This is volume 5 in the Kenyafrica series. It features the
‘Kawere Boys Band’, a wonderful group that delivers
a strong album of benga. It appears on Playa Sound
and was released in 1976. The LP’s backside doesn’t
give us any information but I am sure this was one of the
leading bands from the era. Listen and you’ll have to agree.
Remarkable, most of the benga albums from the seventies
have titles concerning people’s names.
Volume up, make space, dancing
mood, jivin’ pace..

tracks;

1 Omolo Mzee
2 Aoko Sipy
3 Joseph Awiti
4 Twkiko Abala
5 Elizia Atieno
6 Anjilina Oloo
7 Ochieng Abok No.2
8 Anyango Anah
9 Anyango Margaret
10 Atieno Risy

When I am looking through my collection to determine
which LP to post, I need to have a strong feel about the
sound off course. I also like to bring some variation, that
way we keep listening with pleasure. Another important thing
is the visual aspect of it, we wanna keep up the looks right ?
I think it is a crime to put commercial stickers on albumsleeves
that cannot be removed again. With this one I’m not even trying,
seen ‘m before and got frustrated already. You end up destroying
your precious find. Horrible. Anyway, as I said, the sound comes
first. It was hard to place the skips at the right moment, such short
silences in between, I hope they’re good. The Benga on this album
is absolutely indestroyable, we can’t go wrong there.
Love that Kenyan Sound of 1977.

tracks;

1 Victoria King’s Jazz – Mzee William Agao
2 Victoria King’s Jazz – Mr. Andrew Ogol
3 Victoria King’s Jazz – R. Bolo
4 Victoria King’s Jazz – Michael Odero
5 Victoria King’s Jazz – Ben Amon’go
6 Victoria King’s Jazz – Zablon Oloo
7 Jolly Matata Band – Okech Oula
8 Jolly Matata Band – Jaber Ola e Boma No.2
9 Kiwiro Matata Band – M.A. Bianeni
10 Kiwiro Matata Band – Oluoch Kanindo

On Pathé Marconi comes this LP of sweet benga, it’s from
1977 but contains songs, recorded in 1975 and 1976.
Benga was Kenya’s popular sound from the seventies,
but you can spot influences of Congolese music, for instance,
in Dr. Collella Mazee’s ‘Susana’. Highly energetic East
African sound, kick aside y’r funiture and dance away !

tracks;

1 Z. Abuya
2 Sunga Jomwandu
3 Oscar Obuogo
4 Come on Jack
5 Chunya we wita
6 Susana
7 Ben Bobo
8 Cham Luchi

Volume 2 in the series Kenyafrica. This one concerns recordings
by a group called Gem Lucky Jazz from the seventies Benga-scene.
It’s on ‘Playa Sound’ and was released in 1976, hope U like.

tracks;

1 Margaret Achieng
2 Manas Otieno
3 Mwalimu F.A. Kodemeo
4 Jenipher Atieno
5 Chief James Ongongo
6 Paro Ogikie Pesa
7 Auma Lando
8 Julie Rose
9 Yuniy Honey pt.1
10 Yuniy Honey pt.2

Don’t you just love a good piece of ‘benga’ ? Tonight’s post
brings us this wonderful album by Orchestre Sega Sega.
I didn’t get much wiser about them on the web, maybe
you are able to tell us something more ? I do know I like
this LP very much. Names that appear are; Odhiambo
Ossumbah, Osumba Rateng, Peter Owiso, Alego Ogwanjo,
Silvester Odhiambo and Okech Ombasa. I especially like
the vocal contributions here, less highly pitched harmonies
but more basic and spoken parts increase the atmosphere.

tracks;

1 Dala Ber Moloyo no.11
2 Ka Iduaro Kendo pt.1
3 Ka Iduaro Kendo pt.2
4 Patricia Atieno
5 Loko Ngech
6 Jomoko Chamo Jochan
7 Adhiambo P. pt.1
8 Adhiambo P. pt.2
9 George Onyango
10 Peninnah Onyango

