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Showing posts from October, 2015

THE "CONGOLISATION" OF INDIGENOUS KENYAN MUSIC

John Junior's 2015 album dubbed rather ridiculously as "Nyoremo" was released to an unanticipated fanfare and buzz. It was all over the internet. Seemingly everyone in the social media and mainstream media had a kind word for the album, except myself (aparently). But I couldn't blame anyone. It was an album up there with the very best in the local rumba scene. It caught the imagination of local rumba fans like nothing we've seen before. One famous blogger called it an "exquisite composition, a masterclass, a revolutionary piece of art".... and went on to lavish the album in extravagant praise like an obsessed lunatic. But did he miss something? The 'Nyoremo' album is without doubt a great composition by Kenyan standards. It comprises of five classic, slow rumba songs that are uniquely dance-able and thoroughly entertaining. But there is one striking feature that stands out from the album like a sore thumb - a unique 'congolese touch' tha