Group strums its way to top festival

By Emmanuel Mwendwa

Hailed as a celebration of the essence of music with its raw emotion, phenomenal power, drive and pivotal role as an authentic voice, attending the prestigious World Music Expo (Womex) festival is many musicians’ dream.

This year the Kenyan flag will be held aloft by Kenge Kenge Orutu Systems Band. It will be the second time group is representing the East African region, showcasing its artistry, alongside a host of international artistes and bands from October 28 to November 1 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

An array of music makers, pop artistes, composers, studio producers and record label executives will, like moths drawn to light, grace the event — regarded as a premier global networking event. Artistes from several African countries share eleven of this year’s edition coveted 27 performance slots.

In an exclusive interview up early this week, Kenge Kenge band leader George Achieng’ exuded confidence at the prospect of performing at Womex. Previously, renowned nyatiti performer Ayub Ogada and guitarist Suzanna Owiyo have in the past participated at Womex.

Other artistes from Africa attending these year’s event include Senegalese star Carlou D who performed in Nairobi last weekend, Ethiopia’s Addis Acoustic Project Band, artiste Hasna el Becharia from Algeria, Mayotte Island’s Deba Choir, Malian duet Kouyate Neerman, Mamane Barka from Niger, Burkina Faso’s Victor Deme and Algerian musical nomads Watcha Clan.

Kenge Kenge’s fine-tuned medley of irresistible traditional melodies and pulsating benga rhythms is likely to make a mark at the event. Whether in concert overseas or locally, the band lures revellers to the dance floor, their trademark innovative fusions, striking an instant chord with audiences.

"Our success hinges on the quest to experiment and merge traditional melodies and rhythms with contemporary influences using traditional acoustic instruments," says Achieng’.

Besides the orutu, the band improvises with twin asili flutes and various self-made traditional instruments like bul (drums), nyangile (sound box), ongeng’o (metal rings) and oporo (horn).

"These are arranged in a melodic format to mainly provide backup to a dominant interchange between the riffs of two orutu fiddles – tuned to different pitches," explains Achieng.

The blend of cultural rhythms with percussion driven beats is no mean feat in an era when digital sequencers and programming dilutes creative intricacies of making music.
"We are trying to demonstrate depth of the rich heritage of our indigenous culture in the spirit of anti-globalisation. Our approach in composing traditional rhythms aims at stemming influx of Western influences," asserts Achieng’.

The limited exposure and piecemeal airplay on local FM radio and TV channels has not derailed band’s focus to propel authentic neo-traditional Kenyan cultural music played with age-old instruments – from the fringes into mainstream showbiz scene.

Kenge Kenge are among Nairobi’s popular and sought-after entertainers, credited with concerts – at private functions. They perform at international conferences, workshops, seminars, diplomatic, corporate events, product launches, weddings and house parties.

"We owe the busy schedule to consistency our current following is due to hard work and persistence. Building a loyal fan base is a gradual process, anyone who watched band perform three years ago still identifies with our music," says Achieng’.

Kenge Kenge’s bold experimentation to re-interpret and re-arrange playing of traditional Luo music instruments, is innovative, almost ingenious.

"The varied instruments generate a newer, rich sound unlike typical guitar work and our percussion arrangements are equally distinct. This departure from the trodden path aims at distinguishing our repertoire from ordinary Luo folk songs," notes Achieng’.

This may be a reason their songs and appeal traverse communal boundaries beyond Nyanza. They target a wider audience and market, though band holds a strong-sway in specific Luo events.

The current band line up includes Elijah Oliech (orutu), Samuel Nyariwo (flute), Peter Opiyo (orutu/vocals), Tobias Onyango (drums) and Achieng’ (lead vocalist).

Others are Boniface Mango (percussions), Peter Orinda (horn), Gabriel Odhiambo (nyatiti), Isaac Gem (bass guitar), Dina Akinyi and Judith Bwire (dancers).

The group has previously performed in at the Rhythms of the Earth festival in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Folk Music Festivals in Norway, and at Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in 2002. Last year, they visited the UK on a 10 weeks performance tour

"Our vision is clear-cut: We intend to create music which draws upon rich Luo cultural roots," says Achieng’.