IN-TUNE A CAPPELLA

Now by no means is confidence a negative trait, especially if you are up on stage....but if the valued trait buds into OVER confidence, then we have a major problem! Following the swashbuckling first performance we had at Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC)Valley Road a while back, the In-Tuners were as enthusiastic as ever to pull a hat trick. The overwhelming reception we received the first time round was motivation enough to persuade even the most reluctant and less hasty Ted to give in to the idea.

And so the pressure piled up on me to hook up with our NPC contact, Jamo, to organize a return to the venue to sing for the Sunday worshippers. This had been pushed for for around three months until our return, just like at Pangani, would be made possible. Isn't it ironic that these days in Kenya, everything is blamed on the post election violence? Well, not this time round. We even went the extra mile of cladding in official clothing just so we could convey a sterling message across and keep true to our purpose of spreading God's word through our music.

At the Church, just opposite Loreto Convent on Valley Road, we met with our agile and eager host, James Gatiba, who was quick to point out that he had already had a word with their youth leader, Sylvia...aka Sly, and that everything was in order. What was left was for us to take our seats in the youth church for the service and wait to be called. There was a high octane praise and worship session followed by a word of prayer from one of the Pastors who was running the programme. Looking across from me I could clearly see the guys all lined up: Joseph, Jamo, Ted Atebe, Craig, Ted Okoth...aka Olyl, Jona, Ronnie, Edwin and Chris. Unfortunately, George had the flu and Anderson was in absentia.

The presentations session came, and what a variety of songs they were! The most touching I must say, (touching in the sense that most of In Tune still talks about the particular song to this day) was the rap 'Am So Rich...Kwani Ni Nini' by a group called SQC. The song basically depicts how as Christians, we are so rich in blessings that there is no reason to worry about tomorrow. Then abruptly after and the next thing we knew, the Pastor and speaker for the day took to the pulpit and began his sermon! We were done for I tell you! Done for! The twins were all the while consoling themselves and others that we would sing after the service but that plot hit the wall as well!

Walking out of the Youth Church afterward, most of the crew were too stunned and frankly...too bitter to utter words. Chris was breathing fire and brimstone while Jona was clutching on tighter to his camera! But being In-Tune, we knew and came to respect the fact that God has a back up plan always! We're so rich...kwani ni nini?