Saturday, August 8, 2020

(Kenyan Hip Hop/Genge Song & Video) Femi One Featuring Mejji - "Utawezana" ("You Will Be Able To")



Femi One, April 1, 2020

Statistics as of August 8, 2020 at 8:48 AM EDT
Total # of views- 8,185,702
Total # of likes -110K
Total # of dislikes-5K
Total # of comments-8,891

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the hit 2020 Kenyan Genge track "Utawezana" by Femi One featuring Mejja.

Selected comments from the official YouTube video of this track are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Femi One and Mejja for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are associated with this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post

****
INFORMATION ABOUT FEMI ONE
From 
https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/femi-one.html
Birthday - April 25, 1994

Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya


About

Kenyan rapper who is known for putting out tracks such as "Usiku Mchana" and "Pilau Njeri". Her real name is Wanjiku Kimani. 
One of her earliest releases was the song "Alejandro" which came out in April 2013." 

****
INFORMATION ABOUT MEJJA *

Mejja (Calif Records)
"‘Mejja’ Memme Hadija is one of Kenya’s leading artists in Genge music, and is famously known for comical interpretations of his songs in music videos. The rapper, who discovered his talent at a young age, was prompted to take music seriously after he emerged second overall in an Airtel talent show winning Ksh20, 000. He is signed under Calif Records and through the label he has been able to produce some major hits like Kuliendaje, which won him a Chaguo La Teeniz award in 2008, Niko Poa, Landlord and Furahia.
-snip-
*This is an old review of Mejji when he was associated with Calif Records.  


****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Utawezana" is a dialogue between a young woman who asks the music celebrity Okonkwo (another name that Mejja is known by) whether he is able to "handle her" because he is overweight i.e.  He has a big belly. 

...."Okonkwo with a big belly, you can? (I can)

When I give you, will you make it? (Yes I will)"...

WARNING:  Many commenters in this video's discussion thread wrote that they like "Utawezana" because of its beat, but don't know what it's about.  Although the song's video isn't sexually explicit and the  song's English translation of the Sheng and Swahili might not be considered to be dirty, a number of commenters wrote that the song is actually quite "vulgar".
-snip-
Click https://afrikalyrics.com/femi-one-utawezana-translation for an English translation of this song.

Read more comments about this song below. All comments in this pancocojams post are profanity free and free of sexually explicit content.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kl3Cap-NzQ

I didn't read all of these comments, but I read A LOT of them.

DISCLAIMER: I don't speak any language but English. I've added some Google translate Swahili to English translation for certain words although I'm aware that Google translate results may not be correct. I've also read (from this video's discussion thread) that this song also includes Sheng words. 

Additions and corrections for these definitions are very welcome.


I also added some information about the name "Okonkwo" (another referent for the Kenyan performer Mejja) below the comment given as #6.


All of these comments are from April to August 7, 2020. These comments are given in chronological order with the "oldest" comments given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.


1. Thomas Agwata
"first one to comment koz MEJA is still king of gengetone from the old school genge. like hapo down ma fans wote wa gengetone.piga like na reply"
-snip-
I believe that the last part of this comment is a request for that commenter's "fans" to click the like icon below the comment.

**
2. Ray Max
"Mejja was the best break out superstar when he joined the industry...This is mejja that we know...lyrical and best word play...huyu wa kansoul ni mejja different.. congratulations to femi one, still the best female MC."
-snip-
I think that comment in Swahili means that Mejji [as he performs in The Kansoul trio] is different than the Mejja who performed as a solo artist.


**.
REPLY
3. gworoh evance
"thought so too...mejja was biiiiig alone..Kansoul imemdilute"
-snip-
I can't find the definition for "imemdilute", but my guess is that it means the group should break up/end.
**
REPLY
4. victor nderu
"Mejja is being limited by The Kansoul
This guy is much better on his own."

