Jamhuri Jazz Band
Encyclopedia
Jamhuri Jazz Band was founded in late 1950s in Tanga, Tanzania
when the country was known as Tanganyika
. It was one of the more popular Tanzanian musical groups. Jamhuri Jazz played a key role in the spread of the Congolese rumba
sound throughout East Africa in the early seventies.
Wilson Kinyonga
and George Kinyonga
joined the band in 1966 and played with it for the next four years before leaving in December 1970 to found Arusha Jazz Band and later Simba Wanyika
, one of the most influential music groups in East Africa. Jamhuri Jazz Band started as
Young Nyamwezi Jazz Band and was finaced and managed by Mr. Joseph Bagabuje and recruited John Kijiko. Mr Bagabuje was the first Tanganyikan to run Amani Tea Estate.It is important to the readers to know that, before independependece of Tanganyika (1961) the Band used to play jazz music at Tanga hotel.
Tanga, Tanzania
Tanga is both the name of the most northerly seaport city of Tanzania, and the surrounding Tanga Region. It is the Regional Headquarters of the region.With a population of 243,580 in 2002, Tanga is one of the largest cities in the country...
when the country was known as Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
. It was one of the more popular Tanzanian musical groups. Jamhuri Jazz played a key role in the spread of the Congolese rumba
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
sound throughout East Africa in the early seventies.
Wilson Kinyonga
Wilson Kinyonga
Wilson Peter Kinyonga was an influential musician in Kenya. Born in Tanzania, Wilson Kinyonga and his brother George Kinyonga founded the rumba band Simba Wanyika which would later spawn Les Wanyika, Super Wanyika Stars and other offshoots. Les Wanyika was to become more popular as Simba Wanyika...
and George Kinyonga
George Kinyonga
George Peter Kinyonga was an influential musician in Kenya.Born in Tanzania, Peter Kinyonga and his elder brother Wilson Kinyonga founded the rumba band Simba Wanyika which would later spawn Les Wanyika, Super Wanyika Stars and other offshoots.George and Wilson Kinyonga began as musicians in their...
joined the band in 1966 and played with it for the next four years before leaving in December 1970 to found Arusha Jazz Band and later Simba Wanyika
Simba Wanyika
Simba Wanyika was a Kenyan based band created in 1971 by Tanzanian brothers Wilson Kinyonga and George Kinyonga, and disbanded in 1994. Simba Wanyika and its two offshoots, Les Wanyika and Super Wanyika Stars, became some of the most popular bands in Kenya. Their guitar-driven sound, inspired by...
, one of the most influential music groups in East Africa. Jamhuri Jazz Band started as
Young Nyamwezi Jazz Band and was finaced and managed by Mr. Joseph Bagabuje and recruited John Kijiko. Mr Bagabuje was the first Tanganyikan to run Amani Tea Estate.It is important to the readers to know that, before independependece of Tanganyika (1961) the Band used to play jazz music at Tanga hotel.