Burundian master drummer and singer Jean Pierre Nimbona, fondly known as Kidum, is easily the East African musician of the moment! Based in Nairobi, his infectious tunes have hooked legions of fans across the East African region. Back in his home country, Burundi, Kidum is an icon of hope and reconciliation; in neighbouring Rwanda, he is recognised as the ‘homeboy’. In a series of homecoming concerts staged in October 2006 in both Burundi and Rwanda, Kidum received standing ovations. He headlined alongside Alpha Blondy and Lucky Dube a state-organised concert, receiving standing ovation from Rwandese President, Paul Kagame, for his song Amosozi (tears). In Burundi, he was named the honorary "prefect" of musical and creative arts in Bujumbura after a series of countrywide performances in 2007.
His first album, Yaramenje (2001), established Kidum as the voice of peace in the Great Lakes region. He followed it up with the hugely successful Shamba album, released in 2003. Ishano (poison) released October 2006 by Soundafrica, exhibits Kidum's multiple talents as a composer, vocalist, drummer and arranger par excellence. Although most of his earlier songs were all in Kirundi, Kidum has recently taken to singing in Kiswahili as more and more fans in the greater east Africa bow to his spiritual and philosophical compositions. {booking availability}
Of all the bands that immigrated to East Africa, Super Mazembe has stood the test of time.
Also famously known as Bana Mushoshothey have had an unmatched legacy of dance and style led by Longwa Didos.Super Mazembe started in 1969 in Likasi as Super Vox but on tour of neighboring Zambian 1970,the band met Nashil Pichen Kazembe,a diehard supporter of one of Zaire’s top football clubs and TP Mzembe,who impressed on the band to change its name from Vox to Mazembe(meaning earth mover).Kazembe subsequently become the band’s producer and manager and encouraged the band to move to Nairobi which had better recording facilities.The band hit the road to Nairobi in 1974, through Tanzania, just as many a Congolese band did back then.
Mazembe’s fortunes changed upon arrival in Nairobi in 1975.While they entertained patrons at Club Madunis(today’s Florida)where they were based they had their sights on recording more successful than they had hitherto done. In 1976, they signed up with EMI Record and released perhaps their greatest song to date-"Kasongo".
Super Mazembe’s ride to fame was interrupted when EMI closed shop in 1978.It also meant parting ways with their producer, kanindo.They moved to Al Records where they began to work with producer Felix Jakong’o for the next three years, but soon hit another obstacle when record sales slumped due to piracy. In 1982, Super Mazembe stopped recording altogether and concentrated on performing although they variously released songs as Bana Likassy.
Little was heard of Super Mazembe thereafter until 2006 when Kasongo wa Kanema decided to revive the dream.
"I did not want the band to die. Many people in their 30’s were asking for Mazembe songs and the music was not available on CD so we had to do something” says wa Kanema, who joined the band in 1978".
“The result was a modernized rearrangement of some of Super Mazembe’s greatest hits that sound just as fresh as when they were recorded 20-30 years ago".
This Greatest Hits remix relives the days when Bana Mushosho ruled East Africa’s live band scene with their Belly-Bottom outfits. But it is also carefully arranged to meet the taste of the contemporary lover of Rumba.
This remix features bandleader Kasongo wa Kanema and new generation of successors of Mazembe founders: Disco Longwa(Longwa’s son),Allain Maindu,Morris Kasongo(Kasongo’s son),Maranatha,Edino,Soleil,Gideon and Vicky Numbi.
The Band was poised to release a new album of their latest compositions in 2008 with the original Super Mazembe Band that comprised of Longwa Mutonkole Didos(band leader),Kasongo wa Kanema,Loboko Pasi Julie,Lovy Longomba,Dodo Doris,Katele Aley(vocalist);Bukasa Bukalos,Petit Musa,Rondo Kandolo,Kayemba Rapok and Atia Joe who passed on while this project was underway.
The newest introduction to the Gospel beat in Kenya.
This latest addition to the Greatest Gospel Hits scene is a compendium of choral and solo voices on a modern canvas and has a freshness like no other! Sung in Kirundi, Kiswahili, Lingala and native language French, this debut album by the Mayindos features such potentially popular sing-along songs such as Izina rya Yesu, Atarudi and the reflectiveNimesamehewa.
The lyrics are deep, personal and sincere yet the mood of the entire album is upbeat and sure to get you dancing!
You will be poorer without it!
A search for quality instruments brought the Congolese band to East Africa.
Orchestre Baba Nationale moved to Kenya in 1975 after touring Congo and even settling in Tanzania for a while. Following the domination by members of the older generation in the band, a group of young and vibrant members pulled out and formed their own band in order to express a more youthful sound. This was the birth of Les Mangelepa on the first day of July 1976, the birth of an orchestra that prides in quality ageless music.
The band quickly gained popularity in Nairobi. In the same year of the Band’s formation Jack Gerchun, an Israelite restaurant owner being impressed by their stage frolics accepted the band to frequently perform at In the Park, his restaurant.
In the subsequent years they held performances at Garden Square, Alliance Club and also toured Kenya. However the band was never too keen to devote themselves fully to live performances and so they concentrated in practicing and recording music.
To date the band has recorded nine albums.
In the early years of its formation Les Mangelepa toured Africa, performing in Zambia, Malawi, and even in Zimbabwe alongside Oliver Mtukudzi.
1979, after Iddi Amin’s reign Les Mangelepa were called to perform at Lugogo Stadium to establish peace and tranquility among Ugandans but shortly into the performance, the crowd became chaotic disrupting the performance. Many people lost their lives in this incident.
