Kenya Radio Show

My starting point for this show was an album I have had on vinyl for a while - Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings from the 1970s & ‘80s.  It is a three vinyl set with loads of great tunes on it and one of those collections that you can rely on to get a dancefloor moving. 

I actually only featured two tunes from the album in the end - Tamba Tamba by Nairobi Matata Jazz and Sweet Sweet Mbombo by Orchestra Baba National - but I highly recommend seeking it out and giving it a proper listen.  Keeping the traditional tip, for some great examples of the Kenyan Benga style check out the tunes from Maroon Commandos and H. O. Kabaselleh.

I discovered a lot of jazz from Kenya, particularly from Nairobi, while researching the show and have featured music from Siti and the Band, Nairobi Horns Project, Shamsi music and Aaron Rimbui.

It has been a chance to revisit some Soukous (Congolese Rhumba) music which I first played on my Democratic Republic of Congo show last year.  A number of musicians migrated from the Congo to Kenya in the 70s and formed groups there.  I’ve included a couple of tracks here from Les Manyika who were one of those groups, as well as Samba Mapangala who lived and made music in Kenya for more than thirty years.

Another new discovery this month has been Suzanna Owiyo who has a really unique sound, mixing traditional Kenyan styles with electronic production and rhythms, creating a kind of balearic vibe.

I’ve included a track from Omar Sosa and Olith Ratego called Thuon Mok Loga.  Olith Ratego is a singer and plays a home-made instrument called a ‘kodo’.  You can hear an interview with Omar Sosa about his album An East African Journey, which features this tune, on my Afro Cuba show.

I’ve done two shows focussed on Kenya, and you can listen to the other show here.

Full Tracklist:

1 Umojination - Michel Ongaro - Bengatronics

2 Halindwa - Siti & The Band

3 Muthurwa Express - Nairobi Horns Project

4 Afrohits - Shamsi Music

5 Sukari - Juma Tutu

6 Simama - Aaron Rimbui

7 Thuon Mok Loga - Omar Sosa & Olith Ratego

8 Anyanga - Suzanna Owiyo

9 Suna Ka Ngeya - Suzanna Owiyo

10 Koko's Vibration (Extended Mix) - Sarabi

11 Mapenzi Hayana Daktari (Frankie Francis Edit) - Nairobi Matata Jazz

12 Yembele - Samba Mapangala

13 Tamba Tamba - Nairobi Matata Jazz

15 Maisha - Simba & Les Wanyika

15 Sina Makosa - Les Wanyika

16 Wuoro Ogola Adoyo - H. O. Kabaselleh

17 Mwakaribishwa Na Maroon - Maroon Commandos

18 Sweet Sweet Mbombo - Orchestre Baba Nationa