Kenyan leaders have in the recent past stepped up efforts to promote peace and national cohesion, with the most popular vehicles being song and dance.
Not to be left behind are popular musicians. They include veteran Kisumu-based musician George Jambita, who has been inspired to compose songs that promote patriotism.
Not to be left behind are popular musicians. They include veteran Kisumu-based musician George Jambita, who has been inspired to compose songs that promote patriotism.
Jambita is happy about the reception his music is receiving, especially the song “Ndugu Mkenya”, composed three years ago.
RHUMBA
The former band member of the late Okatch Biggy’s Super Heka Heka Band is keen to chart his own course. He is now not only playing benga, but also using rhumba beats with the Kisumu Real Sounds band that is based at Railway Institute Bar. The group is led by Amigo Bonzo.
Kisumu Real Sounds performs at the venue on Wednesdays during the increasingly popular Lingala nights. The band also performs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking to the Saturday Nation, Jambita said he had been encouraged to perform patriotic songs in response to the rising political temperatures.
“As an artiste, I felt it wise to go beyond only composing love songs and also do those with messages aimed at bringing people, together” Jambita said. In the song, he deplores hate speech and corruption.
With the tough economic times and rising political temperatures, the 60-year-old musician felt it was necessary to popularise his songs across the country.
With the tough economic times and rising political temperatures, the 60-year-old musician felt it was necessary to popularise his songs across the country.
COOPERATION
Unlike in the past, when most of his songs were in his native Luo language, most of the tracks on Jambita’s patriotic album are in Kiswahili, which is apt for a greater reach for his peace messages.
Also, in a bid to encourage cooperation among different communities, he has teamed up with artistes from different regions in the recordings.
Kenyan patriotic songs of the past include Kakai Kilonzo’s “Kenya Nchi Yangu”, “Jambo Bwana” by Them Mushrooms and Eric Wainaina’s “Daima Kenya”.
On Jambita’s “Ndugu Mkenya” album are tracks such as “Wanga Kingdom”, “Makumbusho ya Netia”, “Wakili Kadima”, “Furaha Imekwisha”, “Wacha Waseme” and “Rafiki Mungwana”.
As Jambita, who hails from Mbita in Homa Bay County, pointed out, it was due to the demand from fans that he and his fellow musicians have chosen to use the rhumba beat.
REMIXES
He is now planning to do remixes of his old songs such as “Pesa Onge Won Ongo”, “Nachopo Siaya”, “Silas Jakakimba” and “Kalando Owada”.
In his heyday on the benga music scene from the early 1980s to the early 2000s, Jambita performed at clubs in Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa.
His debut was in 1980 with the Super Pamba band, featuring his elder brother, Alex Odhiambo Jambita, which was based at the Crescent Bar in Kisumu. Then, benga music ruled the entertainment scene. They released tracks such as “Ottawa Richard” and “Nyar Kanisa”.
Kisumu had many great benga bands then, including DO Misiani’s Shirati Jazz, Orchestra Victoria B Kings and Victoria C Kings.
However, Jambita’s breakthrough came in early 1997, when he joined Okatch Biggy’s Orch Super Heka Heka Band, which was then based at Donna Hotel in Kisumu. The group featured stars such as John Adwera Okello, Oginga Wuod Awasi, Jerry Jalamo, Ouma Jasula, Owiti Auja and Bingwa Machacha.
EYE-OPENER
“Performing with the Super Heka Heka was an eye-opener, and especially doing so alongside Okatch Biggy, who, sadly, left us in November 1997,” Jambita says. He released his first song, “Akodhe Nyalela”, with the band. It was dedicated to the proprietor of Masaba Hospital in Nairobi, where Okatch was initially hospitalised.
“As a band, we cant forget the role played by the hospital in treating our band leader,” he said.
Among Okatch Biggy’s most popular compositions were “Nyathi Nyakach”, “Okello Jabondo” and “Hellena Nyar Bondo”.
In 1999, there was a split in Super Heka Heka Band. One faction, featuring Oginga Wuod Awasi, Jerry Jalamo, Adwera Okello and Jambita, moved to The Place in Mbotela, Nairobi. Super Heka Heka B, led by Aluoch Jamaranda, remained in Kisumu at Donna Hotel.
MIGORI
For fans of the Orch Super Heka Heka Band, this was just the beginning of more factions. A new group, Heka Heka International, would later perform at Club Biggy in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate from 2000. The club was then owned by former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo.
In 2002, Jambita formed the Original Benga Sounds with Ooko Jakanyolo and Otieno Jagwasi. The group was based at the Bandari Beach Bar in Kilifi.
In 2003, Jambita and his group returned home to perform in Migori and Homa Bay.
“Having performed in various towns, I feel I have gained enough experience to do not just love songs, but also patriotic tunes,” he said.
Among his popular compositions are Maurice Osano and Maroko Sijeny.