Day 9 – Sunday 9th July 2017 Story
…d by a master musician: Nyatiti – represented by Samson Otieno of Bomas of Kenya; Obokano – represented by Dominic Ogari; Litungu – an 7 string traditional lyre from the Luhya community, represented by Jackson Ingosi (Ingosi Junior); Kodo – represented by Olith Ratego who created the instrument; Classical guitar – represented by Peter Akwabi. Aside from the classical guitar, which served as a perspective on comparing different traditional instrume…
Orutu Instrument
A bowed, one stringed instrument, found in West Kenya. We first heard the instrument in the field, being played by a member of Ogoya Nengo’s band. We then recorded more Orutu being played by a member of Otieno Aloka. The Otacho Young Stars featured the instrument quite prominently as part of their sound – and it forms a large part of the Influences session we recorded at Ketebul studios in Nairobi. We are pleased to own an Orutu, as part of t…
All field reports have now been published and provide links to youtube videos! Story
…You can now see all Field Reports for February 2018 trip to Kenya. If you want to link directly to youtube videos you can do in field reports or go direct here. A detailed account of the trip written by Kahithe Kiiru is available here….
Nyerere wa Konde Music Club Group
…Music of the Mijikenda The Nyerere Wa Konde music club is located in Gede, Malindi District, Kenya. It is a family group led by legendary mwanzele singer Nyerere Wa Konde. The group also includes Nyerere’s son, contemporary musician Mr Bado. Group Leader: Nyerere Wa Konde; performers: Nyerere Junior, Mr Bado, Mbebaji, Mablue, Muguwa, Amina Kombe, Hawe Josi …
Supaki Kalazi Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Junda, Mombasa, Kenya Group Leader: Katana bin Kalama; performers: Agnes Kalama, Dama Chengo, Shida Kalu, Kalame Kathengi, Charo Kazunga, Mwalewa Mwatanje, Mwachiro Mwamuge, Kai, Athami Ngala, Mtawali Kazungu, Kitsao Kiraga, Abraham Mwalimu, Shikari, Amina Hamisi, Eunice Kenga…
Chechemeko Raha Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Kibarani Village, Kilifi, Kenya Group Leader: Bahari wa Katana; performers: Samson Ngari, Magant Murandziwe, Dama birya, Dama Joseph, Kangiombe ngnzo, Kazosi Temo, Faida Joseph Madenje, Dama Rimba, Harrison Kalama, Ruben Katindi, Katana Kidingu, Kabindi Chea, Jumas Ndano…
Tabu Osusa Staff Profile
…Nairobi, Tabu Osusa co-chairs the steering committee of the “Spotlight on Kenyan Music“ project which seeks to discover and promote young talent, performing a blend of African music. The Kenyan government through its Ministry of National Heritage and Culture also supports this project. Tabu is also the Project Coordinator of Ketebul Music’s Retracing Series. Supported by the Ford Foundation Office of Eastern Africa, the Retracing Series is a rese…
Zaire Ndindingwa Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Gede, Malindi District, Kenya Group Leader: Fundi bin Kalale; performers: Dali Baya, Reggaemaster wa mweni, Saumu Kadenge Shombo, Salame Kadenge, Alora Mbundo Ngoma…
Day Five: Ilesi, Khayega to Kisumu Story
…. The songs include: Hoya: This is encouraging the groom to forward and be welcome. Mbabo: This is about everyone coming together for the wedding. Khuchende Pole: This song is telling everyone to walk slowly to and from the wedding so all the people can gather and honour the bride and groom. The Shishebo process – this is about rites of passage, and specifically male circumcision. The songs include: Bikubanda: This is a song that mocks other tribe…
Lomuke Group Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Sila, Kapenguria, Kenya Song translation – Lomuke Group…
Kalomoywa Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapenguria, Kenya …
Imachina Group
…. The songs include: Hoya: This is encouraging the groom to forward and be welcome. Mbabo: This is about everyone coming together for the wedding. Khuchende Pole: This song is telling everyone to walk slowly to and from the wedding so all the people can gather and honour the bride and groom. The Shishebo process – this is about rites of passage, and specifically male circumcision. The songs include: Bikubanda: This is a song that mocks other tribe…
Support Singing Wells Page
…g Wells 2011 The Music of the Batwa of Kisoro The Music of the Kalenjin of Kenya Donate any amount We don’t mind whether you want to donate £1 or £100 (or even more). Any amount you give will help the Singing Wells project bring the music of East Africa to more and more people. We guarantee that your donation to the project will be spent in East Africa helping traditional music groups get on the world music map. Please note, the Singing Wells proj…
Day One: January 18, 2019. Assemble in Tanzania Story
…isumu (Jimmy and Hunter arrived from London on the 17th. We all met at the Kenya/Nairobi border and after two hours, cleared the border and drove to Tarime, where we met Jackline Odhiambo Aringo (Jackie Akinyi), a Tanzanian musician who helped organize our trip (see our interview with Jackie here). We arrived at the Kifa Hotel late in the evening, ordered our ‘dried fish’ and crashed. This, our second major field visit to Tanzania, begins tomorrow…
Nyatiti Group Group
…Music of the Luo Aluny Village, East Alego, Kenya Group Leader: Okumu K’Orengo…
Kochia Traditional Dancers Group
…are a group of traditional dancers from the Rangwe Sub-County in Homa Bay, Kenya. The group has a strong history, being found in 1965, and since then its members have dedicated themselves to entertaining guests at countless national celebrations and holidays, private events, as well as internationally as part of the Folklife Festival in the UK and in the USA at the Smithsonian Folk Festival. As well as this they are determined with their performan…