Pius Wafula Group
…roup called “Webuye Jua Kali” up to 2009, when he founded his own group. Today the group counts 5 members who play the following instruments: LITUNGU – a 7-string traditional lyre; ISIRILI – a one-string fiddle; LUENGELE– a percussive idiophone, they use a wooden stool struck with wooden sticks; ENG’OMA – a generic term for drums, they use a plastic water container also struck with wooden sticks; CHISASI – shakers made out of gourds. We recorded f…
Toroka Uje Group
…inganga (Makonpe) or Kidalidali (Zaramo) – smaller drum Chapuo Kubwa – big drum. Boi – long drum, one sided Ndungula – big bass drum Nyanga – the shakers, made of empty tins filled with small pebbles….
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 …
Groups Map Page
…Here you can find all of our groups organised by location….
What We Do Page
Field Recording Visits To achieve the goals of the Singing Wells project we work in the field travelling to the villages of East Africa with our bespoke mobile recording studio. By taking the studio to remote communities we can record the music and dance performances of individual musicians and music groups in a relaxed and authentic environment, watched by their family and friends. In fact, we usually attract large audiences from the communities…
Mchele Mchele Sanaa Group Group
…This group, from the Sukuma community, was formed in 2010 and performs with a number of styles: Bukomia Lume, Buchheye, Wigashe. Their instruments are: Ng’oma (Drums), Pembe (animal horns, large impala), Firimbi (flute), and Njuga (shakers). …
Fanuel Amimo Group
…Nyina’ and “Rosa Nokhwebwe”, accompanied by Akwabi’s band members. His guitar plucking technique was extremely interesting to observe, as it reminded us of the various litungu players we had seen in the past two weeks in Luhya land….
Karambi Sanaa Group Group
…From Kagera Bukoba and part of the Wahaya Community, this group was formed in 2000 and performs in the Akasimbo style. Their instruments are: Kangote (Drums), Akafotho (hand whistling), Enganja: Clapper – two wooden ‘bricks’ struck together, and they wear Ebisheshe (grasses). is…
Ndaiga Muchiri Group
…Ndaiga Muchiri: He was a founding member of Kangema Mwomboko Dancers. Ndaiga started singing in 1943 and loves to entertain. He’s Kikuyu and plays Mwomboko wa 40 style. Mwomboko: a traditional song where he plays the Karing’aring’a (the ring)…
Martin Fredrick Muyeshi Staff Profile
…n. He later joined Ketebul Studio, where he went on to work on several studio projects, among them the studio’scompilation “retracing” series that include Retracing Benga Music, Retracing Kikuyu Popular Music, Retracing Kenya’s Funk Music, Retracing Songs of Protest and the book Shades Of Benga: The story of Popular Music in Kenya, to which he contributed his photos. His work has also featured on Voice of America’s “Music Time In Africa” under…
3. Background of the Naizungwe drums Story
Before we bring you our next update on the progress of the Naizungwe drums, James Isabirye, who is co-ordinating the project gives us some background information about the drums and the traditions from which they come: Where do they originally come from and who played them? Uganda has about 65 ethnic societies according to the 1995 constitution. Each ethnic society had a way it was organized socially before the advent of colonialism. Most of the…
Mperwa Dancers Group
…Music of the Batwa Lead vocalist: Jovah Nyiramajoro…
Ketebul Music Group
Ketebul Music Ketebul Music is the Kenyan base of the Singing Wells project. The studios are located in The GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi and they serve as the nerve centre for the localised planning of the field trips and post production of audio and video material for the project. Ketebul means “drum sticks”; the word is derived from the Luo language of Western Kenya. The name was a natural choice for an organization that has a vision of an Af…
We assemble in Kisumu Story
…e worldwide. She has been a scientific advisor with Ketebul Music since 2015 and worked on Ngoma Zetu (2016). This is her second Singing Wells field visit – previously she joined us on Singing Wells Masters of the Nyatiti in 2017. With Tuskers and Dried Fish ordered and eaten, with friendships renewed and jibes exchanged, we take our leave for the evening and prepare to Dahiro in the morning….
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…
Kasagat Traditional Dancers Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Iten, Kenya…