☆☆☆ Issa Juma & Super Wanyika Stars ☆☆☆ World Defeats the Grandfathers ☆ Swinging Swahili Rumba 1982-86

01. Barua (The Letter)
02. Ma Eliza (Mama Elizabeth)
03. Mpita Njia (A Passer-by)
04. Maria
05. Mwanaidi
06. Si Mimi (It's Not Me)
07. Wacha Waseme (Let Them Talk)
08. Utalia na nani (Who Will You Cry With)
09. Mony (Monica)

For nearly thirty years, the "Wanyika" bands were a sensation in Kenya. Institutions of renown they were a dominate presence in Nairobi's nightclubs and recording industry, and in their heyday there were three or four bands each simultaneously bearing a Wanyika name, together with several spinoff groups operating under different names. The rumba music these bands played had its stylistic origins in Tanzania but rather quickly took on a unique Kenyan identity. It was propelled by light percussion, the rhythm often on the high hat cymbals and conga drums and made sweet with a delicate interplay between rhythm and solo guitars. The sound was instrumentally sparse with a rich bass filling in the gaps in syncopated bursts. Trumpets and saxes were sometimes used in recordings but rarely in live performance. On top of this were simple two-part harmony melodies in Swahili that could be widely understood across East Africa. This was the defining sound of Kenyan Swahili rumba in the late 70s and early 80s. Issa Juma was a pivotal voice in creating that sound and taking it in new directions as the 80s progressed.

His soulful voice having graced Les Wanyika's breakout hit "Sina Makosa" in 1979, Tanzanian singer Issa Juma soon went his own way, establishing with the remnants of Orchestra Jobiso yet another 'Wanyika' splinter group, variously entitled Waanyika, Wanyika Stars, Super Wanyika, Wanyika Super Les Les etc., hereafter all collectively referred to as "Super Wanyika Stars." For a time Super Wanyika gave the other Wanyika bands a run for their money with notable hits like 'Ateka' and 'Sigalame.

Issa Juma underwent a series of personal misfortunes in the late 1980s, including six months in prison for working without a valid permit. Following this he withdrew to Kericho in western Kenya and stopped performing. It was around this time that he suffered a stroke that left one side of his body paralyzed. Juma died in the early 1990s ~ source

initially heard Issa Juma & the 'Waanyika' incarnation of this group courtesy of the superb World Service blog who dropped their masterful Pole Pole LP from 1984, from which only one song, 'Utalia ta Nanani' is featured on this compilation. respekt. this one comes highly recommended for summerthyme blues. thanks & praise to the ubiquitous Ibiza for uploading these superb stabs at a robust 320k. who will you cry with?