Them Mushrooms
Encyclopedia
Them Mushrooms is a musical band from Kenya
, playing mostly Chakacha
, some Benga
and also some reggae
. They are most famous for the Swahili
song Jambo Bwana
. The band is composed of Teddy Kalanda, Henry Ndenge Saha and Ben Mutwiwa. They mainly do covers of previously written hit songs.
The group was founded in 1969 as Avenida Success. The original line-up consisted of brothers Teddy Kalanda, Billy Sarro, George Zirro, John Katana and two other members. A fifth brother Dennis Kalume Harrison joined two years later. In 1972 the group was renamed Them Mushrooms .
The group originally played the beach hotel circuit in Mombasa
until 1986, with its coastal music influences. They then moved to Nairobi
in 1987. The group almost disbanded in 1992, when its drummer and songwriter Dennis Kalume died, and Zirro left the band preferring a solo career . The group was renamed Uyoga band in 2002 , but the name "Them Mushrooms" has since been taken back .
In 2009 bandleader John Katana was among four pioneering Kenyan artists given Head of State Commendation awards by president Mwai Kibaki
. Musician John Nzenze
was among the others
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...
, playing mostly Chakacha
Chakacha
Chakacha is a traditional music and dance style of the Swahili people of coastal Kenya and Tanzania, originally associated to weddings and performed and watched by women...
, some Benga
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...
and also some reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. They are most famous for the 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...
song Jambo Bwana
Jambo Bwana
"Jambo Bwana" is one of the best internationally-known Kenyan pop songs. It was first released in 1982 by Kenyan band Them Mushrooms, and later covered by a number of other groups and artists, including Mombasa Roots, Safari Sound Band, Khadja Nin, Adam Solomon and the German group Boney M....
. The band is composed of Teddy Kalanda, Henry Ndenge Saha and Ben Mutwiwa. They mainly do covers of previously written hit songs.
The group was founded in 1969 as Avenida Success. The original line-up consisted of brothers Teddy Kalanda, Billy Sarro, George Zirro, John Katana and two other members. A fifth brother Dennis Kalume Harrison joined two years later. In 1972 the group was renamed Them Mushrooms .
The group originally played the beach hotel circuit in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
until 1986, with its coastal music influences. They then moved to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in 1987. The group almost disbanded in 1992, when its drummer and songwriter Dennis Kalume died, and Zirro left the band preferring a solo career . The group was renamed Uyoga band in 2002 , but the name "Them Mushrooms" has since been taken back .
In 2009 bandleader John Katana was among four pioneering Kenyan artists given Head of State Commendation awards by president Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
. Musician John Nzenze
John Nzenze
John Amutabi Nzenze is a musician from Kenya. He has performed the twist dance style. Some of his most popular songs are Angelike , Julieta Rudi Tuone and Habari za Nairobi ....
was among the others
Discography
Them Mushroom have released several albums :- Jambo Bwana (1980) (Rocking in Africa / Greetings and Respect / Nyimbo Za Daktari / Madd Maddo Maddest / Lady / Oh Twaila / Jambo BwanaJambo Bwana"Jambo Bwana" is one of the best internationally-known Kenyan pop songs. It was first released in 1982 by Kenyan band Them Mushrooms, and later covered by a number of other groups and artists, including Mombasa Roots, Safari Sound Band, Khadja Nin, Adam Solomon and the German group Boney M....
/ Was 1st Lost Mama / What You See / Comment Allez-Vous / Come Stare / John Lennon / Ronja / Wanamziki Si Wakora) - Mama Africa (1983
- New Horizons (1985)
- At the Carnivore (1987
- Going Places (1988
- Almost There (1989
- Where We Belong (1990
- Zilizopendwa 91 (1991
- Zilizopendwa 92 (1992
- Kazi Ni Kazi (1996)
- Ni Hiyo (1998)
- Oh! Twalia]] (1998)
- Jambo Bwana (1999)
- Songs from Kenya (2000) (Jambo Bwana / Mushroom Soup / Wazee Wakumbuke / Wazee Wakatke / Zilizo Pendwa / Za Kale Zipo / MalaikaMalaikaMalaika, which means "angel" in Swahili , is the most famous love song in Kenyan pop music, as well as one of the most widely known Swahili songs...
/ Wamsheba Wamsheba / Si Nguo / Kama Zamani / Hapo Kale) - Zilizopendwa 2000 (2000)
- Uyoga (2004)