Kenyan Bloggers Day
on June 1, 2006
Category: Blogosphere, Music, Africa
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! 
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18 Comments so far
1. KenyaUnlimited Admin Blog » Kenyan Bloggers’ Day
June 1st, 2006 at 10:36 am
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2. Mentalacrobatics
June 1st, 2006 at 10:39 am
Jabila Afrika! Wow good memories. The nyatiti and the mbira, powerful connection which I had not seen before. Thank you for taking part.
3. Sokari
June 1st, 2006 at 11:42 am
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!
4. mshairi
June 1st, 2006 at 1:15 pm
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
5. AK
June 1st, 2006 at 1:32 pm
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!
6. Sokari
June 1st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
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
7. uaridi
June 1st, 2006 at 2:31 pm
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!!!
8. Sandman
June 1st, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Karibu sana, Happy Madaraka Day to you.
9. acolyte
June 1st, 2006 at 6:37 pm
I miss those uniquely Kenyan sounds at weddings,live band performances.But thank God for MP3s!Nice images too!
10. Mama JunkYard
June 1st, 2006 at 9:48 pm
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!
11. kabinti
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:24 am
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)
12. Sokari
June 2nd, 2006 at 5:18 am
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!
13. Irena
June 2nd, 2006 at 7:01 pm
P.S Those are my buddies and it is JABALI AFRIKA, check spelling… Nice, unique entry
14. Sokari
June 2nd, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Ah thanks for the correction - it was a typo - I spelt it wrong then spelt it right but no excuse for being sloppy!
15. Ntwiga
June 9th, 2006 at 5:25 am
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
16. melissa_cookingdiva
June 12th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
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
17. Sokari
June 12th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
I remember that Melissa - Un abrazo grande tambien!
18. lady soulshine
June 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
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 www.wmpg.org Tune in!
No justice , no peace - Namaste!