Jabali Afrika still going strong in the US

He and his brother Justo are the only remaining members from the original line up of Jabali Afrika. However, there is no mistaking the trademark of the group built around powerful percussion, big vocal harmonies and a colourful and electrifying choreography. The band combines the revolutionary fire of Nigerian Fela Kuti, the instrumental prowess of Manu Dibango’s saxophone and the energy of Ghana’s Osibisa.

African Heritage

Back in 1979, Alan Donovan, the American Director of the African Heritage had formed a band, named after the famous art institution, which was made up of some of the finest musicians of the day. Ayub Ogada (then known as Job Seda), Gido Kibukosya, Samite Mulondu, Jack Odongo and others livened up the Nairobi scene with their African rhythms enriched with soul and jazz. However, the band did not last long and broke up a few years later.

Little did Donovan know that years later, in the 1990s, he would be working with a band that would perfectly fit into the template set by that earlier generation of musicians. “Donovan saw us perform with a troupe called the Danjo Dancers and immediately fired the Congolese band that was resident at the African Heritage, then on Kenyatta Avenue, and signed us on,” recalls Joseck.

It was only natural then that Jabali Afrika would join the models, dancers and chefs of African Heritage Festival for a tour of nine major cities in Germany and Austria in 1993 to promote Kenya as a tourism destination. “

“We made it clear to Donovan that we would be heading to America after the European show was over. He was reluctant to let us go and even traveled with us all the way to New York just to confirm that we were really gone for good,” says Justo.

The first American performance for the group was at The Reggae Sun splash in the city of Pittsburg and the brothers remember making the most of this opportunity.

Their major break would come through an appearance on nationally syndicated children’s TV show called Mr Rogers Neighborhood where the host asked them to perform a rendition of a popular children’s song.

“That exposure on national TV in America was priceless,” says Joseck, “because our booking agent could now get us shows across the country. To this day, people still see reruns of that one appearance we had and they call to tell me how skinny we all were at the time.”

Musical background

The long experience of working in the competitive American music industry has changed the outlook of the brothers who hail from a musical background. Justo picked up his guitar playing skills from the father, Reuben Asikoye who was a contemporary of legendary Kenyan musicians from the 1950s and 1960s like Daudi Kabaka, Shem Tube and John Nzenze.

“Music is a business like any other and so musicians should not just wait for the weekend to perform,” says vocalist and percussionist Joseck as he sits at the Kenya National Theatre where there is a man walking by, carrying a guitar on his back.

“Instead of having the current karaoke night at an artistic venue like this, we need to provide a stage for the many singers, dancers and poets.” It is here that Jabali Afrika did the first rehearsals as a group 18 years ago under the large tree on the grounds of the Theatre.

Today, they are arguably the busiest East African group on the world stage, performing an average of 250 shows a year where their authentic African drum and electric guitars thrill crowds.

The band now has a wider African outlook with Swazi bassist Dumisizwe Bhembe and veteran Cameroonian guitarist Tanash Henri who has played for the likes of Manu Dibango and Alpha Blondy.

Buying CDs

The impact of evolving technology has turned music distribution on its head with record stores closing down due to the availability of music on the Internet for download. The music industry has had to respond to this onslaught by making new albums and singles available electronically, cheaper and faster than ever before.

“Fewer people now buying the physical format,” says Joseck who, however, admits that there is still a market for CDs in Africa and so the group are planning to ship all Jabali Afrika CDs to Kenya next year.

The new album ‘Rebellion: 1963 to the Future’ is stylistically more acoustic than anything the band has recorded before. As the title suggests, the songs are also very politically and socially conscious due to an experience four years ago.

In 2007 Joseck and Justo were traveling back to Nairobi from a Christmas holiday in Western Kenya when they got caught up in the post-election violence. “ Watching the society turn violent before our very eyes inspired the writing of songs like Peace is Justice.

One of the highlights on the album is “Kimathi” a heartfelt paean to the legendary independence freedom fighter sang over an enchanting acoustic guitar. “We recorded this song long before the monument was put up in Nairobi and it is a reminder that a people who cut off their past is like a tree without its roots,” says Joseck.

“Time is today” talks about the frustrations of youth and decries the reality that those born in the 1970s and 80s now find themselves caught up in a crisis because the independence generation has never given way to fresh leadership.

Family time

Having taken a break to enjoy Christmas back home, the Asikoyes are keen to spend time with family and friends and will not promise their fans a show during the upcoming holidays. “We will return to the winter in the New Year and immediately hit the road on a national tour across the States, now we just want to relax.”
Moreover, the brothers remind me, that having been used to a well-structured system of organising concerts, it still quite taxing for artistes to do their shows in Kenya. “Either the promoter will not have publicised the show or the facilities like sound are not up to par and the musicians here have to go beyond their duty so that the shows don’t flop.”

After 16 years living in America, Jabali Afrika will begin 2012 with a resolution to return home by the end of the year. “The world has become smaller, so we can do our tours even while based here and besides, its time to mentor another generation of musicians.”