Now Trending: Kamanu and Akothee’s new hit – ‘Nkoro Ndito’

Celebrated Meru artist KamaNu M’Tuamwari has released a new jam titled Nkoro Ndito, featurig popular Musician Akothee, who constantly refers to herself as the president of single mothers.

Nkoro Ndito loosely translated from the Kimeru language means “heavy hearts, or overburdened hearts”, highlighting the difficulties single parents (both single mothers and single fathers) have to face as they raise their children.

In the lyrics, a single parent narrates his ordeals in raising children single handedly, always spending sleepless nights looking for answers to questions posed by the anxious children.

“Even after a long day fending for my kids, my nights are no better. I spend a lot of time beseeching my kids to go sleep, at least to get a break from their many questions. I have to tell tales every day. I arrive home when everyone else is asleep. My nights are full of tears and countless questions,” he narrates.

According to Kamanu, apart from highlighting the suffering of single parents, the new hit also offers counsel on handling marital differences that culminate in separation or divorce.

“Gûtî mwana withûragîra narea agaciarwa. Ka aciîthagîra. Rimwe aana nibakûrûkagîra ncamarîro bagîkûra kuumania na mathithio jetû aciari. Kethirwa bûkûremanwa na no mwanka bwathûkane, gîteni u na nthoni.” 

Translation: “No child makes a choice on where they are born. Many times, children go through hell as a result of their parents’ decisions. If your union is no longer sustainable, it’s advisable to part ways in an amicable manner,” Kamanu says.

Esther Akoth, famously known as Akothee was once a taxi driver. Having separated with her husband, she was desperate and had to survive with her four kids to feed.

“It was tough being a single mother. We separated with my then husband and the father of my kids after he was involved in an extra-marital affair. That was in 2006,” she says.

Despite her humble beginnings, Akothee’s music rules the airwaves on local radio stations, besides a busy schedule of performances within and outside Kenya.

“Muntû’okwa, mbigagua ngûtîîte mono ûrîa wirûngîkîte ja kîonereria kia mwanya kîrî akûrû barea bakûirerera aana BAO bonka KamaNu’okwa!” (My friend Kamanu, I hold you in high esteem. You have towered high as a model single dad in raising your kids and working hard to give them the very best.) says Akothee.

While many people will openly talk about single mothers, the challenges facing single fathers are rarely an issue in modern day society. These parents will always endure all manner of unpleasant comments from strangers on how raising a kid as a man is not good and how one should just go and dump them at their grandmothers.

“Kudos Kamanu and Akothee. I really associate with this great piece. Single fathers really go through a lot, maybe much more than their female counterparts. You don’t want to go public that you are a single dad. People will assume that you have failed as a man and therefore cannot be a good father,” says John Mwenda.

“For single dads, it’s even harder when two or more baby mamas are involved. There will be all manner of abusive talk, even from relatives and close friends, about how he went around impregnating all the available women and he is now ‘paying for his sins.” says Mercy Wangari, a psychologist based in Eldoret.

“NKORO NDITO! Aah this one is a genius one. Akothee can pull language’s though! Mpeeni riītwa ria kīmīrū ciantūbakwa,” Akothee posted on her Socials.

The new hit is already trending on YouTube and on Social Media, with several awed fans expressing their amazement at Akothee’s mastery of the Kimeru dialect.

“This is awesome! Am loving it 100%. Even her accent is on point! So amazing .Thanks Akothee for passionately learning our mother tongue,” says Dorryne Njoroge.

“What a great way to move towards unity…you have utilized art well…life and it’s twists and circumstances has no respect for race/ tribe/ nationality,” says Cosmas Kubai.

“The song is just sweet and emotional just touching the reality… I just love where Akothee is asking “agwe Kamanu aria ngina o twana?? Weuh!! If the identity of Akothee was not reveled someone would think it’s Ntibuka from nkaandone, no luo accent, it’s fine Kimeru. Well done our GOAT the legend himself Mutai KamaNu MauMau,” says Kiki Mily Muthinja.

Mbîraga twana Mama îîîî

Ngatûgonera rûgono rwa tene

Mbîraga twana Mama îîîî

Ngatûgonera rûgono rwa tene

Kîrimarimû na Muntû

Cia Kagitûjû Kajîgî

Rwa Kamankura na Ciarî

Baamama, Ni Ntîmama gwe

Ngakara, Ndî ûrûrî

Na biûria, bibiingî gwe

Na Nkoro, Indito

Ntindaga thoko kûrîmia

Ndakinya ûgoro nkeethîra bamaami

Ntindaga thoko kûrîmia

Ndakinya ûgoro nkeethîra bamaami

Na mînoga ya ntukû

Ngatonya gwakwa kûmaama

Nkaindûkira ûtukû

Gwatuka gwe no kîrîro 

Na biûria bitîna mûthia

Baamama, Ni Ntîmama gwe

Ngakara, Ndî ûrûrî

Na biûria, bibiingî gwe

Na Nkoro, Indito