The song "Asembo Piny Maber" is a figurative narration that extols the greatness of a locality as a way of expressing the beauty of a woman.
"Asembo piny maber wachame mawembe"
"Kalando piny maber wachame nyamami gi mbuta"
(Asembo, the great land that serves juicy mangoes and delicious Nile perch)

The song, undoubtedly the biggest hit by benga sensation Osito Kalle, is a musical narration of the history of his Kakia sub-clan of the Asembo clan. He compares this history to the beauty of Jane Akelo Nyaimbo, a woman the musician was in love with. The clan traces its origin to a legend of a hunter from Kano who was killed by a fellow hunter from Asembo during an expedition. A court session presided over by the Ruoth adjudicated the matter and sentenced the killer to offer his daughter in marriage to the family of the deceased.

The daughter, Kia, was taken as a wife by the Kano family. However, much later, when her father visited her, he found the flooded fields of Kano unpleasant for his daughter. He instead offered her and her family land in Asembo, thus marking the origin of the Ka-Kia clan.

The motivation behind this relocation was the beauty and fertility of Asembo, which was referred to as "piny maber" (the good land). This story is aptly captured by Okeyo Soja and Agutu Onagi in their book Benga Maestro, a biography of the benga superstar.

The name "Kalee" is thus an acronym of the prefix "Ka" and "Lee," meaning all the descendants of the Ka-Kia clan are technically Joka-Lee. This name has always been mistaken to be shared with Kale, a sobriquet for Ochieng’ Kabaselle, a fellow musician from Asembo, who coincidentally was also referred to as Kadory. Kale, for the founder of LUNNA Kidi, on the other hand, is a shorter version of Kabasele, a Muluba name adopted by Kabaselle in admiration of the founder of African Jazz, Grand Kale, also known as Tshamala Joseph.

As such, the song stands out for the rare quality of blending clan history with a praise song for a woman. This may explain its popularity, not just in Asembo, a clan that resides in present-day Bondo Sub-County, but also across the Nyanza region.

This clan occupies such a central position that when Osito wanted to name his band, he considered names like Mabinju Stars and Asembo Stars, Mabinju being the name of his village, before finally settling on Nabii Kings in honor of one of the clan's revered prophets.

Although not listed among the originators of the genre due to his late entry, having begun his music career in 1990, Osito rose to be counted among benga’s greatest. He joined the ranks of pioneers like John Ogara, Were Carey, and Jose Jokeyo (father to Akothee), who began benga as nyatiti dero—a one-man instrumentalist setup beside the traditional granary.

Although the etymology of the word "benga" is debated, with various theories proposed, there is consensus that the genre was born in the mid-1950s, with John Ogara as one of its patriarchs.

Despite having its epicenter in Siaya, the genre's musical waves reverberated widely, reaching the furthest corners of Kenya. The beat was adopted in Central Kenya, Kisii, and the Rift Valley.

In later years, thanks to the production and distribution of big names like Oluoch Kanindo, the genre surged in popularity and crossed national and continental borders, gaining traction in Southern African countries and the Caribbean. Other big names in the genre include Ochieng Kabasele, Ochieng Nelly, Musa Olwete, Kaudha Kings, Collela Mazee, and D.O. Misiani, among many others.

At the center of Benga’s evolution was the Victoria Jazz Band, which transformed into Victoria Kings in 1973. Later, in the late 1970s, it disintegrated into smaller groups. After several mutations caused by disinterest, defections, and splinters, Osito Kalle, then eking out a living as a carpenter in Nairobi, found himself practicing with one of Victoria Jazz’s offshoots, Victoria C, under the mentorship of Awino Lawi in 1977.

Osito quickly learned the ropes, mastering the guitar and becoming the lead singer for the band. His first song, "Asembo Piny Maber," was recorded with his own band, Nabii Kings. The team that recorded the album included Osito Kalle (vocalist and solo guitarist), the late Paul Oduge (drummer), Olenyo (vocalist and backup), Omondi Gimoro Ogulo (vocalist), the late Ochieng Soja (bass guitarist), the late Andare Bodho Bodho (conga), and Hosea Jakadem (vocalist).

He has since released about 26 albums, featuring hit songs like "Carolina," "Adhiambo," "Beatrice," and "Aluoch," among many others. "Aluoch" was dedicated to his former vocalist Aluoch Pamba, who later joined Shirati Jazz under D.O. Misiani. Aluoch, now a musical giant in her own right, had previously worked as a hotel waitress in Sondu, where Osito discovered and trained her due to her talent and interest in music.

Osito, who was born in Mabinju, has two wives, and some of his songs, "Betty" and "Nyakadenge," are dedicated to them. He was born to Elly Mirasi Akumu in Mabinju, Asembo, in 1958. His young son, who plays the guitar exceptionally well, is expected to follow in his father's musical footsteps.

He remains one of the few musicians who have remained true to authentic benga, without veering into Congolese rumba.

By Jerome Ogola

Jabulani Radio

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