni leo tunasema asante kwa Wote

These lines mean:

Today is today today today today today today today today today today

Today is today we are together with Musindi

Today is today we say thank you to God

Today is today we say thank you to Kenyans

Today is today we say thank you to Baba (Father)

Today is today we say thank you to Mama (Mother)

Today is today we say thank you to the Youth

Today is today we say thank you to the Elders

Today is today we say thank you to the Disabled

Today is today we say thank you to Everyone

The remix also featured some background vocals by Winnie Odinga and some ODM supporters, who sang along with Musindi and Odinga. The remix was produced by a local music producer, who added some beats and effects to enhance the sound quality and appeal of the song.

The music video of the remix was shot at various locations in Nairobi, such as Uhuru Park, Kibera, Mathare, and Karen. The video showed Musindi and Odinga singing and dancing with various groups of people, such as women, children, youth, elders, disabled, professionals, traders, artists, activists, and politicians. The video also showed some clips of Odinga's political rallies, speeches, and interactions with his supporters and opponents. The video was directed by a local video director, who used various camera angles, lighting, editing, and graphics to create a visually appealing and captivating video. The reaction and feedback from the fans and the critics

The remix and the music video of Leo ni Leo were released online on various platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. The song and the video quickly went viral, attracting millions of views, likes, comments, and shares. The song and the video also received a lot of media attention, both locally and internationally, as they were featured on various newspapers, magazines, blogs, podcasts, radio shows, and TV shows.

The song and the video received mixed reactions from the fans and the critics. Some of the fans praised the song and the video for being creative, entertaining, inspiring, and unifying. They said that they loved the collaboration between Musindi and Odinga, and that they appreciated their message of gratitude, positivity, and hope. They also said that they supported Odinga's political vision and agenda, and that they believed that he was the best candidate for the presidency in 2022.

Some of the critics condemned the song and the video for being opportunistic, manipulative, divisive, and misleading. They said that they hated the collaboration between Musindi and Odinga, and that they disliked their message of propaganda, hypocrisy, and deception. They also said that they opposed Odinga's political ambition and ideology, and that they doubted his credibility and integrity as a leader.

Some of the fans and critics also had some suggestions and questions for Musindi and Odinga. Some of them asked Musindi to do more remixes with other politicians or celebrities, while others asked him to stick to his original music and avoid politics. Some of them asked Odinga to do more songs with other artists or genres, while others asked him to focus on his policies and strategies instead of music. Some of them also asked both of them to address some of the issues and challenges facing Kenya, such as corruption, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, health care, education, infrastructure, environment, human rights, democracy, and peace.

What are the benefits and challenges of using music for political campaigns?

Music is a powerful form of communication that can influence people's emotions, attitudes, behaviors, and actions. Music can also be used for various purposes, such as entertainment, education, expression, persuasion, mobilization, protest, resistance, or celebration. Music can also be used for political campaigns, which are organized efforts to influence the outcome of an election or a referendum.

Using music for political campaigns can have some benefits and challenges. Here are some of them:

The advantages of music as a tool for mobilizing and persuading voters

• Music can attract attention and interest from potential voters who may not be interested in politics or who may not have access to other sources of information.

• Music can appeal to emotions and values that may not be easily expressed or conveyed by words or numbers.

• Music can create a sense of identity and belonging among voters who share similar tastes or preferences in music.

• Music can inspire confidence and enthusiasm among voters who may feel discouraged or apathetic about politics.

• Music can reinforce or challenge existing beliefs or opinions among voters who may be undecided or conflicted about politics.

• Music can motivate action and participation among voters who may be passive or reluctant to vote or to get involved in politics.

The disadvantages of music as a source of controversy and conflict

• Music can offend or alienate voters who may not like or agree with the music or the message.

• Music can distort or oversimplify complex or nuanced issues or arguments that may require more analysis or evidence.

• Music can create a false or misleading impression of reality or credibility among voters who may not verify or question the music or the source.

• Music can incite violence or hatred among voters who may take the music too literally or too seriously.

• Music can violate ethical or legal norms or standards among voters who may not respect or acknowledge the rights or interests of others.

