In the pages to follow we will feature briefly artistes and personalities that we will treasure for many years to come. These are people who have for decades entertained generations and how easily forgotten people are. It is for this reason we will maintain these pages to keep track of where we started and where our industry is heading to.

Some of the artistes featured here were never able to put anything on tape, yet they entertained generations through live performances and inspired hundreds who over the years have successfully been lucky to put creativity to pen and paper and or on tape.Others featured on this page are both Club and Mobile Disco Deejays, but once again they have been an inspiration in the industry.Finally we will feature event organisers and Club proprietors, who have played a significant role in providing opportunities for artistes to develop the careers using their events and premises as a platform to launch careers

.I will start this page with pioneering Disc Jockeys. Deejay Anwar Tufail was the pioneer deejay in Kenya. He was based in Mombasa and started doing mobile circuits and eventually doing gigs at the then mushrooming beach resorts and hotels along the Kenyan Coast.

 Deejay ‘Buffalo’ Real name, Farid Warshow, Buffalo was part of the group that started immediately after Anwar. He launched his career as a mobile deejay and was soon awarded contract with the resorts to spin. On this note I will also have a short mention of another of the early deejays that kept a very low profile but made a mark as a pioneer in the field Ahmed Warshow, brother to Deejay Buffalo.

Deejay Fine born AbdulSattar Sheikh started his career as a singer with one of the local pop bands based in Mombasa then, Night Riders. He moved on to join veteran coast musician Tony Remedious at the Spartans. His singing career had to come to a halt as he developed complications with his thyroids and so he turned to deejaying. He worked as an assistant to Buffalo briefly. Soon his talent was noticed by Peter Heist, of the Chikito Club contracting Sattar and christening him Deejay FINE, the rest is history that we will dedicate a column on our site of this finest of all  club deejays. 

 Deejay Mwachi Mohammed was in the first generation of night club deejays. He started as a singer with Air Fiesta Matata of Steele Beauttah, then the number one Soul group in Kenya. He later set base as resident deejay at the infamous Club 1900. 

Deejay Obe Club deejay 1900, played mainly as an assist to the frontiers. 

Deejay Dave begun his career in Mombasa, soft spoken, moved on as resident Deejay Club Boomerang, tragically killed in mysteriously circumstances. Club Boomerang.

Deejay ‘Omi’ real name Omari Mbingham, started as an apprentice at the Studio 54, KICC, Nairobi, later with the launch of The Beathouse, Omari was assistant to deejay Fine. 

Deejay ‘Babs’ One of the many siblings of the highly skilled musically family of Rousteau. A brother to entertainer, saxophonist and deejay Tony Rousteau, Babs as known by his fans at the Carnivore was good. Many of the current artistes will recall his hey days at the Carnivore.

Deejay Tito has come a long way, from his early days in Mombasa, later as apprentice deejay in the Florida group, working his way to top deejay and currently managing Club Florida 2000

 Deejay Kariz Nairobi based,  was one of the few youths that frequented Studio 54, jam sessions. That he says was an inspiration for him and prompted him to try his luck in spinning. Surely lady luck was on his side as Kariz has grown from strength to strength as deejay and is now entertainment manager at the New Florida Club, Nairobi, popularly known as the Madhouse.

Deejay Yusuf ‘McDust’ Koko the boy from the Mount Kenya belt. Koko was a link between the big city and the Mount Kenya region in terms of entertainment. Pioneer deejay in the then top Nyeri Clubs Koko made various appearances in the big city gigs as guest deejay. Currently working as a social worker in Nyeri and Maragua assisting the under privileged achieve good education. We will link a site soon on this column for any interested old fan to assist in his worthy projects. Nyeri

Deejay Alex Rogers stepped onto the scene with a bang and creped out quietly to pursue a totally different career in Marketing. A very creative deejay, Rogers transformed the Night life in Thika, and Blue Posts was once the talk of the 80’s.

