Channel Title: Singing Wells Channel Description: Singing Wells is a collaborative project between the Abubilla Music Foundation in the UK and Ketebul Music in Kenya. Our goal is to record, archive and share the tribal music of East Africa for two important reasons: to preserve and celebrate the extraordinary cultural music heritage of the region, and to help make this legacy relevant and fresh to today's musicians. Please subscribe to our channel for all our latest recordings, and to get updates on the project! For more information, to download albums or to help sponsor one of our recording sessions in East Africa, visit our website: http://www.singingwells.org <video> Asego Ensemble - Loto Description: Asego Ensemble consists of young talented musicians who play an array of musical instruments with Mwalimu Odede on vocals and the acoustic guitar. Others members are Ayuto wuod Nyasuba on lead vocals and keyboards, Boniface Onyango Juma on marimba and piano, and Kevochi on percussions. For the live recording they were accompanied by Fiston and Ben on bass and congas respectively. The group derives its name from the surrounding Asego hills which are close to the homes of most of the band members. Led by Mwalimu Odede, the Asego Ensemble was formed in December 2021 with the aim of incorporating modern musical instruments to the traditional ohangla, in an effort to making the genre more appealing to a wider audience. The group is based in Oyugis town and regularly perform at various clubs within Homa Bay County. You can find out more about our recording with Asego Ensemble here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video> <video> Global Influences Project: Makossiri x Aloka Ohangla Description: We love this brilliant submission from Kenyan techno artist, Makossiri. Describing herself as “A true rebel from the outerworld who defies boundaries through her genre bending sound grounded in African rhythms with a futuristic twist”, we loved how she took these beats and created something truly unique. Talking about her process, she said "I used the Aloka ohangla drum solo loops for this track. I usually like to start my music creation process with layering drums and while going through the loops, this one felt like the perfect fit. I also used a 909 kick drum to create a hard thumping futuristic electro ohangla club party track." You can follow more from Makossiri on Instragram and Twitter at @makossiri Want to find out more? Head to www.singingwells.org/global-influences-project </video> <video> Peter Akwabi - Justus Kibuyu Description: Peter Okutoyi Akwabi, was born in 1946 in Ebuhonga village in Kisa, Kakamega County. He started his musical career in 1963 when he cut his first disc ‘Kifo Cha Mukabi’, a song he composed while still in primary school as a tribute to his mentor, the legendary king of omutibo, George Mukabi. He went on to study music at Kenyatta College in 1969 and later taught at Alliance High School, just a few kilometers from Nairobi.  During his illustrious musical career spanning over four decades, Akwabi composed over 250 songs with Dada Njoo being his biggest hit. After retiring from the Teachers Service Commission, Akwabi joined Kenyatta University’s Performing and Creative Arts Centre where he directed music activities for another 12 years before finally retiring to his village in Ebuhongo were he currently resides. During this recording he was accompanied by his younger brother Silvanus Anyangu (vocals), Ben Mukabwa (bass) and Fiston Lusambo (guitar). They were also joined by Brian Nyamanga and Thelma Lukachia both members of Loko Band, the resident band at Dunga Hill Camp. Find more information about our recording with Peter here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video> <video> Peter Akwabi - Kifo Cha Mukabi Description: Peter Okutoyi Akwabi, was born in 1946 in Ebuhonga village in Kisa, Kakamega County. He started his musical career in 1963 when he cut his first disc ‘Kifo Cha Mukabi’, a song he composed while still in primary school as a tribute to his mentor, the legendary king of omutibo, George Mukabi. He went on to study music at Kenyatta College in 1969 and later taught at Alliance High School, just a few kilometers from Nairobi. During his illustrious musical career spanning over four decades, Akwabi composed over 250 songs with Dada Njoo being his biggest hit. After retiring from the Teachers Service Commission, Akwabi joined Kenyatta University’s Performing and Creative Arts Centre where he directed music activities for another 12 years before finally retiring to his village in Ebuhongo were he currently resides. During this recording he was accompanied by his younger brother Silvanus Anyangu (vocals), Ben Mukabwa (bass) and Fiston