Saddam and Mutinda walk into a bar.
It is a lazy evening. Saddam and Mutinda walk into a bar. The DJ is playing country music. One hour later, Saddam turns to Mutinda and asks, "We have been here for an hour, have you heard the DJ play any Nonini song?"
Mutinda shakes his head vigorously, as if the mention of Nonini's name has given him PTSD. "No. And thank God he hasn't."
"He hasn't because Nonini is a failed musician."
" I have heard he has served you with a demand letter?"
"Imagine. He has served more demand letters than he has monthly Spotify listeners," Saddam responds.
"Why though? Why is he obsessed with suing people?"
"It is his main source of livelihood since his music career failed, and Kenyans stopped buying and wearing supras and durags. Last week, Bien sold out and filled a music arena in London. The only place Nonini has filled is a courtroom, with his lawyers."
"Enough of Nonini talks. Let us talk about something else, like football."
Saddam gets excited because he can finally talk about something that he loves; football. He pulls his beards to flaunt them to Mutinda, who has no beards, then proceeds to speak, "If it is okay to call Arsenal failures for not winning the Premier League since 2004, then why isn't Nonini considered a failure for not releasing a song since 2002?"
Mutinda pulls a dejected face. The Nonini talks are exhausting his mind with the constant reminder that he has to pay Nonini Ksh. 4 Million in damages. He unbuttons his expensive tuxido jacket to flaunt it to Saddam, who is wearing a fake replica Manchester United jersey that he thrifted from Eastleigh. "Let us talk about something else, men, like fashion. I love fashion."
"I love how Africans are embracing their fashion and hosting world-class fashion events like Lagos Fashion Week, which took place two weeks ago. What made it even more impressive was the entertainment lineup featured only African music from artists like Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Tyla, Diamond Platnumz, Bien, and Wizkid; but no Nonini. Not a single Nonini song was played, and that, in itself, added to the appeal of the event."
Mutinda shakes his head in disbelief. He beckons the waitress to pay the bills. "You have not taken alcohol, yet you are behaving like the drunk one here. This kind of hate is harmful to your brain."
"At least I have brains, Nonini doesn't..."
"Nooooo! Stop it."