I’m gonna tell you straight away, posting this album is a kind
of compromise. It contains a few things I would not post when
standing on it’s own. Nigerian reggae for instance, I think reggae
should be from Jamaica. And how about rock and roll sung in
wolof from Senegal. As a whole however I think it’s kind of funny.
The collector also contains some typical African styles, like on
the b-side, sweet benga by Victoria King’s Jazz for instance.
It’s a 1978 selection made by Blaise Fayette Mikano who used
to do a great job for Pathé Marconi. I think this LP with songs from
1975, 1977 and 1978 gives us a unique view on Africa’s taste
during the late seventies, listen and tell me what you think.

tracks;

1 Sonny Okosun – Rain
2 Konn-Konn – Sagak-sagak
3 Abeti Masikini – Mwana muke wa miso
4 M’baye Abdoul – Soko bouge
5 M’baye Abdoul – Douces douces filles
6 Victoria King’s Jazz – Rieko Magftich
7 Trio Ce.Pa.Kos – No title
8 Kouka Celestin – Veve na linga
9 Pamelo Mounk’a – Mabeyey

They have beautiful names, Dr. Mengo, Dr. Collela, W. Toto,
J. Ambogo or Oxelo Obengo. These are Kenyan musicians
and not the least as I would say. Benga is subtle but jiving
and makes it impossible to stay in your chair. Once the first
notes enter your ears, there’s no stopping to this train. Kick
aside your furniture and let go with this ‘Special African Sound 76’.

tracks;

1 International de Nelly – Ngima piny No.4
2 International de Nelly – Onge wuom mwandu
3 International de Nelly – Otete
4 International de Nelly – Lemuru chom
5 Victoria Jazz Band – Paul Odera
6 Victoria Jazz Band – Ouma jakadianga
7 Kusa Luo Band – Jopiny wuorndi
8 Kusa Luo Band – Hippolitus

I’m so happy to have this crazed hobby. Every time I learn
something new, like here. When my dear fellow blogger
Nauma at Freedomblues posted The Victoria Kings last week
with ‘the Mighty Kings of Benga’, I got excited, I didn’t know them
yet and I just love that Benga sound. Thank you ever so much Nauma.
Then, when I was browsing the fair last friday I found some fantastic
Kenyan stuff. Always nice to be able to return the favor. Here’s the
first volume of ‘Kenya Partout !’, I found it with a couple of others.
It contains some of that 70’s benga by the hottest bands.
Get under this freedom global blues groove,..wow…
Already made it when I found out Africolombia’s blog
posted 4 tracks in october, well,
here’s the whole thing.

tracks;

1 Kit Mikayi Cisco Jazz – Buthwa gi nyigem
2 Victoria Jazz Band – Sister Jack
3 International de Nelly – Ruoth meda teko
4 D.O. 7 Band – Charles Kibeche
5 Victoria Jazz Band – Samwel Otumba
6 Kit Mikayi Cisco Jazz – Taberius gi matha
7 Victoria Jazz Band – Jery Ouma
8 D.O. 7 Band – H.O. Ochiri
9 International de Nelly – Ohon wanyang
10 D.O. 7 Band – Perez Owino

Daniel Owino Misiani was the leading figure in Benga from
West Kenya. This 1989 album was direkt metal mastered
from digital tapes and sounds just maginificent. Click on the
backsleeve to read further useful information and enjoy the Benga !

tracks;

1 Isabella Muga
2 Rose Akoth
3 Margret Odero
4 Piny ose mer
5 Nakuru bor
6 Otieno Anyango
7 Wouth iye tek
8 Dora mamy

Benga Blast ! Kenya’s Hottest Sound, Oh yes, most certainly.
Daniel Owino Misiani and Shirati Band rocked Africa through
the eighties with earth-shattering bass, bubbling and stinging
guitars, strong vocals and totally compulsive rhythms. The whole
topped with sharp witty lyrics. Backsleeve states the following;
WARNING,
BENGA BLAST CAN DEMOLISH WEAK STRUCTURES!

tracks;

1 Joshirati Misiani ( Shirati and Misiani )
2 Safari Tanzania ( visit to Tanzania )
3 Wuoro monono ( Greed is useless )
4 Dr. J. Abuya
5 Honourable Horace Owiti Ongili
6 Agnes Nyashirati ( Agnes, Shirati’s friend )
7 Alice Atieno
8 Okoth Atari ( Okoth is supercool )