Akothee breaks language barrier in heartwarming Meru song on single parenthood

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 5 Mar, 2022 17:42 | 2 mins read
Singer Esther Akoth alias Akothee. PHOTO: Courtesy

Controversial Kenyan singer Esther Akoth alias Akothee's music is as authentic as they come. Her music represents her authenticity right down to the language.

Akothee recently dropped a new hit titled Nkoro Ndito which features vernacular singer Kamanu. The song’s title translates to a heavy heart and it delves into the journey of a single parent.

The description of the song on YouTube highlights the tough situation that is single parenthood.

 “No child chooses where to be born, you just are. Sometimes children face hardships due to the actions of the parents and if they can’t cope together, they must separate,” the description reads.

Single parenthood is a topic that is close to Akothee’s heart, she is a single mother of five and often refers to herself as the President of single mothers on social media platforms.

In the song, Akothee is heard singing in fluent Ameru about the hardships of single parenthood. Talking about how heavy her heart is riddled with so many questions, the tiredness after a long day’s work, and her sleepless nights.

Mutai M'tuamwari alias Kamanu is a Benga artist hailing from the Meru community, he is a father, an entrepreneur, and a passionate environmentalist.

He is also an Albino, but he hasn’t let that deter him from his passions. He started doing music professionally in 2006 and this collaboration with Akothee is only a part of his music catalogue.

He doesn’t disappoint the Baite community as he represents his culture something that he is very proud of. The 5-minute-long Rhumba flavoured song posted on her YouTube channel has garnered over 50,000 views a few days after its release.

The song has been produced by popular Kenyan producer Saint P. The song is a sure hit because of its groovy beats, beautiful harmonies from Akothee, and the deep-voiced Kamanu. The message also hits home with the duo’s delivery as they go back and forth to complement each other’s verses that share their experiences.

They say music is universal and you can feel it, you can understand it in whatever language.  Although Akothee hails from the Luo community and is often heard singing in Dholuo and Kiswahili, she is truly breaking tribal barriers with her recent collaboration. 

She has managed to bridge the gap between her fans who come from different tribal communities. Although her Luo fans are confused about the language, they can’t help but appreciate the song. While her new Meru fans are surprised that she can do something completely different with so much ease.

Nkoro Ndito is a showcase of Akothee’s versatility and diversity. This is not the first time the vocal singer has stepped out of her comfort zone to offer her fans a taste of something different. In 2020, Akothee released Mwììtuasa which is in Kamba.

Listening to it you’d think Akothee is a native of Ukambani. The beats are consistent with popular Kamba music, and Akothee does a great job of delivering the appropriate dance moves too.

The song comes after the businesswoman took a sabbatical after falling ill and was admitted for months at a hospital for a condition that affected the nerves around her neck.

Akothee started her music career back in 2008 but it was not until 2016 when she collaborated with Tanzanian Singer Diamond Platnumz to release the song titled Sweet love that she started gaining popularity around the continent.

The video of the song is yet to be released but fans are hopeful that the two collaborators will deliver the visuals soon. 

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