• Music can backfire or backslash among voters who may react negatively or unpredictably to the music or the outcome.

The best practices and tips for using music effectively and ethically

• Choose music that is relevant and appropriate for the target audience, the message, the context, and the goal.

• Use music that is original or authorized by the artist or the owner.

• Acknowledge or credit the source of the music if it is borrowed or adapted from someone else.

• Balanced music with other forms of communication that provide more information or explanation about the issues or arguments.

• Respect diversity and difference of opinions and perspectives among voters who may have different tastes or preferences in music.

• Avoid music that is offensive or divisive among voters who may have different beliefs or values.

• Monitor and evaluate the impact and feedback of the music among voters who may have different reactions or responses.

Conclusion

Leo ni Leo is a Luhya song that became a campaign anthem for Raila Odinga, one of Kenya's most prominent and influential politicians. The song is a remix of a popular Benga hit by Emmanuel Musindi, and it features Odinga's voice and message. The song and the video have become viral sensations, attracting millions of views, likes, comments, and shares. The song and the video have also received mixed reactions from the fans and the critics, who have praised or condemned the song and the video for various reasons.

The song and the video also reflect the role of music in politics, which can have some benefits and challenges. Music can be a powerful tool for mobilizing and persuading voters, but it can also be a source of controversy and conflict. Music can also be used effectively and ethically, but it can also be used opportunistically and manipulatively. Music can also be a form of communication and expression, but it can also be a form of propaganda and deception.

Therefore, as voters, we should be aware and critical of the music that we hear or see in political campaigns. We should not be swayed or influenced by music alone, but we should also seek more information and evidence about the issues and arguments. We should also respect and appreciate the diversity and difference of opinions and perspectives among voters who may have different tastes or preferences in music. We should also enjoy and celebrate the creativity and talent of the artists who make music for us, whether they are political or not.

FAQs

• What is the meaning of Leo ni Leo?

Leo ni Leo is a Luhya phrase that means "Today is Today". It is also the title of a song by Emmanuel Musindi, a Benga musician from Western Kenya.

• Who is Raila Odinga?

Raila Odinga is one of Kenya's most prominent and influential politicians. He is the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is the main opposition party in Kenya. He has also served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, under a power-sharing agreement with former President Mwai Kibaki. He has also run for the presidency four times, in 1997, 2007, 2013, and 2017, but has never won.

• How did Raila Odinga get involved in the song?

Raila Odinga got involved in the song through his daughter Winnie Odinga, who is a journalist, activist, and aspiring politician. Winnie heard the song on a radio station and contacted Musindi on Facebook. She then invited him to meet her father at his home in Karen. She also suggested that they should do a remix of the song featuring her father.

• What are the benefits and challenges of using music for political campaigns?

Using music for political campaigns can have some benefits and challenges. Music can attract attention and interest from potential voters who may not be interested in politics or who may not have access to other sources of information. Music can appeal to emotions and values that may not be easily expressed or conveyed by words or numbers. Music can create a sense of identity and belonging among voters who share similar tastes or preferences in music. Music can inspire confidence and enthusiasm among voters who may feel discouraged or apathetic about politics. Music can reinforce or challenge existing beliefs or opinions among voters who may be undecided or conflicted about politics. Music can motivate action and participation among voters who may be passive or reluctant to vote or to get involved in politics.

However, music can also offend or alienate voters who may not like or agree with the music or the message. Music can distort or oversimplify complex or nuanced issues or arguments that may require more analysis or evidence. Music can create a false or misleading impression of reality or credibility among voters who may not verify or question the music or the source. Music can incite violence or hatred among voters who may take the music too literally or too seriously. Music can violate ethical or legal norms or standards among voters who may not respect or acknowledge the rights or interests of others. Music can backfire or backslash among voters who may react negatively or unpredictably to the music or the outcome.

• What are some tips for using music effectively and ethically for political campaigns?

Some tips for using music effectively and ethically for political campaigns are:

• Choose music that is relevant and appropriate for the target audience, the message, the context, and the goal.

Use music t