By . Oscar Oding (Japis)
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world and upset we live and socialize, musicians and entertainers are finding ingenious ways to cope, with many leveraging on the various social media platforms.
And a WhatsApp group formed to aid Luo musicians is proving to be really successful and is helping musicians to cope with the effects of the pandemic.
The group dubbed Luo Music Bank Forum has now turned to be gifting hand to both upcoming and senior Luo artists.
Bringing together nearly 60% of Luo local artists, the group has now transformed to be a fountain of hope and prosperity to upcoming and senior artists within the Luo region.
The Luo Music Bank Forum comprises artists, producers, radio presenters, and music specialists as well as local music faithful who have banded together with an aim of building a network of promoting talent and nurturing upcoming artists to realize growth and prosperity in the music industry. The group is administered by Linda Maseno and Eng Godwin Olima both of West Asembo and Muhula Wuod Alego of Alego Usonga.
The membership composition of Luo Music Bank Forum has offered an opportunity for mutual sharing in that; The presence of music producers has helped in shepherding artists on how to compose quality music which in turn promotes their studios.
Additionally, radio presenters have offered a platform of marketing members songs as senior musicians giving wise counsel on challenges within the industry.
The forum also motivates members by engaging in objective activities such as Orindi Maliet loosely translated as the hot seat, where artists are interviewed by all members under the moderation of admins, Godwin Olima and Linda Maseno.
In Orindi Maliet, an artist on the bench shares their experience as to challenges encountered in music industry and their journey to success.
This has bestowed hope to the upcoming artists by learning ways to overcome future challenges if any.
Besides Orindi Maliet there have been routine music challenges and awards where winners are awarded if their songs attract the interest of the sponsors .
This has been achieved through efforts of selfless and philanthropic individuals who constantly offer financial aid either directly or through admins.
The kind-hearted sponsor of the daily challenges in the forum is West Asembo MCA, Hon. Ambrose Auma who has been giving out between Ksh10,000 – 20,000 daily.
The forum recently organized Corona Virus Music Challenge Competition where the winner Boaz Jagingo pocketed Ksh.60,000. Benga maestro Dolla Kabary and songstress Ivy Ocholla emerged as the first and second runners up pocketing 40,000 and 30,000 respectively.
The remaining 10 participants who didn’t fall in the award bracket recieved a little token of appreciation.
This event was ably sponsored by West Asembo MCA Hon.Ambrose Akuno, Eng.George Aluoch of West Uyoma ,Mr .Andrew Auma of USA, Mrs.Milliect Auma who is based in the UK , Mijesh Otieno.
Other than the music competition, the challenge was organized to promote public sensitization in observing safety guidelines and also to financially support the musicians.
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The participants were expected to compose educative yet entertaining music versed with informative lyrics on COVID- 19 and it’s preventive measures.
The judges for the music challenge were Dr. Fred Ato of University of Nairobi Choir, Madam Hellen Mtawalii, former Tusker Project Fame President, Profesor Rose Anyango -Profesor in Music Maseno University, MajiMaji music writer cum producer and Professor Aywaya a renowned Luo music die-hard based in China
