by Yule Dark
Daniel Owino Misiani was perhaps more famous than he ever realized! He was Mr. Benga, Benga was a style, a sound, that took Africa record lovers by storm in the late 1960’s through the 70’s. Starting as a youngster in 68 with Victoria Jazz, this STAR emerged to front D.O.
For nearly 30 years the name ‘Wanyika’ was famous throughout East Africa. “Super Wanyika,” Simba Wanyika,” Les Wanyika”, Wanyika Les Les”, Wanyika Stars”. Musicians joined, musicians departed, off shoots were set up, disbanded, but one name stood the test of time, always in the mix, the star name was Issa
This stellar Album by Orchestra Makassy was put together by Englishman Norman Mighell in 1982 for Virgin Records U.K. as an experiment to assess the acceptability of African music to the U.K. market. A.I. Records – Kenya, was unsure this was a sensible idea considering using multi-tracking techniques was untried,
Orchestra Super Mazembe featuring Nashil Pichen Kazembe. Nashil Pichen Kazembe “found” Orchestra Super Vox at the Tambalala club, Lusaka, Zambia in 1975. Just newly returned to his home in Zambia after a ten-year stint in the record business in Nairobi Kenya. Nashil had the background knowledge to realize that this