In addition to our four days of field recordings, we also agreed to pursue a vital project for Singing Wells in Nairobi. Ketebul and Abubilla Music personnel joined together to record some of the most important ‘bridge’ artists in Kenya – a group of musicians that build a connection between the music of their villages…
The final day – we record the Original Chuka Drummers and then head back to Nairobi, concluding our field visit to Central and Eastern Kenya.
This day is mostly about the Ameru, or Meru, and their dance troupes. We recorded 32 separate songs across 5 performers in four separate locations. On the way, we learned a lot of detail of the boys’ rite of passage through circumcision. After breakfast (each of us coming at separate times), we travelled an hour…
A trip down and up the hill to record three lovely women groups. We were also introduced to Ndaiga Muchiri, the mad Karingaringa player. We’ll hear more from him tomorrow.
A wonderful day at the Kiongwe Market recording four women groups from Kiogwe Village. Lots of Ileve (Tin Shakers) and Vilingi (Whistles)
Day 0 is always a day of prep and planes. The Ketebul and Abubilla Music teams, with assorted guests, assemble in Nairobi to launch the first of our 2014 Field Recordings; this time focused on Central and Eastern Kenya. Here’s our team.
