VA - Before Benga Vol. 1 - Kenya Dry [Original Music]

01. unknown - thum nyatiti solo
02. chemutoi ketienya & girls - chemirocha [jimmy rodgers]
03. barack omondi & party - mary apondi
04. dick ngoy & party - elias odede
05. jimmy amukamua - khukhava minyinzi
06. wilson labso & party - kigyokte
07. john oriem & brothers - tereranga
08. peter kimuri & patrick roy roger - kirinyaga ni igai retu
09. francis macharia - gikuyu na mumbi
10. francis macharia - wanjiru wanjiru
11. elijah ishmael - jumbe nipeleke kwetu
12. humphrey eshitool - jirani na waganga
13. humphrey eshitool - safari kibosho
14. herbert misango - msichana auma
15. herbert misango - wazee wa kisa
16. w. john odole - tumshukuru mungu
17. w. john odole - kerena
18. willamu osale - usimalize mali
19. willamu osale - vijana niambie
20. edouardo masengo & bernard mwale - hata unacheza
21. nairobi shoeshine boys - mtoto analia mana yuko waoi
22. joseph ndato & daniel katuga - nikuelezeje
23. esther john & fadhill william & ben nicholas & fundi kondi - mwana mali wa maridadi
24. daniel katuga & fundi kondi - ewe nyota zuhura
25. wayo trio w. fundi kondi - sitakwenda lena dar es salaam



RE-UP of this superlative compilation, featurng the unplugged jams. be chure to peep the previous posts on Original Music if ya slept. thx again to spinning

VA ~ Before Benga Vol. 2: The Nairobi Sound [Original Music]

01. Fundi Konde - Wekundu Si Hoja
02. Jim Lasco - Samueli Ndeje
03. Jim Lasco - Baba Kumbuka
04. John Wijenje - Mtoto Kukosa Masomo
05. Edward Nandwa - Ofafa Jericho
06. Edward Nandwa - Wanajiita Sisi Wahuni
07. John Mwale - Wandugu Mnisaidie
08. John Mwale - Shirikisho la Africa
09. Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi - Mulofwa Mmoja
10. Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi - Jane Umrongo
11. Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi - Goodbye & Farewell
12. Nashil Pichen, Peter Tsotsi & Equator Sound Band - Mpenzi Nimerudi
13. Fadhili William & the Black Shadows - Malaika
14. Fadhili William & the Black Shadows - Hakuna Mwingine
15. Fadhili William & the Black Shadows - When You Visit Taita
16. Adolph Banyora & African Beat Jazz - Niko Pekee
17. Daudi Kabaka & George Agade - Helule Helule
18. Daudi Kabaka & George Agade - Western Shilo
19. Isaya Mwinamo - Ukosefu wa Kazi
20. Isaya Mwinamo & his Merry Men - Bamba ya Afrika
21. Isaya Mwinamo - Nimeacha Ulevi Catherine
22. Isaya Mwinamo - Lipa Kodi ya City Council
23. Isaya Mwinamo - Kipchoge Keino Amefaulu



happily continuing the demystification of mississippi records' piratical proliferation. this is olde news to many, but it seems a lot of kids still don't know, so here goes another piece of the 'puzzle'. there's simply no reason not to dig the roots if yer feelin the fruits. curated by John Storm Roberts, himself one of my favourite kind of pirates. liner notes included. shout out to spinning

Introducing Kenge Kenge - Acoustic Roots of Kenyan Benga

Introducing Kenge Kenge - Acoustic Roots of Kenyan Benga
Kenyan beats & cow-horn blues
World Music Network INTRO107CD, released 2007

☆☆☆ 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?