Benga is a genre of Kenyanpopular music. It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s, in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi. In the 1940s, the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous, South Africankwela, Congolesefinger-style guitar and various kinds of Cubandance music that heavily influenced emergence of benga. There were also popular folk songs of Tanzania and Kenya's Luo peoples that formed the base on benga creation.
The Luo of Kenya have long played an eight-string lyre called nyatiti, and guitarists from the area sought to imitate the instrument's syncopatedmelodies. In benga, the electric bass guitar is played in a style reminiscent of the nyatiti. As late as the turn of the twentieth century, this bass in nyatiti supported the rhythm essential in transmitting knowledge about society through music. Opondo Owenga of Gem Yala, the grandfather of Odhiambo Siangla, was known for employing music as a means of teaching the history of the Luo. The father of the popular Luo Benga is non-other than The Famous George Ramogi (Omogi Wuod Weta) and CK Jazz. He helped the Benga enthusiasts by recording their Benga music in different labels in the capital city of Nairobi. Dr. Mengo of Victoria Jazz was a protege of George Ramogi.
In 1967, the first major benga band, Shirati Jazz, was formed by Daniel Owino Misiani (22 February 1940 – 17 May 2006).[1][2] The group launched a string of hits that were East Africa's biggest songs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Shirati Jazz's biggest rival was Victoria Jazz, formed in 1972 by Ochieng Nelly Mengo and Collela Mazee. Despite many personnel changes, Victoria Jazz remained popular throughout the 1970s, when the Voice of Kenyaradio station pushed an onslaught of East African pop. Victoria C Band of Awino Lawi was one of the splinter group of Victoria Jazz.
1997 saw the death of three prominent Luo Benga artists, Okatch Biggy of Heka Heka Band, George Ramogi and Prince Jully. The Jolly Boys Band of Prince Jully was taken over by his wife Princess Jully and she has since been a leading female Benga musician.[3]
Another famous benga band Migori Super Stars was formed in the mid-70s and was led by Musa Olwete which later split to form another popular benga band Migori Super Stars C with musicians such as Joseph Ochola (Kasongo Polo Menyo), Onyango Jamba, Ochieng' Denge denge and others.
More modern benga artists include Kapere Jazz Band and the rootsy Ogwang Lelo Okoth. The new millennium has seen the emergence of Dola Kabarry and Musa Juma. The latter saw his career cut short as he died in 2011. MJ, as he was popularly known to his fans, developed a kind of benga that infused elements of rumba. he was able to mold other musicians such as John Junior, Ogonji, Madanji, and his late brother Omondi Tonny.[4]
Currently, Odhiambo Tusker of Malela Kings Band is considered the superstar of Luo Benga music, with all his music loved by people of all ages.[5][6]
There are also other benga artists based in other countries other than Kenya, such as the American/Kenyan group Extra Golden.
benga, music, benga, genre, kenyan, popular, music, evolved, between, late, 1940s, late, 1960s, kenya, capital, city, nairobi, 1940s, african, broadcasting, service, nairobi, aired, steady, stream, soukous, south, african, kwela, congolese, finger, style, guit. Benga is a genre of Kenyan popular music It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s in Kenya s capital city of Nairobi In the 1940s the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous South African kwela Congolese finger style guitar and various kinds of Cuban dance music that heavily influenced emergence of benga There were also popular folk songs of Tanzania and Kenya s Luo peoples that formed the base on benga creation BengaStylistic originsLuo music Kamba soukousCultural originsLate 1940s Late 1960s KenyaRegional scenesKenya TanzaniaOther topicsMuziki wa dansiNgoma musicSingeliLuo Benga editThe Luo of Kenya have long played an eight string lyre called nyatiti and guitarists from the area sought to imitate the instrument s syncopated melodies In benga the electric bass guitar is played in a style reminiscent of the nyatiti As late as the turn of the twentieth century this bass in nyatiti supported the rhythm essential in transmitting knowledge about society through music Opondo Owenga of Gem Yala the grandfather of Odhiambo Siangla was known for employing music as a means of teaching the history of the Luo The father of the popular Luo Benga is non other than The Famous George Ramogi Omogi Wuod Weta and CK Jazz He helped the Benga enthusiasts by recording their Benga music in different labels in the capital city of Nairobi Dr Mengo of Victoria Jazz was a protege of George Ramogi In 1967 the first major benga band Shirati Jazz was formed by Daniel Owino Misiani 22 February 1940 17 May 2006 1 2 The group launched a string of hits that were East Africa s biggest songs throughout the 1970s and 1980s Shirati Jazz s biggest rival was Victoria Jazz formed in 1972 by Ochieng Nelly Mengo and Collela Mazee Despite many personnel changes Victoria Jazz remained popular throughout the 1970s when the Voice of Kenya radio station pushed an onslaught of East African pop Victoria C Band of Awino Lawi was one of the splinter group of Victoria Jazz 1997 saw the death of three prominent Luo Benga artists Okatch Biggy of Heka Heka Band George Ramogi and Prince Jully The Jolly Boys Band of Prince Jully was taken over by his wife Princess Jully and she has since been a leading female Benga musician 3 Another famous benga band Migori Super Stars was formed in the mid 70s and was led by Musa Olwete which later split to form another popular benga band Migori Super Stars C with musicians such as Joseph Ochola Kasongo Polo Menyo Onyango Jamba Ochieng Denge denge and others More modern benga artists include Kapere Jazz Band and the rootsy Ogwang Lelo Okoth The new millennium has seen the emergence of Dola Kabarry and Musa Juma The latter saw his career cut short as he died in 2011 MJ as he was popularly known to his fans developed a kind of benga that infused elements of rumba he was able to mold other musicians such as John Junior Ogonji Madanji and his late brother Omondi Tonny 4 Currently Odhiambo Tusker of Malela Kings Band is considered the superstar of Luo Benga music with all his music loved by people of all ages 5 6 There are also other benga artists based in other countries other than Kenya such as the American Kenyan group Extra Golden See also editChandarana RecordsReferences edit Miles M 1989 The Folk and The New Ganged in Kenya Boston Phoenix Onyor J O 2019 Political imagery and symbolism in Daniel Owino Misiani s benga songs Master s Thesis Maseno University Kenya https repository maseno ac ke bitstream handle 123456789 1435 corrected 20copy 20thesis pdf sequence 1 amp isAllowed y 25 February 2021 Trillo Richard 2002 Rough guide to Kenya 7th ed Rough Guides ISBN 978 1 85828 859 8 Daily Nation 16 March 2011 Benga maestro leaves fans waiting for more Gwengi Isaiah 20 February 2021 Odhiambo Tusker speaks says Benga is alive amid nonstop Ohangla beat The Standard Retrieved 9 June 2023 Nyanga Caroline 31 March 2012 Odhiambo Tusker out to return Benga to its golden days The Standard Retrieved 9 June 2023 nbsp This Tanzania related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Kenya related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Swahili related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a music genre is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benga music amp oldid 1187936467, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