Deejay ‘Mashada’,  the first of celebrities to brand flashy cars, a sleek Alfa Romeo, he was an act to watch. He performed with a style of his own and got revellers rush to what is now Safari Park Hotel every weekend to groove to Mashada hype. Safari Park Nairobi

Deejay Yellow man Briefly at the Beathouse after the partnership spilt when Deejay Fine, who was co partner moved back to Mombasa. The Beat House

Deejay Mdosi Another apprentice from Studio 54 who joined various clubs within the city including Club Boomerang but become quite popular with the school going jammers.

Q

Pioneering Groups (Bands)

Listed are pre & post independence groups launched in Kenya and across the borders. These are groups composed of musicians who began the struggle to recogonition, respect and opportunity to be awarded a justifiable recording contract. I am careful when I use the word justifiable as it is a known fact that it’s been a struggle by artistes in this part of the universe to earn respect, be paid well or at least what their qualities deserve and sign a binding contract that will prevail which I am sure many artistes will agree that has not been the case in Kenya. Promoters and Club proprietors have always taken advantage of artistes and Air plays on local stations had been a night mare but with times changing these conditions have improved. So let’s take a ride down memory lane and remember the early groups that we listened or danced to in our tender ears.

The Equator Boys of Peter Tsotsi & Nashil Pitchen, sounds on these 45 mono matrixes are still as sweet as they sounded in the 50’s.Daudi Kabaka & the Eagles titles like Helule Helule will never die, I just wonder when today’s clique will revisit these early classics to remix and give us a blend of the golden era of African music with today’s sound.Fadhili  Williams the Malaika boy, though there are other parties still laying a claim to the title, one such person is Grant Charo. Fadhili's Taxi Driver single gave us the African Twist.Esther John the Nightingale of Kenya sounds then. Fundi Konde of the Dereva Kombo fameKamaru Celina Band, Joseph Kamaru was the pioneer in the Central Kenya beats, together with sister Celina Kamaru’s sounds was a must in Kikuyu weddings and parties, and as time went by you could listen to Kamaru’s Ninuyua also feature in some Clubs as the night wore on.George Ramogi pioneers of the Benga Beat from the Lake region, a beat later adopted by many Afro rock groups, George remains a legend.

Luna Kidi Band of Hellujah Ochieng Kabasellah who married the benga beat with the popular Zaire Sukusu beat that was spreading like bushfire in Kenya with the coming of the Congolese musicians.Daniel Katuga and his sounds.The Flamingo town of Nakuru gave us The Bongo Boys. The Armed forces had a big share of their resident groups, likes of the Green Beret Band to mention a few, but no other army based group hit the scene like the Maroon Commandos of the 7^th Battalion Kenya rifles. Under the leadership of Habel Kifoto and that David Kibe voice, wana Maroon as popularly known were top of the charts. Their hit Usiniambie and Choronyi si  wasi are evergreens.Then there was Gideon and the Kenya Police Band. True to its name, the Police Band was the ceremonial band, with hits like Kenya Nchii yetu.

Taraab musicians were not to left behind, Ali Mkali and his Johar orchestra, Matano with his Morning Star orchestra, and veteran Taraab Maestro Mohammed Khamis Juma Bhalo who totally transformed the Taraab scene by marrying the local cha ka cha beat with Bollywood tunes became the in thing for the local Swahili community on the Kenya coast. Maulidi Juma is also an artiste worth mentioning as he almost upstaged Bhalo as supremo in the field. Upcountry Siti Zuhura and Abbu ruled the air waves and local performances and in the later stages Nairobi saw the emergence of Hafusa Abbasi established herself as Queen of Taraab.  

 Pioneer Performers

Starting a group in the post independence era was a way either out of poverty or a hobby to overcome boredom. As a result of this many talents were born then. It was also the case of if they can do it so can we. Well lets us take a ride down memory lane and visit our early groups. Nairobi as the capital had its stage set with big time promoters who wanted to cash in these talents provide equipment and management to aspiring musicians.

Ashanti’s of Paddy is the earliest of the proper groups that I can put memory on. Frankly I was not lucky enough to be above table height as they put it in restaurant terms to witness them play I have had the opportunity to listen to some of their works and they were superb. One of the earliest Kenyan groups to move abroad.Air Fiesta Matata of Steele Beuattah was true Soulful. They had what it took to keep you dancing all night long.

