Regional Pop Music of Kenya

The people of Kamba live between the south and east of Nairobi. Their pop music is closely linked to benga, but includes a second guitar that plays a harmonious counterpoint to the main guitar. The Kamba pop bands that are most popular emerged in the mid-1970s and include Les Kilimambogo Brothers Band, which is led by Kakai Kilonzo, Kalambya Boys & Kalambya Sisters which is led by Onemus Musyoki and Joseph Mutaiti and Peter Mwambi and His Kyanganga Boys. Other groups are Muthetheni Boys band, Ukia Boys Band and Lower Mbooni Boys Band. 

source of picture: www.singingwells.org

Other Akamba pop bands were created in the 1980s and it included Kakuku Boys band vocal led by John Mutua Muteti whose lyrics entailed of religious, court humor and domestic, Ngoleni Brothers which was created by Dick Mutuku Mulwa after he left the Kalambya Boys and Kalambya Sisters. It can also be noted that Kalambya Boys new members were Onesmus Musoki (vocals), Joseph Mutaiti (vocal), Dick Mutuku Mulwa (rhythm guitar), James Maisha Muli (the drummer) and Peter Kissa (the solo guitarist). Kalambya Boys divide and Joseph Mutaiti created the Super Kaiti and Onesmus Musyoki went to the gospel from Emali Town Choir.

The Kikuyu which is one of the biggest ethnic groups in Kenya have their own type of pop music. Kikuyu can be recognized for excellence by the female back-up singers, who are unusual in the rest of Kenya. The biggest Kikuyi pop star is known as Joseph Kamaru, whose 1967 hit Celina launched the field. He remained the most famous, inviting disagreement with topical lyrics that criticized the Kenyan government, until becoming the born again Christian in the year 1993 and changed to the gospel music. The Kikuyu pop played an impact in the process of change in benga, largely due to the activity of Daniel Kamu.

Also the most famous in the Mugithi, a different pattern usually performed alongside with the single singer with guitar accompaniment and whose singers often adopt some of the dress code of Country music singers with cowboy hats with a renowned accessory for Mugithi performers.