Nameless, and Wahu are among the few musical forces in Kenya who are influential, widespread, and unrelenting.
No Kenyan musical act dominated music in the 2000s like the singing power couple famously known as The Mathengez.
Ask any Kenyan to name a Nameless or Wahu song, surely, he or she can name one. Their music has become a part of popular culture, with their danceable tunes, empowering song lyrics, and record-setting albums.
Likewise, their songs are not just regional hits – they are rife with slogans that simultaneously reflect and direct contemporary culture.
The Mathengez Music Awards
Their career is full of simultaneous top-charting club hits, Kora award nominations and MTV Africa Music Awards.
The Mathengez are often lauded as one of the most significant cultural figures of modern-day Kenya because of their music, image, and lifestyle.
Additionally, their contributions to music, fashion, and pop culture have influenced generations of other artists and society in general.
Their music has dominated the past two decades. Wahu and Nameless have commonly been referred to as the most famous entertainers in Kenya by several media publications and popular figures.
They were ranked as part of the 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in 2007.
The singing couple has so far spanned decades and their star has continued to shine since their early days in Ogopa Deejays record label.
Also Read: Akothee Finally Reveals Reason for Split with Omosh
Furthermore, Ogopa Deejays was a whiff of fresh air amid the shallow bubblegum rumba and benga of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Nameless Influence on Music Genre
Though Nameless has always been categorized under pop, his music blends genres and encompasses hip hop, R&B, and blues.
From the swag of “Holiday” to his cadence vocals on “Sinzia,” you can see that Nameless has the range.
His blending of genres makes his music hard to confine to individual genres. As such, it is through his style of music that most Kenyan artists refused to be confined with genre boundaries.
On top of their masterful singing and blending, the couple has the power to turn their lyrics into inescapable catch phrases.
From “commit a crime and I’ll be your defender” to “still a liar..sugar daddy liar,” their command over the language and ability to influence the public vernacular is quite mind-blowing.
Also, the Mathengez boosted the popularity of Lake Naivasha after choosing it as the venue of their highly publicized wedding in 2005 and filming music videos.
When they got married, their wedding made the front pages of the dailies, something that only politicians enjoyed at that time.
Similarly, Celebrity weddings have been the order of the day since Nameless and Wahu tied the knot in a spectacular wedding ceremony, 18 years ago.
The Nameless and Wahu Effect
The “Wahu effect” is a term used by cultural critics like me and fans to describe her influence over market trends after featuring brands in her work.
She makes something cool or worth buying by putting a stamp of approval on it. The work that Wahu has put throughout her career makes it seem like she can do no wrong, so when she does things, she’s the model of perfection.
In addition, Wahu is a fearless queen when it comes to taking risks in her career. She even sparked a conversation-changing approach to feminism, and intersectionality.
Also Read: Kate Actress and Director Phil Announce Separation
Back in the day, there was a deeply entrenched assumption that once you have a child your career has ended or come to a halt.
As such, there was a negative discourse around 25-year-old Wahu when she announced her first pregnancy in December 2005, with several fans and critics expressing their disappointment at her pregnancy during a pivotal point in her career.
At that time many thought she would quit music and become a stay-at-home parent.
The songstress went on to become the inaugural winner of the coveted MTV Africa Music Award for best female artist, proving that the birth of her child would have no bearing on the growing trajectory of career.
While it may be tempting to label Wahu as an exception and chalk her success down to the musician’s own sense of determination, the music industry continues to provide examples of female artists that have successfully been able to balance their careers and parenting from the likes of Nyota Ndogo, Nazizi and Avril to new schoolers like Nadia Mukami and Jovial.
Mathengez Influence on Other Artists
The Mathengez aren’t much of a trendsetter but trend synthesizers. They may not invent or originate the latest trends, but they brilliantly reinterpret and popularize them, making them all look new, cool, easy, and fun.
Nonetheless, the couple has been cited as an influence by various mainstream artists. It is also common for a popular figure to be referred to as the Nameless and Wahu of a specific category or group, often used as a superlative by the media.
Popular local actors Cate Kamau ‘Selina’ and Phil once affirmed that they are the “Nameless and Wahu” of Kenya’s acting scene.
The label became visible in the profile of various performers, to which some of them had mixed reactions towards the moniker and comparisons with the Mathengez.
Others have declared themselves as such or wanted to be the next Nameless and Wahu and the media followed suit.
Likewise, some artists are planned or slightly being promoted as the next Wahu and Nameless by the corporate world and entertainment journalists.
They include Diamond and Zuchu of Tanzania, Nadia Mukami and Arrow Boy, Biene Aime and Chiki, King Kaka and Nana Owiti, Size 8 and Dj Mo, Bahati and Diana, Kabi and Milly of the WaJesus Family among many others.
Most Influential Feminist in Kenya’s Music Industry
In every era of popular music, there has been a handful of women doggedly pursuing their own visions in a space that has always been dominated by men.
Over the years, Wahu hasn’t been afraid to foray into social and political issues.
In 2004, she released “Sitishiki,” a song in which the singer acknowledged and celebrated feminism and financial independence.
This high-energy anthem is a crowd-pleaser and a theme song for any woman who is in control of her body, her choices, and her life.
Close to twenty years after its original release, the track is more relevant than ever.
Consequently, Wahu is often credited with popularizing the feminist movement and making intersectional feminism mainstream.
Also Read: Nyashinski Features Wife for the First Time in Music Video
She has often been described as one of the most influential feminists in Africa, as her brand of feminism encompasses representation, self-reliance, sexual confidence, and economic empowerment – which resonates with a lot of young women in this generation.
Likewise, she has been an advocate for civil rights, self-expression, and feminism, proving that it is possible to be politically engaged and still holds a successful career in the mainstream music industry.
Mathengez Reality TV Show and Joint Musical Album
In 2021, the Mathengez graced our screens in a new docu-reality series titled This Love, which premiered on Showmax on 24 May 2021.
The power couple are respected by many for their dedication to their marriage and family life, which they have managed to keep out of the public eye over the years.
For the first time ever, they opened their lives to the audience in the 13-part docu-reality series that highlighted their timeless love, colorful lives, and legendary history, as well as the lessons they have picked up along the way.
“Getting to share our journey as we create our very first album together is exciting to say the least. We look forward to letting the fans in on this creative process, the challenges and joys of working together, and to introducing the team behind the music,” said Nameless and Wahu at the premier of the reality show.
The Mz Album
The couple is currently co-producing an album to signify their two-decade respective music careers. In March 2021, the couple dropped their first-ever musical collabo Te-Amo.
This two-and-a-half-minute flirty, fun, and love song marked the beginning of their joint efforts.
So far, they’ve released six singles off their soon-to-be-launched Mz album short for Mathengez, a project the couple says will weave the colorful story of love and relationships.
They will also share their relationship journey through this 12-track album as they tell the story behind the music.
According to this iconic duo, the Mz Album Project carries a variety of sounds and topics, and the team will strive to release a single every month or so, as they build up to release the full album later this year.
Nevertheless, The Mathengez plan to physically tour the country and East African region to promote the Mz Album Project come 2024.
