Ukambani benga musician Tony Bisengo has been plunged into grief following the death of his close ally Charles Masilla, a loss the artiste made public in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 13.
Bisengo, who is one of the prominent voices in the Kamba benga music scene, shared the news with his followers, announcing that Masilla had passed on.
How did Bisengo mourn Masilla?
The post drew an outpouring of sympathy from those who follow the artiste and are familiar with the tight-knit circles of Kenyan benga music.
While Bisengo did not go into extensive detail about the circumstances surrounding Masilla’s death, the weight of the announcement was clear from his message.
The two shared a close relationship, and Masilla was considered a valued ally to the musician both personally and in his musical journey.
Musilla was a popular photographer who worked closely with multiple celebrities.
In his tribute, Bisengo recalled their last physical interaction, which involved a photo shoot together, even sharing the photo that the deceased took of him.
“That’s the last snap he shot for me a month earlier… a very closed-off guy, he rarely opened up about his struggles. RIP Masila.Men, let’s learn to open up.”
Benga music, which has deep roots in various Kenyan communities including the Kamba people of Ukambani, has long been a vehicle for storytelling and community expression.
Artists like Bisengo have helped keep this tradition alive, often surrounded by a close network of supporters, collaborators and friends who form the backbone of their careers.
Fans react
The news of Masilla’s passing has left those who follow Bisengo visibly shaken, with many turning to his social media page to express their condolences.
For Bisengo, losing someone so close is a painful reminder of the fragility of life, one he chose to process publicly in order to honour his friend’s memory.
Patrick Junior:
“Bisengo, opening up, we can, but if we open up, no one helps us; instead, we get exposed. What’s better than giving up and drinking while waiting to rest? Have nothing to say but RIP my brother, my friend and my neighbour.”
Lynette Mutheu:
“Nowadays, it’s better we die of depression than open up.”
Patrick Wambua:
“Go well, cameraman. Kama si aviator, dem ama wife, his family knows what happened.”
Jay Simon:
“When you open up, you give bloggers something to discuss instead of helping.”
Ocs Kaka:
“Which means he shared with you that something was going wrong. The question is, did you help him?”
Delivery Boy Ke:
“That’s my homie, man. What the hell!”
Frank Maithya:
“When men open up, people start judging them. Mara lazy, mara unachanua kazi, etc. So we choose to remain silent, man.”
As the benga community comes together to mourn, Bisengo’s tribute stands as a testament to the deep bonds that are forged in the world of Kenyan traditional music.