Hodi Boys of Juma Toto were great stage maestro, their stage choreography was excellent, belting Soul & Lingala.Gloria Africana of Ismail Jingo was a group that brought together some of the finest instrumentalist of the time with talents like Bonnie on Bass.Cavaliers Band of Hamisi & Rashidi compiled of former members of the Hallians Band best known for hit single Duniya ina Mambo.Les Yoyos Band of Mike Talanta typical  Kenyan Band playing Congolese style music.

Vikings Band spear headed by Tony Rousteu & Bruno de Silva played for gigs in hotels and community events. Repertoire from Pop to Soul. Spartans Band of Tony Remedious was another Pop and Dance group that featured in local gigs and an inspiration to a lot of local talent that was emerging then. Formula Five composed of breakaway musicians from the mainstream Pop group at the coast. This group was a stepping stone for the indigenous locals to have one of their own.Groups like the Formula Five gave birth to The Islanders which later spilt to form Safari sounds and Mombasa Roots.

This was about time Them Mushrooms were gearing up onto the scene.them Mushrooms are no strangers to the Kenya and international music scene as lke the Mombasa Roots and Safari Sounds have against all odds withered the tribulations of the industry and are still in existence and very much in demand.Silver Survivors Experience of Linda Curtis, Kenya’s very own Curtis Mayfield featured prominently in the 80’s setting their base at Club Boomerang and New Florida.

The G Boys of the Staussi brothers, Tony, Andrew & George Staussi later joined by the younger brother Sam.Thanks to contributors.

Q

Pioneer Night Club Entrepreneurs 

We have listed some of the pioneering in Club proprietors the industry, ABDULRAUF SHEIKH, prop, Club 1900 & Casbah Mombasa, soft spoken had a passion of cars, owned a unique collection of vintage limos and a keen racegoer.

JACK tough talking Jewish Night Club & Restaurant prop, owned Arcadia, now New Florida, Park Inn at the Uhuru Park, and Pop In Club. 

ROBBIE ARMSTRONG owned the famous Star Night Club, the last stop as it was popularly known, and Luke’s Club.

NASHIR ALIBHAI, then proprietor of Exotica Restaurant, owned Eclipse then converted to Tamango Club. I believe it is fair to give credit to Alibhai as an inspiration to creating the upmarket trendy Club design & atmosphere then only witnessed in movies.

MASSIMO RUFFO GAETANO owned Tamango that he converted to Vision Club and later owned exclusive Restaurant Foresta.

PETER HEIST, most successful Night Club proprietor at the Coast, started with Club Chikito later established Bora Bora International club. 

MR WINKY I always compared him to our current day Frank Sinatra, ever smart and cool and always in white, Winky was inspirational in the first clubs in Kenya starting in the early sixties with Florida Club Mombasa, later establishing New Florida, Florida 2000 and Florida Casino.

ARMSTRONG KASUKU, Garden Square Club restaurant.

 There a number of other club entrepreneurs who were pioneers in the trade but none had the passion and drive this group had, two of which we should salute are Mr KUNGU of Pivot Hotel Nakuru and LIYAKAAT WALJEE of Flamingo Casino Club Kisumu.

The Mwitas owners of Hallians Club, known as the peoples club, a base for the famed Juma Toto & Hodi Boys band.The Nanjis who owned Central & Rock Bar Clubs in Mombasa.Gidoomal of the Chiromo Club.Sal Davis, Kenya’s only known cabaret star, of Bonaza Night Club, now baptised New Florida Club.

We also acknowledge the passion and drive of a number of Club & Mobile Entertainment pioneers all across the country and neighbouring states, that we have not mentioned on this page, if you happen to be one of them or better still frequented a Spot that entertained you or anyone you know send us an article and some pictures so that we can all share those treasured memories.

This applies to Musicians and deejays that we have not featured in our pioneer column.One of the main objectives of Big Q’s Entertainment is to Archive these treasured memoirs, groom, and mentor & promote the new kids on the block without prejudice.So as you browse through these articles your comments, suggestions and inputs will be highly appreciated.Big Q