Maybe the presidency of Barack Obama (photo on the right) will bring a renewed interest in Kenya, and in Kenyan culture. The last few years have already seen a revival (well, more or less) of an authentic Kenyan music style: benga.You can read about the rise (and decline) of this style on afromix.org or afropop.org.
Here is an lp from 1974 with tracks by Mori River Jazz Band, D.O. Misiani & the Shirati Luo Voice, the Menya [GL] Success, Central K. Jazz Band and the Victoria Jazz Band '71.It may be just me, but I get the impression that these tracks are a bit slower than later benga tracks. But there is no doubt that these are indeed Great Hits!
Sungura SGL 116
7 comments:
oh how i love kenyan benga.
thanks for this sweet gem.
please post more if you have it!
Heyy man, loving your blog! And a huge benga fan too... But it seems divshare wont allow any more downloads for this file at the moment...!
btw have you heard this one?
http://kreismyr.blogspot.com/2008/08/opiyo-bilongo-extra-golden-when-i-was.html
Thanks for letting me know!
The file has been restored (but on another server).
Thanks for posting this LP, it is very nice.
You wrote that you thought that later benga may have been at a faster pace - I don't know. I have heard later work from some of the groups on this LP for example shirati jazz, that seem of the same pace. They, though, were probably the most established band and would be less likely to change their style.
I could see however that the influence of congolese bands coming in, and congolese music in general could lead to a speeding up of benga - especially groups like shama shama or zaiko
Oh man. I heard this LP on my local University radio station. It has taken me a long time to find a copy of it. Thank you soooo much!
Love what you do so much. I thought I was half hip and had a decent collection, but what you post blows me away.
I've been in a Kenyan mood recently, so I went digging in the archives. Couldn't get the DL page to come up. Yeah, I know, it's a year later, get with the program. But if you're even completely at a loss about what to do , can you re-up this. Thanks
@Sun Ira: I have tested the link and can find nothing wrong with it.
Do you have any problems with other downloads from Adrive?
It may have been a temporary 'disfunctioning'. Please try again, and if you still can't download it, let me know and I'll see if I can upload it to another server.
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