Joseph Kamaru
https://amf.didiermary.fr/joseph-kamaru/
A crucial introduction to the ‘King of Kikuyu Benga’ and the first career-spanning retrospective of the incredible catalogue of the late, great Joseph Kamaru.
Joseph Kamaru was one of the most influential musician and artist in Kenya with a large music output of over 1,000 songs. His engagement with the music for more than 57 […]
Just A Band “experimental DIY music” from Kenya
https://amf.didiermary.fr/just-a-band-experimental-diy-music-kenya/
Just A Band, from Kenya, don’t define their style mixing many influences : it’s “experimental DIY music”…
The band released the video for their second single Ha-He from the album “82” (2009), as a tribute to Blaxploitation and Kung-Fu films, featuring a fictional superhero named “Makmende.”
Makmende amerudi! = “Makmende returns/is back!”
Extra Soul Perception
https://amf.didiermary.fr/extra-soul-perception/
In November 2019, eight artists from Kenya, Uganda and the UK spent a week in Nairobi together making an album exploring new tangents in soul music. The group, collectively known as Extra Soul Perception, is made up of Faizal Mostrixx (Ug), Hibotep (Ug), K15 (UK), Karun (Ke), Labdi (Ke), Lex Amor (UK), Lynda Dawn (UK) […]
Muthoni Drummer Queen – Nai Ni Ya Who
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mdq-upgraded-muthoni-drummer-queen-nai-ni-ya-who/
From album “MDQ Upgraded” in 2015.
Aslo: Remixed Feat. Wyclef Jean & Navio
Nyege Nyege Tapes – Music for the Eagles
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nyege-nyege-tapes-music-eagles/
East African Underground shows a group of innovative artists throughout the region, trying to build a creative community and share their future-forward music, pushing boundaries.
“Music for the Eagles” is one of their experiments. From the Horn down to Mozambique – visionary music runs deep across East Africa.
#Kenya #Mixtape #Nigeria #SouthAfrica #Tanzania #Uganda #Electro #Rap
Muthoni Drummer Queen – Power
https://amf.didiermary.fr/muthoni-drummer-queen-power/
The song “Power” appears on RIVER, the 3rd collaborative album between Swiss producer duo GR! & Hook and Kenya’s singer, rapper, drummer Muthoni Drummer Queen. It’s Muthoni’s 4th studio album, produced in 2019.
River blends hip-hop, reggae-dancehall, and soulful R&B fused with traditional drum rhythms from various ethnic communities in Kenya. […]
Just A Band – Probably For Lovers
https://amf.didiermary.fr/just-a-band-probably-for-lovers/
Just A Band put out this DIY video for their song “Probably For Lovers”, from their third album “Sorry For The Delay”, released in 2012. The footage for the video was shot by the many friends and fans of the band – on their phones!
“We are Just A Band, and this is our third […]
Gatanga Boys Band – Wendo Ti Mbia
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gatanga-boys-band-wendo-ti-mbia/
In 1970s Kenya the two threads of rumba and benga loosely dominated the music scene. Benga quickly became Kenya’s unique contribution to afro-pop; spreading like wildfire through the interior countryside with it’s fast, 4/4 machine-gun beat and intricate electric guitar layers. Listen to Gatanga Boys Band and you’ll see by yourself…
Slim Ali and the Hodi Boys – You Can Do It
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hodi-boys-slim-ali-you-can-do-it/
Slim Ali was born in Mombasa, Kenya back in December of 1947 and started playing music while in high school at Hamisi Secondary School. He played some stints with the Kitale Hotel Band and the Tusker Band before deciding to join the Hodi Boys […]
Kenyan Female Percussionist Kasiva Mutua live
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kenyan-female-percussionist-kasiva-mutua/
Kasiva Mutua, a drumming prodigy influenced by her grandmother’s folktales, is one of Africa’s leading percussionists. Breaking barriers in a male-dominated field, she fuses traditional African beats with modern genres.
Her debut album in 2025, DESTURI, showcases her expanded skills in guitar, songwriting, and production, while empowering a new generation [...]
Same Love (Remix By Art Attack)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/same-love-remix-art-attack-macklemore/
This video by Art Attack in 2016, a revisited version of “Same Love” (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis), is a snapshot of being gay in Kenya, where homosexuality is considered an “unnatural offense” punishable by imprisonment.
Omar Sosa & Rajery – Tsiaro Tsara
https://amf.didiermary.fr/omar-sosa-rajery-tsiaro-tsara/
Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa has spent ten years shaping An East African Journey (2021), fusing jazz and traditional African music, with multiple artists from East Africa.
An exquisite set of world music recordings featuring 7-time GRAMMY-nominated Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa collaborations [...]
70s & 80s Kenyan Benga & Afro-Cuban Rumba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kenyan-benga-afro-cuban-rumba-70s-80s/
Kenyan Benga & Afro-Cuban Rumba playlist from the 3-LP set from Soundway Records’ release “Kenya Special – Selected East African Recordings from the 1970s and ’80s”.
Kenya Special is a collection of 32 recordings (most of which were only ever released on small-run 45rpm 7″ singles) that stand out as being different or [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #AfroCuban #Benga #Compilation #Kenya #Rumba
First Modern Taarab Vibes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/first-modern-taarab-vibes/
Black Star Musical Club was one of the classic Taarabu bands in Tanga, Tanzania. It was founded in the 1950s, and played a crucial role in establishing the modern Taarab sound.
Taarab is a music genre popular in Tanzania and Kenya. It is influenced by […]
#70smusic #80smusic #Kenya #Taarab #Tanzania #OldAfricanMusic
Welcome To The Disco – Muthoni Drummer Queen
https://amf.didiermary.fr/welcome-disco-muthoni-drummer-queen/
The main track off the eponym EP in 2011, by Muthoni Drummer Queen (aka MDQ).
