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…
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…
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…
Nyatiti Group Group
…Music of the Luo Aluny Village, East Alego, Kenya Group Leader: Okumu K’Orengo…
ZigiDigi Cultural Troupe Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Vuga, Kwale County, Kenya Group Leader: Matano Mwachiti; performers: Mwanasiti Mwacheruphe, Nchoga Mwacharo, Mwanasada Joshi, Sauma Mwanyika, Mwanasiti Mwalnlo, Binti Mwadumbo, Iddi Bora, Salim Mwambwaku, Juma Mwanganyawa, Nasow Mwanganyawa, Salim Hamadi, Hamir Kumbayugu, Hamisi Chabindo…
Mperwa Dancers Group
…Music of the Batwa Lead vocalist: Jovah Nyiramajoro…
Muungano Kayamba Group
…Music of the Mijikenda Group Leader: Futuma Ali Mwacherure. Performers: Ali Bora Kopo, Binti Amadi, Chimetse, Mwanamtiti, Mwana Harusi, Nyaishi Dawa, Msindeni, Nkuria Saga, Mwana Kombo, Nchno…
Jose Kokeyo Group
…Music of the Luo Rongo, Kenya…
Ben Kisinja Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapsokwony, Kenya …
Matia Kakumirizi Group
Matia was taught to play guitar by a priest called Father Mugambe from Mulajje Parish in 1966. He is now 70 years old, lives in Kampala and sings in Luganda and Kirwahdi, C&C Busega, C&C Kibuye. He still plays the guitar he has had since 1972. He was recorded in 1971 in the Polygram studios in Nairobi. His peers include Dan Mugula, Christopher Ssebaduko, Vincent Muwunge, Sulayiman Mayanja. Dan influenced him hugely. Song meanings “Abapangisa”: f…
Bakuseka Majja Matta Group Group
Bakuseka Majja Matta Group: The group leader is 76 year old Nathan Matta Nyende. Nathan started playing in 1952 and was blinded in 1958 with an eye problem. Their style of music is Kisoga which both educates and entertains. The group are Fred Tavakumuwa on the tube fiddle; Kisame Ndaba on the thumb piano; Kirunda Awali on the flute and Nathan Matta Nyende, the lead vocalist and also playing the thumb piano. Song Meanings “Abalimperekera Baliba M…
Bigilia Group Group
…as Unyago. Here is the group: They played 12 songs, including Magic Moments and Influences Sessions: Zakulola: You’ve come to see us play Wake Kwa Ume: Female to male Nataka kusema kasi naogopa: I would like to say something but I am afraid Umpati Ng’o: You’re never going to get them Magic Moment 1 Utalikologa Utalinywa: If you mix it, you’ll drink it. Tueheze Zembwela (local dialect) Bonanza Nataka Kusema: Includes a song with Leo, which is ‘I wa…
Mohamed Uthman Kidumbak Group Group
…nds for a large drum. So Kidumba is a smaller, bongo style drum. Adding Ki to the beginning of the word makes it small. Mohamed Othman had no musicians in his family. He became interested in Kidumbak style music at 16 and taught himself the violin and bass. He went to Egypt off and on for six years on a scholarship from the DCMA to study violin and the oud starting in 2000. He’s been teaching at the academy for 18 years. Members of this group incl…
Day One: February 16, 2020 (Ngawala Hotel) Story
…ive songs:Bashraf Ilyas: An instrumental song written for the Professor’s father Na Munikome: This means ‘leave me alone.’ Mungwana: This means gentle person. Dhana: This means ‘thoughts’ or reflections Tulibembeleze Pendo: This means nurture our love. Tausi Women’s Taarab: The group leader’s name is Mariam Hamdiani, who is chair of the Arts and Censorship Council in Zanzibar. She plays the Qanun. The group is from Rahaleo and normally they have 2…
Twone Mbee Group
…tempting the position because it is already taken by the one they are praising. ‘Nzembanie na ivinda’: (Chasing After Time). This song talks about the President’s call to stop corruption. The call to chase after time comes from the society that won’t condone these malpractices….
Day One: January 18, 2019. Assemble in Tanzania Story
…er to Kisumu (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 t…