The repertoire of Kayamba Africa: contemporary reworking of traditional musics in Nairobi

• Main Author: Maina, Christine Wambui
• Other Authors: Nixon, Michael
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2015
• Subjects: Music Performance
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12354

Includes bibliographical references. === This research focuses on Kayamba Africa's repertoire of reworked traditional songs in Nairobi, where they are based. The study involved extensive literature and field research through library and online research, participant observation, interviews, data analysis and transcriptions. Three live performances of Kayamba Africa were analysed: a wedding reception and state function and an edited DVD recording. An analysis of Kayamba Africa's three recordings, namely 'Omutun', 'Wakarirũ' and 'Ngulũ', from the album Kayamba Africa was conducted. This analysis observed and compared different interpretations and translations of the songs' texts sourced from different research consultants, as well as Kayamba Africa's musical structure and recordings of Boniface Mganga's choral arrangement of Ngulũ and Hugh Tracey's recording of 'Rũimbo rwa ngũ'.