Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has asked Azimio la Umoja supporters not to unsubscribe from the Sauti Sol YouTube channel.
This was after it emerged that more than 3000 Azimio la Umoja supporters had unsubscribed from the band’s YouTube channel over the ongoing tussle pitting Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign against the Sauti Sol.
The move by Kenyans to unsubscribe from the channel followed the all-boys band letter castigating Azimio la Umoja for using one of their songs during the unveiling of the Narc Kenya party leader, Martha Karua, as Raila Odinga’s running mate.
But in a long Facebook post on Thursday, May 19, the former Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) boss further blasted those who had unsubscribed from the channel terming the move as a “Juvenile” reaction.
“We may have differences of opinion, but unsubscribing from the Sauti Sol’s YouTube channel is a juvenile reaction. Rudini haraka. Sauti Sol remains one of our greatest bands in Kenya’s history and we must not be blinded by politics to the point of hate,” he said.
Mutua, further faulted Sauti Sol for taking up legal fights with Azimio la Umoja’s presidential campaign saying the band should have used the adaptation of “Extravaganza” for their own benefit.
“And on a brighter note, Sauti Sol should have used the adaptation of “Extravaganza” by Azimio to create an “Unbwogable” moment like Gidi Gidi Maji Maji did in 2002. Some moments come once in a lifetime,” he said.
Earlier Sauti Sol said it was dealing with theft after presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s coalition used their song without consent.
But in a rejoinder, the ODM party said they played Sauti Sol’s song during the occasion since they appreciate their work.
