Benga veteran Lilian Ouma, known as Princess Julie, who passed away on October 12 while undergoing treatment at Migori Hospital, was laid to rest on Thursday at her home in Bondo Nyironge in Suna West Sub County.
Princess Julie came into the limelight in the early 90s through her educative, informative, and entertaining song “Dunia Mbaya,” which was played not only on the Kenyan waves but also in other East African countries.
Some of her other popular songs included Aroko Charly, Agwenge, July 1 and 2 among others.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, who paid tribute to the fallen songbird, said that her songs touched many souls within and beyond the Kenyan borders.
Ochilo called upon the young artists to emulate the humbleness that Julie portrayed to enable them to succeed in the music industry.
Atieno died aged 54, but her songs and charm will forever live among Kenyans and the rest of East Africans who embraced her music.
The burial was also attended by various political figures and musicians from across the country who praised the deceased for her dedication to her career, which shaped the Kenyan music industry.
Suna West MP Peter Masara and his Suna East counterpart Junet Mohammed, while eulogising the fallen Benga artist at the National Assembly on 6 November 2024, described her as a dedicated musician who impacted society positively through her song Dunia Mbaya.
The legislators noted that the Dunia Mbaya song helped the country with the HIV campaign awareness and highly contributed to the positive virtues and societal change besides fighting the stigma associated with the disease.
By Geoffrey Makokha
