May 18, 2010

The very last recordings



I am sure you won't mind if I keep this very short.

POLP 517

EDIT December 21, 2016: extra link, this time @ 320 kbps

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for this one Stefan. Mbaraka Mwinshehe is a legend in Kenya, and this recording tells us why.

I grew up in Mombasa Kenya and would walk into the same hospital where he was pronounced dead to be treated of bone fractures twice in the next 10 years. Mbaraka Mwinshehe's music was a constant fixture in the VOK (Voice of Kenya) and subsequently KBC line up in much of the 80s and 90s. The turn that Tanzanian music has taken is unfortunate to say the least.

This recording brings back great memories, a far cry from the lip synching nonsense we are subjected to nowadays!

gracenotes said...

Beautiful music. I know it's intended as a compliment when people call him the Franco of East Africa, but I think Mbaraka Mwinshehe has style and subtleties that are all his own, and he needs no such comparison. Many thanks.

Anonymous said...

Gracenotes
Yes to me, Mbaraka was indeed the Franco of E Africa, his build, his genuis with the guitar, he could sing too, his band had horns, he was great!

CAN SOME ONE GET HOLD OF A VIDEO OF THIS GREAT MAN PLAYING AND POST IT HERE?

I HAVE YET TO SEE A VIDEO OF MBARAKA ONLINE!

sincerely

wuod k

WrldServ said...

Please, there is no need to SHOUT :)

At least Mbaraka is compared to an African artist, and a widely respected one.
But I agree with Gracenotes that he had an ample dose of uniqueness and authenticity, making a comparison to any artist somewhat irrelevant.

I have never heard of a video featuring Mbaraka, let alone seen one.

Unknown said...

Stefan,

From the write up it seems like the then VOK (now KBC) had it recorded, and that it was aired for a considerable period of time on Kenyan airwaves. Unfortunately I was not old enough to view it on TV then, but I am certain that it exists somewhere in the KBC archives. Unfortunately I no longer have any contacts at KBC...

Umenishinda Musyoka. said...

Blacks and Whites attended his show ? WoW !
I know we are never short of ways to fumble in pr here in Kenya but seriously, 'attended by blacks and whites' ?
This is 1979 Kenya not South Africa.
Mr Musyoka toka hapa na hizo zako.

Oh thanks BTW

Subi Nukta said...

Thank you so much for all the Swahili songs you have uploaded! I have been coming here repeatedly because there is a well of music that quenches my thirst! Thanks a lot!