Kenyan Radio Host Kamene Goro Under Fire After Dissing Reggae, Rastas

A popular Kenyan radio presenter who made disparaging remarks about Jamaican Reggae artists, claimed that she threw up several times after attending a Reggae concert, and declared that she “could never date a man who listens Reggae”, is feeling the heat from fans of the genre.

The woman, Kamene Goro was speaking on the topic “Why am I single” on her show on Kiss 100.3FM, where she gave her ideal type of man and her deal-breakers.

The 30-year-old went on to say that it has been “very easy to cancel men in my life” and that she was “single for a significant amount of time” as there were what she described as “small things” about men, which were total turn-offs.  

“Let me tell you one of them, there’s no way I would be able to date you if you listen to Reggae. Don’t shoot the messenger… because I don’t listen to Reggae and music is such a fundamental part of my life. If our music sense doesn’t gel, I’m not doing this,” she said as her co-host Obinna laughed, and then made mockingly said in Patois: “man a bad man”.

“Imagine we are just chilling in the house and you tell me, ‘oh oh oh, let me play for you Richie Spice…. What do you mean?” she added, as Obinna mimicked Sean Paul’s “Dutty yeah”, and made puerile noises.

There is even another one you call something Glen” she said as her co-host piped in: “that’s Glenn Washington, ‘strangers in the night’”, before bursting out in laughter.

As the mockery continued, Goro went on to say that the sounds of Reggae music were so distasteful, that that caused her to puke multiple times at a concert.

“You know I went for a Reggae gig; I threw up six times.  Six times!” as her sidekick started singing: “That is a land far far away.  It’s called Adis Ababa,” before asking her: “Come on you don’t like Burning Spear?” ‘They want me to feel stupid’” he goes on, citing lines from Burning Spear’s Not Stupid.

“That’s a song?” she asked sarcastically in response.

As the derision continued, Goro expressed her disdain for Rastafarians.  

“Also, if you came to me and your hands are dirty.  Even if you have dreadlocks or long hair, sorry, can’t do it,” she said.  “Reggae, dreads or long hair, not doing it.”

“You don’t have to be dread to be Rasta,” was the mocking response from her co-host as he turned on Reggae band, Morgan Heritage, to which she replied in faux Patois: “Yes me nuh Rasta”.

“Does that even make sense? Divine conception of the heart?” she squealed, citing a line from Morgan Heritage’s Don’t Haffi Dread.

On Twitter, the responses from Goro’s Kenyan compatriots were caustic, with many men drawing for Peter Tosh’s Brand New Second Hand (Girl) to describe her.

“And you are a worn out vehicle that doesn’t need a driver so it doesn’t matter wether Reggae or not,” calvins_oyugi declared in his rebuke.

Another commenter Wambi added:  “For your information mens who listens to Reggae don’t like fallen soldier. Reggae mens are buffalo soldier”.

Over on Tuko Kenya’s Facebook page where Goro’s pronouncements were shared, several readers said she has a right to her own preferences.  However, Kenyan Reggae fans, for the most part, went on a jeering rampage.

“You don’t haffi dread to be Rasta…she doesn’t know what she is missing by saying so, reggae songs are recognized by the UN as international heritage….. but I do understand her.. she doesn’t know how to cook ugali and reggae fans love ugali,” one Kenyan woman teased.

“Who told you guys frm tuko that Kamene Goro is beautiful…Reggae brings a peace of mind and its the only music apart from gospel that has good messages of advice and advocating for peace and unity…” one man stated.

Another man said he was bewildered as he, as a lover of Reggae, could not imagine himself being in a relationship with Goro as she was incompetent at wifely duties.

“What will I be doin with a girl like you unless I have got nothing else to do… She can’t cook; she can’t wash; she can’t even mash up the place… Shout out to all beautiful empresses out there who love, respect and acknowledge the GOOD REGGAE MUSIC,” he stated.

Another man Mg Morgan opted to directly mock Goro, using metaphors.

“As the chairman of the Rastafarian community, I and I stand strong like the lion of Juda on top of mount Zion to assure you that non of our bredrens notice your existence, we only talk to Rasta girls. Our ital rods don’t strike pon muddy roads that have been trodden by many wanderers. Jaaaaah Rastafarae. We come in peace and leave in peace,” he declared.

“She should know we reggae guys only date pure women. The last time I checked she was rejected by the husband via WhatsApp message,” David Wiseman Ayiex.