Popular Luo Benga musician Lilian Auma Aoka (Princess Jully), has passed on after she lost a battle to a long illness.
According to close family, before her demise, she had been on and off the hospital for close to 9 weeks. She died on Saturday evening at the Migori County Referral Hospital where she sought treatment.
Her son Ogudah Bradley broke the sad news on Facebook: “Mamana (my mother) Princess Jully is no more. It’s unbearably hard for me.“
A Luo Music Queen
During her heyday, she made headlines with her inspirational music that played far and wide.
The decorated icon paved the way for many stars including ohangla musicians Osogo Winyo and Onyango Alemo among others.
Her music not only entertained but also educated the audience, touching on various aspects of life.
‘Dunia Mbaya’ which remains the highlight of her career, touched on the scourge of HIV/AIDS and its impact. The disease was wreaking havoc globally and her timely response gave her a timeless hit.
The Benga maestro bagged the ‘Benga’ music extravaganza award, an initiative by the national broadcaster KBC. It was the top award at the time she was declared the overall winner and awarded KSh 100,000.
Death of Her Husband
Benga superstar Prince Jully of Jolly Boys Band, was Aoka’s husband and mentor. His death in 1997 marked a significant turning point in Princess July’s life and career.
She couldn’t manage her band or fight pirates who wrecked the music industry at the time. The pirates stole royalties from talented artists leaving them penniless.
Her husband produced most of her music and taught her how to produce music. All this while touring places like Mombasa, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam.
Capitalizing on that experience, she produced several hit songs and toured Norway, Netherlands, Italy, and Switzerland between 2001 and 2007.
Her Final Trying Times
The Benga maestro relocated to Migori in 2012 earning a living as a casual laborer in the gold mines in Osiri, Makalda, Komito, and Kokumo, Migori County.
“People forget those who helped them in their times of need. When I had money, everybody wanted to be around me; including friends and strangers. Now that I am penniless, nobody wants to be associated with me. None of them has even bothered to call and enquire about my well-being.
“There are times when I walk for close to 20 kilometers to the work site where I toil for my daily bread. I buy unprocessed stones and mine two to three grams of gold, which I sell for between Sh200 and Sh300. It is better to get that small amount of money to buy food and clothes than staying idle as I wait to die.” Princess July noted at the time.
She was in and out of hospital, with bills mounting as she bravely battled the health challenges.
The Benga music maestro breathed her last on Saturday evening while receiving treatment at Migori County Referral Hospital.
