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…ument and usually gives out the old one to a school teacher who uses it in class. He is equally proud of the fact his son is learning how to play, while he confirms no formal teaching actually happens. Traditionally the only way to learn the nyatiti is by observing and trying out. We were also content to hear William Ogutu’s stories of nyatiti competitions which used to happen, occasions they used to play in (mostly funerals) and a recently revive…
Day 4: Tuesday, February 21st, 2017 Story
…dry which was perfect. He bought the bed for $15 and is now making a world class marimba. Behind every song there are wonderful stories! Kijana: Young Man Eholi Yaya Njengwa: To be Built Sahani (Meaning Plate, where a full plate is a metaphor for an abundant life and good harvest) Part two: We then brought in Henry and Leo Mkanyia, Rajab-Alli Morris, Steven Jonas (Tomato) and Elliot Wenman and Sophie Grant to play five more songs. These were: Maru…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Days 5-11:An Interview with Gregg Story
…nment investing in messages that say ‘see our animals not our people.’ And business is looking for big numbers which means popular things, which sadly means easy to digest, disposable pop culture. The whole drive to “marketing” is killing our culture. If the numbers don’t come in on something than you stop it. But culture is hard to really invest in. You don’t go for the popular musicians doing the big things. You have to go to the real groups in…
The History Of Benga Music: A Report by Ketebul Music Story
…re Kiam and Lipua Lipua that were being promoted by Congolese musician and businessman Verkys Kiamuangana, who was his business associate. Many of their recordings blatantly lifted recognizable sections of these Congolese songs. This copying was also being replicated at Verkys’ end. A case in point is the mid-1970s hit “Nouvelle Generation” by the Kinshasa-based Lipua Lipua. The high-pitched notes of the rhythm guitar by veteran guitarists Vata Mo…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 1 – Nairobi to Kiongwe to Muranga Story
…Muranga on the Thika road, arriving at the Nokras Hotel in Muranga at about 1800. Here’s the route: We were all pretty shattered, so had a quick dinner (only quick if you ordered fish or meat, the chickens were apparently hard to catch and took considerably longer), drank the mandatory round of Tuskers and slipped off to bed. Working Practices: Roles and Responsibilities of the Team Each day, we will also bring you a set of ‘working practices’ we…
Central Uganda: Day 6: Kampala to Entebbe Story
…Students walked everywhere with packs. We set up in the garden of James’s class room, under big trees, in tall grass. It had rained the night before and morning so everything was glistening. The Music Groups Bukaala Twesitule Troupe Their Leader is Charles Ikula and they were started in 1991, with over 200 members, 50 of whom are active. Musical style is Baganda. Group performs in different areas, mainly engaged in advocation and sensitization on…
Music Depositories and Archives around the World News
…t has 10 principal concerns – which can be found here – but the themes of preservation, digitisation and access seem to be three key goals that unite many individuals and organisations alike, working on East African Music. 3. British Library: World & Traditional Music Under their World & Traditional Music collection online, they have sub-divided their content into continents, making the African material easily accessible in one place. In the Afr…
What people say about Singing Wells News
…h our firm’s vision to harness local talents and capabilities, build great businesses and create a leading African brand. We look forward to collaborating with Singing Wells in the future.” PSN Europe Magazine Read the review of Singing Wells here. Mark Totokwa via YouTube “This is good stuff – a good example of a sustainable project both in context and content. A big thank you to those behind this project and most importantly to the resourceful m…
The Singing Wells supports Ketebul Music’s ‘Kenya at 50’ project News
…i Fielity promotions. In later life, he was involved less in music and his business interests widened to include that of the Photo Me franchise in Kenya. His daily diaries between the years of 1970 and 2003 are comprehensively written and prove and interesting insight into life in Nairobi at this time. His diary writings tail off towards the end of his life. He died in Nairobi, on the 24th January 2004, aged 84. Colmore was a keen photographer and…
Day 8: Entebbe to Nairobi and Ketebul Studios Story
…other detector ourselves (#2) Once through this line we lined up for Kenya airlines. We are our own queue and it took a while to check in our 23 bags and convince them to let us carry our 11 carry on bags… Once checked in we then waited in visa line. No issues. By this time the flight is calling for boarding… There’s another line at the gate to go through Kenya security. Big queue and one very angry mzungu who was fed up. We all had to take off ou…
Hannah interviews Evelyn Ojok – Acet, Northern Uganda News
…ulu when I was 18. My children love school and never miss a day unless they are sick, which is unusual. They are also lucky because school is only 1.5 miles away, while many children have to walk half a day to get to a class at school. My youngest daughter (12) in particular enjoys to dance, and I think she sees how happy it makes us women to sing and dance together in this group, so she learns by example. Hannah December 2012…
Day 6: Recording the Tugen & back to Nairobi Story
…t Everything Else The team We are pretty experienced now at this recording business and have learned a lot. We have divided things into seven key roles, 3 on audio, 3 on video and one interviewer. All play secondary roles, the most important of which is our Influences artist who must be either a second assistant for audio or video. We have written a second blog on lessons – we felt it is important that if others want to launch a Singing Wells proj…
Day 5: Recording the Marakwet Story
…cular. Our journey took us from Eldoret to Iten, the home of Kenya’s world class athletes. The Journey Most the Olympic gold medallists among Kenyan athletes live within 100 kms of Iten and it has become the legendary source of great long distance runners. Over 1,000 Kenyan runners train here and the roads are filled with athletes training for London 2012. In addition, over 300 foreigners train here, mostly from Europe. We went to the main trainin…
Day 3 continued – an interview with Steve Kivutia Story
…he music so our initial focus was on audio recording. We invested in first class audio equipment and can record using 8 mics directly into Pro Tools. But during the March Pilot programme, we realised that the visual experience was as important as the audio. So for our November trip we invested in two more digital cameras and worked out our new Camera 1-3 approach. Camera 1 is static group shot. Camera 2 focuses on instruments. Camera 3 is context….
Bill Odidi reporting on Singing Wells from London News
…ews with Kenyan musicians who are now based in the UK. They also had the chance to visit Kenya House in Stratford as a guest of our friends at the Kenya Tourist Board. Here’s Bill’s article published in Business Daily Africa: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Where+the+world+got+real+flavour+of+Kenya+in+London/-/1248928/1480860/-/djb5mf/-/index.html Photos from Kenya House …
Victoria’s reflections on the music of the Batwa Story
…om the local people. They have no respect for them and treat them as third class citizens. Local farmers exploit the Batwa for cheap labour, using them as porters to carry things for example. And the men often exploit the girls sexually. If there is a pregnancy the girl may be excluded from both communities. She might move to the town but she has nothing. It often ends in prostitution for her. Me: What does the future hold for the Batwa? Henry: At…