Lusambo (guitar). They were also joined by Brian Nyamanga and Thelma Lukachia both members of Loko Band, the resident band at Dunga Hill Camp. Find more information about our recording with Peter here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video> <video> Obasie Palnyang Band - Iteso Lu Akotoi Description: The Obasie Palnyang Band was founded by the veteran Iteso musician Obasie Palnyang, an accomplished accordion player and folk singer who died on 27 May 2021. The band currently features his three daughters, Monica Obali, Millicent Akorot and Caroline Obasie on vocals with their two brothers, Donald and Tobias Obasie on vocals and accordion, respectively. On special occasions, as with this live recording, the siblings were joined by Simon Omuse on the harmonica. Fiston played guitar while Ben and Gido were on percussions and bass respectively. The Obasie Palnyang band is very popular among the Iteso people and their neighboring communities in western Kenya and the eastern parts of Uganda. The group holds regular shows at Amurai center and can, on occasion, be seen performing in the neighboring towns of Busia and Malaba.  Find out more about our recording with Obasie Palnyang Band here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-two-8-march-2022-ilesi/ </video> <video> Ontiri Bikundo - Omoiseke Omuya Description: Ronald Ontiri Onchuru Bikundo is a versatile obukano player who was born in 1974 in Kisii. Ontiri started playing music in 1985 and recorded his first song ‘Bikundo Obaba mbono’ in 1994 and from then on he has been the main star of the obukano music genre from the region. Ontiri has performed in most entertainment venues within Kenya and is among the few Kenyan musicians with a huge fan base in the US and Canada, where he has also toured extensively. Ontitri has been invited to perform in South Korea and Germany, not mention that he was one of the leading performers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2014. Ontiri on the obukano and vocals was backed by Leonidah Basbori on tumba and vocals with Lavin Kwamboka, Cliff Mogeni Mogaka, and Omuya Cyprine Moraa all on background vocals. Fiston was on guitar with Dave on bass. Ontiri is married to Ruth Moraa and the two reside in Kisii town with their four children. You can find out more about our recording with Ontiri Bikundo here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-four-10-march-2022-rongo/ </video> <video> Global Influences Project: Jay P Production x Rubanga Kingdom Awach Boys Description: This upbeat bop has been submitted by Jay P Production for our latest installment of the Global Influences Project. We love how they used this beat to create something that got the whole team wanting to dance! When we asked about their process, Jay P Production said "We have always believed in selecting the best drums and sounds for each genre and that's what we did here and we really appreciate you guys for believing in us." We think what they created just from a percussion sample is amazing! If you want to find out more about Jay P Production, follow them @jay.p_production_kenya </video> <video> Ontiri Bikundo - Sweet Banana Description: Ronald Ontiri Onchuru Bikundo is a versatile obukano player who was born in 1974 in Kisii. Ontiri started playing music in 1985 and recorded his first song  ‘Bikundo Obaba mbono’ in 1994 and from then on he has been the main star of the obukano music genre from the region. Ontiri has performed in most entertainment venues within Kenya and is among the few Kenyan musicians with a huge fan base in the US and Canada, where he has also toured extensively. Ontitri has been invited to perform in South Korea and Germany, not mention that he was one of the leading performers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2014. Ontiri on the obukano and vocals was backed by Leonidah Basbori on tumba and vocals with Lavin Kwamboka, Cliff Mogeni Mogaka, and Omuya Cyprine Moraa all on background vocals. Fiston was on guitar with Dave on bass. Ontiri is married to Ruth Moraa and the two reside in Kisii town with their four children. You can find out more about our recording with Ontiri Bikundo here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-four-10-march-2022-rongo/ </video> <video> Asego Ensemble - Adede Description: Asego Ensemble consists of young talented musicians who play an array of musical instruments with Mwalimu Odede on vocals and the acoustic guitar. Others members are Ayuto wuod Nyasuba on lead vocals and keyboards, Boniface Onyango Juma on marimba and piano, and Kevochi on percussions. For the live recording they were accompanied by Fiston and Ben on bass and congas respectively. The group derives its name from the surrounding Asego hills