Aug 9/06
King of the Twist
When I was in Germany for the World Cup I worked with a great Kenyan guy named Aki. He taught me a lot about his country and its culture while learning to drive on the right hand side of the autobahn.
Perhaps most importantly, he translated the Swahili lyrics of that amazing Xplastaz song, Msimu kwa msimu. Yeah, Olivier, that one; it will always remind me of one of the better house parties I’ve ever attended.
So if you’re reading, Aki, I promise to make good on that Mombasa road-trip promise by next year or 2008 latest.
I confess to not knowing a whole lot about Kenyan music beyond the few posts I’ve done for this site. However, the best African music compiler I know, Benn loxo listener Cheeku, consistently comes up with classic Kenyan sounds. Today I’ll feature one such Cheeku pick, Daudi Kabaka.
The late Kabaka had a long career as the “King of the Kenyan Twist”. He plays that kind of simple, acoustic, African rock’n'roll that I’ve loved so much on Benn loxo. Technically, the style is called Benga. Regardless of its name, Swahili sung a jangling guitar with East African harmonies sounds amazing.
Tags: kenya
I’ve posted a request on a kenyan forum for a translation (or at least the gist) of “Msimu kwa msimu” but nada. perhaps you can share this with us. it is such a great song. thx
An e-mail comment from a Benn loxo listener,
“I was speaking to a kenyan coworker yesterday and she filled me on the story of pole musa – apparently the gist is that is a wife speaking to her husband saying I used to look so good, i used to be beautiful, until you beat me. My friend said when she wants to razz her husband she’ll sing it around the house. It always surprises me how some of the happiest sounding music can have lyrics which aren’t so happy.”
Wow..
Just a small point from the commentary above. Most of Daudi Kabaka’s music is not benga music (if any of it). Kenyan “twist” music borrows heavily from South African rhythms and it’s almost always in Swahili. Benga music is always in a local language, has a heavy pulsing beat, and a much different sort of guitar interplay.
Thanks for the info, Douglas. As usual, my lack of East African musical knowledge is exposed..
Care to share some benga music on a guest post?
I’m not really in a position to share music but a couple weeks back, Steve Mugiri posted one of the benga songs I selected for my Nairobi Beat compilation. Although it’s 20 years old now, the song is a great example of the flavor of Luo benga music.
http://ntwiga.net/linked_to_audio/Jamoko%20Wange%20Tek.mp3
For what it’s worth, I did some more seraching about Msimu kwa msimu. Found this:
“[...]Among other things, we were in Tanzania for the launch of a new single and music video by X Plastaz, a crew consisting of six vocalists from Arusha. ‘Msimu kwa msimu’ is a track which sounds quite different from anything else out of the exploding East African market, with its uptempo vocals, Indian melody line, female power lyrics by Dineh and Maasai chants in the outro. The track was produced by Kid Sundance (known a.o. for his releases with Declaime AKA Dudley Perkins) and the video was done by a crew from the Film Academy.
The video’s apparent ‘bling-bling’ atmosphere with limousines, Crystal champagne and beautiful women is in fact a tongue-in-cheek comment on the state of hip hop: when is the bubble going to burst, and will hip hop come back to its true essence? Its title ‘Msimu kwa msimu’ (‘season to season’) refers to the ups and downs in the lives of hip hop artists.[...]”
http://www.africanhiphop.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=64
And, now I’ve been introduced to your blog. Thanks.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE find me this old TWIST music by Isaya/Isaiah Mwinamo from Kenya in the 1960s.
Some of the words are: “Sisi vijana, twapata tabu, twapa tabu ya kukosa kazi, tunapokwenda tunaambiwa, naomba kazi, hakuna kazi”
PLEASE HELP, THANKS!!!
Lipa Kodi Ya City Council – Isaya Mwinamo – Mississippi Records
its out of stock tho at missippi records i think. you would have to search record bins everywhere. like finding a needle in a haystack,.. good luck.