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Renown Kikuyu secular singer Joseph Kamaru has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he had passed away.
The benga musician told Nairobi News that he is still alive, but receiving treatment at the Avenue Hospital in Nairobi for an undisclosed illness. He said he was admitted at the facility on Monday and will leave the hospital on Monday next week.
“I’m alive and kicking, tell my fans and the extended family members that I’m well and recuperating and ignore the reports of the haters. For them (the haters) I dedicate them to God to deal with them for misleading the country that I’m no more, whoever takes the role of the Lord to ‘kill’ his people can only be dealt with by Him,” Kamaru said.
“There has never been bad times for the music industry like these times, there are cartels and the piracy issues, the Lord God can’t take me before ensuring that musicians get the sweat of their hard work,” he noted.
Kamaru, who began singing in 1956 said he plans to construct a Kikuyu cultural home in one of his farms in Muranga in an effort to safeguard and protect the community's culture.
“I want this country to get back to 1975 when musicians controlled the cost of their songs and could discipline the artistes who went against the ethics and standards set out by the Kenya Association of Phonographic Industry (Kapi). I will also establish Agikuyu home in Muranga as the first of its kind where we shall be advising the youth on our tradition,” the musician said.
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Mzee Kamaru, wishing you a speedy recovery. You are a father figure in both the music world and in our fading culture and transitions. We appreciate the cultural home idea but it is true you may not make it alone. Let us know how to give a hand. Great idea.
Who said your dead?
Gitonga was Supiri, our culture is not fading. You are wrong. It is as strong as it can be. Look at the growth of our language. We are finally becoming who we were meant to be. We just need to wake up, drop our foreign names and we will be almost there. The writing is on the wall. We need to support each and everyone of us that chooses to promote and protect our culture and who we are. We need to compete for space for our culture like everybody else.
Quick recovery we appreciate u coz u gave us advice through ur song our God may give u many many years
Hi Bwana Kamaru. First I would like to wish you quick recovery. Thank you for standing up for our culture for that long. You should not have to build a cultural center in Murang'a by yourself. Let all your fans be in a position to help. Establish an account and we will help publicize it. Under your guidance we will all fulfill your dream. We look forward to help you. Thank you for all the music and great advice. We love you! We love you always!