Winyo’s musical style ranges from Luo traditional, Afro-fusion, and Afro-jazz, to a contmporary interpretation of benga.
Photo by Pruitt Allen, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
Polycarp Awino Onyango performs as Winyo, the Luo word for bird, a name he adopted because his voice has been likened to a birdsong. His songs tell stories and are infused with rich melodies sung with traditional harmonies in the Dhuluo, Kiswahili, and English languages. His musical style ranges from Luo traditional, Afro-fusion, and Afro-jazz, to a contemporary interpretation of benga. Winyo was named as one of ten finalists in the Radio France International Discoveries in both 2010 and 2011. In addition to his extraordinary music career, he is also an actor, TV producer, and gifted photographer.
