A family friend, Chana, recently got back from Kenya where she was working for a few months in a rural hospital. I bumped into her in Toronto about a week ago, Benn loxo came up, and next thing you know I find a compilation of Kenyan hip-hop sitting in my inbox. And a good one, too. Thanks, Chana.

Ogopa Deejays is a music production company run out of Nairobi, Kenya. It’s played a big part in promoting Kenyan urban music.

West Africa has long been known for its talented and well-promoted hip-hop, reggae and RnB acts like PBS, VIP, Daara J, MC Solaar, Pee Froiss, Tiken Jah and many others. On the other side of the continent things have moved a bit slower in terms of musicians breaking into the international market. Labels and production companies like Ogopa Deejays are helping to finally raise awareness about East Africa’s urban music scenes.

Their first compilation was released in 2001 and was a huge success both at home at abroad. It kick-started the careers of many young Kenyan musicians, including Amani, Big Pin and the late hip-hop MC, E-Sir. You’ll hear some tracks off this compilation titled “Ogopa 1 – Kenyan Club Classics” on today’s post.

You can buy albums, see videos, hear clips and learn more about Ogopa Deejays on their official web site.

E-Sir – Leo Ni Leo
Vinnie Banton & Mr. Googs – Wasee (Githurai remix)
Amani – Move On

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.

Daudi Kabaka – Pole Musa

Guest post today by Benn loxo listener, CC Smith, editor/publisher of The Beat Magazine in Los Angeles, CA:

“Last month I traveled to England to attend several concerts by Samba Mapangala and Orch. Virunga, meeting up with Ethan Bloomberg of Boston, (Samba’s U.S. representative and advisor and East African music connoisseur), and Martin Sinnock, one of the world’s leading experts and collectors of Congolese music, and columnist for my magazine, The Beat. Samba has just put out a new album called Song and Dance, and the short tour of England was to support the release. As an extra added attraction, Orch. Virunga this time included guitarists Syran Mbenza and Bopol Mansiamina, who came in from Paris to assist their longtime friend and colleague.

I first heard Samba’s music in London in 1984 and was instantly a fan. The stunning, pitch-perfect a cappella intro to “Malako Disco” still knocks me out, and the song is as fresh as ever, blending Congo dance music with distinctive Kenyan elements, like the skittering hi-hat cymbal riding atop the flowing music.

Samba is Congolese but made his reputation in Kenya. He had a good deal of success in Europe, America and throughout East Africa in the ’80s and ’90s, but since relocating to the States 9 years ago, his music was put on hold while he established a life for himself and his family. His last newly recorded album was Ujumbe in 2001, so the new disc is a long-overdue treat, and I dearly hope presages the renaissance of his career. We need him back!

The first night I saw them, at the Amersham Arms in SE London on Mar. 21, was a bit rough: the sound was bad, the audience sparse, and the 9-member band, having only played together for a week, still trying to gel. Still, it was an enjoyable performance: Samba still has his magnificent voice, and with two backup singer/dancers, put on a lively show. The next evening, in Brighton, was even better: better attended, better sound, better ambience, but it was the third show, in Graffham, East Sussex, a tiny country town, when the group actually became a band. Two hundred people filled the rustic hall and were dancing from the first note. Syran, who had put down his Kekele-acoustic guitar to pick up his electric again for this tour, was conducting the orchestral maneuvers with guitar cues and glances, and ripping off mind-blowing leads.

The highlight for me came when they trotted out the old warhorse, “Malaika” — I’m thinking, oh, geez, do we have to hear this again? — but Samba, reaching deep down in his soul, brought out such intense emotion that the song was completely transformed, and Syran responded with one of the most profound, heartfelt solos I’ve ever heard him play.

For more information on Samba Mapangala and the new album Song and Dance: www.virungarecords.com. Martin Sinnock and Ethan Bloomberg have recorded an Internet radio broadcast on Samba that will be available April 7.”

Thanks for the great music, cc. It’s great that so many guest posts have been coming in lately. Keep it up! Even if you don’t want to write but have a song you’d like to share, let me know.

Samba Mapangala – Adija

I’m in the mood for some more old-school pop-Africa sounds on this (finally) quiet Friday evening. Nothing like a glass of wine after work and some Kenyan twist from the 1960s to ease you into the weekend, eh?

As far as I know John Amutabi Nzenze is still alive today, around 65 years old and living in Nairobi, Kenya. Until recently he was still touring the country with his group, Wazalendo Eagles Band, playing the good old stuff for his Kenyan fans. Nzenze’s real fame came during the 1960s when he released Angelica Twist, a jangly guitar pop song that made the kids dance a mean twist.

There’s not much to say about this kind of music except that it’s dead simple and fun, but still somehow cooler than your mom’s Dixie Cups albums. Nzenze sings in Kiswahili, which I’ve always thought is a great-sounding language when sung.

You can grab this track and more from The Orchard’s Kenyan music sampler.

John Amutabi Nzenze – Angelica Twist

THE MP3 HAS BEEN FIXED

Back in an airport on wi-fi with some time for a quick post.

Yunasi is a contemporary group of six Kenyan musicians, often backed up by percussionists and orchestras of different shapes and sizes. They’re all pretty young – early 20s – and have a really fresh sound that’s very modern and distinctly Kenyan.

Over the last 3 or 4 years their popularity has steadily climbed both home and abroad following several successful gigs on some major European music festivals. They also scored several of Kenya’s Kisima awards in 2003 including “best overall group”, helping to give them a boost in their country.

They have several great tracks, including Kisumu 100 and Ji ogopore. I settled on another for today’s post, Yamala, since it’s currently my favourite driving song. Make sure to turn up the bass on this one – nice production. If you can’t find a Yunasi album, you can grab this track on the Rough Guide’s surprisingly excellent “Guide to the music of Kenya“.

ps- I used to be quite skeptical, but I’ve decided to give these Rough Guide Africa compilations a listen and I gotta say I’m pretty impressed with many of the picks.

Yunasi – Yamala