Editor's Choice

BADIBANGA WA TSHILUMBA: THE LES MANGELEPA MASTER SHOWMAN

January 02, 2025 - 04:58 PM BY JEROME OGOLA Described by Standard Newspaper cartoonist Mado as “a band within a band”, Badibanga Wa Tshilumba aka Kaikai was a spectacle to behold in Les Mangelepa shows. His showmanship oozed naturally. He was a master of the stage. Although trying to do his choreography in synchrony with the other members on stage, he oftentimes ended up a one man show as he outwitted them. He knew how to do it. Badibanga Wa Tshilumba was a rare talent. He was Nairobi's most known trombone player, and possibly the only one in the secular circles outside the military. He made his trombone mira...

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

December 23, 2024 - 05:18 AM In a whirlwind tour across Kenya's hinterland sampling the country's music from each community, the picturesque scenery of the lush green tea plantains of Kericho prepares one psychologically, for an enchanting musical cuisine, especially factoring the reality that Chandarana, the legendary music recording company set base in the town before the country's independence, long before other towns enjoyed such privileges. Kericho is home to the Kipsigis sub-tribe of the Kalenjin community. They are the most populous of these 11 subtribes, and some quarters also consider them elitist. The sub-tribe occupying two counties has the most vibrant music industry, which can be traced to the......

REMMY ONGALA "SURA MBAYA"

December 13, 2024 - 11:35 AM He had a face that, despite not being as ugly as he himself depicted in his 'sura mbaya' sobriquet, could neither be described as handsome because it was far from that reality. To complete the conspicuous look, he wore dreadlocks on his head, with a few strands beaded. That was Dr Remi, the Congolese import into Tanzania, one whose music came to define Tanzania's music. "His first wife was his music, and these other factors played a secondary role," his Belgian wife told reporters in the company of Remi's musical colleague Cosmas Tobis Chidumule, who had made a name as an astute composer and singer with the iconic DDC Mlimani Park. It has been 14 years since Remi died in Dar es Salaam.......

THE BIRTH OF KASONGO

December 06, 2024 - 12:05 PM One evening, Katele and Dodo Doris, both musicians with Super Mazembe, thought it was time to visit their colleague Kasongo Songoley in his Pipeline Estate abode in Nairobi. They only found his wife. Kasongo, who was a guitarist, was missing. Upon inquisition on the whereabouts of their colleague, the wife responded by stating that she, too, had not seen him for several days. Apparently, the musician hadn't been home for several days. The wife was worried because the family was running short of supplies. The woman narrated her tribulations to her husband's colleagues with the intention that the duo may prevail upon him to shape up his wayward ways. Musicians being musicians joked about......

KAKAI: THE BENGA PROTEGE WHO OUTSHONE THE MASTERS

November 05, 2024 - 10:40 AM KAKAI: THE BENGA PROTEGE WHO OUTSHONE THE MASTERS The Benga earthquake happened in the mid-1950s. Its epicenter was Nyanza, then known as Kavirondo at the 'tie dero' (beside a granary) on the shores of Lake Victoria. A choice of a 'tie dero' happened intentionally to keep children and at times women, off the lyrics that would occasionally veer off to what would pass as explicit. With the arrival of European explorers, a convergence of civilization occurred and the same beat began discarding the old nyatiti and replacing it with contemporary Spanish acoustic, and with the advent of recording technology, the shockwaves began reverberating beyond its Nyanza birthplace. The......

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

October 26, 2024 - 05:36 AM THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA. The year is 1963. Tabuley and Mangwana share the leadership of the newly created African Fiesta, an offshoot of the popular African Jazz of Grand Kalle. Tabuley had scouted for a fresh talent, a new singing sensation by the name Mangwana. The young man was only 17 years old. Tabuley invited Nico to come to see the newfound. A wonderful singer he was, as they discovered from the brief audition. The biggest challenge was that he was still a minor and a student in a secondary school. With word doing rounds that the band has a new singing bird, Club Petit Bois was jammed that Saturday, but trouble was lurking. Mangwana's father had sent cops to arrest......

