Love+Protest: Eric Wainaina to launch new album

Last night at Kifaru Gardens, we had three choices: ‘Love’, ‘Protest’ or ‘Groovy’. Eric Wainaina was hosting a listening party for his third album at his studio cum office and asked the invited guests to weave in and out of the rooms listening to the prescribed tunes off his new ‘Love and Protest’ album.

“I’ve been writing this album for the last three years. It was originally set for release in 2008 but after hearing Nigerian singer Asa’s ‘Jailer’ and ‘Fire on the Mountain’, I was inspired afresh, “says the 38-year-old award-winning musician, actor and playwright.

But it wasn’t just the feisty songstress who had him thinking. Kenya’s violent 2008 post-election period deeply resounded with the dreadlocked and slightly pot-bellied artist.

“It occurred to me that the violence was not guided by love. Che Guevara once stated that ‘true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love’-that was not evident during that time,” he says.

He explores the possible outcomes when ‘Love’ meets ‘Protest’ on the album. On ‘Revolution’ he urges everyone to “Stand up (because) it’s time to put on your uniform.” In “Fancy car” the catchy refrain, “Your fancy car, your fancy car” in reference to how politicians apathetically drive past the ‘ordinary wananchi’ will resound with many. ‘The Road’ featuring Senegalese musician Baaba Maal will put you on the ‘road that leads home.’

Then again, Eric has always been the go-to-guy for politically conscious music. ‘Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo’ (‘Country of Bribes’) off his 2001 debut album, ‘Sawa Sawa’ was an unflinching spotlight on the rampant bribe-taking practices among Kenya’s civil servants. His sophomore album, ‘Twende Twende’ with popular title single featuring veteran Zimbabwean artist Oliver Mtukudzi urged people to join hands and stop being divided.

‘Love and Protest’ follows in the same vein with a few surprises in store. “Except from a few singles, this is the first album that I produced on my own. The job of a producer is essentially to bring together talent and manage the entire process, I got to do that on this album,” he says.

Plus, it’s not all ‘rah-rah let’s rise-up’. There are hints of feel good music as evidenced by the ‘Love’ and ‘Groovy’ listening rooms. ‘Tabasamu’ has a mellow RnB vibe and ‘Orutu Special’ is an upbeat Benga tune to get you dancing as we did when Eric performed the jam backed by his Mapinduzi Band and Aaron Rimbui.

“While we must protest, patriotism isn’t just about saying positive things, criticism also helps,” says Eric. ‘Love and Protest’ is his 14-track musical manifesto that is definitely worth a listen.

‘Love and Protest’ is set for release on November 19th & 20th at Nakumatt Stores across the city.

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