Entenga drums perform with Akadinda Xylophone News
…of the Asantehene (the monarch) of the Asante people from Ghana. A recording of this performance has just become available, and is posted below https://youtu.be/CCQ72al2pEo Fore more information about the Entenga drums, read our series here or watch our documentary of their restoration here. …
The Entenga Drums: Part 1 Story
…e skins and massive hits with their fists to stretch the skins. There are six players, each of whom has a different formal name and role in creating the music. Now, I really hope you can look at the picture of the drums. In all cases, our references are from the listeners’, not the players’ perspective. Starting on the far right, you see the three standalone drums. The player of the 14th and 15th drum, the ones on the far right and the biggest of…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Days 5-11:An Interview with Gregg Story
…think about rich Kenyans and how they can support the music of their village with our help. We need to think about corporates and get them off the popular big number kick they are on and get them to work on authentic things. You guys can get better and better at producing videos, but until we make this bigger and more sustainable, the project is always one heart attack a way from stopping. But let me end simply – this is amazing and keep it going…
The History Of Benga Music: A Report by Ketebul Music Story
…c pirates, Melodica remains in operation stocking numerous “zilizopendwa” golden oldies. Melodica’s precursor was known as Bonanza Music Store located on Luthuli Avenue. Founded by Mzee Daudia in 1963, the name was inspired by the American cowboy TV series of the time and it quickly became a Benga musician’s Mecca. The shop moved to its present location on Tom Mboya Street in 1971, with Daudia renaming it Melodica. He was passionate in his promoti…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Days 5-11: Ketebul Studios, Nairobi Story
…ottle percussionist.’ In the 80’s, Shem formed a new band, Les Bunyore , before reforming Abana ba Nasery in the ’90’s. We recorded six songs with him. Muhanna Mulando Obuyanzi Kali Munda Olubo Mary Queen John Nzanze One of the founders of “African Twist”, John enjoyed a major hit with ‘Angelique Twist’ in 1961. Born in 1940, he started playing his father’s guitar at 12. His band, Air Fiesta Matata, achieved fame, having come in third in the 1968…
Bigwala Trumpets perform for coronation anniversary News
…m the recent performances by the Entenga drums, Prof. James Isabirye has informed us that the Bigwala trumpets performed last Wednesday (13th September) at the coronation anniversary of Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV of the Busoga kingdom. The trumpets can be seen here performing at Budhumbula in front of the Kyabazinga (the elected ruler of the kingdom) and processing behind him. https://youtu.be/HtHhkMrlXWw Read about our contact with the…
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 3 – Nkubu to Mariene to Murungurune to Nkubu Story
…k to the mother’s hut, etc… In this context, the knife is cutting away his old life and forcing him into a new life. Ruuji rukuru, led by John Gitoriga, means ‘old water’ and is a song to prepare a boy for manhood. Water is a cleanser so the water cleanses the boy and moves him from childhood to a new life. The boy is taken to one of the old rivers and hot mushrooming spring. Hence ‘old water.’ Remember that in all cases the boys are led to a rive…
Entenga: Performing twice for the king of Buganda News
…artner Prof. James Isabirye that he and the rest of the Entenga players performed for the second time at the coronation anniversary of King Ronald Mutebi. https://youtu.be/HgKF14j5LrM We were first introduced to the Entenga drums in 2015 and have since been supporting James in an initiative to revive the drums and teach younger musicians how to play them (read the field reports here or watch our documentary for more information of this project)….
Central and Eastern Kenya: Day 2 – Muranga to Kangema to Nkubu Story
…nd was formed in 2006 and dedicated to self-help. Their style is Ndumo, an old women’s dance purely for entertainment and preservation of culture. For all their songs, the ladies used the Kigamba (leg shakers). The group played 6 songs: Ndumo: sung by Wambui Mwangi. Ngucu: sung by Charity Muthoni and Grace Njuguini Muthuo: sung by Mary Wambui Kimunya: sung by Grace Njuguini Gitiro: sung by Mary Njeri Njagi Magic Moment: We then recorde a magic mom…
Central Uganda: Day 7 – A Magic Day in Entebbe Story
…ep and about hard working women. Unlike those days when women used to wait for men to provide for everything, nowadays, they wake up early and go to work. Olugend’olw’ebukakkata: He went to visit a village called Bukakkata. He found a girl who was seeing two men who didn’t know each other. She was still in her parents’ home so she was not allowed to be seeing men. One day, the parents found a man peeping through the window and canned him because h…
Central Uganda: Day 6: Kampala to Entebbe Story
…nda. Dr Albert Ssempeke, father of Junior was a legend. He was a palace performer for the King. Albert Jr’s grandfather was a palace gatekeeper and flute player in the palace. Albert Junior started to play at 10 years old and his father taught him all the main instruments – he plays the Enanga (harp, where there are only 3 master players) and the endongo (Bow Lyre). His best moment was playing for Ronald Mwenda Mutebi’s wedding in 1998. The band m…
Kenya’s Amazing Musical Instruments News
…a Luo instrument whose name literally means “box.” 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,…
Central Uganda: Day 5 – Jinja to Kampala Story
…ote it after his father’s death. 95% of the song is about what his father told him before he died. Ebibira: This song talks about the dangers of deforestation. The forest is where the spirits of the fore fathers can rest. If you destroy the forests, you destroy their homes so they will be loitering around and the living won’t have any peace. Omukazi Ow’omwano Tanoba: Tamenha Ibuga Nalufuka: This was an incredible dance number that ended with all t…
Central Uganda: Day 4 – Jinja Story
…e had two legends of Ugandan music visit us today) – Natha Matta Nyende performing for us with his band the Bakuseka Majja Matta Group. Nathan is 76 years old and has been blind since 1956. He formed his group in 1952. They play in the Kisoga style and are from Kasokoso in Iganga District. They are four members. Nathan plays the Endongo, which is the local name for the small thumb piano. Kirunda Awali sings and plays the Endere, which is a flute….
Discussions with Peter Cooke: ethnomusicologist and Ugandan music expert News
…he suggestion of the wonderful young musician Bulasio Busuulwa, one of the former royal flute players, who was already working with me at Kyambogo, I also recruited his young friend Musisi – a former member of the royal entenga group,” says Peter. “They made an excellent team – making numerous traditional instruments in the department’s workshop and teaching them to the music students and to music teachers who came for in-service courses. Like Mus…
Central Uganda: Day 3 – From Mbale to Iganga to Jinja Story
…ter and faster beats. One by one the dancers would jump over the xylophone players to perform in front of them. The players would give the dancers fantastic beats and eventually they would retreat and another dancer would join. All great fun. James Isabirye says, “This area, where they come from is known for the Xylophone. This particular group has grown out of festivals. They were not as good originally, but the experiences of the festivals, star…