Teddy Kalanda not about to hang his boots four decades on

By Caroline Nyanga

When Them Mushrooms, led by Teddy Kalanda first released Hakuna Matata, it was probably a patriotic duty to make tourists feel welcome.The phrase Hakuna Matata went on to become an advertising slogan for the tourism industry. That was 1980 and more than four decades later, Them Mushrooms is still enthralling to listen to.

Besides Hakuna Matata, the band’s other popular songs include Nyambura, Jambo Bwana, Mwikali Wakwa and Badilisha.

Late last year, the group founded by Teddy Kalanda in 1972, released two new albums, New Zilizopendwa and Original Mushroom.

- Teddy Kalanda on stage. [PICTURES: COURTESY]

"In 1972 I played briefly with the college band at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, where I was studying Political Science, Philosophy and German.

In October of the same year, he dropped out of college after the death of his father and was offered a job as a stores clerk at the Bamburi Cement Factory where his father used to work.

In December 1972, he teamed up with his younger brothers, John Katana Harrison, George Zirro Harrison, Billy Sarro Harrison and two friends, Arthur Okoth and Pritt Nyale initiating Them Mushrooms.
In 1974 they were contracted to perform in various local hotels within Mombasa where they played cover versions of American and European chart music. "We realised we could make more money while working for less hours playing for tourists in the beach hotels.

In February 1980, they recorded two singles, Kenya Hakuna Matata and Bonde Kwa Bonde at the Polygram studio, Nairobi. Hakuna Matata remains the group’s biggest seller to date, having won a Silver Disc for sales of over 30,000 copies in 1982, Gold for sales exceeding 60,000 copies in 1984 and Platinum in 1987 for sales of over 100,000 copies. The same song has been redone by musicians like Boney M, Frank Zander, Barbara Froger, Bo Katzman, Samba Salad, The Belgian Air force, and Shimelis Ararso of Ethiopia to name a few. It has also been used as a soundtrack in several movies and documentaries, including Lion King.