Day One: January 18, 2019. Assemble in Tanzania Story
…and we typically have two general mics for the group and 5-6 specific microphones for singers and musicians, b) we have three video cameras operating – one wide shot for full performance, one close up to capture details of instruments and one roving camera to provide a second angle on the performance and c) we interview all group leaders to understand group musical styles and background, instruments and songs. In almost every village, we struggle…
Field Recording Report by Kahithe Kiiru Story
…I – leg rattles; EFIRIMBI – a metallic whistle; OLWIKA – antelope horn aerophone; LIKHANGO – another aerophone made out of a reed attached to a wild goat horn; MUTINDI – flat two-skin drum played using two wooden sticks. Their props included spears (lifumo), shields (esikhumba), fly whisks (mukia) and clubs (eskong’o). They were wearing hats and tops made out of leather, leaves and feathers, and most original skirts which were in fact recycled umb…
FAQ’s Page
…ording gratuity on the day of the recording. This amount varies based on a number of factors such as the number of members in the group and the number of songs we record. In the event of any music we record making money directly (through sales, sync licensing or performance royalties) we will endeavour to channel this money back to the original performers. Can I buy the music you have recorded? A selection of our music is available to download fro…
Day Zero: February 15, 2020 – Assemble in Zanzibar Story
…to hint at the hidden meanings of these songs. We met this style on our first day in our third group, named, of course: Unyago. Fourth, the discussion of Zanzibar’s musical styles leads us to Sidi Binti Saad. And we’ll simply quote what is told about her at the DCMA: “Singer Siti Binti Saad is a trailblazer who revolutionized taarab music in a way the is still felt today…Whereas her predecessors were all male and sang predominately in Arab…
Days 10 to 12 – Monday 10th July to Wednesday 12th July 2017 Story
…as Odondi Diel Matara (interview and several tunes recorded before master classes). The two masters taught by demonstration, each using a song of their choice, a group of 5 young generation nyatiti players of different proficiency levels: Judy Bwire, John Otieno ‘Rapasa’, Gabriel Oduor, Walter Koga and Meshack Okoth Okumu. Day 11 – Tuesday July 11th 2017 (as per team’s report): Studio recording of the two master players ‐ William Omondi Ogutu & O…
Global Influences Project: Artist Submissions Page
…OUP This next collaboration comes from DJ and producer, Shona. This is our first submission using the beats from the Ekhunjwe Musical Group, and we love how this music has been transformed from traditional dance accompaniment, to a house track that you could hear in any major club this summer! “It was a thrilling and humbling honor working on those chants and complimenting the groove of my ancestors. Because this is a sound I’m familiar with and a…
Aynu Traditional Group Group
…e in a certain kind of mythology, mainly that man are descendants from the first creatures put on earth by spirit (the creator of men). Spirit created a man (gboro-gboro) and a woman (meme), and then domestic livestock. Meme had wild animals in her womb so that after the gazelle had broken out all animals followed from her womb. Man was the last to come out. The first human beings are said to have been twins: Arube and O’duu. Arube was a boy while…
Day Three: 9 March 2022 (Kisumu) Story
…sa, Kakamega County. He started his musical career in 1963 when he cut his first disc ‘Kifo Cha Mukabi’, a song he composed while still in primary school as a tribute to his mentor, the legendary king of omutibo, George Mukabi. He went on to study music at Kenyatta College in 1969 and later taught at Alliance High School, just a few kilometers from Nairobi. During his illustrious musical career spanning over four decades, Akwabi composed over 250…
Day One: 7 March 2022 (Shikangania and Mukumu) Story
…arguably the most popular musical genre in the region. It would not be our first meeting with Johnstone Mukabi since we had previously featured him on the Singing Wells project in April 2018. He later came to Ketebul Music studios in Nairobi in May that year and recorded a few songs that are yet to be officially released. Going through a narrow winding road we arrived at the Small Matters Park, our first location for the day. The Ketebul Music tec…
Day Zero: 6 March 2022 – Travel To Stream Story
…ians via M-pesa and Pay-Pal contributions. Another possibility was to sell tickets with the use of online access codes that admit ticket holders into the virtual performance. The result was that a number of live streaming studios where performers book sessions to perform and stream their concerts sprung up in Nairobi. Some venues also adapted to hosting online performances, directly streaming shows to mobile devices and computers of audiences wher…
2. Naizungwe Drums – progress report 1 Story
…ums, no trivial task given the size and type of tree required. Here is our first video, James Isabirye talking about the tree and introducing the project: https://youtu.be/bZUxKhTGmCA The lead drum maker is called Muhamudu Kaziba (in the left of the video above). He comes from a famous family of drum makers from Kalalu village, Buyanga sub country, Bugweri County in Iganga district. Muhamudu was taught how to make drums by two of his uncles who sh…
Day 4: Tuesday, February 21st, 2017 Story
…o other sisters of Ndahani and Ndekwa. This was an album of two halves: we first recorded 5 songs just with them and then added musicians from last night’s session for a further five. Here’s the full group including Henry, Rajab, Tomato and Leo: Here’s Tabu: Here’s Ndahani: Here’s Grace: Part one: We recorded with Chibite players only: Muheme (the tree to make the best drums). Interestingly, we later had a long conversation with Leo about wooden d…
Day 2: Sunday, 2017 February 19th Story
…ing for three reasons: We had the whole day so were able to record a large number of songs and do an “Influences” session. This gave the village children time to get to know us and understand our mission. By the end they were singing along to all the songs. In addition to being a professional musician, Leo also teaches music to school children so he is a natural with kids. On all the songs that he did, he had the whole village singing and laughing…
Day 1: Saturday, 2017 February 18th Story
…musicians that play them in danger of being lost? And so we travel in our first hour of our first day in Tanzania to the home Mzee Morris’s son – a compound in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam. Here’s the son: We are greeted by the music of the Nyunyusa Dancing Troupe, which included two of Mzee Morris’s grandsons, Abdala Nyunyusa Morris on vocals and Rajab Alli Nyunyusa Morris on drums. Rajab is the only of Mzee Morris’s offspring to make his liv…
Our journey to the Royal Drums: in the words of James Isabirye Story
…ound Shaban and others and we started to practice. We didn’t have drums at first, we just worked on the xylophone that uses much of the same structure. And over time the professor, Musisi, and the students gradually developed a great relationship and are so committed to each other. Then I had to order the drums. I ordered them from Mpambire, a village where all great drums are made. We sent Albert Ssempeke and Musisi out to pick the drums and tune…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Days 5-11:An Interview with Gregg Story
…ever seen and the output you create for the resources you have is best in class. SW: And what are we doing badly? GT: I think you are focused very much on the actual project – doing it right. That is good. But I do worry you are missing the big picture. There is too much to do and we don’t have the resources within Singing Wells to do it. We have to think bigger. We have to find partners that will fund it beyond the limited resources of the AMF….