That Coastal Kenya is the citadel of the country’s music is not in doubt. The gods of Kenyan music seem to roost in this region that lies along the western shores of the Indian Ocean and boasts some of the oldest traces of civilization in the country, with Lamu recognized as the oldest town in Kenya.

The Kenyan Coast, also known as the Coast Province, is home to several communities, among them the Mijikenda, Swahili, Arabs, Pokomo, and Somali. This region is far ahead of many others, for a cocktail of reasons, chief among them the music-rich cultural heritage of its people.

Over the years, the Coast has produced more than its fair share of musical talent, a feat that transcends genres. Apart from being home to some of the country’s top bands, it has also birthed unique musical genres such as chakacha, taarab, and bango. These are among Kenya’s most distinctive sounds, deeply rooted in the traditions of the coastal communities.

While other regions like Western Kenya, Nyanza, Central, and Ukambani have made significant contributions to the national music scene, it is the Coast that has produced an impressive litany of great names.

Western Kenya gave us Daudi Kabaka, the king of Twist, Isaya Mwinamo (musician and producer), John Mwale, George Mukabi, Jacob Luseno, Awilo Mike, Akivambo Tolo, Laban Ochuka, Roland Isese, Nyongesa Muganda, Sukuma Bin Ongaro, and many others.

Nyanza produced giants such as Ochieng Kabaselleh, Dr. Collela Mazee, Okatch Biggy, Musa Olwete, Kaudha Twins, John Ogara, Orwa Jasolo, Prince Jully, and Nelly Ochieng, while Central Kenya gave the world Joseph Kamaru, D K Kamau, Musaimo, Queen Jane, Sammy Muraya, and others.

Eastern Kenya, particularly the lower region, produced the legendary Kakai Kilonzo, Francis Danger, Muema Brothers, Peter Muambi, and Tumbo Ossu, among many more.

The regions or communities that have made little, if any, notable contribution to the world of contemporary Kenyan music include the Maasai, Pokot, Samburu, Turkana, and the Maragoli of Western Kenya, as well as the Meru. Coincidentally, other Luhya subtribes have excelled in music.

It is a bit unusual that some communities have not made major contributions because nearly all Kenyan communities have rich musical traditions rooted in folk songs and oral storytelling.

Some of the biggest names from the Kenyan Coast include Mzee Ngala, the indomitable King of Bango, a local variant of American jazz built heavily on the saxophone. The nonagenarian, born in the early 1930s, has practiced music for over six decades and is credited with originating bango, an authentic Kenyan genre that remains popular across Malindi, Mombasa, and Lamu.

Then there is The Mushrooms, from Kaloleni Giriama. This remarkable quintet comprises saxophonist, composer, and vocalist Teddy Kalanda Harrison, keyboardist, vocalist, and composer John Katana, the late guitarist and vocalist George Ziro, the late drummer and vocalist Dennis Kalume, and bassist and vocalist Billy Saro. The band gave Kenya its unofficial tourism anthem, “Hakuna Matata,” and has been a key contributor to the country’s music scene, blending chakacha with influences from reggae, bongo, and rumba.

The sons of Kaloleni in Giriama are not the only music stars from the region. The Pressmen Band, led by Albert Shehi and featuring musicians like Willy Mwangombe, was also predominantly coastal.

Another towering name from the Coast was Habel Kifoto, the creative force behind the military outfit Maroon Commandos, based at Langata Barracks in Nairobi. Kifoto was the engine that powered the band’s success in its first three decades. He was an excellent composer, guitarist, bassist, and saxophonist, and he could sing too. He composed several of the band’s most popular songs including “Charonyi ni Wasi.”

Canada-based musician Adam Ndaro Solomon, a guitar genius who played with Zeta Success, Mombasa Roots, Ochieng Kabaselleh, Kamaru, and Kanda Bongo Man, also hails from the Kenyan Coast.

Another legend, Prof Naaman, was both literally and figuratively a big musician. When asked by Jabulani Radio if it was true that his father, a herbalist and ghost buster, once ate a whole goat alone for dinner, Naaman laughed and replied, “My father had a big appetite, but he couldn’t eat a whole goat as speculated.”

The 300-kilogram heavy hitmaker behind “Baba Kambo” was also a herbalist and ghost buster.

Pioneers like Fundi Konde, who gave us classics like “Tausi” and “Olivia,” also hailed from the Coast, as did Fadhili William, a member of Equator Sounds studio band and the first person to record the timeless song “Malaika,” whose original composer remains a mystery.

Slim Ali of Hodi Boys fame was equally a son of the Coast, as were Tom Malanga of Les Wanyika, Freshley Mwamburi of Everest Kings, and Aziz Abdi Kilambo of Benga Africa, among many others. The list is endless. It is practically impossible to enumerate all music superstars that come from the region in one presentation. The region is naturally the home of the country’s music title—a crown that would’ve been snatched by Nairobi, if it weren’t a city representing a mosaic of civilizations and culture.

By Jerome Ogola