MIRINDIMO

At 47, most women are married, divorced or settling into the role of grandmother. Mbilia Bel, the angelic-voiced queen of Rhumba, who is as striking in her looks as a teenager in a church choir, has no such issues in her life. She says she is comfortable with her single status.She has chosen her career over men, saying that there is nothing she misses as a woman. "I can get married, but all the men who approach me want me to stop singing," she says. "Music is my husband," she explains passionately.

She confides that she nearly tied the knot with a Government minister in Gabon but the man wanted her to stop performing."Bwana wangu angekuwa minister but he could not let me sing. I cannot marry and leave my job," she says with finality.And it’s not just older men who seek her hand in marriage. "Young men approach me but I treat them as my sons," she says.She is currently writing an autobiography and is looking for a sponsor. "It is meant to inspire women. They are givers of life and I hope to bring unity and to educate the girl child using my book."She is a contradiction of sorts — in person she is soft spoken and down to earth; in concert she has a magnetic stage presence — hypnotic dance moves, versatile voice and all.Mbilia has composed songs such as Right to Love, which is dedicated to the children of the world. It denounces the ill treatment and exploitation of children around the world, and especially in Africa. "Everyone recognises that children constitute the future of a nation, but few people act to protect them," she says.

As she speaks, through a translator because she can only speak French, I notice that she has neither wrinkles nor age spots — but a closer look at her hands reveals just the slightest hint of her age.She says her upcoming book will delve even deeper into her childhood, which she refers to as "the simple days in Congo".At the tender age of eight, singing was the order of the day for most children. Mbilia inherited her vocals from her maternal grandfather, who was a great griot, and her grandmother, who was the unbeatable dancer in the village.She says that artists featured on television inspired the beginning of her career."Once, I saw Bela Bello (the late Togolese star) on television during one of her performances in Kinshasa and I was charmed by her talent and beauty. I swore to myself that I would become just like her. When she died, I cried for many days."Seven years later, Mbilia saw the late AbÈti Massekini on TV and wrote to her. She was surprised when AbÈti sent her agent to contact her. "That’s how I began singing. It was incredible. AbÈti was a formidable woman. As a chorus-singer in her band, I learnt a lot by her side in those four years."Mbilia later left AbÈti for Sam Mangwana, who contacted her after watching her on a music show on television. But after two years with Mangwana, she again left to join Tabu ley. "It was not what I wanted. I wanted to express my feelings ... I then decided to drop all and to learn shorthand and typing," she remembers. The training lasted a few months and then she joined Afrisa Band.

As a female musician, it has not been easy for Mbilia to be accepted as a professional woman in her line of work. People don’t trust her and regard her work as immoral, she says. "We women trust our husbands and we do not force them to leave their job. Why do men think that when I shake my body I’m inviting them?" she poses.

Mbilia says that women should unite and let men know that they are not cheap.
"Dancing and singing is not immoral or cheap, and men should not be jealous," she adds.Currently, the singer lives in Congo and Gabon. She spends her free time visiting street children, rehabilitation centres and donating food and clothing. Mbilia says that an artiste can live anywhere since their livelihood depends on performances.A typical day for her begins as early as six o’clock, with prayers. "I wake up and pray and later go to the gym to exercise," she says."The secret to youthfulness, she says, is living healthily and not eating red meat or drinking alcohol. A glass of milk without fat and a glass of water is what I have for breakfast every day."Mbilia then spends the rest of the day writing music and watching movies.Music, she says, consumes a lot of time and is a full time job. In fact, she finds it difficult to find time for any other job. And she adds that she does not consider herself rich, but she is satisfied."I don’t sing for money; I do it to make people happy. Money comes when people are happy and enjoy my songs," she avers. She adds that she wants producers to treat female musicians better.
"My challenge is to make the producers respect us, female singers. Most of them do not give us respect as women," she adds.She is planning to sensitise women musicians around Africa and hopes to collaborate with other singers for peace.Mbilia loves Kenya and Nairobi in particular. And her love affair with Kenya forced her to learn Kiswahili and sing some songs in the language.

"If I can only sing in Swahili alone I will be happy because I love Kenya. I sang a song in praise of [former] President Moi and Nairobi, which was great," she says.
"I was not paid to do the songs by the president or the government," she adds.
And Nairobians paid back her love as many fans thronged Carnivore’s Simba Saloon on Friday during the Afromixx night.And she did not let them down; Mbilia reaffirmed her status as the high priestess of African music when she brought the house down.
It seems that little has changed about this music diva, who captured the imagination of millions across the continent in the early 1980s.Imeandikwa na Charles Otieno, Thanks bro.