George Mukabi was a guitarist from western Kenya credited with inventing the sukuti guitar style – a syncopated fingerstyle technique that combines rhythm and lead parts in a way that rhythmically imitates the sound of sukuti drums used in traditional Luhya music. His music was often accompanied by a glass bottle (or two) and sometimes by Jack Malenya, a second vocalist who harmonized in a higher register.
“Happiness with Guitar” seems an apt translation for this beautiful tune – but the lyrics discuss an apparent kidnapping of three girls and a subsequent death. The chorus somewhat ironically suggests “If you want to look for happiness – go and make friends with any guitarist” [translation from liner notes of Mississippi Records release noted below]
This record is not in the best shape but I was quite thrilled to get a copy.
Released as AGS 149 on the African Gramophone Stores (AGS) label.
To hear more of Mukabi’s work, check out Mississippi Records’s excellent release “Furaha Wenye Gita” produced by Cyrus Moussavi:
https://mississippirecords.bandcamp.com/album/furaha-wenye-gita
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