Raila Odinga's body is wheeled into the Nyayo National Stadium for a funeral service on Friday, October 17, 2025. /EZEKIEL AMING'AActress and digital content creator Azziad Nasenya has urged the country’s top musicians to collaborate on a single tribute song in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
In a TikTok post on Thursday, Azziad said the idea was inspired by how Tanzanian artistes came together to record a powerful tribute following the death of their former president, John Pombe Magufuli, in 2021.
“I have an unpopular opinion, this goes out to Khaligraph Jones, Okello Max, Prince Indah, Bahati… all big artistes,” she said.
“You all remember back then when Magufuli died, how artistes came together—almost like 12 or 13 artistes—and paid tribute to him. If you don’t know that song, just look at it on YouTube. It’s amazing, it’s a beautiful song. They were singing about his achievements and how great a leader he was.
"And I mean, we have lost one—we have lost a hero, a legend. Our hearts are bleeding, but the blood is not coming out.”
She went on to call out more names, urging them to unite in the studio for what she described as a fitting musical send-off for “Baba.”
“So, why don’t you guys just come together—Nadia Mukami, everybody, Sanaipei Tande—sing. I’m just mentioning a few that my head can think of right now. Come together, do something for Baba. Willy Paul, what’s up? Si muingie tu kwa studio mara moja nyinyi wote mtuwekee kitu, muimbe pamoja. I think that would be amazing. Just my opinion,” she added.
Her remarks quickly resonated with fans online, with many supporting the proposal and tagging their favourite artistes to take up the challenge.
In Tanzania, Azziad was referring to the 2021 collaboration titled Lala Salama, a moving 11-minute tribute song produced by over 20 Tanzanian stars—including Diamond Platnumz, Rayvanny, Juma Jux, Zuchu, and Mbosso—following Magufuli’s death.
The song praised the late president’s leadership and quickly became a national anthem of mourning and pride.
Azziad’s suggestion now adds to the growing chorus of creative tributes pouring in since Raila’s passing on Wednesday while receiving treatment in India.
Many Kenyans online have described the idea as a symbolic gesture that could unite the nation’s music industry in honour of one of Kenya’s most iconic leaders.
A national funeral service is currently being held at the Nyayo national stadium in honour of Raila ahead of his burial at his rural home in Bondo on Sunday.
Raila, 80, asked that he should be buried within 72 hours of his death.
His body will be flown to Kisumu Saturday morning for another round of public viewing at the Jomo Kenyatta International stadium.
It will be taken home for a night vigil ahead of the burial which is expected to be graced by tens of thousands of mourners including foreign heads of state.
