Image: File
Celebrated Kenyan artists including Sauti Sol, Mercy Masika, Evelyn Wanjiru, Size8 Reborn, Khaligraph Jones, Samidoh, Wyre, Trio Mio, Nviiri The Storyteller and Bensoul came together to produce and release “Only Love / Upendo Wa Kenya” - a national peace and cohesion song for Kenya.
The song and video is a timeless reminder for Kenyans to work towards national co-existence.
Advocating for peace, hope, love and unity before, during and after the 2022 General Elections in Kenya, the A-List artists joined forces with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to produce the song which is also part of peace education campaigns for the ECES pro-peace Kenya project funded by the European Union.
The Pro-Peace Kenya Project supports interventions of the NCIC and aims at preventing election-related conflict and violence in the General and Presidential elections of August 2022 and beyond.
The Project builds on the various experiences of collaborating partners working to promote peace and cohesion to prevent and mitigate conflicts and electoral related violence, as well as to build trust, inclusion, cohesion and political space, notably in view of supporting the “Road Map of Peaceful Elections 2022” published by NCIC.
Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director, ECES concludes,
“We are so proud to have supported in producing this song and video during the 9 August 2022 General Elections amidst the unfolding tense atmosphere witnessed in the pre-electoral environment and the successful conduct of the polls which has now been concluded with the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the elections.
This song continues to champion peace and cohesion among Kenyans, while we urge all stakeholders to continue the commendable job of promoting peaceful participation of citizens before, during and after elections, he added.”
CREDITS: Song Title: #OnlyLove ( #UpendoWaKenya ) Artists: Sauti Sol, Wyre, Evelyn Wanjiru, Mercy Masika, Trio Mio, Size 8 Reborn, Samidoh, Khaligraph Jones, Bensoul & Nviiri The Storyteller Music Produced by Cobhams Asuquo Assistant Producer: Rick Kilonzo Production Studio: Snowball Industries Assistant Video Director: J Blessing Video Concept: Cobhams Asuquo, J Blessing & Anyiko Owoko Video Location: Snowball Industries Producer: Anyiko Owoko (Anyiko PR) Executive Producer: #EuropeanCentreforElectoralSupport LYRICS: I don’t know where this message will find you I hope that it finds you well Amani iwe na wewe Where we are going only time will tell Ololo Only love Only love will keep us together Only Only love Only love will set us free. No time for Violence Negativity we tore up to blindness We na go let bad man come divide us Individuality all behind us Tulilelewa tukijuana tukiwa vijana Hatuna haja ya kuzozana you are my brother Jirani yako mpende Kama unavyopenda kupendwa Baba send your peace from heaven For our children and the future Amani naiwe iwe eh iwe eehhh Amani naiwe eh iwe eehh Iwe Kenya weeh Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Amani Amani ndio nguvu Tuilinde Wisdom is coming from above Kenya love is a string Forever Kenya belongs to God Naishi na majaji bila noma Awa wachochezi watakoma Mayouth wameshikana Makabila hatubagui Na dream Juu ya future Mayouth unajijenga kwa society Kuingiza Kakitu na currency variety Leo ukichoma mtaani unadhani Mukuro hataishi Kama unajali family ama ni ndoa unastahiliki Hope and pray we gonna find a way The storms will fade away The sun will shine again Whenever you pray Blessings will come your way Better and brighter days Kenya is here to stay Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Kimoja tuko kimoja nani Sote ni kioo cha jamii Washow tuko kimoja Kimoja tuko kimoja nani Site ni kioo cha jamii Kenya future bright Hakuna siku utakuwa stuck on any chapter Message yetu ni Amani hiyo ndio hashtag Collective strength ni unity Tosha When we live as family Hiyo ni immunity proper We got the job na ni sisi inatungoja Protect this generation juu sis ni damu moja Mimi ni mkenya daima We firm in these streets Spreading love juu hivyo ndio si hupreach peace Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya Twende mbele Tuko pamoja Tusimame pamoja Kwa upendo wa Kenya
