Simba Wanyika
Encyclopedia
Simba Wanyika was a Kenya
n 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 the Soukous
guitarist Dr. Nico, combined highly melodic rumba with lyrics sung in Swahili
. Simba wa nyika means "Lions of the Savannah" in Swahili.
Wilson Kinyonga and George Kinyonga began as musicians in their hometown Tanga
in Tanzania when they joined Jamhuri Jazz Band
in 1966. They moved to Arusha
in 1970 and formed Arusha Jazz with their other brother, William Kinyonga. During this period, musicians could travel freely between Kenya and Tanzania, and Kenyan popular music became heavily influenced by Tanzanian rumba musicians. In 1971 the Kinyonga brothers moved to Kenya and created Simba Wanyika. The band played at nightclubs and bars in the Nairobi area, and developed an enthusiastic following, and by the mid 1970s, they were well-known throughout Kenya, thanks to hits like "Mwongele" and "Wana Wanyika". They had a harder sound than most rumba bands and were almost unchallenged in that area in Kenya due to the closing of the Tanzanian border in 1977.
The restrictions enforced on the Kenya-Tanzania border consequently led to the divergence of Kenyan popular music towards the emerging benga music
. Simba Wanyika continued playing rumba, and was still quite popular when the band split in the late 1970s when rhythm guitarist Omar Shabini took many of the bands musicians and forming Les Wanyika
. In 1980, George Kinyonga also quit Simba Wanyika, taking more musicians with him to form Orchestra Jobiso. He eventually rejoined Simba Wanyika while still working with Jobiso on side projects. Simba Wanyika later changed their name to "Simba Wanyika Original" to prevent confusion with Les Wanyika and its splinter group, Super Wanyika Stars.
Simba Wanyika regained its popularity in the mid 1980s, releasing many hits and touring Europe in 1989. The disbanded in 1994, but several offshoots of the band still continue to play.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n based band created in 1971 by Tanzanian brothers 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...
, and disbanded in 1994. Simba Wanyika and its two offshoots, Les Wanyika
Les Wanyika
Les Wanyika was a prominent band with Kenyan and Tanzanian members and was based in Kenya. It was formed in 1978 when guitarist Omar Shabani, bassist Tom Malanga and two other members left Simba Wanyika. They were joined by John Ngereza and Issa Juma. Les Wanyika made many popular recordings, but...
and Super Wanyika Stars, became some of the most popular bands in Kenya. Their guitar-driven sound, inspired by the Soukous
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...
guitarist Dr. Nico, combined highly melodic rumba with lyrics sung in Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
. Simba wa nyika means "Lions of the Savannah" in Swahili.
Wilson Kinyonga and George Kinyonga began as musicians in their hometown Tanga
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...
in Tanzania when they joined Jamhuri Jazz Band
Jamhuri Jazz Band
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...
in 1966. They moved to Arusha
Arusha
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
in 1970 and formed Arusha Jazz with their other brother, William Kinyonga. During this period, musicians could travel freely between Kenya and Tanzania, and Kenyan popular music became heavily influenced by Tanzanian rumba musicians. In 1971 the Kinyonga brothers moved to Kenya and created Simba Wanyika. The band played at nightclubs and bars in the Nairobi area, and developed an enthusiastic following, and by the mid 1970s, they were well-known throughout Kenya, thanks to hits like "Mwongele" and "Wana Wanyika". They had a harder sound than most rumba bands and were almost unchallenged in that area in Kenya due to the closing of the Tanzanian border in 1977.
The restrictions enforced on the Kenya-Tanzania border consequently led to the divergence of Kenyan popular music towards the emerging benga music
Benga music
Benga is a genre of Kenyan popular music. It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s, in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi. In the 1940s, the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous, South African kwela, Zairean finger-style guitar and various kinds of Cuban...
. Simba Wanyika continued playing rumba, and was still quite popular when the band split in the late 1970s when rhythm guitarist Omar Shabini took many of the bands musicians and forming Les Wanyika
Les Wanyika
Les Wanyika was a prominent band with Kenyan and Tanzanian members and was based in Kenya. It was formed in 1978 when guitarist Omar Shabani, bassist Tom Malanga and two other members left Simba Wanyika. They were joined by John Ngereza and Issa Juma. Les Wanyika made many popular recordings, but...
. In 1980, George Kinyonga also quit Simba Wanyika, taking more musicians with him to form Orchestra Jobiso. He eventually rejoined Simba Wanyika while still working with Jobiso on side projects. Simba Wanyika later changed their name to "Simba Wanyika Original" to prevent confusion with Les Wanyika and its splinter group, Super Wanyika Stars.
Simba Wanyika regained its popularity in the mid 1980s, releasing many hits and touring Europe in 1989. The disbanded in 1994, but several offshoots of the band still continue to play.
See also
- List of Wanyika bands, lists many of the offshoots of Simba Wanyika.
- Music of KenyaMusic of KenyaOut of all the African countries, Kenya has perhaps one of the most diverse assortment of popular music forms, in addition to multiple types of folk music based on the variety over 40 regional languages....
- Music of TanzaniaMusic of TanzaniaThe music of Tanzania stretches from traditional African music to the string-based taarab to a distinctive hip hop known as bongo flava.-National anthem:...