Shindano ya Moto is their style, a distinct beat exploring the Congolese Rhumba, Cuban Salsa and Chakacha from Coastal Kenya. Being an Ochestra, Les Mangelepa is equipped with top vocalists, guitarists, Drummers, pianists and tenor & alto saxophonists. Having being around for over 30years, the band carries a taste of the past into the present while pressing on to appeal even in the future. Their most recent album, Golden Voices, is a 2CD release celebrating their 31st Anniversary.
Burundian master drummer and singer Jean Pierre Nimbona, fondly known as Kidum, is easily the East African musician of the moment! Based in Nairobi, his infectious tunes have hooked legions of fans across the East African region. Back in his home country, Burundi, Kidum is an icon of hope and reconciliation; in neighbouring Rwanda, he is recognised as the ‘homeboy’. In a series of homecoming concerts staged in October 2006 in both Burundi and Rwanda, Kidum received standing ovations. He headlined alongside Alpha Blondy and Lucky Dube a state-organised concert, receiving standing ovation from Rwandese President, Paul Kagame, for his song Amosozi (tears). In Burundi, he was named the honorary "prefect" of musical and creative arts in Bujumbura after a series of countrywide performances in 2007.
His first album, Yaramenje (2001), established Kidum as the voice of peace in the Great Lakes region. He followed it up with the hugely successful Shamba album, released in 2003. Ishano (poison) released October 2006 by Soundafrica, exhibits Kidum's multiple talents as a composer, vocalist, drummer and arranger par excellence. Although most of his earlier songs were all in Kirundi, Kidum has recently taken to singing in Kiswahili as more and more fans in the greater east Africa bow to his spiritual and philosophical compositions. {booking availability}
On Ishano, he comes across at his vocal best with rocking zouk (Kichuna, Kwetu, Number Moja) and acoustic classics (Umenikosea ) in an album that is intensely secular, and spiritual at the same time. The vocal prowess exhibited in Amosozi, Ishano, Amata yimfyumfyu and the extremely danceable Urugendo and Kiriza urutoke will leave you yearning for more. This is absolutely cool music from a musician who is way, way ahead of his contemporaries as a composer and singer.
Currently one of the top artistes across Africa, Kidum’s journey to stardom has been inspiring because of his resilience and hard work, overcoming hurdles that could have easily discouraged many! He moved to Nairobi to escape political turmoil back at home but has kept his loyalty intact, frequenting Bujumbura and Kigali for perfomances.
He has recently collaborated with Kenyan and MTV Africa Music Awards artiste of the year Nameless, Ugandan songbird Juliana Kanyomozi, and other leading artistes.
Habel Kifoto is no doubt one of Kenya’s music legends and highly regarded pioneers.
He founded the Maroon Commandos band of the Kenya 7th Kenyan rifles then based at Gilgil barracks on October 1,1970. In January 1st, he remained its continuous bandleader for 32 years. While other bands were collapsing and breaking up in the 80s and the 90s, Kifoto steered the Maroon Commandos to remain Kenya’s most consistent and decorated band, with an unmatched string of hits. During his time,Kifoto not only composed and sung most of Maroon's greatest hits, but was also instrumental in grooming and recruiting other musicians into the band. Kifoto retired on September 30,2002. Senior Sergent Kifoto passed the mantle to a new crop of dedicated musicians, led by Tuesday Oguro, who continued the tradition.
An all-round musician, Kifoto played lead and solo guitars, keyboards, sax and sung on most of the bands releases composed by him or his contemporaries, among them Laban Ochuka (RIP) and David Kibe. After his retirement Kifoto passed his time minding the welfare of fellow musicians as the elected chairman of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya till his death on July 31st 2011.
This double CD compilation features Habel Kifoto’s greatest hits recorded over a span of 20 years and constitutes the greatest musical legacy of Maroon Commandos. They included Sighenyi Sheshe, his first composition recorded in 1969; Charonyi ni wasi, the undoubtedly the bands greatest single recorded in 1978 that won a silver disc (1981) after selling 30,000 copies within three months; the familiar anthem Uvivu mbaya (1981); Christina and Riziki, title track of two classic albums released in quick succession in the 1980s that won accolades.
Man Ingwe was born Anderson Ambindi Murunga on January 17, 1980, the fifth in a near football team of 10 children.
Eshilakwe, Bushiri, mwitoti, St. Peter’s Mumias boys and Shikoti mixed primary school all have his name in their registers. While at Kakamega high school drama festivals and music festivals were his best moments in school. He won awards in best tenor solo categories and best soloist in traditional dance all the way up to national level.
In 2000, despite being a student of biochemistry, his passion for music could not be subdued. He joined traditional dance as soloist and also performed the tenor solo, which he won in 2001.
Man Ingwe graduated in 2004, when he was teaching part time in Penuel High School and trying a hand in business by running the school cafeteria.
He later joined Dliverance Church, Kahawa Sukari, as a pastoral intern. “ I worked with the youth ministry, handled administrative duties and also assisted the senior pastor with pastoral duties and programmes,” he says.
“ I also worked as a research assistant for the Africa centre for missions where we conducted research on church and social related matters to advice the church on the need to plant more churches and customize the gospel to all spectrums of society.” Man Ingwe later joined Faulu Kenya as a development finance officer as he simultaneously established a recording studio and launched his Yanza music and Media Company Ltd.
He subsequently worked for Safaricom as a customer care representative before leaving in August 2010 to pursue music as a full time career.
Besides singing for the Lord, Man Ingwe is the Senior Pastor at Progressive Church, Kitengela. He aims to be Africa’s finest brand of gospel music, saturating the media with what he calls, “Godly, inspiring, entertaining and educative content.”
Kenya's new gospel music entrants