which are close to the homes of most of the band members. Led by Mwalimu Odede, the Asego Ensemble was formed in December 2021 with the aim of incorporating modern musical instruments to the traditional ohangla, in an effort to making the genre more appealing to a wider audience. The group is based in Oyugis town and regularly perform at various clubs within Homa Bay County. You can find out more about our recording with Asego Ensemble here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video> <video> Obasie Palnyang Band - Atiker Kiteso Description: The Obasie Palnyang Band was founded by the veteran Iteso musician Obasie Palnyang, an accomplished accordion player and folk singer who died on 27 May 2021. The band currently features his three daughters, Monica Obali, Millicent Akorot and Caroline Obasie on vocals with their two brothers, Donald and Tobias Obasie on vocals and accordion, respectively. On special occasions, as with this live recording, the siblings were joined by Simon Omuse on the harmonica. Fiston played guitar while Ben and Gido were on percussions and bass respectively. The Obasie Palnyang band is very popular among the Iteso people and their neighboring communities in western Kenya and the eastern parts of Uganda. The group holds regular shows at Amurai center and can, on occasion, be seen performing in the neighboring towns of Busia and Malaba. Find out more about our recording with Obasie Palnyang Band here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-two-8-march-2022-ilesi/ </video> <video> Global Influences Project: Ng'at Maler x Otacho Young Stars//Nyatiti Group//Watmon Cultural Group Description: We are loving this track from Ng'at Maler who utilises several different loops for his submission. He told us how the project has really impacted his current workflow when making new music, making sure to include African sounds, and we just LOVE that! "Loops are such a great way to start a track for me. They are a great way of finding inspiration, and i particularly liked the rhythmic elements that these loops have. They have an organic sound and are not exactly on the grid because the instruments are played by people. in the case of Watmon Cultural Group loop for example, the plucked instrument provides both melodic and a groove to the track. I used that as a starting point and built everything else around it.I used the Otacho Young Stars Shoe Shine Box loop to add some movement to the drums and arpeggio and I was really happy with how the rest of the elements came together in this piece." To hear more work from Ng'at Maler, you can follow him at @ngatmaler </video> <video> Global Influences Project: L3GS x Otacho Young Stars//Joginda Boys//Nyatiti Group Description: Our final submission for this years Global Influences Project comes from a producer trio from Nairobi named L3GS. We loved the mellow vibes of this track and it's amazing how well they have incorporated the loops to create a contemporary sounding beat. "It was great working with the samples because they are not just like any random sample from the internet, they have a story behind them and you can look up where the sample you are using came from and learn more about the culture and the people that make them. It's important to us that we have sounds from our region represented in the music we make and this is a great way to spotlight traditional music. We tried to build the track around the vocals that we chopped from the Nyatiti Group loop and fused that with the Otacho Young Stars Shoe Shine Box loop. We added some drum hits of bongos and congas to compliment the groove and have that interplay between the drums we made and the loops provided. it was easy to add some melodic sounds and bass to fill out the frequencies after having the foundational part down." We love how they really nailed why we started this project: bringing the history and culture of this music alive, whilst adapting it for modern tastes and musical styles! We hope this will inspire many more musicians to go back to their roots and create something special! To find out more about L3GS, follow them on @l3gsmusic </video> <video> Micyingo (Kisoro Hill) Community - The Singing Wells Project Description: Recorded on the 23rd November 2011 at the Travellers Rest Hotel, Kisoro. This trip was made possible by a grant from the IIE. You can read the field report from our visit here: http://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-5-late-evening-11-11-23-the-bass/ For more information, please goto: http://www.singingwells.org Recording Information: Date of Recording: 23rd November 2011 Country: Uganda Audio Recordist: Willie Gachuche, Ketebul Music (Nairobi) Location: Travellers Rest Hotel, Kisoro District Recording