Veteran musician who captured Moi’s imagination

By MAURICE BARASA

He has dined with the high and mighty, has 13 TV episodes to his name, composed over 250 songs, and mentored some of the most successful comedians, yet he cuts the image of an ordinary retiree struggling to get by.

You are also likely to find him walking around with his trademark guitar strapped on his shoulders. Never mind that at one time he captured the imagination of no less than former President Moi. But that is getting ahead of the story.

Meet Peter Akwabi, who has been composing and teaching music for over four decades. He recorded his first album, Kifo Cha Mukabi, with the then African Gramophone Stores (AGS) 1963.

The song was a tribute to George Mukabi, a fellow singer and neighbour, who had just passed on.

"We used to entertain people during funeral, wedding and parties," says Akwabi. He earned good proceeds from the music with which he used to pay his school fees.

Peter Akwabi and members of his band back in the day. [PHOTO: MAURICE BARASA/STANDARD]

He is credited with popularising Omutibo beats alongside John Nzenze, Jacob Luseno, Daudi Kabaka and David Amunga.

Although the former secondary school teacher and college tutor retired from teaching and active singing in 1992 on health grounds, he later joined Kenyatta University in 1995 as a lecturer in performing and creative arts."

"Among my students were Walter Mong’are aka Nyambane, Tony Njuguna and John Kiarie who later formed the Reddykulas comedy group," says Akwabi.

He claims the trio adopted the name "Reddykulas" from his common classroom exclamation, ‘ridiculous!’ Akwabi has four children, two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Ambrose Akula is a music producer in Tanzania.

Akwabi was born to peasant parents, Onesmus Okutoyi and Leonora Ambiyo, at Ebwongo village in Khwisero in 1946. He joined Ebwongo Primary School in 1953 but left for Tanzania the following year to live with his elder who was working with the then East African Railways and Harbours.

"While in Tanzania, I enrolled at the Turngold mine Kiabagare Primary in Musoma in Class Two. One of my teachers was Mrs Kabarega, a sister to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania," says Akwabi.

However, his father transferred him to a local school in 1956.

"My father complained that Tanzanian education system put emphasis on Kiswahili and not English considered a prestigious language," remembers Akhwabi.

He would later attend Butere Secondary School.

In 1969, he received an offer to join the Railway Training Institute for a Ticket Examiner’s course with a monthly allowance of Sh680. At the same time, the Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited him to work with them as a clerk to earn a salary of Sh820.

He, however, heeded his father’s advice and joined Kenyatta College from which he graduated with an S1 certificate in 1971. He studied music, Kiswahili, History and Physical Education.

He was posted to Alliance High School but was transferred to State House Girls.

"The girls at State House almost went on strike when Alliance demanded I go back," Akwabi remembers with a tinge of pride. He remained at the school for five years.

In 1977, he was promoted as an Assistant Lecturer 1 and posted to Mosoriot Teachers’ College. It was here in 1979 he charmed his way into former President Moi’s heart.

Moi had paid the college a visit during which the institution’s choir was among the groups that entertained him.

Moi enjoyed the choir’s music that he ordered Akwabi transferred to Kabarak High School, then at its formative stages.

He was among the first six teachers at the school. The six included his wife Damaris Ateka.

She had just graduated from Kenyatta College, with a Bachelors degree in Education. The teachers were housed at the Nakuru blankets factory by Moi’s friends as they patiently waited for students to turn up.

"The president would join us for meals whenever he was in Nakuru," remembers Akwabi.

It was while at Kabarak High School that Akwabi composed the number Fimbo ya Nyayo, which ruled the airwaves in the 80s.