**
REPLY
5. 
sadam ali
"Mahn that is true, Okwonko on his own is the best,,ata ivo hii song ni tamu
-snip-
"Mahn" is a stylized spelling for the colloquial referent "man".

Google translate from Swahili to English for "ata ivo" = "this song is sweet"
-snip-
-snip-
The Kansoul is a Kenyan Gengetone music group formed in 2014 that consists of Mejja (Okonkwo), Kid Kora, and Madtraxx.


Click https://www.nation.co.ke/kenya/life-and-style/showbiz/it-s-time-for-mejja-to-leave-the-kansoul-74652  for the August 2018 Kenyan article "It's time for Mejja to leave The Kansoul". 
I'm not sure if he has fully left that group, but his fans seem to be really pleased with his performance with Femi One as they wrote that his performance in this collaboration is the Mejja who they love from his solo performances.


**
6. edwin opondo
"
Okonkwo indeed he's a genge legend..wapi likes za mejja"
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English "wapi za mejja" = where likes of mejia"
I think this commenter is asking people to click the "like" icon below his comment "for  M
ejja".


"Okonkwo" is a nickname for Mejja. I'd love to know how he got this nickname. Did Mejja chose it for himself? Was this a character in one of his songs? Or did Mejja chose that name because of its connection to Chinua Achebe's character in his now classic novel "Things Fall Apart"?   

Here's 's a description of "Okonkwo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_Fall_Apart
"Okonkwo, the protagonist, has three wives and ten (total) children, and becomes a leader of his clan. His father, Unoka, was weak and lazy, and Okonkwo resents him for his weaknesses: he enacts traditional masculinity. Okonkwo strives to make his way in a culture that traditionally values manliness."-snip-
"Okonkwo" is an Igbo (Nigerian) name that means " "born on Nkwo" in Igbo, Nkwo being one of the days of the Igbo  week"
https://www.behindthename.com/name/okonkwo#:~:text=Meaning%20%26%20History,days%20of%20the%20I

**
7. 
Moh Ahmed
"If Mejja had stayed by himself since Calif records went down he would be up there with the Best, But again how the Industry went from 2008 to 2015 i don't know if he would have survived without the Kansoul all said and done, Mejja is the only artist that Lyrically sounds Kenyan. Gives me home vibes πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ"

**
REPLY
8. 
Bank Roll
"Ukweli"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English= "
the truth"

**
REPLY
9. 
jeff oukoh
"Truth be told, he is not catching up with the new face of music. This is what has been letting Kenyans down."

**
REPLY
10. 
Yusra ali
"Mejja is a GOAT still here thru it all boss"

**
REPLY

11. poet starknow TV
"@jeff oukoh originality, not flowing with the wave"

**
REPLY
12. 
Artik
"opinion"

**
REPLY
13. 
Peter Gathiaka
"mejja is the King"

**
REPLY
14. 
Bryan Mulwa
"I disagree. A lot of our local artists sound Kenyan. But I like Mejja."

**
REPLY
15. 
Daniel Yego
"He wouldn't be up there with the best. When Gospel music took over, secular artists suffered in this industry...most of them went under. But mejja was smart, the kanseoul was his lifeline."

**
REPLY
16. 
jeff oukoh
j"@poet starknow TV let's see what originality will do. But honestly he need to do something"

**
REPLY
17. 
Moh Ahmed
"@jeff oukoh He was famous in the hood in 2005 he didn't even make it Nairobi yet, man used to rap, sing them days, He used to take part in Nyeri town competitions at a very young age and he eventually won a chance to record at Calif Records the rest is history. HE came along long way.. Seeing him surving and still being here today is a testament to his adaptability to every wave that came along all that period. A Legend in his own rights, Love and respect to all that agreed"

**
18. Tom Keybet
"Now this is the Mejja from back in the dayz.... We had missed this Mejja.... Ngoma... πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

**
19. 
Waziri Mshefa
"Meja has switched back to factory setting wachana na gengetone"
- snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English-
"wachana na" = "let go of"

My interpretation of the phrase "switched by to factory setting" in this comment is that that is something good, i.e. Mejja returned to the performance style that he was previously known for. 

