Kenyan Bloggers Day
Today is Madaraka Day – “Madaraka Day commemorates the day that Kenya attained internal self-rule following an important milestone on the road to independence.”
Members of the Kenyan Blogs Webring (KBW) are celebrating the day with a series of posts on Kenya. I only recently joined the KBW but everyone has been extremely welcoming and I can truly say that I am happy to be part of the KBW community. I have actually visited Kenya, Nairobi to be precise, although it was quite a while back. I really remember hardly anything and I was only there for a few days. I have to confess that until a few days ago I had never heard the word “Madaraka” but I wish all Kenyans a happy day and I hope those of you in the Diaspora will not feel too sad at being away from home on this day.
It so happens that one of my favourte musicians is a Kenyan so it seems apt to write a short piece on Kenyan musicians as a way of celebrating Kenya’s past, present and future on this special Madaraka Day. Here are three that I specially like. First is Ayub Ogada who I have been listening to for many years and is one of my favourte artists. Ayub Ogada plays the “nyatiti” which is a string instrument and like the mbira has a metal bit which acts as a resonater giving that kind of ting vibrating sound. 
Nyatiti Clip
His music is a mixture of traditional and modern. Here he is (left) with Zimbabwean mbira player, Chartwell Dutiro – two sides of one coin, the nyatiti and the mbira – a spiritual high.
Another great Kenyan band is Jabila Afrika which is very different to the mellow Ogada with a strong powerful roots jazz mix sound. They have an excellent website where you can listen to Jabali-afrika radio all day long.
Finally in my Kenyan trio is Kenya’s answer to Franco – the late Ochieng Kabaselleh – lovers rock Kenyan style. For some reason listening to this reminds me of growing up and the “good old days” of family fun and laughter – once we were young – better stop before I burst into tears!
Signing off with some Ayub Ogada Happy Madaraka Day! 
Jabila Afrika! Wow good memories. The nyatiti and the mbira, powerful connection which I had not seen before. Thank you for taking part.
Enjoyed writing the piece and going back to listen to Ayub Ogada. I have been listening to so much online music I am forgetting my own CDs!
Happy Madaraka Day to you too, Sokari.
I like the way you have linked your post to the music of Kenya. Ayub Ogada rocks!
p.s. I love the images
Sokari, you made my day! somehow I can’t tune in to Ayub Ogada but I managed Jabali Afrika and Kabasellah. That music still rocks and took me way back. I am buying that Kabasellah CD right away.
Thank you and happy madaraka day!
Sorry – my CDs are all packed away so I had to use a recorded clip which sounds pretty awful. I will put the actual link of the song on the site now. Yes Ayub rocks – i have to start unpacking my CDs this weekend to listen to his stuff
Happy Madaraka day Sokari.
Thank you for reminding me of Ayub and the brilliant work he does with the nyattiti – that music makes me so homesick!!!
Karibu sana, Happy Madaraka Day to you.
I miss those uniquely Kenyan sounds at weddings,live band performances.But thank God for MP3s!Nice images too!
Thank you for taking part. I am loving the different Kenyan Blogggers’ day posts – especially yours because everything mentioned here (apart from the Nyatiti) was new to me.
I have learned a lot about Kenyan music from your post.
Happy Madaraka Day!
Happy Madaraka Day to you! I love Jabali Afrika and have enjoyed their shows.I too have listened to and enjoyed some music from Zimbabwe especially from Tuku and Thomas Mapfumo ( i hope i spelt it right)
Yes the spelling is correct. I love Tuku too and have all his CDs. I have seen him in London a couple of times.One of my most memorable nights was spent at a Mapfumo all nighter in Harare at Queens club/bar – ahahah those days! That was in 90 I think – I also saw him in London and it was awful – he played for about 1 1/2 hours and then left. African musicians always play different when they are at home!
P.S Those are my buddies and it is JABALI AFRIKA, check spelling… Nice, unique entry
Ah thanks for the correction – it was a typo – I spelt it wrong then spelt it right but no excuse for being sloppy!
Ochieng Kabaselleh,
now that is a man I had forgotten about and whose work I have not heard
for a while. I must remember to look for his music online.
thank you.
Steve
Great photos!!! I was just checking out my last year’s post for BlogDay!!! There you were
I think that I found Global Voices through your blog 
Un abrazo grande!
M
I remember that Melissa – Un abrazo grande tambien!
The Mama Africa Show ( Sundays on WMPG community radio 12-2PM est.) is representing the African Diaspora in Portland Maine, USA. I found your sight very informational and inspiring. We will be discussing Madaraka day today Sunday June 1 2008 on the mama Africa show . 90.9/104.1 FM http://www.wmpg.org Tune in!
No justice , no peace – Namaste!