Stories > 12. Kenya (Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega & Vihiga Counties)

Field Recording Report by Kahithe Kiiru

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Introduction: Project overview and objectives This report is to inform interested parties of the results of field recordings from Western Kenya under Singing Wells project series, produced by Abubilla Music and Ketebul Music.  It reports on the field interviews and recordings conducted between Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Vihiga Counties in the Western Region of Kenya…

We assemble in Kisumu

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It is February 17, 201b8 and we are assembling in Kisumu to begin our sixth Singing Wells Field Visit in Kenya (12th Field Visit overall).    Steve, Patrick, Drix and Kahithe Kiiru have driven up from Nairobi, while Tabu, Jimmy and Hunter have flown in. Jimmy and Hunter flew from London to Nairobi the day before. …

Day two: From Sirisia to Mabuyole Falls

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Monday, February 19, 2018:  Woke up early and drove to Sirisia to record the band Namatete. The band was founded by Weput Khulu Namatete in 1992. He and his friends gradually made instruments and learned to play them while taking care of their cattle. By 1992 they were good enough to call themselves a ‘serious’ band.  …

Day Three: Bungoma Town to Kakamega

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Tuesday, February 20th, 2018:     Today, we returned to record Wilbert Wanyama in Bungoma Town.   As mentioned, we met Wilbert on the evening of February 19th, but were unable to record his band due to thunderstorms. So we returned to Santa Maria Resort to record him the next morning. And the weather was sunny and crisp,…

Day Four: Ikolomani to Amalemba

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Wednesday, 21 February 2018 We drove from our hotel, in Kakamega, to Shiriese Ikolomani to record the Super Phoenix Band.   The band was founded originally by Jacob Luseno, who mentored the current band leader Julius Intenya.   The musical style is Mutibu. They played roughly 8-10 songs, including several goes with our influences artist. These songs included:…