**
REPLY
20. Lameck Nyaga
"But this is gengetone..."

**
REPLY
21. Lameck Nyaga
"
Isn't this still gengetone?! πŸ€” Here is where he belongs though!"

**
REPLY
22. Chris TMT
"@Lameck Nyaga this is Genge ile ya kina Jua Cali and not new generation Gengetone!"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English
"
Ile ya kina" =  that of depth [of Genge recording artist] Jua Cali 
**
23. Topic 254
"I missed story telling za Meja...this song is dopeπŸ‘Œ..okonko go back to this kind of music pliz"

**

REPLY
24. 
SENIOR TV
"True...mejja is back"
*
REPLY
25. etalanta 

"now this is Meja a story teller"

**
26. 
Bongo updatesTV
"Femi and Rosa ree are the only female rappers who represent East African hip hop to the international level. Sending love ❤️ from Tanzania πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ώ"

**
REPLY
27. LARRY ACHIYA
"Petra...she's bigger"

**
28. Peter Nduati
"Not the type of music I would listen but I had to come watch the video after the young lady Azziad TikTok post.  Demonstration of how integration of social media can drive purchase. I doubt it was planned and if it was, great plan"

**
29. Victor Legacy IT
""Mejja & Femi one Good stuff, However this ka gal Azz_iad should just get a share she advertised this Vybe bigtime. mpee kitu please she deserves a medal."
-snip-
Google translation from Swahili to English for "mpee kitu" = "give him something"
-snip-
Corrected gender: give her something

**
30. VicSeezzo

"Azz Tiktok has done more marketing for this song than any social platforms, gift her"

** 
31. Johnstone Rotich

"AZZiad GOLDEN SMILE .....SO perfectπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

**
REPLY
32. obwaya maryanne
"Me i had to check it out in someway she made us know this song"

**
REPLY
33. Lauryn wambui
"She is the reason we are all hereπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚"

**
REPLY
34. juddie shiroh
"Same.I didnt even know of this song till I saw her."

**
REPLY
35. HEALTH & WEALTH SECRETS
"In fact she is burning"

**
REPLY
36. Mesh Mogana
"me here, i had to see this song"

**
REPLY
37. denzy_beats
"Same πŸ˜‚"

**
REPLY
38. Joslin Malongo
"She’s the reason am here .they should give her kitu kidogo since she made the song popular"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English
"kitu kidogo"= little thing [meaning “a little bit of money as a token of their appreciation”

**
39. MR BLOOM KENYA
"UTAWEZANA - ft the Sexy TIKTOK Girl
Dancer
 AZZIAD NASENYA
WATCH πŸ‘‰    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ6iCruAI5Y&feature=youtu.be - WE MASKINI UTAWEZANA..?"
-snip-
That YouTube video of Azziad dancing is now unavailable due to a copyright claim by Femi One.

I learned about Femi One featuring Mejja's video "Utawezana" from the African American vlogger Big Ralph who hosts That Fire LA (TFLA)  vlog. Here's a link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRrB0IBfxAI&t=42s " 
BEST OF AZZIAD NASENYA TIK TOK DANCING VIDEOS! BTG NEWS | THAT AMERICAN REACTION". 


