In 1978, a band called Les Wanyika emerged with members from both Kenya and Tanzania, establishing itself in Kenya. The group was formed when guitarist Omar Shabani, bassist Tom Malanga, and two others split from Simba Wanyika. They were later joined by musicians John Ngereza and Issa Juma. Les Wanyika became known for several popular songs, most notably their 1979 hits Sina Makosa and Paulina. Soon after these successes, Issa Juma left the band to pursue other musical projects. Despite this, the group continued until Omar Shabani’s death in 1998, with John Ngereza passing away two years later.
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Simba Wanyika, the band that inspired Les Wanyika, was originally formed in 1971 by two brothers, Wilson and George Kinyonga, from Tanga, Tanzania. Due to economic challenges in the 1970s that strained the music industry, many Tanzanian artists, including the Kinyonga brothers, migrated to neighboring Kenya in search of better opportunities. At the time, the East African Community made travel between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania easy. However, after the collapse of the community in 1977, crossing borders became more difficult, leading Simba Wanyika to establish a permanent base in Kenya. The band spawned several offshoots, with Les Wanyika being the most notable.
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Although the migration of artists for career advancement is common, there are instances where countries falsely claim ownership of certain figures or cultural elements to boost their prestige. This can be seen in cases like the song Malaika, which originated in Tanzania, and Tanzanian cartoonist Geofrey “Gado” Mwampembwa, who works for the Nation newspaper in Kenya.
Mount Kilimanjaro, another symbol often associated with Kenya, also actually belongs to Tanzania. In the case of Les Wanyika, the group included both Tanzanian and Kenyan members. Tanzanians such as John Ngereza, Issa Juma, and Omar Shabani contributed significantly to the band, while Kenyan Tom Malanga also played a vital role. Based in Nairobi, the group performed in nightclubs and resorts for many years, with most members now deceased or retired due to age.
AUDIO Les Wanyika All Songs MP3 DOWNLOAD
- Les Wanyika – Ufukara Sio Kilema
- Les Wanyika – Rafiki Yangu
- Les Wanyika – Simimi
- Les Wanyika – Sigalame No.2
- Les Wanyika – Sarah
- Les Wanyika – Mony
- Les Wanyika – Mama Watoto
- Les Wanyika – Sina Makosa
- Les Wanyika – Maisha Ni Mapambano
- Les Wanyika – Afro
- Les Wanyika – Safari Ya Samburu
- Les Wanyika – Amigo
- Les Wanyika – Kajituliza Kasuku
