Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 17, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B0001W30E0
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,209 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Nduraga Ngwetereire - Queen Jane

2. Ting' Badi Malo - Gidi Gidi Maji Maji

3. Chereko - Nyota Ndogo

4. Mama Sofi Pt.2 - Kakai Kilonzo

5. Muhogo - Miraj Juma

6. Kisumu 100 - Suzzana Owiyo

7. Hasidi Hana Sababu - Golden Sounds Band

8. Yamala (Responsibility) - Yunasi

9. Beatrice #4 - D.O. Misiani

10. Tweta - Zuhura Swaleh

11. Mama Sofia Pt.1 - Kakai Kilonzo

12. Obura Jabilo - Kenge Kenge Orutu Systems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music of Kenya's Relaxing Rhythmic Melodies & Diverse Styles, May 22, 2010

By 

Peter Walenta "Peter Walenta" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya (Audio CD)

Delving ever further into the by now quite comprehensive world music Rough Guide Series records, I acquired Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya (World Music Network, c.2004, Total Running Time 65:30) in April 2009. It's taken me a year to get into this one but after many careful listens and doing a bit of background reading, I can now say that I enjoy this record very much. The detailed annotations by music compiler, Douglas Paterson, help even the seasoned world music listener to better tackle the daunting task of deciphering this record's varied music styles. Eleven featured artists represent four distinct Kenyan music styles namely, 1). Western Kenyan roots benga (D.O. Misiani & Shirati Jazz, Queen Jane, Kakai Kilonzo); 2). Mombasa or coastal Taarab (Miraj Juma & Jauhar Orchestra, Zuhura Swaleh & Mombasa Party); 3). Swahili Rhumba (Gelden Sounds Band) and, 4). Kenyan rap or the sounds of the new `hip-hop' generation (Nyota Ndogo, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, Yunasi, Suzzana Owiyo, Kenge Kenge Orutu Systems).

My favorite songs are performed by two of the modern women artists. Nyota Ndogo's "Chereko" has a catchy haunting melody that springs from the traditional Mombasa Taarab style, while "Kisumu 100" by Suzzana Owiyo contains elements of the west Kenyan roots benga style. The two excellent and haunting Taarab style songs had, prior to 2004, never been released. The four Kenyan music styles feature vibrantly pulsating rhythms, fluid electric guitar fills and lively (and occasionally haunting) melodious vocals. The designation of the modern style as `hip-hop' is somewhat inaccurate, as only one of the five `modern' songs is a straight forward dance rap ("Ting Badi Malo"), whereas the rest contain sung vocal melodies that interestingly also draw on South African music styles. This record will reward patient listening as it contains 12 wonderfully melodic and rhythmic songs that tell universal human tales of infidelity, displacement, temptation, searches for healing and celebration. "Music of Kenya" is the one of the best Rough Guide compilations that I have heard and is now one of my favorite world beat records.