The History Of Benga Music: A Report by Ketebul Music Story
…d a drum set. With them came the 45 rpm vinyl records and the debut of the now well-known names in benga, who include George Ramogi, George Ojijo, D. O. Misiani, Orwa Jasolo, Ochieng Nelly Mengo, Collela Mazee, Paddy Onono, Brother Charley, Peter Owino Rachar, Leonard Omedo, Cheplin Kotula of Kawere Boys, John Otonde of Kiwiro Jazz, Kaudha Twins, Awino Lawi, Opiyo Emma and Musa Olwete. Later Ouma Omore, the Victoria Chomeka band, Ouma Jerry, Kasso…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 3 – Nkubu to Mariene to Murungurune to Nkubu Story
…have arrived for him. And it is time. Remember that for the mother she is now losing the boy, who on return is not to enter her kitchen or live at her home. Karagua nkabume, led by Charles Kinyua. This means ‘something fell in Nicabune’ – it is a song to prepare the boys being circumcised for a new thing that is about to befall him, e.g., the circumcisers knife, responsibility (new ones that they don’t have), not going back to the mother’s hut, e…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 2 – Muranga to Kangema to Nkubu Story
…ith and one without the ladies humming (they needed to hum to get the beat right). Kangema Urban Women Group The group is led by Jacinta Njoki Mwangi and formed in 2006. The group plays in thee Gitiro style – the dance performed by women during ruracio, a dowry payment occasion. Gitiro: led by Jacinta Njoki. Ndumo (ya iritu): led by Jacinta and Mary Njoki. Kibuthi: led by Jacinta Njoki. Kangema Mwomboko Dancers The group is led by Maina Kirhoro. F…
Kenya’s Amazing Musical Instruments News
…” To play it, a musician holds two metal rings called “ogeng’”, one in his right hand, one with his right big toe. Both are placed on a wooden box. With his left hand he hits either ogeng’ (each with a different sound), or the side or top of the box (which also produces different sounds). He also has the option of sliding the rings along the top as he plays to elongate the note and change its pitch, making the instrument sound more like a bass. We…
Central Uganda: Day 5 – Jinja to Kampala Story
…houses. We are showing you can have a musical career. We are growing our knowledge and getting better at representing the culture. Now we have city in Sweden that is starting to partner with us to advance cultural exchanges.” Tabu asked James, “Why did you want to do traditional music?” James answered, “We love traditional music of any ethnicity I understand it now in the context. We started with our music from our villages. The three founders of…
Interview: fusion band Ndoto Afrika News
…nd hope that is not too much to wish for. Who are your musical influences? Right now, it will have to be Eric Wainana, Otieno Aloka, Gee (The Gambia) and X Maleya (Cameroon) What’s it like being an artist in Nairobi? If hell has an alias, then call it Nairobi – any upcoming artiste. But nothing is easy the world over, for anyone. Music is a huge challenge and if you venture into it with a high expectation of becoming an overnight millionaire or ce…
Central Uganda: Day 4 – Jinja Story
…would have guests. The trumpets must lead the procession of the king. But right now there are only three surviving master players who know the songs/traditions and can train the youths. One already died in May to move the number from 4 to 3 and one of the three surviving is very ill. But it is almost certain, now that the trumpets won’t disappear. Young people have some interest, thankfully, and are learning.” Click here for further reading on th…
Central Uganda: Day 2 – Kampala to Budaka Story
…such as weddings, introductions, and Cultural Competitions, the most well-known of which is sponsored by the beer Senator. Their trainer is Paul Mwima and they originate from Bunyole, Butaleja District. Their style is Mabega Dance. Their costumes were the Gomesi, Ebikooyi, and then they had skirts for traditional dances with animal skins. Their members included: Zabula Hunguna and Aggrey Gwari . Their chairperson was Musa Malinywa. Their instrumen…
Central Uganda: Day 1 – From Entebbe to Kidinda Story
…which were 8 men who collectively played the Amadinda, a 22 key wooden xylophone. There total group size is 15. The musical style is Kadinda. The group lead is Waswa Hood and he started playing when he was 17. There were two other original members: Kiwuwa Buruhan and Sulayiman Sserubiri. The group started in 1939 performing for the Kabaka (the Ugandan King), but then stopped performing in the king’s palace in 1966 when the king was removed. The 22…
Amone Watmon Matthew Story
…the group of dancers and musicians playing the calabash walked in from the right hand side of our ‘stage’ dancing and singing. We recorded two tracks in this lineup. He then began to perform on a stringed instrument, while singing along, in close rhythm with another player and a third playing simple percussion on a calabash. We made a decision very quickly to invite the musicians back to our hotel to record further. We made the journey back to the…
Room with a view…but where is it? Story
…its an extinct volcano at the easternmost end of the Virunga range. On the right is smaller Mount Gahinga (3474m). During the Singing Wells field visit to record the Music of the Batwa, we stayed at the Traveller’s Rest Hotel in Kisoro and this was the view which greeted us each morning. It was a wonderful place to stay and the staff were incredibly helpful and let us set up a recording studio under the verandah in the garden, much to the surprise…
A History of Recording East African Music News
…s music for posterity. It was not so much Tracey’s ‘knack’ of being at the right place at the right time, but his awareness and vision coupled with organisation and his tremendous energy which give us the opportunity to listen to the many exceptional musicians he recorded today. In this series we are able to present many of the foremost musicians of the 20th century from this part of Africa — and that is a gift. It is especially a gift to the peop…
Tracey Instrument Collection News
…da, as it is demanded so much for drums, lyres and fiddles. Endara log xylophone The xylophone is 263.5cm long, made up of 16 roughly cut keys and tuned to a pentatonic scale. It is played using one beater, which is attached to the xylophone by string and can be played by up to five people at one time. This frame was actually made by Hugh Tracey, after he collected it in 1950, though the original frame was made of two banana stalks with loose keys…
Singing Wells in Numbers…. News
…Andy did a litte homework for this one: Number of recordings of groups: 374 (this does not include other recordings like Magic Moments, Influences, etc…) Number of groups recorded: 83 Number of hours of music: 27 hours and 30 minutes. …
Report from Womex 2013 News
…export it is. The Musicians Union were also present, championing musicians rights. We were also linked to Horizons – via the British Underground and our membership with the Association of Independent Music. Horizons joined up members from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. We were pleased to be sited next to New Zealand across the way and next door were South Africa! Podcast Andy recorded a few snippets of audio for an upcoming podcast – which…
The Key to Sustainable Aid in Africa? Perhaps we should follow the music. News
…is a Healthy Village Everyone who works and travels extensively in Africa knows the startling contrast between the beauty of a healthy village and the hideousness of the urban sprawl at the edges of African cities. And most leading thinkers concerned with African development, argue for efforts to maintain village life, to work with people in a village, with all the support that entails, rather than to work with folks who are already displaced, on…