**
REPLY
40. REPLYChris Oghenetega Maloney
"edwin opondo who’s okonkwo?

 **
REPLY
41. edwin opondo
"@Chris Oghenetega Maloney mejja of kansoul
 
**
42.
 
Docter love
"Finally the mejja who first won our hearts is back.... Majengo"

**
43. rotich kalya
"
Kansoul has slowed down Okwonkwo. He is undisputably one of the best story telling artists and a smart lyricist. he's gelled well with Femi uno"

**
44. Ateef Dawood
"Growing up been a fan of meja fav track landlord πŸ˜…πŸ˜‚ love all the way from πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ώ"


**
45. 
Oliver Sagala

"From 'landlord' now 'Utawezana'big up mejja; it's πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

**
46. steve omondi
"Old Mejia is back πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚, comedy and lit music all in on"

**
47. bo deplora
"πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬#trending 10
πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ#trending 1
πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ώ#trending 4
Huu mziki ni ya afrika mashariki πŸ”₯πŸ”₯
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: "
This music is from east africa"

UG= Uganda
KE= Kenya
TZ= Tazania

**
REPLY
48. Amani Longishu
"πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ώno 3πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

**
49. Mustaqiim Abdiqani
"
I don't understand any word but the song is very sweet greet from your neighbour country #somalia."

** 
REPLY
50. Peter makau mutuku
"Its a Swahili song.The girl is asking the guy whether he can manage to sleep with her with that beer belly..."

**
51. 
Bling chris Brown

"Femi One😍😍😍😍😍"

**
52. Ken Junior
"Femi one ur the baddest , this is a smash hit...."

**
53. M. Malet
"This song is killing it out here πŸ‡²πŸ‡±"
-snip-
ML= Mali

**
54. 
Angelee Peele
"Don't understand the words but I love it πŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²"
-snip-
"JM" = Jamaica

**

55. Franklin Kasongo
"Iyi ngoma ni kali saaana, hata Bujumbura tutawezana...welcome Ms Femi

This dance is so intense, even in Bujumbura we can get along."
-snnip

Bujumbura- largest city and main port of Burundi (in east-central Africa

**
56. Abdul Ssewanyana
"I don't know this kiswahili but just enjoying the rhythm"
**
REPLY
57. Martin Makau
"It's safer that way πŸ˜…"


**
58. owiny innocent kidega
"Love from China Wuhan"
**
59. Ifechukwu Uche Onyilofor
"Much love from Nigeria, the beat is too fireπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬"

**
60. Bonface M'Etharia
"Kali sana  drop the best sasa @femi one"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English
"Kali sana" = very strong; "sasa"= "now" 

**
61. kalibouy kalibouy
"Am from Malaysia this song is fire πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

**
62. michael gichia
"Funny, got interested in the jam after it was banned."

**
63. Eddy Mswazi TV
"Who are these people and Ezekiel Mutua saying that this song has no content😁 don’t they know that i got to learn a new vocabulary here. Now i can tell my crush that she is “Flattering” meπŸ™ˆπŸ™Š"

**
64. Justin Biketi
"From the Beat, Bars , Chemistry and Video is just LEGEND!! Respect Mejja X Femi1. OFFICIAL KENYAN ANTHEM"

**
65. Samuel Oduor
"Actually am here after hearing that KFCB chair Mr Ezekiel got pissed off by the song    anyway am short of words. Good work but I'll say it's for this current crazy generation"
-snip-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_Film_Classification_Board
The Kenya Film Classification Board (abbreviated as KFCB) is a state corporation that operates under the Government of Kenya whose mandate is to "regulate the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of films by rating them."[1] The Board … has since involved itself in the rating and classification of films and television programmes"...

**
66. Kaone
"Actually this is kiswahili mixed with sheng. Sheng is slang or street language mostly spoken in eastlands Nairobi and ghetto. I     am from Nairobi and I understand but I don't speak sheng.hapo anasema fungua bonnet toa screw hata sielewi yuwamaanisha bonnet gani . I either speak kiswahili or English."
 -snip-
Google translation -Swahili to English translation
"then he says open the bonnet remove the screw even I don't know what the bonnet means"
-snip-
This commenter may have been facetious when he or she wrote this because even this African American grandmother who only speaks English can guess what that "open the bonnet etc." sentence means.

