John Demathew: Music, Family, Controversy, the Life of a Legend

“A Mugumo tree has fallen, curtains have closed on a legend,” was a phrase used by one of John Demathew’s fans on Twitter following the sudden death of the popular Kikuyu musician.

John Demathew, whose official name is John Ng’ang’a, lost his life in a road accident at Thika Road’s Blue Post leaving his fans, in and out of Kenya, shocked and pained.

Demathew, who was coming from a Harambee of his friend and colleague Peter Kagia which was held in support of Kagia’s ailing child at Metro Bar, rammed into a stationary lorry and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Thika Nursing Home.

Demathew was alone in the Nissan Double Cabin pick-up when the Sunday night, 18^th August 2019, accident occurred. Demathew’s body has since been transferred to Kenyatta University Mortuary along Thika Road.

John Demathew’s Career

John Demathew once hawked tomatoes at Korogocho slums market in Nairobi in 1980 before he ventured into music with his debut ‘My Dear Nduku’ which became an instant hit.

It is over 30 years since Demathew made his debut into the music industry and as the World celebrates the life he has lived, it is important to note that this Legendary Kikuyu musician has over 50 albums to his name.

John De’Mathew became the unspoken king of Kikuyu music upon the demise of Joseph Kamaru in October 2018 at the age of 79 years after a long illness.

Demathew has a long list of hit songs, in his over 50 albums, that enjoy massive airplay in Kikuyu stations, clubs across the country, in form of Mugithi music, and ceremonies.

John De Mathew Songs

• Njambi
• Arume Kwina Mbu
• Nengereria Ka’ne
• Niwanyumire Thayu
• Gathoni
• Muthoniwa
• Mundurume Utari Thayu
• Simama Mama
• Sarafina
• Mburi Cia Kiama
• Pin Number
• Mami Ke Nguinire
• Menye Menye
• Njata Yakwa
• Property
• Mwihuguro
• Mene Mene Tekeli
• Emma Waithera
• Nyoni Ya Njamba
• Tuuragio Ki
• Uhiki
• Mugunda Wa Ngoro
• Niwaturukirie
• Amicus Curie
• Nindahoera Arume
• Thii Thayu
• Wega Kwa Wega
• Kirarina
• Ngai He Number
• Uthekagia Na Kanua
• Twari Kariko
• Yakuhithio
• Githii Tu
• Nigukugitira
• Kiroto
• Ndireciritie Ngute

John DeMathew’s place in the Kikuyu community has been among the high and mighty with his opinion being sought by community leaders as his influence could not be overlooked.

John Demathew songs were featured in the thesis of a renowned scholar Kanyi Thiong’o for his Master of Arts in Literature at the University of Nairobi.

When Thiong’o was asked why he chose Demathew’s songs for his thesis, he said the quality, proverbial and poetic messages and manner of rendition in the songs had compelled him.

Demathew’s songs were relevant to times and seasons and resonated well with the wide audience he gathered in his fanbase.

At the time of his death, on 18^th August 2019, Demathew was the Chairperson of a newly formed welfare for Kikuyu musicians, ‘Tamco Sacco’ that aims at uplifting musicians in the region.

Demathew’s Family

John Demathew, the fourth born in a family of eight children was born John Ng’ang’a in Gatanga in Murang’a County more than fifty years ago.

Demathew was once linked to the now Murang’a women representative Sabina Chege who got featured in his song ‘Njata Yakwa’, (my star) as the vixen.

Demathew whose private life remained in hidden has two wives, Sarafina and Caroline Waithera. Demathew was also popularly referred to as “baba Shiku” which means he had a child called Wanjiku, named after his mother.

Controversy in Demathew’s Life

John Demathew, as a musician, could not help expressing his thoughts in his music and that once got him into trouble with the law.

Demathew, alongside Muigai wa Njoroge and Kamande wa Kioi, were charged with incitement and hate speech in their songs.

Demathew faced one charge of incitement in his songs Uhuru ni Witu (Uhuru is Ours) and ‘Mwaka wa Hiti’ (The Year of the Hyena). The prosecution failed to prove that the songs filled with riddles and proverbs implied anything that could cause harm to anybody in any way.

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Veteran Musician John Demathew Is Dead