Stories > 12. Kenya (Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega & Vihiga Counties)

Day Five: Ilesi, Khayega to Kisumu

Published on

Thursday, February 22, 2018 We travelled to Ilesi, Khakyega to record three groups. The first was Imachina.   They call themselves after the village where they live.   As with many groups over the last two days, most of their songs are for processions, like weddings, funerals, bullfights or rites of passage. So they tend to play…

Field Recording Report by Kahithe Kiiru

Published on

Introduction: Project overview and objectives This report is to inform interested parties of the results of field recordings from Western Kenya under Singing Wells project series, produced by Abubilla Music and Ketebul Music.  It reports on the field interviews and recordings conducted between Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Vihiga Counties in the Western Region of Kenya…

We assemble in Kisumu

Published on

It is February 17, 201b8 and we are assembling in Kisumu to begin our sixth Singing Wells Field Visit in Kenya (12th Field Visit overall).    Steve, Patrick, Drix and Kahithe Kiiru have driven up from Nairobi, while Tabu, Jimmy and Hunter have flown in. Jimmy and Hunter flew from London to Nairobi the day before. …

Day two: From Sirisia to Mabuyole Falls

Published on

Monday, February 19, 2018:  Woke up early and drove to Sirisia to record the band Namatete. The band was founded by Weput Khulu Namatete in 1992. He and his friends gradually made instruments and learned to play them while taking care of their cattle. By 1992 they were good enough to call themselves a ‘serious’ band.  …

Day Three: Bungoma Town to Kakamega

Published on

Tuesday, February 20th, 2018:     Today, we returned to record Wilbert Wanyama in Bungoma Town.   As mentioned, we met Wilbert on the evening of February 19th, but were unable to record his band due to thunderstorms. So we returned to Santa Maria Resort to record him the next morning. And the weather was sunny and crisp,…