Ndambo dedicates her music to the vulnarable in the society: Worshipper

Some musical performances will make just about anybody cry. It could be because the singer got emotional or because the song itself is just too sad. Well, I really cannot tell which of these reasons provoked tears at this particular concert. Both, maybe?

When I received an invite through a friend to attend a concert a few weeks ago, I thought to myself, this is going to be a perfect way to end my week. I had not heard about the singer before, so I did not have any particular expectations.

It was just a matter of wait-and-see. However, I almost changed my mind when it started raining just hours before the event, but a boring evening was not an option, so I stuck it out, all through cancellations by taxi hailing apps’ drivers, and eventually got to Coffee Casa restaurant located on the second floor of Doctor’s Park on 3rd Parklands Avenue.

The first thing that got me all cheered up was the charm and warmth of a European café that the restaurant oozes, instantly upping my mood. Concertgoers, who most likely knew the singer, had already taken their places in the cozy rear end section of the restaurant, and the rest of us, latecomers, took our seats on the sides.

The woman of the show was Libby Ndambo. I found her playing some of her songs and momentarily she would break down in tears, go silent for a few seconds as her back-up band and singer comforted her, then go back on stage.

I had had disappointing moments at various gigs in the past, but thankfully, this was not one of those times. Each word and carefully constructed lyric came out clear, making for an even more emotional performance.

Heart-wrenching

Gaining confidence throughout her set, which was boosted by the crowd’s attention and cheers, she finally reached her final song. But before she sang, Libby invited on stage a rape victim, 23-year-old Pauline Juma, who was gang raped at the tender age of 13 years and went through the emotional turmoil in silence for over three years to the point of contemplating suicide twice.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Pauline narrated her heart-wrenching story, which highlighted the lifelong implications of rape and assault, that can be unfathomable to those who haven’t experienced it.

It is Pauline’s tear-jerking story that opened the stage for Rise Again, the song of the day. The guitarist started playing the track off Libby’s debut single. The song was an Afro pop hit that talks about rape in three different contexts; child rape, rape within marriage, and rape by a stranger.

It includes a short spoken-word presentation with underlying African war chants melodically fused to create a martial ambience, symbolic to waging war against rapists, especially serial rapists who do not get prosecuted for their crime.

As the song progressed, a dead silence filled the venue. All eyes were locked on her, and she left with what I would consider the biggest applause I have ever heard.

This is Libby Ndambo’s first recorded release that follows years of stage performances in different highlight events and her own concerts dubbed The Expressions.

The gospel music singer and songwriter’s quest for justice for rape victims began when she was in secondary school. “Since high school, I have been passionate about women. It began with a project between my girlfriends and I called Priwiwa (Project I will wait).

Then throughout university till I graduated in 2017, I would do papers, projects or just speak about gender balance and issues women are facing. In fact, one lecturer hated having me in his class because he knew the only thing I spoke or wrote about was in relation to gender issues. My last university project was a video series titled The Secret Scars of Sex,” she says.

RISE AGAIN

Around the same time, her close friend was raped by a pastor. “I struggled to get her to seek justice. Instead, she shut the person out and left the church.

Years later, I discovered a few other girls that the pastor had sexually abused and instead of getting justice when they came forward, they were chased out of the fellowship and the pastor was protected,” recounts the singer.

Then, between January and February 2018, Libby started getting angry and agitated again at the many defilement and rape cases highlighted in the media.

So, with her close friend Nyokabi, they went on social media ranting all day for weeks until they got tired. They wanted to do more of something that brought change. She spent a few weeks reading articles, reports, stories and even the Bible.

“One Friday, I was so burdened while in the studio, and I could not stop talking to my producer, Ken Smish, about how angry I was. He was playing a melody and I remember singing out in tears.

We recorded the demo and began working on it. The first three verses were inspired by real life cases I had come across during my research phase. In fact, I wrote them exactly how they were narrated,” she reveals.

The spoken word bit was inspired by one of her favourite musicians, Andra Day and Common, who released a song known as Stand Up For Something. The rap by Common challenged her and she set out to write something people could listen to and feel like it was a conversation.

The writing style I chose was to take the place of the rape survivor speaking as though addressing their rapist, while at the same time, talking to the society that has enabled and supported the rapist,” explains Libby.

She spent a considerable amount of time researching how to communicate a lot in few words, and the rape culture in Kenya and the world.

Libby also had a blog series that runs together with the song. “I co-founded a blog years ago called More Than Beautiful, where we redefine beauty.

The blog posts were centred on educating the masses about rape culture and also information about where to get help. We had people come on board and tell their stories,” she shares.

Born and raised in a family of three siblings as an only girl in the 90s, Libby was exposed to music at an early age. He mother is musical and growing up, they would listen to and watch a lot of musicals such as Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Cinderella. Her mother was also a Sunday school teacher, and she started singing in Sunday school. 

BACKGROUND

“I remember watching these musicals over and over and singing with my mum. If you ask her, she will tell you I was meant for the stage without a doubt,” she says, narrating how her mothers likes telling the story of a kindergarten performance where her sisal skirts fell in the middle of the presentation. She was wearing black tights and without flinching, she continued dancing and picked the sisal skirt after she was done.

“I loved the stage. My home church had so many musical activities, so I was always there. I was that child who really wanted to sing and be on stage. My mother would rehearse songs with me and teach me how to harmonise and make sure I was ready for performances.

I ended up on the big stage when I reached Class Seven after getting tired of being a child in the choir in 2007. I volunteered as a helper in the worship team for the Sunday school team and I have served there to date,” says Libby.

Her family has been her biggest cheerleader and support system. Her grandfather Harry shows up to all her events, and enjoys bragging about her on the streets and that melts Libby’s heart.

“My immediate family has been part of my musical journey faithfully. My parents, who never miss a show, buy their own tickets and refuse complimentary tickets.

My dad is always ready to help out with the simple things and often drives me around while doing errands for my projects,” she elucidates, adding that her family’s support means everything to her, and when her mother is not in the audience, she struggles a little, because she always wants to see her smile or cry with joy.

“When doing the song Rise Again, there are many times I felt like giving up on the project when I got rejected by all the partners I was targeting. My family played a key role in encouraging me to forge on. They have set a high standard for me, and I hope I can provide such a safe artistic space for my husband, children and grandkids one day,” says the singer.

She recognises that her music may not be what is considered mainstream. “I sing about four things; I call them chambers of my heart. I sing about my love for God, my love for people, my love for what I do and my love for my country.

All inspired by God and out of my experiences in my Christian walk. I am not ashamed to talk about the things that hurt the most,” she adds. Her genre is probably easily described as Afro pop or contemporary Christian music. Libby says she is actively looking for one solid genre that can describe all her songs.

She is currently working on more music and may release an album in a year or two. “I am dedicated to helping people heal and provide a musical space where we can be vulnerable and talk about the things that hurt us the most.

I will also continue sharing stories of hope and pain on my blog, www.morethanbeautifulke.com, and the upcoming album. I’m an actor as well, so I am hoping to get back to into theatre and have a blast while at it,” she concludes.