Category: African

William Osale was a fingerstyle guitarist who performed and recorded in Kenya during the 1950s and 60s. Osale was a rural musician who played in the ‘sukuti’ style – a rhythmic style of finger-style playing invented by George Mukabi that results in a light, ‘bouncy’ sound.

In his “A History of Kenyan Guitar Music: 1945-1980”, John Low writes, “Some rural finger-stylists like George Mukabi and William Osale also had success in the towns, providing Swahili versions of songs that they might sing in local languages back home. The appeal of their songs lay in the fact that many town dwellers had (and still have) strong links with the land, and the themes of these songs, often conservative and sometimes nostalgic, reminded them of the old values.”

The title of this tune, “Usiowe Mumweche” seems difficult to translate. If any Swahili speakers can help translate the title or lyrics, please leave a comment!

I do not have a recording date for this record – but will add one if I find a definitive source. My best guess is sometime in the late 1950s.

Released as Jogoo 120.

The flip side of this record is very good and can be found at:
https://youtu.be/RYVzRr8Fz8M

William Osale was a fingerstyle guitarist who performed and recorded in Kenya during the 1950s and 60s. Osale was a rural musician who played in the ‘sukuti’ style – a rhythmic style of finger-style playing invented by George Mukabi that results in a light, ‘bouncy’ sound.

In his “A History of Kenyan Guitar Music: 1945-1980”, John Low writes, “Some rural finger-stylists like George Mukabi and William Osale also had success in the towns, providing Swahili versions of songs that they might sing in local languages back home. The appeal of their songs lay in the fact that many town dwellers had (and still have) strong links with the land, and the themes of these songs, often conservative and sometimes nostalgic, reminded them of the old values.”

The title of this tune, “Wazee Nimwambie” seems to be a plea for the elders to speak or to share their knowledge. If any Swahili speakers can help translate the lyrics, please leave a comment!

I find this record absolutely mesmerizing and hauntingly beautiful.

I do not have a recording date for this record – but will add one if I find a definitive source. My best guess is sometime in the late 1950s.

Released as Jogoo 120.

The flip side of this record can be heard at:
https://youtu.be/Hu8TPwOVkoI

Great music on the South African Troubadour label.

Recorded circa 1955-56
Released as Troubadour AFC.268
Matrix: MATA 1491

Great music on the South African Troubadour label.

Recorded circa 1955-56
Released as Troubador AFC.268
Matrix: MATA 1490

African jazz in what was then called Belgian Congo was equally inspired by American jazz and Cuban rumba. The very interesting combination is augmented by the unique perspective of the artists prospering in a hotbed of music across prolific record labels such as Ngoma, Opika, and Loningisa in Léopoldville, the capital of a dying colonial empire.

Originally recorded for the Congolese Loningisa label, here we have the guitarist Armando Brazzos playing an infectious cha cha with O.K. Jazz reissued for wider distribution on the HMV LON series.

This catchy dance tune hooks you from the very first few bars and never lets go. Around 1:50, Issac Musekiwa provides a wailing sax solo on top of the never-ending groove. Then at the exact three minute mark, everything comes to an abrupt halt.

A real treat to listen to! But be warned – once the contagious cha cha rhythm gets in your head you may find yourself shaking your hips all day long as the groove goes on and on in your head.

Recorded in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Congo on February 27, 1959.
Originally released as Loningisa N° 252.
Reissued as His Master’s Voice LON 1096.

Credits (mostly based on personnel of O.K. Jazz in the late 50s)
Armando Brazzos – guitar
Issac Musekiwa (?) – saxophone
Victor “Vicky” Longomba (?), Edouard “Edo” Ganga (?) – vocals
Célestin Kouka (?) – maracas, vocals
De La Lune (?) – Bass
Nicolas “Dessoin” Bosuma (?) = percussion

Congolese rumba in Lingala.

Released as Ngoma 1827.

The other side of this 78 rpm record can be found at:
https://youtu.be/CJ8cdRGecJU

Released as Ngoma 1827.

The other side of this 78 rpm record can be heard at:
https://youtu.be/KCSfPBsQWxk

Credits:
Manuel Oliveira – guitar, vocals
Henri Freitas – guitar, vocals
Lau – vocals
unknown performers – contrebasse, tam-tam

Lingala. Rumba.

Wendo (Antoine Kolosoyi) sings and plays guitar on this Ngoma record from the early 1950s.

Released as Ngoma 1164.
Matrix J 2332

The other side of this 78 rpm record can be found at:
https://youtu.be/y5mVga4jNS4

If you enjoyed this music, please check out my interview with Alastair Johnston, producer of the 3CD/3LP set “The Soul of Congo: Treasures of the Ngoma Label”:
https://youtu.be/2BSsWpb49AA