My friend Heidi had organised a benefit concert for a childrens organisation, Watoto wa Lwanga

 

Four of the children explained about how Watoto wa Lwanga had helped them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the kids had great fun dragging everyone out onto the dance floor

the lively acrobatics display exploded onto the stage

 

some of the children had practiced to sing Daima with Eric Wainaina

Played widely during the post-election violence, its become a kind of alternative national anthem or loyalty pledge:

Umoja ni fahari yetu (Unity is our pride)
Undugu ndio nguvu (brotherhood/kinship our strength)
Chuki na ukabila (hate and tribalism)
Hatutaki hata kamwe (we don’t want at all)
Lazima tuungane, tuijenge nchi yetu (we must unite and build our country)
Pasiwe hata mmoja (let there be none)
Anaetenganisha; (that will put us asunder)

Chorus:
Naishi, Natumaini, (I live, I hope)
Najitolea daima Kenya, (I devote myself to Kenya)
Hakika ya bendera (The surety of our flag)
Ni uthabiti wangu (is my stability)
Nyeusi ya wananchi na nyekundu ni ya damu (black is for the people, red for the blood)
Kijani ni ya ardhi, nyeupe ya amani (green for the land, white for peace)
Daima mimi mkenya (Forever, I am Kenyan)
Mwananchi mzalendo (a patriotic citizen)

Kwa uchungu na mateso (with pain and suffering)
Kwa vilio na uzuni (with tears and sadness)
Tulinyakuliwa Uhuru (freedom was attained for us)
na mashujaa wa zamani (by the heroes of old)
Hawakushtushwa na risasi (they were not frightened by bullets)
au kufungwa gerezani (or to languish in jail)
Nia yao ukombizi kuvunja pingu za ukoloni (their purpose was emancipation – to break the yolk of colonialism)

Chorus

CLIMAX:
Wajibu wetu (our responsibility)
Ni Kuishi kwa upendo (is to live with love)
Kutoka ziwa Mpaka pwani (from the lake to the ocean)
Kaskazini na kusini (north to south)

Repeat chorus

(translation from Al Kags on Mambogani)

Eric's great band wrapped up the evening, in typical Club Afrique style