Kenya

Session musicians for “Band 3” perform with the ensemble, Lelele Afrika.

Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Allan Gituthu Wanjohi, known as Sucre, takes part in the Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert: Smithsonian Folkways Tribute to Pete Seeger, Citizen Artist.

Photo by Brian Barger, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Reflecting his eastern Kenyan roots, Kombo Chokwe Burns performs music rich with coastal grooves, melodies, and rhythms.

Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Idd Aziz Kunya, a talented multi-instrumentalist, plays percussion on the Ngoma Stage.

Photo by Bob Friedman, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Henry Ndenge Saha is a much respected studio musician, credited with training many current Kenyan drummers.

Photo by Bob Friedman, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Walter Kivure Mwangombe is a keyboard player experienced in taarab, chakacha, mwanzere, and other coastal styles.

Photo by Brian Barger, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

To support the featured artists and ensembles, the many Kenyan session musicians were split into three backing bands. Band 3 performed with Bado, Lelele Afrika, and Winyo.

Born in Nairobi, Allan Gituthu Wanjohi a.k.a. Sucre is a singer/songwriter, bass player, and CEO of SucrePix, a photography company that caters to musicians. He is also a music teacher at Braeside School in Nairobi. He has collaborated in the past with Ma3 and The Villagers and has recently begun compiling material for a new album.

Hailing from the coastal town of Malindi, Kombo Chokwe Burns’s guitar lines are rich with coastal grooves, melodies, and rhythms. He is currently the leader and composer for Kombo & Afro Simba Band. This group spent a month in war-torn Somalia, where they ran a program aimed at empowering Somali youth through music training.

Idd Aziz Kunya was raised in Nairobi and Mombasa and became part of the Nairobi music scene at a young age. He combines world sounds with deep African roots to create a unique, Afro-fusion sound. He plays the guitar, flute, and several African percussion instruments. He hopes to inspire others through his music and believes that music can have a great spiritual influence.

Henry Ndenge Saha is a much respected studio musician and can play the intricate and polyrhythmic coastal rhythms without losing a beat. He is cited as having trained most of the current crop of drummers and has toured extensively with artists like Eric Wainaina.

Walter Kivure Mwangombe is a keyboard player experienced in taarab, chakacha, mwanzere, and other coastal styles. He has performed with bands such as Afro Simba and the Tutu Band, which specializes in Swahili jazz.