Nanjinia Wamuswa
In the quest of following the footsteps of his late father, African Twist bandleader Stephen Mwinamo aka Mwinamo Junior angered his dad (then alive) when he recorded his classic Julieta Uko Wapi in reggae.
When the ageing Isaya Mwinamo heard the son’s version of the song he had composed to serenade a flame he went ballistic.
"When Julieta asks you the reason you’re singing for her, what will you say?" the old man posed. According to Mwinamo Junior, Julieta was his father’s girlfriend and his only answer was that he wanted the music to stay longer in the market.
But Mwinamo senior was not convinced and sued his son for copyright infringement. The son pleaded with his father to settle the dispute out of court and later paid damages. After the settlement the father wrote to Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) to transfer his rights to the son.
Wise Men Of Music
Incidentally, Mwinamo Junior had been advised by his father’s peers in music, John Nzenze, Daudi Kabaka, John Ngereza and Fanuel Amimo, among others, after secondary school to redo his dad’s hits to attract youthful listeners. After the spat with his dad and transfer of rights, Mwinamo Junior in 1999 released a remix of his father’s hits, among them Ndugu Yangu Usilie, Mwanamke Sura Nzuri and Mpenzi Berneta
"I wanted to be shown the way forward by these wise men," he said.
Soon after the remixes entered the market, he became instant celebrity. But war with his father was not yet over. When he’d earlier informed him of remixing his music, Mwinamo Senior thought his son should rework everything completely.
Mwinamo Junior later remixed Nairobi Ni Kubwa and released his own composition, Hampa Twist, that also did well in East Africa. For some time he concentrated on live shows with veteran musicians.
He also collaborated with Tom Malanga to remix Les Wanyika’s Afro, Kasuku, Sina Makosa, Nimaru and Paulina.
Currently he is working on a number of songs with Freshly Mwamburi and Abdul Muyonga of Everest Kings band. But his hit remains Julieta remix.
By redoing his father’s songs and his own in twist, Pachanga among others, Mwinamo Junior says he didn’t want unfair competition from fellow youthful musicians. Together with his African Twist band he also recorded own compositions Hampa Twist, Mtoto Kukosa Masomo and Niko Taabani.
Mwinamo has staged shows across East Africa and Southern Sudan.
Together with Nzenze they are planning to tour the UK following an invitation by friends to stage live shows later this year.
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He is married and is a father of one. Born in early 1980s, his rise to stardom in music has been painstakingly slow and bumpy. Although he cheekily says he began singing in his mother’s womb but shockingly, his own father stood on his music way.
In the family
"Mother keeps telling me that l kicked while in her womb whenever music was played especially my father’s," he said.
According to Mwinamo, music is genetic. While he was in class three his father retired in music and relocated to his Kakamega rural home.
Mwinamo Junior too shifted and joined Mahiakalo Primary in Kakamega. The School realised his talent, enrolled him in School choir while in class four in which only pupils above class six were allowed to join.
During 1991 national music festivals at KICC he received a national award for playing Marimba.
In class five, war with his father began. His father wanted him to concentrate on studies, not music like him.
He sneaked from home at night to play musical instruments for local bands in Kakamega for Sh200 per night. On realising his son had gone this far Mwinamo Senior stormed the school and ordered the headmaster, the late John Katumanga who later became Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman, to remove his son’s name from school choir and other related activities.
The headmaster obliged but he was not done yet. One day his father traced him into a local club at night with Administration Police officers, arrested and put him in cell for two days
After tasting police cells for two days, Mwinamo Junior became afraid with credence that music was a criminal activity. He concentrated on his studies in class seven and eight till he sat for his primary national exams.
He joined Form One and started music again in Form Two. His father gave up on him.