Caroline Nyanga

Them Mushrooms has finished working on their much-anticipated two albums. Bandleader John Katana has confirmed that the albums New Zilizopendwa and Original Mushroom with 14 tracks each will be launched in October.

"Our new music, which features chakacha, nzele, and reggae among other genres, is unique in the sense that it is different from what other Kenyan artistes have released in the past," he says.

Katana also reveals that the group, which changed its name to Uyoga in 2002, has reverted to Them Mushrooms.

"We realised we would be in a better position to capture the local audience under our old name."

He explains that the band changed its name to Uyoga as a marketing strategy.

An African Name For Europe

"We acquired an African name when we started touring Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. We felt that an African name would sell us better in those markets."

Katana says the band is now doing public shows as opposed to performing at corporate events, and plans to hold concerts at a Nairobi hotel twice a week.

He dismisses claims that at some point Them Mushrooms had hit a rough patch and were contemplating quitting music.

"We have not quit music. We are still very much in the game. For us, music is a long journey and our fans should brace themselves for more surprises."

Them Mushrooms have churned out hits that many consider evergreen. The famous Jambo Bwana, recorded in 1980, was the band’s first hit and remains one of Kenya’s most known songs abroad. As part of their re-invention strategy, the band released the first edition of their popular Zilizopendwa collection in 1991 and others in 1992 and 2000.

Founded in 1972, the group rose to fame with a distinct blend of taarab and sega folk music, before taking to chakacha and spicing it up with rap and hip-hop beats.

The group comprises six members, brothers Billy Saro Harrison, John Katana Harrison and George Ziro Harrison as well as new members Willy Mabisi, Yusuf Muriera and Willy Tusi Mramba.

When the group started out it comprised of five brothers — Saro, Katana, Ziro, Teddy Kalanda Harrison (retired) and Dennis Kalume Harrison who died in 1992.