Mzee Meza Morowa Galana

Mzee Meza Morowa Galana was honoured for his remarkable contribution to Kenya’s national identity through the composition of the Kenya National Anthem. A respected elder from the Pokomo community, Meza played a pivotal role in preserving and sharing traditional music and oral heritage. His deep cultural knowledge and musical talent led him to record a Pokomo lullaby, a gentle and melodic tune that captured the essence of unity, peace, and hope.

This lullaby caught the attention of the Kenya National Anthem Commission in 1963, during the crucial period when the country was transitioning to independence. The commission, tasked with crafting a unifying and meaningful anthem, found the melody deeply resonant with the spirit of the new nation. It was from Meza’s lullaby that the tune of the Kenya National Anthem was adapted and developed—becoming one of the few national anthems in the world to be composed specifically as a national song rather than adopted from pre-existing foreign compositions.

Meza’s legacy lives on every time the national anthem is sung, reminding Kenyans of their roots and shared aspirations. His contribution stands as a powerful symbol of the importance of indigenous knowledge and culture in shaping the nation’s identity and unity.