Fadhilee Itulya Staff Profile
…Kenya, but raised in Nairobi. Fadhilee’s dream is to unveil the authentic Kenyan sound that will be a bridge between what has been there and what is going to come. His love affair with the guitar started with the three chords he was taught by his mother on her guitar. From there he advanced on his own, becoming a nuisance in their house in Saika Estate in Nairobi’s Eastlands. His father didn’t find the guitar-plucking amusing, especially when he…
Support Singing Wells Page
…ca, funding the recording sessions in the field. There may be as many as six different music groups performing on one day and your donation will mean that every music group is able to perform and their songs and dance will be recorded by our field team. Funds will be used to provide for two field-recording engineers from Ketebul Music, a non profit organisation in Nairobi and our project partners. Your donation will also provide for gratuity payme…
Kalomoywa Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapenguria, Kenya …
Lomuke Group Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Sila, Kapenguria, Kenya Song translation – Lomuke Group…
Lomut Traditional Dancers Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapenguria, Kenya Song translations – Lomut Traditional Dancers…
Winyo Staff Profile
…a professional photographer, actor and a TV producer. He is currently the executive video producer for a Kenyan media company called Big Foot productions, which has produced several local TV shows. His goal is to take African music all over the world and enliven people to dance and sing to the sweet and melodic sounds of African songs and music. Winyo is a valued member of the Singing Wells team as one of our artists on the ‘Influences’ series and…
Day Three: Bungoma Town to Kakamega Story
…akers Likata: sticks Ikengele: Ring Chapuo: Big bass drum They performed six songs, with the sixth song finishing exactly when the rains came crashing down on us. While they had a couple of traditional songs, most of their performances were to allow students to feature specific instruments. Songs were: Mwana Wa Mbeli: famous Lua Song about first born child. Luseno: a song to feature the Shirili (which are these?) Pelele: A local beer, this was gre…
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 …
Day One: 7 March 2022 (Shikangania and Mukumu) Story
…ion – thanks to our newly acquired LED lights – members of the Super Phoenix Band jumped on to their Boda Bodas (motorbike taxis) and disappeared into the dark night, one by one. We drove back to Josephine Garden at Ilesi where we spent our second night. Profile: Super Phoenix Band Julius Khamoyi Shivaji was born on June 5th 1966 in Shisalachi, Ikholomani sub-location in Kakamega County. He started his musical journey in 1990 as a member of the ch…
Contact Page
…on Valiant House 12, Knoll Rise Orpington, Kent BR6 0PG (Registered charity no:1142173) www.abubillamusicfoundation.org.uk Ketebul Music The GoDown Arts Center P.O Box 21737-00505 Nairobi, Kenya (A company limited by guarantee. Registered no: 134230) www.ketebulmusic.org…
Nyangile Instrument
…A resonating box – hit by the player with a wooden stick, who often holds ongeng’o rings in their hand and feet to add more rhythmic potential. We heard the Nyangile, also referred to as the Sanduk (Swahili for Box), played by a member of the Otacho Young Stars, when we recorded them at Dinkys Resort Club, Rongo, as part of our field trip to record the music of the Luo in Western Kenya….
Bungoma Roots Band Group
…to form a much bigger band. They then produced their third CD in 2013, Namusia, again with Soundcheck in Kisumu. They started performing all over Kenya. They are now very well established with houses of their own….
Patrick Ondiek Staff Profile
…ll the people you’ve lost. Secondly, I love the confidence it gives me to expose my friends to new music. They all love the music I bring home – its’s different from what they listen to and so much like ‘home.’ In Kenya, no matter where you live, your village is always ‘home.’ I was never raised there [Bondo], but it is where I will retire. And the Singing Wells focus is about village music. It is about home. And my friends love that.” Pato is the…
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…
Sengenya Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Junda, Mombasa, Kenya Group Leader: Munyaka Chimega; performers: Muratela Kamanza, Newton Dzuga Wale, Salima Tsuma, Mlaa Saidi,-Washe, Ruth Amina, Mapuh Saida Nyama-Wi, Nzingo Tsuma Rua, Samma Mbura Andrea…
Tabu Osusa Staff Profile
…circles as Tabu Osusa, is a key part of the East African music industry. A Kenyan native, he is the founding Executive Director of Ketebul Music and for the last 30 years has been involved in the music industry as a promoter, producer, composer and band manager. He has been actively involved in shaping the careers and running some of the top recording and performing bands and artists in the country, including the much acclaimed Orchestra Virunga a…