JOSE CHAMELEONE SUPPORTS ERIC OMONDI’S OPINION ON KENYAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

Eric Omondi has continued to push his campaign championing for the betterment of the Kenyan music with his latest move attracting attention from top music acts including Victoria Kimani and Jose Chameleone. 

Through his Instagram page, Eric shared a false poster explaining how promoters in Kenya fail artistes. The comedian narrated an instance where Uganda musician Jose Chameleon declined to perform in a highly-hyped concert over the poster. “In 2017 Jose Chameleon refused to perform in a heavily advertised concert in Kampala after a billboard in Kampala city had a huge Wizkid image and a tiny image of Chameleon beside Wizkid. it’s called subliminal messaging, look at the poster above for example (not an actual poster, I’ve created it for effect), it implies that Omalay is a bigger artist than Sauti Sol and that is not the case,” he wrote. 

Eric blasted promoters for creating such posters, adding that it would not be the same if Kenyan acts were set to perform in other countries, especially in Africa. “Omalay has only three certified hits while Sauti Sol has three albums with almost 26 hit songs. Sauti Sol have won the Mama Awards, Channel O Awards and MTV Awards but most promoters will magnify the image of a visiting artist and have them perform last in a concert.

If Omalay performs last in a concert where Sauti Sol is present, then what is implied is that Omalay is the show stopper and that would not be the case if Sauti Sol were to perform in Nigeria alongside Wizkid or even Omalay himself then Wizkid or Omahlay would still perform last and still have their images magnified. The image of a kenyan artist would never be magnified in a foreign country whatsoever. Promoters be careful what you promote and how you promote. It affects perspective and creates a narrative, and most of the time a false narrative. Fix it,” he added. 

Jose Chameleone’s reacted to the post in support of the comedian, “It’s very easy to misunderstand what you feel by words Eric, Internally we creative artistes depend on a lot of encouragement and passion. It’s only business men that won’t understand what you mean coz for them it’s only money that counts. What happened to the “Charity begins at home?” Anyhow, I am very liberal and also understand the few that disregard your observation,” he wrote.

He added, “Such attitude is very demeaning and disrespectful towards the players who keep the industry flourishing to be placed as underdogs before their own. I can guarantee to you that such manner happens only in this region where the host artistes are only used as bait to submit their fans. If you are drawn as small on advertisements that to me means you are better off staying home or in the studio to do your work that will be misused. Well I hope your message reaches out to the concerned. It’s such a pity that greedy fellas rooted into our darling industry without passion. Bless you bro.” 

On her part, Victoria Kimani also responded in support of the comedian telling off social media users attacking Eric over his campaign. “I’m so glad you understood this aspect when we spoke. So many promoters hated me for stating this same exact fact of subliminal messaging in flyers and billboards. They missed the message because they did not like the messenger (me) . Hopefully, you saying the same exact thing will be well received,” she wrote.