'Show me anyone else who has stayed at the top of his game for 18 years,' Ali Kiba explains why his fans call him 'king'

The musician treated the media, and a host of online content creators to a press conference on Friday, in which he addressed several topical issues, among them the support for local music and his new album. 

Kiba also waded into the hot topic around the support for local talent especially in Kenya where certain quarters claim Kenyans support foreign acts at the expense of home-grown talent. 

The topic has elicited mixed reactions, spurred online beefs between local celebrities and has also left unanswered questions in its wake. 

According to Kiba, a Bill being pushed in Kenya that seeks to have all local media play 75 percent of local music is a little too harsh. He proposes a less punitive 50 percent. 

In Tanzania for instance, Kiba says they play music indiscriminately, regardless of the genre and the formula has been working, like clockwork. 

Kiba who also spoke about his new album, claimed that he was crowned king by his fans who have followed him over the years, watching as he tinkered with his art, re-inventing himself season after season to continue dropping chart-topping hits. 

His third album, released during the COVID-19 pandemic is titled 'Only one king', a title he says is befitting an artist of his calibre, releasing music for the last two decades without falling off the track. 

"Nani ameweza kumaintain for 18 years, mpaka akandelea kuenda na vibes za watu, seasons  zote za watu and all that," 

" I did not call myself king, my fans called me that,"

The afro-vasha, a two-day concert in Naivasha will see performances from among others, Nyanshinski,  Otile Brown, Willy Paul, Arrow Boy and Femi One.