Equipment: Audio - SWP A - AKG 414, Røde NTG -1 and Røde Lavalier mics, MOTU Traveler, Apple Macbook Pro and ProTools 9 Video Equipment: Canon 5dMkII Part of the Singing Wells - The Music of the Batwa collection. </video> <video> Olith Ratego - Jawanya Remix Description: Olith Ratego was born Musa Odhiambo Omondi on 26 December 1974 in Asere, Ugenya in Western Kenya. The middle child in a family of three Olith Ratego dropped out of school at an early age to help his father, Walter Omondi Onyango, run his carpentry workshop. A self-taught musician, Olith Ratego later used his woodwork skills to create a novel five-stringed instrument he named okoddo after his great-grandfather, Okoddo Madanda, who was known to his peers as a fierce warrior and revered as a mythical figure by members of his community. Olith Ratego is an ingenious vocalist, a gift he inherited from his mother, Maria Anyango Odari, who was an accomplished singer in her own right. His musical style is greatly influenced by traditional dodo of the Luo people of Kenya who live along the shores of Lake Victoria. In 2001 he moved to Nairobi City and recorded his first song Mamano Daa which enjoyed massive radio airplay locally. However, earnings from royalties accrued from the song could not sustain him in the city and a disillusioned Olith Ratego went back to his village in Siaya County. He came back to Nairobi two years later and signed up with Ketebul Music where he released the album osuga in 2003. Olith Ratego has performed in many European cities and collaborated with internationally acclaimed musicians such as the German composer Sven Kacirek and Cuban jazz pianist Omar Sosa. Olith Ratego again returned to his village in Asere to continue running his late father’s carpentry business and performing music on special occasions. On this live show, Olith Ratego was accompanied by Ben Mukabwa on bass, Fiston Lusambo on guitar with Brian Nyamanga and Thelma Lukachia of the Loko band on percussions and shakers, respectively. Find out more about our recording with Olith Ratego here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video> <video> Olith Ratego - Ninuwang Description: Olith Ratego was born Musa Odhiambo Omondi on 26 December 1974 in Asere, Ugenya in Western Kenya. The middle child in a family of three Olith Ratego dropped out of school at an early age to help his father, Walter Omondi Onyango, run his carpentry workshop. A self-taught musician, Olith Ratego later used his woodwork skills to create a novel five-stringed instrument he named okoddo after his great-grandfather, Okoddo Madanda, who was known to his peers as a fierce warrior and revered as a mythical figure by members of his community. Olith Ratego is an ingenious vocalist, a gift he inherited from his mother, Maria Anyango Odari, who was an accomplished singer in her own right. His musical style is greatly influenced by traditional dodo of the Luo people of Kenya who live along the shores of Lake Victoria. In 2001 he moved to Nairobi City and recorded his first song Mamano Daa which enjoyed massive radio airplay locally. However, earnings from royalties accrued from the song could not sustain him in the city and a disillusioned Olith Ratego went back to his village in Siaya County. He came back to Nairobi two years later and signed up with Ketebul Music where he released the album osuga in 2003. Olith Ratego has performed in many European cities and collaborated with internationally acclaimed musicians such as the German composer Sven Kacirek and Cuban jazz pianist Omar Sosa. Olith Ratego again returned to his village in Asere to continue running his late father’s carpentry business and performing music on special occasions. On this live show, Olith Ratego was accompanied by Ben Mukabwa on bass, Fiston Lusambo on guitar with Brian Nyamanga and Thelma Lukachia of the Loko band on percussions and shakers, respectively. Find out more about our recording with Olith Ratego here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-three-9-march-2022-kisumu/ </video>

Contacts and Links

Description

Singing Wells is a collaborative project between the Abubilla Music Foundation in the UK and Ketebul Music in Kenya. Our goal is to record, archive and share the tribal music of East Africa for two important reasons: to preserve and celebrate the extraordinary cultural music heritage of the region, and to help make this legacy relevant and fresh to today's musicians.

Please subscribe to our channel for all our latest recordings, and to get updates on the project!

For more information, to download albums or to help sponsor one of our recording sessions in East Africa, visit our website: http://www.singingwells.org

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