The year was 1991, and the venue was Bomas of Kenya. It was during the peak of the Soukous craze, and the crowd had gathered to enjoy the best of the Aurlus Mabele-led group Loketo, which featured the lethal soloist Diblo Dibala, partly nicknamed "The Machine Gun" owing to his high-tempo guitar skills.

But it was a local boy, Roland Isese, who stole the show. He had taken the stage with the Ulinzi Band, a military ensemble under the leadership of Laban Ochuka, which had been tasked with opening the concert. The band made a bold attempt at the hit song "Extra Ball," and Isese was impressed.

His fingers maneuvered the fretboard with the speed of a bullet and the precision of a surgeon. He managed to wow the masters themselves. Diblo was reportedly shocked by the raw talent showcased by the youngster. Roland Isese was indeed a rare breed of guitarist.

He had mastered the Soukous style. In an online conversation, Robert Matalanga described him as one of the very best solo guitarists Western Kenya ever produced, alongside Anzino Osundwa, who coincidentally also worked with him.

Information about his childhood and education is scant, but he was born in Kakamega County and was mentored by Laban Ochuka of Ulinzi. Ochuka had for many years been a musician with yet another military band, the Maroon Commandos.

Although not a trained soldier, Roland played for Ulinzi and featured in the recordings of many songs. After his time with the band, he joined Lunna Kidi, led by the late Ochieng Kabaselleh. Kabaselleh himself had previously been a musician with another military band, Scarlet, during his time as a soldier in a Lanet-based unit.

Roland Isese, who was also known as "I’m Ayako," didn’t stay long with the band. He quit to become a session musician on River Road, a street at the heart of Nairobi’s central business district that has long been known as a bastion of Kenya’s vibrant music industry.

River Road gained its reputation as Kenya’s music hub in the 1970s, naturally becoming a haven for musicians. Among the notable recording studios on the street were Jojo, Kasanga, Big Heart, and Lulu, among others.

Musicians roamed the area, often hired for studio recording sessions and paid for each engagement. While some chose to join bands, others made a living as session artists. These musicians often remained anonymous, their names missing from album sleeves and media mentions.

It is often the case that behind several big hits are talented individuals who are not credited anywhere. That is how top-notch musicians like Roland Isese remained unknown to the wider public. For example, the song "Mukangala" by Jacob Luseno is a big hit, with all credit going to Luseno as the composer and vocalist, yet nothing is said about Isese, who played the outstanding solo guitar on the track.

This exemplifies the immense contribution of instrumentalists who rarely get recognition for their efforts. Roland didn’t just play on Luseno’s many albums. He also contributed guitar to recordings by top gospel musicians like Angela Chibalonza and Reuben Kigame.

Isese had mastered the fast-paced Soukous guitar, and it was this uniqueness that made him highly sought after. For instance, when musician Emmanuel Musindi did a second version of his hit "Lelo Ni Lelo" to include politician Raila Odinga's voice, the newer version did not become a hit like the original.

A keen musical ear could tell that the solo guitarist in the second version struggled to deliver. The original version had benefited from the genius of Roland Isese. The second was recorded long after his death and lacked the same spark.

His expertise added depth to the songs he played. Among those easily identifiable are gospel tracks by Gloria Muliro, with whom he also worked. A soft-spoken man who talked little, Roland was easy to work with, which may explain why he collaborated with both gospel and secular artists.

It is also worth noting that it is the performance of music that often defines whether it is classified as secular or gospel. When it comes to recording, there is a thin line. Many secular musicians also feature in gospel recordings, which are often produced in the same studios.

Roland Isese died in 2019, aged 54. The void he left in the music world may take generations to fill.

By Jerome Ogola