BENGA MUSIC

What's Benga music?

Benga music trace its roots in the 1950s, along the shores of Lake Victoria where local
musicians began adopting traditional stringed instruments like Nyatiti,Orutu to acoustic guitar.
The first generation of Benga artist were influenced by Cuban rumba, which found its way into
Kenya through Congolese guitarist Jean Bosco Mwenda and Edward Masengo.Their finger style
of playing which abandoned the plectrum allowed for more intricate and distinctive melodies.

Much credit of early development of Benga goes to pioneering guitarist John Ngara and Daniel
Owino Misiani commonly referred as D.O MISIANI. He is regarded as the Benga icon due to his
powerful compositions and numerous controversies generated by his polemical. Hence
becoming the greatest standard bearer of Benga from 1970s.

DEVELOPMENT OF BENGA MUSIC

In Luo festivals the Nyatiti(an eight stringed traditional lyre) accompanied by Ohangla
drums,cow horns,gourds,sticks,shaker and other improvised instrumentation such as clapping,
whistling and feet stamping. At time the one stringed lyre from the viol family was used
(ORUTU).This combination with the vocals provided musical pleasure and entertainment long
before the Europeans arrival. The mournful Orutu which immitates the lead guitar in modern
Benga shows the link between the Luo and the modern BENGA. The tempo of nyatiti played
along the sound produced the rhythmic thumping of the iron ring harnessed to the toe of the
lyre player is the rhythmic guitar and percussion respectively in the modern Benga.

The Nyatiti has been made popular by popular musicians such as Otuomo Ogolo, Mbui Jachu
and later Ogola Opot influenced acoustic guitar in terms of molding single-note picking rather
than strumming.

Characteristics of Benga Music

The most distinctive feature of Benga music is the fast paced tempo rhythmic beat and the
bouncy finger picking guitar technique. The core of Benga music is the lead guitar which
essentially follows the truck vocals. Probably borrowed from the Luo 'call and response
technique' the lead guitar imitates the vocals.

Without exceptions ,the singing part is separated from the climax. The instrumental expanse
that combines three or four guitars and percussions. The peculiarity of the Benga beat comes
from the combination of a sharp lead guitar overriding the rhythm and the bass. The pace of
guitars with a steady rise to climax or crescendo and an equal quick refrain together with the
arrangement and sectioning mark Benga from other music. Benga combines 4-5 guitars and
percussion (snare).

BENGA ARTISTS AND WORKS

Over time benga has managed to spread to various parts of the country adopting new flavors
and touch transformed to fit into music of various communities. Among the Luyha community
of western Kenya they call it OMUTIVO, THE LUYHA BENGA. Most popular musicians from this
community include THE LEGENDARY,Sukuma bin Ongaro with his famous tunes such as "This
World","Jirani Kuno". Sukuma bin Ongaro is known for his hilarious lyrics, talking about real life
situations in a comic manner.Another popular artist among the Luyha is Jacob Luseno with
popular hits such as" Mukangala "and" Hutsi Hungo" which translates to lets go home , he's
complaining about his wife who went to Mombasa and refused to come back home because of
the sweet burns cooked in Mombasa.

Other common artist among the Luyha include Shem Tube,Nyongesa wa Muganda ,and Fanuel
Amimo.In the Ukambani region Benga has been shaped largely by artist such as Kikai Kilonzo
and later Francis Danger, know the leader of KANGUNDO DANGEROUS BROTHERS, Danger is
known for the vigorous beat and melody of D.O MISIANI's "Lala Salama" and "Harusi Ya
MK".Later musicians who adopted the same include Katitu Boys, Kimangu Boys, Kalimba Boys
,Peter Mwambi and the latest sensations of Ken wa Maria with his popular song
'FUNDAMENTALS'.

Kisii most succesful artist include, Christopher Manyonchio.Akaka who was nicknamed "skin of
python" because of his ability to renew his music over years. Angelica Chepkoech and the late
Elizabeth Chipkorir are the best known for non Luo benga musicians in the Rift valley.

Although Benga has undergone changes, some switching to Rumba and other genres some
artists have stuck to the original Benga. This can be our point of reference, they include,Aluoch
Jamaranda, Dola KABARY,Omondi Long Lilo,Othiambo Tusker, Oginga Woud Awavi and Jerry
Jalang'o.
Reference;

ketebul music

sKenyan globe .com

Britanica

music of africa

Ethnomusicology of Britain