VILLAGERS BAND LAUNCH ALBUM

The Villagers Band is a fusion group from Nairobi, Kenya who first came together in 2005.

After a 3 year stint playing for various artists, they came up with their own blend of music dubbed “Bengenge.” This is a fusion of pop, benga and genge and other forms of popular African music such as mbalax, lingala and zouk.

The Villagers Band is made up of songwriter, arranger and keyboardist Chris Adwar , bassist Asaph Uzele, Ken Nyagah on drums, David Omamo on electric guitar, Moses on Acoustic guitar, vocalist/songwriter Jobie Karanja, Furaha Bwamy and Jordan Kyongo on backing vocals and saxophonist Tim Riungu and Manager Pauline Macharia.

The album produced by the gifted singer/songwriter/producer Chris Adwar and also features Qqu from the group NIX. This Nairobi-based band comprising 9 members has a unique style of music dubbed Bengenge.

The album features clever songs with amusing lyrics and a theme of both rural and urban love in today’s era of social networking, materialism and with a hint of the pure and simple love between a Kenyan man and woman in tracks such as “Mercedes Benz”, “Kenchic”, “Damu Yangu”, “Country Girl”, “Mr. Walker” and the soulful “Someday”.

The album also carries a social and political theme mirrored in the Kenyan and greater African context in tracks such as Nofork Hotel where a man is lying to his wife about going to work every morning yet he goes to “Nofork Hotel” to hang out with friends. The track “Obama (is my relative!)” is a humorous look at our claim to fame with Obama being our relative because in the African culture the whole community is involved in the bringing up of a child. “Liar (2-0-1-2)” echoes a cry of betrayal from the ordinary mwananchi to the politician he elected which is a reflection of the politics of most African leaders.

In addition to performing their original compositions they have backed a stellar array of artistes that includes Jua Cali, Wahu, Nameless,Sarah Mitaru, Atemi Oyungu, Chizi,Amani,Kaz,Kanji,Eric Wainainajust to mention a few. ……..

As the house band in the ‘Hatua Show’, TVB pioneered the TV talk show format that integrates a live band. This saw the band join the rest of the ‘Hatua’ crew at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in 2007 for a live recording of the talk show.

This music has previously been made available through a series of “Carnivore Urban Legends” concerts since 2008 and that continue to attract a growing enthusiastic audience.

Plans are underway to officially launch the album in March/April 2010  

For further information contact:

• villagersbandkenya@gmail.com

 

 

 

<- Back to: Home

 

---