Day Two: 8 March 2022 (Ilesi) Story
…ers and sisters were off to their serene village in Kodedema, close to the Kenya-Uganda border. After the long day, some of the Ketebul Music team decided to accompany our host, Jack Songwa, to unwind at a local pub, at the nearby Ilesi center. We returned to the Josephine Garden just in time for the last orders that evening. Profile: Obasie Palyang Band The Obasie Palnyang Band was founded by the veteran Iteso musician Obasie Palnyang, an accompl…
Introduction: Project overview and objectives Story
…rrative nature and does not focus on the details of collected data, which will be presented in a finer ethnographic report to follow. “Masters of the Nyatiti” focuses on the nyatiti, an 8‐string lyre originating in the Luo community on the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. Most of the field recordings this report is based on were thus conducted in Lake Region of Kenya, notably in Kisumu and Siaya Counties. The details of these recordings w…
Kahithe Kiiru Staff Profile
…University of Paris X Nanterre and is currently finalising her PhD in Anthropology (ABD) at the same university. She was recently appointed Head Choreographer for Bomas of Kenya, a national dance troupe tasked with the mission to preserve, promote and showcase Kenyan traditional music and dance worldwide. She has been a scientific advisor with Ketebul Music since 2015 and worked on Ngoma Zetu(2016) and Singing WellsMasters of the Nyatiti(2017) an…
We assemble in Kisumu Story
…mas of Kenya, a national dance troupe tasked with the mission to preserve, promote and showcase Kenyan traditional music and dance worldwide. She has been a scientific advisor with Ketebul Music since 2015 and worked on Ngoma Zetu (2016). This is her second Singing Wells field visit – previously she joined us on Singing Wells Masters of the Nyatiti in 2017. With Tuskers and Dried Fish ordered and eaten, with friendships renewed and jibes exchanged…
Day Four: 10 March 2022 (Rongo) Story
…from the region. Ontiri has performed in most entertainment venues within Kenya and is among the few Kenyan musicians with a huge fan base in the US and Canada, where he has also toured extensively. Ontitri has been invited to perform in South Korea and Germany, not mention that he was one of the leading performers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2014. Ontiri on the obukano and vocals was backed by Leonidah Basbori on tumba and vocals wit…
Masirtarit Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapsokwony, Kenya…
Day Four: January 21 2019 Mwanza Story
…style. Camera plays the Kadete (like the Zeze from earlier and Orutu from Kenya). He is an extremely cool cat, who we actually discovered walking the streets with his instrument during the RECCE. We recorded five performances: Changamoto: This is about life’s challenges Mawazo Gakwira: About deep worries Nkewane nsanja: girlfriend got pregnant and came to singer for papers Tudumishe mila: about honouring our culture Raisi Ametamka: politicians mu…
Teriet Band Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapsokwony, Kenya …
Kenya: music of the Luo Gallery
…Images from the Singing Wells trip to record the music of the Luo. We travelled by road from Nairobi to the shores of Lake Victoria and recorded different music groups from the Luo tribes….
Aloka Ohangla Group Group
…Music of the Luo Aluny Village, East Alego, Kenya Group leader: Otieno Aloka…
Day 9 – Sunday 9th July 2017 Story
…d by a master musician: Nyatiti – represented by Samson Otieno of Bomas of Kenya; Obokano – represented by Dominic Ogari; Litungu – an 7 string traditional lyre from the Luhya community, represented by Jackson Ingosi (Ingosi Junior); Kodo – represented by Olith Ratego who created the instrument; Classical guitar – represented by Peter Akwabi. Aside from the classical guitar, which served as a perspective on comparing different traditional instrume…
Sila Dancers Group
…Music of the Kalenjin Kapenguria, Kenya…
Jose Kokeyo Group
…Music of the Luo Rongo, Kenya…
Day Three: Bungoma Town to Kakamega Story
…Namusia, again with Soundcheck in Kisumu. They started performing all over Kenya. They are now very well established with houses, and Wilbert is married to a nurse and just had their first baby. The continue to take their work very seriously, with professional costumes tailored to the type of event. Wilbert is now returning to education and getting a three year business degree at Dominion Training Center. We then spoke about the songs they were pe…
Winyo Staff Profile
…yo’, which is a Luo word (a tribe from the Lake Victoria region of Western Kenya) for “a bird”. The reason for this becomes apparent once you hear him sing. His voice has been likened to that of a singing bird. He is a singer/songwriter of great sensitivity and an acoustic guitar player, backed by his 5-piece band of accomplished musicians. Winyo derives his music and musical strength from his fore fathers whose African music was rich in melody an…
Tabu Osusa Staff Profile
…Nairobi, Tabu Osusa co-chairs the steering committee of the “Spotlight on Kenyan Music“ project which seeks to discover and promote young talent, performing a blend of African music. The Kenyan government through its Ministry of National Heritage and Culture also supports this project. Tabu is also the Project Coordinator of Ketebul Music’s Retracing Series. Supported by the Ford Foundation Office of Eastern Africa, the Retracing Series is a rese…