After few years in musical backwaters, Jamnazi Africa is set for a big bounceback, write CAROLINE NYANGA and PETER NDORIA

If there is a local musical outfit that captured the minds and hearts of local benga lovers, then it was Jamnazi Afrika. The musical group whose name is from coastal lexicon, mnazi, which loosely goes as Ja’mnazi has been thrilling fans with well arranged music.

So popular were they that their household single, Riziki, was even translated and converted into a poem that now appears in the anthology Counterpoint and other Poems, by Oxford University Press.

Currently, they are working on their six-track album Ochola Kamili. The upcoming album is recorded in a Kisumu, its style is essentially Rhumba fused with Benga — all loaded with serious life messages. Although most other songs are done in Dholuo, there is a Swahili song in it as well.

In their decade-long reign, they have become a permanent fixture in Eldoret and its environs, churning hits. But success, tight performance schedules and recording sessions flew in the face of rumours of a split.

There was an alleged split between group founders, popular rhumba-inclined bandleader Michael Otieno a.k.a Awilo Mike and benga vocalist-cum-bandleader Milton Ongoro. This was fuelled by the fact that Ongoro, who composed popular hit single Kendu Bay, was leading one-half of the band in performances in Kisumu while Awilo who is credited with hit singles, I’m Not Sober and Riziki remained with another group in Eldoret.

The two singers are quick to dispel the rumours. Awilo Mike, who is currently in Germany on personal business, says that all is well within the group.

"We want our fans to know that we are still very much in music and should brace themselves for more surprises," explained Awilo.

On his part, Ongoro concurred adding that they were in it for the long haul since it’s a long journey and they are now working hard to release more great music.

With the two bandleaders putting on a brave face, all would seem well were in not for the group’s lukewarm shows. These has given them an unseemly low profile. They have not fared well in the competitive performances either and even when it comes to music productions, their latter works have not been at par with previous releases.

Their latest release, Khandapaka (satirical accent for ‘Handbag’ in English) did not get the envisaged massive airplay like their earlier hits, I’m Not Sober, Riziki, Kendu Bay and Rozzy.

Despite the temporary setback, the two admit their last album, Khandapaka, was inadequately done- more effort could have been put into the production. The Riziki VCD, says Ongoro, also did poorly because it was hurriedly done.

"As a result we have been busy trying to reproduce some of the songs from the album with the hope that the final product will be better and appeal to the audience," says Ongoro who is currently based in Kisumu leading part of Jamnazi band while Peter Daliti — in the absence of Awilo — leads the other part of the group in Eldoret.

Both groups have also kept the capital city at bay, it seems. Milton Ongoro, explains that this absence without leave has been occasioned because they have been busy concentrating on recording their new projects.

"Besides most club owners within Nairobi nowadays consider our charges to be rather exorbitant," observes Ongoro.

The fact that the club owners have to contend with the group’s transport, accommodation, alongside the agreed-on performance charges puts some of them off.

When contacted, his counterpart Awilo Mike echoes his sentiments saying business had somehow gone down in clubs within Nairobi.

"The artistes currently performing in most clubs are small Ohangla outfits whose charges are lower compared to Benga and Rhumba artistes. Nevertheless, we want to assure our fans that we are still very much in the game and they should brace themselves for more surprises in future… if you must know, we plan on making a comeback in Nairobi in a big way," assures Awilo.

While dispelling the rumours, both Ongoro and Awilo admit that those rumours were triggered by the fact that each one of them did a different project.

"We have never split. The fact that I did Makulata album while Ongoro released Rozzy may have elicited such rumours," says Awilo.

Their decision to release separate albums was due to the fact that they had many songs that could not fit in one album.

Performances

The group has been active in the local circuit and have performed in Kisii, Awendo, Migori, Kakamega and Mombasa.

"We have performed almost everywhere in Kenya except in Central Province. We nevertheless hope to do so upon invitation," says Ongoro.

In what must be a unique trend, another group member, Frederick Akivambo, also released a Luhya album, Vapere, (meaning people who have a habit of bad mouthing others).

The group initially started in Eldoret and attained public recognition after participating in the Safaricom Star Search with the song I am not Sober.

"I met Awilo in Kutana Club, Eldoret where he was part of the Kilimanjaro Music Group while I was in Banakutana band," recalls Ongoro.

25 musicians

After a month Awilo left Kilimanjaro to join Ongoro in 2001. The following year the duo quit and formed Jamnazi Africa.

The band that for a long time comprised 25 musicians was based at Wagon Hotel Eldoret where they perform every Friday and Saturday before Ongoro left with part of the band.

"We have been performing at the hotel for close to a decade now. The fact that we have two groups has enabled us to know how to go about our scheduled performances whenever called upon."