**
67. 
The princess
"Ghosh kumbe the song is so dirty!"

**
68. ismahaan hassan
"someone can translate what the say πŸ€πŸ€πŸ™„πŸ™„πŸ™„"

**
REPLY
69. Micky stinger
"Its a dialogue  where a woman is asking the man if he can manage to handle her"

**
70. 
George Kimani
"Who would have thought genge would go international one day! I was alive when it happened."

**
71. Kamala Black
"I'm jamaican don't understand one word lol but I love this song its litπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯vibes on point"

**
72. Alice Maina
"Mejja is like a cat with 9 lives... He goes down the rises up blazing with absolutely mellowing tunes.... Big up mejja big up femi one ❤️❤️❤️❤️"

**
73. Stanley Dadaille
"I don't understand anything, I just feel everything..."

**
74. Tumi Tladi
"I love you Femi, I dont even understand you but I dig your style, all the way from Pretoria S.A"

**
75. P-South Beats
"Much love from USA❤️ I don't understand the language but I know haga means conversation"
**
76. Deborah Njeri
"πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ haga means "ass"

**
REPLY
77.Jackie Mukolwe
"Haga means ass Kenyan slang."

**
78. 
Neil K. Patel
"this track if FIRE! what's a Tambla in English?"

**
REPLY
79. Naomi Wanganga
"Plastic ' glass' used when taking alcohol the one mejja is drinking from"

**
REPLY
80. Sasha Lillian
"Tumbler"
**
81.
Mary Maina
"Mejja uko juu !!!!kip up the gud work n continue entertaining us with ur gud music !!!Allah akupe miaka mingi ya kuendeleza talanta yako ya muziki ,mi napenda ngoma zako sana,all the way from embu !!!mtoto wa khadija mola akubariki!!!!"
-snip-
"
Mejja is on top !!!! kip up the gud work n continue entertaining us with ur gud music !!! May Allah give you many years to develop your musical talent, I love your dances so much, all the way from embu !!! khadija mola bless you !!!!"
-snip-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embu_das_Artes
"Embu das Artes, previously and commonly known simply as Embu, is a Brazilian municipality in the State of SΓ£o Paulo. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of SΓ£o Paulo.[2] The population is 261,781 (2015 est.) in an area of 70.40 km².[1]

Its history brought it an unexpected specialization as a city for artists. This has paid tourism dividends to the city."

**
82Ntate Makonyane
"South Africa πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ approves πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ I don’t understand the language but the song is fire πŸ˜…πŸ€žπŸΌ LOVE 🀝"

**
83. 
akasha elvo
"Pure Talent....Big ups!!"

**
84. 
Kuria Mbugua
"The baseline in these beats is massive!!!"

**
85. kyngNick
"This BangsπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯.The beat reminds me of a Dancehall song here in JamaicaπŸ‡―πŸ‡²πŸ‡―πŸ‡²"

**
86. Yun wezy
"I luv this song but damn I don’t even understand the language, one luv from a west African bro base in France πŸ‡±πŸ‡·πŸ‡«πŸ‡·, Africa to the world πŸ’ͺ🏾πŸ’ͺ🏾πŸ’ͺ🏾"

**
87. Noor Mak
"not many kenyan projects cross to ugπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬ but this banger is in its own league. i cant understand the lyrics but i dance to this. love u kenyaπŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ"

**
88. 
Rayne Davey
"WAGWAN
MEJJA"
-snip-
"Wagwan" originated as a Jamaican Patois term for the greeting "What's going on?" ("What's happening?") and has spread to other nations from there.

**
89. 
JEROME BARTHELEMY
"i understand nothing but VIBE is so good !!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
90. kulothungan kulothungan

"Watching from India..I love Kenyan swahili"

**
91. Richard Mugendi

"I love this song...too much creativity" -snip- In standard American English, "too much" is usually a criticism, but in this comment "too much means "a lot of". **** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.

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