Singer drumming for talent

By Caroline Nyanga

Not so long ago, presidential functions were incomplete without music troupe Muungano Choir taking to the stage to entertain. The masters of ceremony usually put them as the final act, saving the best for last.

At the drums was Elisha Vitolo Nakali, who was also a singer.

As the troupe’s popularity grew, Vitolo’s star shone with it. With time, he quickly gained popularity among fans due to his unique ability to perform well.

Elisha Vitolo uses music to preach peace and give hope to the less fortunate.

Today, Vitolo 40, who is one of Kenya’s leading percussionists is not only a known face behind national state ceremonies and music festivals but he is also one of the longest serving artistes in the country with a career spanning more than two decades.

Vitolo started singing at an early age and his first public performance was after Kenya’s first president died in 1978. Muungano’s lyrics in mourning the late president — Natazama kilele cha mlima wa Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta sasa ametuacha (I face the tip of Mt Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta has died)— gained a popularity akin to a national dirge.

Since then, Vitole has counted gains in his singing and drumming career.

"I believe in the power of music and culture as a way of expressing oneself and sharing talent as a means of solving issues that affect people in their daily lives — socially, economically, environmentally and spiritually," he says, adding that it is unfortunate that today, most artistes have failed to make good use of their talent in order to benefit society.

Song based on constitution

Currently, Vitolo who has received several letters of appreciation and commendation from the State for his good work is working on a song based on the constitution.

"I was requested by the office of the Vice President and the Ministry of National Heritage to record a song about the constitution and I am already working on it."

Many people have benefited from Vitolo’s talent. This is because he believes in sharing ideas and giving hope through music and culture.

The acclaimed artiste has initiated various activities in arts by engaging artistes and the youth in nurturing and cherishing talent as a means of improving their way of life.

"I also use music as a tool of preaching peace and encourage the less fortunate by giving them hope and emphasising the values of humanity."

He has taken this vision to various schools, colleges, universities and churches.

He has performed with Kenya’s big names in the music world. Some of who include Arthur Kemoli of the University of Nairobi choir, Boniface Muganga of Muungano Choir, the late David Okuku Zalo of the Kabarak Family Choir, Mellitious Wanyama, Hellen Mtawali, George Muriuki and Richard Khadambi, among others.

Vitolo has also inspired and mentored a number of popular local music groups and church choirs in Kenya.

A board member of various international charity organisations, Vitolo has also established community based development activities in some Nairobi slums. He dwells on HIV and Aids, environment, education, arts, crafts and spiritual healing.

A brighter future

"Through the organisations I have mentored, hundreds of youth who had lost hope in life have a reason to look forward to a brighter tomorrow. They are using their talents constructively."

Despite scaling many professional heights, Vitolo also faced a challenge popularising his music idea to youth and elderly people.

"It’s unfortunate that at the time music was not taken seriously. In fact, many people regarded it as a career for hooligans. It wasn’t appreciated at all."

For Vitolo, reaching the top of his career has not been a walk in the park. Having been born in the Kibera slums, he started off at a disadvantage.

"My parents were poor and hence this meant that we had to work harder in order to make ends meet," he says forlornly.

He did menial jobs including selling groundnuts within Kibera and areas of Katwekera during which he made little or no money at all. But despite this, there was no giving up for the young man who was determined to make it in life some day.

Being the first born in a family of 14 children placed on him an enormous task of being a role model. But he took this in his stride. Knowing that spiritual wellness was part of the role, he accompanied his mother Eunice Imali to Pentecostal Assemblies of God church in Kibera in the early 1970’s. Indeed, this is the forum, like many great singers such as Whitney Houston; he discovered he had a talent when he joined the Sunday school choir.

And as a pupil at Kibera Primary School, he won several awards for his participation in various co-curricular activities in music and drama festivals.

opening up a golden opportunity

Dr Kemoli mentored Vitolo in 1978, opening up a golden opportunity for him when he joined the Church Choirs founded by Prof Zake Senoga, then a music lecturer at Kenyatta University. It is Kemoli who showed him how to drum and sing like a professional.

Vitoli did not continue with his education after completing primary school due to lack of fees.

"Although I felt frustrated having to watch my classmates proceed to secondary school, I knew there was something out there for me too."

Before he knew it, Vitolo who had become a popular figure during national activities was granted a scholarship by former President Daniel Moi to complete his education.

"At that point I knew that I was headed for greater heights. Having someone like him come to my rescue was an honour and a clear indication that I would be able to achieve my dreams."

But even as he pursued his education, Vitolo never gave up on music. During his free time, he would participate in various church choirs within Nairobi.

Then, as luck could have it, he was chosen to join Muungano National Choir where he served for 24 years, during which time he entertained the high and mighty.

"It was a wonderful experience," he says.

After being with the choir for that long, he felt it was time to go solo and decided it was his chance to nurture others.

"At first it seemed difficult working with people of different personalities but with time things turned out well. Today, I am happy to see many of my students doing well and reaping the fruits of music."

The musician, who has rubbed shoulders with international personalities including Sir David Willocks in charge of the choir at the Queen’s palace, says he will be representing Kenya at the International Music Symposium to be held in the United Kingdom soon.

The symposium revolves around matters pertaining to the importance and role of African instruments in conservation of culture.

Letter of appreciation

A holder of a degree in Business Management from the University of Nairobi, Vitolo recently received a letter of appreciation from Arizona’s State Governor Duke Aiona. The two had met last year during one of Vitolo’s US tours.

Vitolo has acquired himself different positions within various international organisations that have benefited from his wide experience in business, arts and Christian life. They include South Korea’s JCI organisation of which he is a board member and Good works International Kenya.

Others are Good Neighbours International USA, America’s Hope Charities International and Good News Mission South Korea.

According to the musician who has been performing and representing Kenya with the various groups he started ten years ago, most of the proceeds he gets go to charity.

The musician is married to Joan Ambasa and they have been blessed with three children.