The group Kenge Kenge Orutu System performing on the first showcase occasion of the 12 months on the Alliance Francaise Nairobi on Jan 25, 2023. PHOTO | POOL

There are few teams that will do a greater job of setting the stage for vibrant stay music in 2023 than Kenge Kenge Orutu System.

A live performance by the band through the first Showcase occasion of the 12 months on the Alliance Francaise Nairobi final Wednesday was a sign that stay music is again within the metropolis after a sometimes sluggish begin to the 12 months.

Kenge Kenge has established a fame for taking part in a singular model of music primarily based on conventional rhythms flavoured by parts of up to date benga.

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Their sound is produced by a fusion of the orutu (single-string fiddle), nyatiti (eight string-lyre), oporo (cow horn) and conventional percussions, with guitars, and drums.

The 9-piece band decked out in vibrant costumes, accompanied by two dancers, staged an thrilling present that saved the gang on its ft for the 90-minute efficiency.

“We’re among the many few artists on this a part of the world that also play genuine music, however tradition is dynamic and that’s the reason we now have enriched the acoustic conventional devices with some digital sounds,” says co-founder, choreographer and horn participant Peter Orinda.

Their setlist contained irresistible grooves that saved the gang dancing as every track constructed up the momentum: from the sing-along favorite Jamriambo to the favored people track Owang to the present stopper, the theme track Kenge Kenge, improvised with D.O Misiani benga traditional Kisero.

“We organize the songs preserving in thoughts our viewers in order that the beat is irresistible even in case you are listening to the track for the primary time,” says Orinda.

The group’s lead vocalist George Achieng was in his factor along with his powerhouse singing and dancing, because the rhythm of every track was pushed by the distinctive sound of the 2 orutu gamers, Peter Opiyo and Edward Oduda.

Sammy Opere’s solo flute was the delight of the climax of every track, together with percussions by Simon Ngesa (Visitor artist Kasiva Mutua took over the drums on two songs).

One other spotlight was a solo nyatiti piece performed by Gabriel Odhiambo.

Kenge Kenge was shaped in 1996 by some members of the Catering Levy Trustees choir together with Orinda who additionally labored as a dance coach on the parastatal.

“We requested ourselves what we may do past competing at music festivals and that’s when the Concept of forming a small outfit taking part in conventional music was floated.”

Their distinctive type caught the eye of the Ministry of Tradition they usually had been invited to carry out alongside a visiting group from the UK that was eager on a band that specialised in genuine cultural music.

The hitch was that they didn’t but have a reputation for the group.

The Director of Tradition on the time requested Orinda to suggest an acceptable title.

“He referred to as me and requested if he had a reputation and I mentioned Kenge Kenge. His response was “wow! That sounds good even when I don’t perceive what it means”.

Orinda explains that Kenge Kenge refers back to the “ancillary conventional devices” that the group performs that are “small in dimension however are large in sound”.

In the beginning, there have been simply 6 members who primarily performed at small venues however as they grew, they began taking part in in greater venues as their viewers additionally grew.

Since their first worldwide journey to the UK in 2003 Kenge Kenge has performed at live shows, excursions and festivals all over the world and in keeping with Orinda they’re met with astonishment wherever they go.

“For mzungu you play what he doesn’t perceive, that’s when he respects you, however once you play what he is aware of, you possibly can’t beat him at his personal recreation.”

A few of their memorable performances have been on the 2014 Smithsonian Folklife Pageant in Washington DC, the 2011 Rainforest World Music Pageant in Malaysia, and the 2009 WOMEX in Copenhagen, Denmark.

As Orinda recollects: “Once we performed at WOMEX, individuals had been questioning “who’re these individuals, what sort of devices are these, why are they so distinctive”.

Final week’s efficiency marked the start of a busy 12 months for Kenge Kenge.

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“The pandemic introduced lots of stress and since we now have the medication then we now have to renew our excursions all over the world to deal with guys,” says Orinda, tongue in cheek.

They are going to be recording their album in the middle of the 12 months with veteran producer Tabu Osusa of Ketebul Music, whom in addition they labored with on their final album.

In addition they need to recruit extra members to the group in order that they can cut up the group in two at any time when they go on an extended worldwide tour.

“We do workshops and coaching in faculties, and amongst group teams in order that they take can take over as a result of we is not going to be right here endlessly however the music will all the time be,” says Orinda.

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