Kenyan singer-songwriter and actor Tuku Kantu has released a new duet, “Wi Muthaka,” a soulful, narrative-driven single that explores the anguish of a love affair caught in the crossfire of family disapproval. The track features the song’s namesake, Muthaka.
Known for his soulful storytelling and his prominent roles in popular East African television, Tuku Kantu turns to deeply personal territory on “Wi Muthaka.” The song follows a couple whose attempts to be together are repeatedly frustrated, clandestine meetings are exposed, bids to leave together are interrupted, and the man’s character is called into question by his partner’s family. Through each verse, the couple ask what they have done wrong and why their love is treated as something to be suppressed.
Throughout the song’s narrative, Tuku Kantu repeatedly addresses his lover as “Wi Muthaka,” meaning “beautiful one” in Gikuyu, a term of endearment that anchors the song’s emotional core even as hope dims around the couple. The production underscores the storytelling with a measured, introspective tone, allowing both artists room to convey reflection and raw feeling in equal measure.
“Wi Muthaka” is available now on all streaming platforms via ONErpm.
