Renowned Benga artist Alex Kasau Katombi has stirred controversy by criticizing Kamba Festival organizers Nicholas Kioko and Rick Be Tv for featuring Luo artist Prince Indah in the event.
Katombi argues that the festival should remain exclusively Kamba, insisting that including artists from other tribes dilutes the cultural identity of the event. Taking to his Facebook page, he made his stance clear:
“Kamba Festival should be a purely Kamba affair. When you include other tribes, it’s no longer a Kamba Festival—call it Kenya Festival. Respect our culture when doing business. I have never seen a Kamba artist at a Kikuyu Festival, Luo Festival, or Kalenjin Festival… Akamba twekei kivuthya!”
His remarks have ignited heated debate, with some supporting his call for cultural preservation, while others argue that music should unite rather than divide.
Is Katombi right to demand exclusivity, or is he resisting the evolution of a more inclusive music industry?
