Oga Obinna hits back after Tom Daktari accuses artistes of chasing views with Raila tributes
By Steve Ireri, October 18, 2025Comedian and media personality Oga Obinna has responded to Tom Daktari’s criticism of artistes who have been promoting their tribute songs to Raila Odinga on YouTube, arguing that there is nothing wrong with artistes sharing and encouraging people to watch their work online.
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In a video shared on Instagram on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Obinna said he had just watched Tom Daktari’s remarks and felt compelled to set the record straight on the meaning and purpose of tribute songs.
“So I have just seen Tom Daktari’s video, I have just seen it now. And so, first of all, let us start by understanding what a tribute is. A tribute is an act or an expression used to pay or show gratitude or respect. Now, a tribute song means a musical expression that shows either gratitude or respect, and in this case, it is to someone who has left us,” he said.
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Obinna explained that tribute songs are not performed for the dead, but for the living, to remind them of the influence and legacy of the departed.
“Now when he tells people to stop asking others to go and watch the video, do you think a tribute song is done for the dead? No, it is done to celebrate the dead or the departed or the rested, so that it shows the respect that the ones who are alive have for them. It shows how much impact they had on the lives of those who are alive, so that it reminds the ones who are alive who the departed was and the impact he made. In other cases, it shows the vacuum that has been left by the one who has died,” he noted.
He went on to stress that the deceased cannot consume the tribute, therefore, the living must be given access to it through modern platforms like YouTube.
“So when the song is done, the one who is departed will not listen to it and will never because they are in the afterlife. So a tribute song is done for the ones who are alive. And those who are alive consume it in the form of content like a movie or a song. And they consume it via social media platforms like YouTube, and that is why an artiste will tell you, ‘Go to YouTube and check out this song.’ Even if they post it and do not tell you to go check it, it is the same intention. So stop comparing artistes saying, ‘Oh, this one has asked us to go and watch it.’ Some artistes are just very good in their marketing,” Obinna said.
Seeking views
His remarks came shortly after comedian Tom Daktari released a video in which he appeared to criticise artistes who have released tribute songs in memory of Raila Odinga but are promoting them online to attract more views.
In the video shared on Instagram on Friday, October 17, 2025, Tom said the nation was still enveloped in a sombre mood as Kenyans continued to mourn Raila, yet some artistes seemed to be using the moment for self-promotion.
“It has been a week of sombre mood mourning Baba, and everyone is mourning in their own way. There are those looking for pictures they ever took with Raila. Even if he was in a rally and you were far behind, you post that picture. That is your own way. And there are those creating tribute songs. But please, if you are creating a tribute song, it is not a song to tell us, ‘Guys, rush to YouTube, I have released it.’ No. That is not a tribute song. It is not a song for saying, ‘Oh, now at 200K views, guys, let us push views.’ We do not want views. I know that is your own way, but no. Just release the song, we shall view it. But telling people to rush to YouTube, that is wrong,” Tom said.