UYOGA – THE STORYEvery music culture has its story of success and endurance. In Kenya, Uyoga (formerly Them Mushrooms) have outlived many groups without loosing their focus as a creative and performing band. Five brothers Teddy Kalanda Harrison, Billy Sarro Harrison, George Zirro Harrison, John Katana Harrison, and Dennis Kalume Harrison initially founded the group in 1972. To Date, UYOGA is one of Kenya’s most successful bands in a well-rounded sense. Their thumbprints are evident in every discipline that constitutes the music business in Kenya. They have also been instrumental in launching and re-launching recording careers for a number of local Artistes. Jambo Bwana - their biggest hit recorded in 1980 earned the group silver, gold and platinum status (discs) for sales exceeding 200,000. It also entered charts in seven different versions, the most notable done by Europe’s famous 1970s disco group Boney M. Their slogan Hakuna Matata was adopted in a recording by Jimmy Cliff which was also used as a theme song on the box-office hit movie the Lion King. Uyoga has also recorded signature tunes for BBC Radio (UK) and KBC Radio (Kenya). A British film producer of a documentary on Kenyan athletes’ likewise, featured their composition ‘Pongezi Wanariadha’. ‘Ndogo Ndogo’ - the strongest track on their 1985 album ‘New Horizons’ was adapted as a soundtrack of a Kiswahili Movie, ‘Mahari’, produced by a Kenyan Filmmaker, Paul Singh. In 1988 Uyoga released ‘Ukimwi ni Hatari’ and ‘Beware of Aids’, making the group the first Band in Africa to have recorded and released songs on HIV/AIDS pandemic. The death in 1992 of youngest brother Dennis Kalume Harrison, then band drummer, was devastating. The band temporarily broke up, but pressure from their late mother Mrs Mandi Harrison and fans brought them back together again. Earlier on, George Zirro Harrison who played guitar and flute also bowed out, to pursue his own musical direction in Afro Jazz. Later on the 2nd of April 2001, the Bands founder, Teddy Kalanda Harrison retired. The remaining brothers have recruited other musicians to complete the band’s line up of six members. ‘Toys of Death’ a single released in 1998, earned the group commendation from the International Coalition against Landmines. Through 2005 and 2006, Uyoga was involved in the Afro Fusion project SPOTLIGHT ON KENYAN MUSIC (sponsored by the French Embassy and Alliance Françoise in Nairobi). Uyoga rehearsed and backed-up in concert, a total of twenty two (22) up-and-coming Kenyan musicians. These musicians went on to record two compilation albums which were released on the world market. Uyoga have performed in every imaginable venue among Kenya’s dusty market venues in remote districts. Outside Kenya, Uyoga has toured in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. To date, Uyoga have not only survived tragedy of losing their dear brother, Drummer, Dennis Kalume Harrison, and changing times, but are an institution that has spawned musical creativity in Kenya and East Africa as a whole. UYOGA – THE MUSICWhen talking about Uyoga (formerly Them Mushrooms) – Kenya’s and East Africa’s popular music group – their hit song ‘Jambo Bwana’ comes to mind unbidden. The 1980 composition was for years, the band’s most distinctive legacy. Besides its simple catchy lyrics, its beats and rhythm appeals, as if mystically, to fans globally. But in a new quest to return to their roots, Uyoga has now created ‘NZELE’ music, which essentially borrows its rhythmic beats from Mwanzele from the Coast Province of Kenya. Nzele’s most distinct facet is the ‘Call’ and ‘Answer’ style. This involves the lead singer, who lyrically “calls out” and backing vocals “answer” in a chorus response. The instrumental accompaniment revolves around the bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards, flute, horns (sax/trumpet) and what Uyoga refers to as a “stinging” rhythm Guitar Strum. Uyoga’s Nzele Beat is unique owing to its indigenous influence, which is artistically creative and innovative. Their new Nzele style compositions reflect a whole new dimension for the group’s musical identity. The direction the band has now adopted ushers in a new chapter for a group that maintained a tradition of recording ‘evergreen’ and somewhat timeless productions with uncanny consistency. And like its slogan aptly proclaims, Uyoga is indeed the heartbeat of Kenya’s showbiz scene. UYOGA - ACCOLADES Uyogas’ success as a band can be testified by the numerous accolades they have earned over the years specifically beginning the early 1980s. The following are awards the group has bagged to date. 1982 SILVER DISC for hit song ‘JAMBO BWANA’. 1984 GOLD DISC after JAMBO BWANA, sales topped 100,000 units mark. 1987 PLATINUM DISC awarded when JAMBO BWANA sales topped 200,000 units. 1987 'THE BATTLE OF KENYAN BANDS' TROPHY awarded after the band was voted number one at the ‘Battle of Bands Concert’ held at the Bomas of Kenya Auditorium Nairobi, Kenya. 1989 ‘KENYAN SINGER/ARTISTES OF THE YEAR' RUNNERS-UP TROPHY. 1998 CERTIFICATE (from the International Coalition to Ban Landmines) awarded for the band's anti-landmines song titled ‘TOYS OF DEATH’. 2000 'M-NET 2000 AWARD' in January, courtesy of South African M-NET Television Channel 2002 'KENYAN BAND OF THE DECADE TROPHY' in February, Uyoga was voted Kenya's most favorite Band. Awarded by the Kenya Music Composers Association. 2002 'BEST AIDS AWARENESS SONG RUNNERS – UP TROPHY' awarded for the best AIDS awareness song by the Kenya Music Composers Association in February. 2004 ‘KISIMA AWARD’ awarded in June, for Best Group from the Kenyan Coast (coastal music category). Below we give you an insight into ‘Uyoga’s creativity and compilations. UYOGA - DISCOGRAPHY 1. 1980 ‘Jambo Bwana’ Single 2. 1983 ‘Mama Africa’ L.P. 3 1985 ‘New Horizons’ LP 4. 1987 ‘At The Carnivore’ L.P 5. 1988 ‘Going Places’ LP 6. 1989 ‘Almost There’ LP 7. 1990 ‘Where We Belong’ LP 8. 1991 ‘Zilizopendwa 91’ CD 9. 1992 ‘Zilizopendwa 92’ CD 10. 1996 ‘Kazi Ni Kazi’ CD 11. 1997 ‘Toys of Death’ Single 12. 1998 ‘Ni Hiyo’ CD 13. 1998 ‘Oh! Twalia’ Single 14. 1999 ‘Jambo Bwana’ CD 15. 2000 ‘Zilizopendwa 2000’ CD 16. 2004 ‘Uyoga’ CD As one of the most traveled Groups from Kenya, Uyoga have carried the Kenyan Flag through their Musical Talent Worldwide and are still doing it to date. Here are some of the countries and States they have performed: PERFORMANCE TOURS 1. 1982 – Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. 2. 1988 - Burundi’s 26th Independence Anniversary Celebrations and Tanzania. 3. 1989 - Arriccia Annual Music Festival in Arriccia Italy. 4. 1990 - Ethiopia and Djibouti. 5. 1991 – Copenhagen, Denmark and Gaborone, Botswana. 6. 1991 – Kampala, Uganda. 7. 1992 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 8. 1993 – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain & Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 9. 1994 – Dubai, Switzerland and the Africa Center, London. 10. 1994 – Bahrain, Morocco and Ethiopia. 11. 1995 - Dubai and Ethiopia. 12. 1996 – Mahe, Seychelles. 13. 1999 – Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. 14. 2000 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 15. 2003 – Djibouti. 16. 2004 – Athens, Greece. When not touring other countries, Uyoga perform locally in Nairobi Kenya, adhering to a tight schedule of between three to four shows in a week. As one of the front runners Kenyan group that enjoyed tremendous success locally in Kenya and in some foreign lands with their creative releases; Uyoga is always looking for ways to reach the most competitive world musical markets, and are never shy to assist upcoming Talent achieve their Musical Goals. So Shake a Leg to The Uyoga Nzele Beat!!!!
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