ANOTHER GOD OF TWIST

JOHN NZENZE, ANOTHER GOD OF TWIST

The advancement in technology that allows the use of computer programs to create beats has seriously eroded creativity in music.' 

John Amutabi Nzenze, a big name in Kenyan music, once reported Kelvin Ogome of KUTV. 

In his estimation, musicians nowadays no longer learn how to play instruments, i.e., guitar, saxophone, trumpets, etc., and this has encouraged laziness in music, with wannabes releasing 'hits' that can't stand the test of time. 

When a detailed history of Kenya's music is finally written, twisty will feature prominently as a genre that took the country's entertainment by storm in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, among the names that are likely to feature among the bigwigs of the genre that came with an epic dance style done in synchrony to the rhythm guitar. 

Who is John Nzenze, and did he scale the heights of music to attain its apex in an era when competition was tough? 

Nzenze, who even at old age spoke Sheng, a cryptolect associated with urban sophisticates of Kenya, seemingly to have had his fate yoked with that of yet another legend of the genre, possibly Twisty's most celebrated artist, Daudi Kabaka, with whom they shared a servant's quarters while both worked for the Norfolk Hotel in the early 1960. 

By then Daudi Kabaka was a budding star, and John Nzee, who had taught himself the basics of the acoustic guitar, fine-tuned his prowess to accompany Kabaka on guitar on his recording sessions, those days at AGS (African Gramophone Stores). 

Nzenze, who was born John Amutabi Mwanga in Nairobi in 1940, had his very first interaction with his father's kinsmen when he visited his ancestral home for a circumcision right, just before his teens. 

He shuffled between a few local schools in his ancestral home of Hamisi before finally making his way back to the city, this time not as a student but to prospect for a job; this is where his camaraderie with Kabaki laid the foundation for his music. 

Even more puzzling is the circumstances under which he became Nzenze, having been born John Amutabi. Says he has no idea who originated the moniker that later became his stage name. In his narration, when he did his very first composition, 'Angelike Twist,' and the record was shipped to South Africa for pressing, the vinyl came back with his name listed as John Nzee, whereas he had clearly indicated that his name was George Amutabi. It became apparent to him that it was much easier for him to become a John Nzenze and ship the records back to South Africa for the mistake to be regretted. He immediately adopted the name and became John Nzenze. 

His first recording had been inspired by the urge to be like Daudi Kabaka, a superstar of the day. Having accompanied him severally on guitar, he thought it was time for him to compose his own song. He did write a song about his first girlfriend called Angelina, but upon rehearsing the song in the studio, the sound engineer advised him to later the title and make it Angelike, and not Angeline, as the latter had been used by several other musicians. The song became an instant hit, and Nzenze became a superstar, just as Kabaka was. But that isn't the last time he who is retracing Nzenze's musical history will mention Kabaka. 

The song 'Agneta' was composed for a girl whom Nzenze had fallen in love with, unaware that the same lady had been courting Kabaka, his workmate, friend/peer, and music colleague. Nzenze, in the latter days, created his own band, Air Fiesta Matata, which traveled to several destinations for concerts in the country and beyond. He also recorded dozens of albums, with most doing well in the market, but unfortunately, he says the songs didn't earn him much in royalties, and in old age, he still had to struggle to sustain his family.

Nzenze also made forays and did moonlighting for other bands as well, lending his guitar wizardry to their works. For example, he is the one who played the magical solo in Ochieng Kabaselle's hit song 'Zainabu' which sold more than 100k copies. John Nzenze died on 30th May 2020, after a long and illustrious career in music. He was buried at his home in Hamisi. He left an indelible mark in the world of music.

By Jerome Ogola

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