Eric Omondi has stirred a debate in Tanzania after saying bongo music has been killed by amapiano.
Omondi said the only artistes flying the East African flag is Diamond Platnumz and Sauti sol.
He wrote on Instagram that;
''EAST AFRICA I am SAD!!! I Weep for my PEOPLE. Nina Huzuni Moyoni. Bongo flava has always been East Africa's PRIDE ila Kwa sasa IMEKUFAA. Kila Tanzania Artist Kwa sasa Anaimba Amapiano. We have lost our CULTURE, Killed our Own!!! Tumekaribisha, tumeiga, tumeichukua Tabia na Mwenendo zake Jirani tukajisahau wenyewe. We are LOSING OUR IDENTITY, OUR PRIDE!!! Naomba ndugu Zangu Wa BONGO Turejee kwa upesi before it's too late!!! Wakenya WAMELALA, Wa Tanzania WAMEJIPOTEZAA. Mungu TUHURUMIE, TUREHEMU''
His message didn't sit with singer Zuchu who disagreed with him saying that their industry is embracing diversity.
"Bongo flavor can never die artist are going out of their comfort zones it’s called diversity. Trying new sounds has never killed any industry the music industry is Big So let artists try out new things ndo mabadiliko hayo''
Omondi responded to Zuchu saying that in Kenya, the music industry started embracing diversity and lost it.
''My dear Sister. This is how it always begins, we always start by losing our Authenticity and Identity and giving Excuses for it. Huku Kenya tulianza vivyo hivyo na Muziki wetu ukapotea. Wazungu wanasema "If it's not Broken, dont fix it!!" Bongo Fleva iko SAWAA kabisa na Hakuna haja ya kuwacha Bongo Fleva ati Kwa ajili ya k "Diversify". Amapiano ni Basi tu linalopita ila sisi tukiipanda bila kujua kinaenda wapi basi tutashindwa kurudi nyumbani. Tutakua tunauza sera zao na Tamaduni zao na Kuua chetu. Unapoimba "Sukari" in that Sweet Authentic Bongo Tone and Beat, what you are basically doing ni Kuinua Taifa na Bendera ya Tanzania and WE LOVE IT SOO MUCH and we are PROUD of it. Lakini when you Continually replace that Bongo Sound na Amapiano baada ya Mda tutakua tumejipoteza. Trust me, this happened to Kenyan music, I am Speaking from Experience. Msalimu sanaa Kakangu na Wana WCB Wote waambie Nawapenda. "
Singer Barnaba said bongo music is still very much strong;
"Nadhani Bado Bongo flavor Ina nguvu Sana kuliko Amapino Kingine lazima Watu wajue Amapiano SIO aina Ya muziki Bali kwa lugha Rahisi Ni mixing Za Dj’s wa SouthAfrica WAKIWA Kwenye Gigis zao So haitaweza Kuuwa muziki halisi kama zook Rhumba Rege / Dans Pop Rock NK : kwasababu SIO haina Ya muziki Bali ni vionjo tu katika milindimo ya mziki BONGO FLAVOR BACK 2022 : tena To the maximum Kwa Duania."
Songstress Maua Sama seems to agree with Omondi saying that you don't need to do amapiano;
"Kwani ikitokea hujaimba AMAPIANO Unaweza kufutiwa Cheti cha Usajili BASATA? Au utapokonywa NIDA & Passport?Nipo zangu sehemu hapa nakunywa soda naskiliza ZAI, UTU & I WISH (On Repeat) Multiple musical notes, Multiple musical notes Nipo Airport njooni mnipige"
Alikiba agreed with Maua Sama in the fight against the genre;
''Hakuna Wakukupiga Zai Wangu"
Meanwhile, Eric Omondi insists that Ugandan artistes stopped singing.