FRANCO'S VERY FIRST SONG/S

October 17, 2024 - 05:22 AM FRANCO'S VERY FIRST SONG/S On November 17th and 18th 1953, Franco recorded his very songs. They were titled 'kombo ya loningisa' and 'lilima dis cheri was ngai'. Franco has partcipated in several recordings with the band the same year, but these weren't his compositions. The other members of the band were songbird Pauline Lisanga, Bikunda, Dewayon and others. By then Franco was 15-years-old and a member of Watam, which was Paul Ebengo Dewayon's band, signed at Loningisa Records. Remember the record label was the second in Leopoldville and was established in 1950 after Ngoma which was established in 1948. For eons basement dwellers have mentioned 'bolingo na ngai na......

What Went Wrong With Mr.nice?

August 11, 2024 - 07:10 AM WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MR.NICE? Lucas Mkenda popularly known as Mr. Nice is a Tanzanian veteran singer and one of the most celebrated vocalists in East Africa dominating East African music in the early 2000s alongside Jose Chameleone of Uganda and Jua Cali of Kenya. Mr.Nice went professional in 1999 with the release of his debut album, Kidali Po, and towards the end of 2002, he released his second album, Rafiki, also his songs; "Kikulacho", "Fagilia Wote" and "Kuku Kapanda Baiskeli" were among major hit songs of his career. He was famous for his 'Takeu' style, which comes from the initials of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda respectively. It incorporates elements from all three countries. Many......

Soukous Stars

June 22, 2024 - 11:35 AM Soukous Stars Soukous Stars was formed on 5th May 1989 in Paris by Session musicians. The founding members are: (1) Dennis Kasia aka Lokassa ya Mbongo as the leader and rthymist. He was the eldest among them. (2) Shungu Omba aka Ngouma Lokito, on Bass. (3) Germain Ndala aka Dally Kimoko, Lead guitarist. (4) Zitteny Niel, tenor vocalist. (5) Francois Ballou Canta, vocalist. (6) Henry Lukombo Nzambi aka Shimita, vocalist and dancer. (7) Mavoungou, conga, and percussions. (8) Richacha, Drums. (9) Nènè Mandosa 'Tchakou', Solo guitar. (10) Denise Kusala aka Yondo Sister, vocalist and performer. (11) Thierry Gallion, The Keyboard. It's Dally Kimoko, who came up......

Sam Mangwana: Fatimata Lyrics (With English Translation)

April 10, 2024 - 07:55 PM SAM MANGWANA FATIMATA LYRICS (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)Artist: SAM MANGWANA Song: FATIMATA (1986) LYRICS AND TRANSLATIONS Fatimata ee, je suis touché [Fatimata, I am unhappy] Mais je te pardonne [But I forgive you] Fatimata ee Oh ma belle, oh ma belle [My beauty] Ta façon d'aimer [Your style of loving] C'est pas jolie [is not nice] C'est pas gentil [is not gentle] Façon comme ça [Such a style] Ta facon d'aimer doudou ee [Your way of loving my dear] C'est pas jolie [is not nice] Cest pas gentil [is not gentle] Vraiment Fati [Surely Fati] Ta facon d'aimer cherie ee [Your way of loving dear] Jaloux jaloux jaloux......

Editor's Choice

BADIBANGA WA TSHILUMBA: THE LES MANGELEPA MASTER SHOWMAN

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

REMMY ONGALA "SURA MBAYA"

THE BIRTH OF KASONGO

KAKAI: THE BENGA PROTEGE WHO OUTSHONE THE MASTERS

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

FRANCO'S VERY FIRST SONG/S

What Went Wrong With Mr.nice?

Soukous Stars

Sam Mangwana: Fatimata Lyrics (With English Translation)

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Editor's Choice

BADIBANGA WA TSHILUMBA: THE LES MANGELEPA MASTER SHOWMAN

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

REMMY ONGALA "SURA MBAYA"

THE BIRTH OF KASONGO

KAKAI: THE BENGA PROTEGE WHO OUTSHONE THE MASTERS

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

FRANCO'S VERY FIRST SONG/S

What Went Wrong With Mr.nice?

Soukous Stars

Sam Mangwana: Fatimata Lyrics (With English Translation)

News

Artist Spotlight (30)

Editor's Choice (13)

Jabulani Library: Most Popular (46)

Jabulani News Archives (12)

Jabulani Swahili (3)

Music Lyrics (46)

Playlists (4)

Playlists 2 (0)

Programs

Bahari ya Zilizopendwa

Echoes of Africa Show

Jabulani African Hits

Rhumba Overdose Show

Mid-Morning Show

Jabulani Late Night Show

Find us on

Contact us

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