The Power Of Mutibo: A Rural Kenyan Tradition

Don't Sleep: Omutibo from Rural Kenya is a compilation of uniquely Kenyan acoustic guitar songs, recorded in the homes and yards of Luhya musicians. Omutibo is a style of acoustic guitar music invented by George Mukabi in the late 1950s and quickly adapted by his neighbours in a region that proved to be fertile ground for guitarists. In 2016, Cyrus Moussavi set out to document the songs of the old days, capturing the stories of a golden era of Kenyan music on the brink of independence. The songs were beautifully resurrected by the songwriters themselves over 50 years later.

The history of Omutibo

Omutibo is a uniquely Kenyan style of acoustic guitar music invented by George Mukabi in the late 1950s. The style quickly spread among Mukabi's neighbours in a region that proved to be a hotbed of musical talent.

In 2016, Cyrus Moussavi of Raw Music International set out to document the origins of Omutibo. He travelled along the banks of the River Yala to record the songs and stories of a golden era of Kenyan music on the brink of independence. The songs were recorded in the homes and yards of Luhya musicians.

The recordings were released as "Usiende Ukalale (Don't Sleep): Omutibo from Rural Kenya" by Raw Music International and Olvido Records. The album features performances by Johnstone Ouko Mukabi, Shem Tupe (Tube), Fanuel Amimo, Jimmy Bongo, Sukuma Bin Ongaro, Peter Akwabi, Zachariah Omufumbwa, Omari Machio, and Johanias Kiunya.

George Mukabi

In 2016, Cyrus Moussavi of Raw Music International travelled along the banks of the River Yala to document the songs of the old days. Recorded on location in homes and yards, these songs and stories of a golden era of Kenyan music were beautifully resurrected by the songwriters themselves, over 50 years later.

Mukabi's style of music was performed by many other musicians, including Johnstone Ouko Mukabi, who performed "Kwetu George (I, George)", and Shem Tupe (Tube), who performed "Adui (Enemy)".

Kenyan independence

"Omutibo" is a uniquely Kenyan style of acoustic guitar music invented by George Mukabi in the late 1950s. In 2016, Cyrus Moussavi set out to document the songs of the old days, recording on location in homes and yards. These songs and stories of a golden era Kenya on the brink of independence were beautifully resurrected by the songwriters themselves, over 50 years later.

Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa. The territory of what is known as Kenya has seen human habitation since the beginning of the Lower Paleolithic. The Bantu expansion from a West African centre of dispersal reached the area by the 1st millennium AD. With the borders of the modern state at the crossroads of the Bantu, Nilo-Saharan and Afro-Asiatic ethno-linguistic areas of Africa, Kenya is a multi-ethnic state.

The British Empire established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, from 1928 known as the Kenya Colony. During the wave of decolonisation in the 1960s, Kenya gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta as its first Prime Minister. It became a republic in 1964, and was ruled as a de facto one-party state by the Kenya African National Union (KANU), led by Kenyatta from 1964 to 1978.

Kenya's struggle for democracy was far from over after independence. Fighting with ethnic Somali rebels in the north continued from the time of independence until 1969, and Kenyatta instituted one-party rule, leading a corrupt and autocratic government until his death in 1978. Questions about the fairness of its elections continue to plague the country, which instituted a new constitution in 2010. Since declaring independence in 1964, Kenya has had just five presidents.

The Road to Independence

A rebellion known as the Mau Mau Uprising shook the British colony in 1952. The British carried out massacres of civilians, forced several hundred thousand Kenyans into concentration camps, and suspended civil liberties in some cities. The war ended in the imprisonment and execution of many of the rebels, but the British also understood that things had permanently changed. The colonial government introduced reforms making it easier for Kenyans to own land and grow coffee, a major cash crop previously reserved for European settlers. Kenyans were allowed to be elected to the Legislative Council beginning in 1957. With nationalist movements sweeping across the continent and with Britain no longer financially or militarily capable of sustaining its empire, the British government and representatives from the Kenyan independence movement met in 1960 to negotiate independence.

The agreement called for a 66-seat Legislative Council, with 33 seats reserved for Black Kenyans and 20 for other ethnic groups. Jomo Kenyatta, a former leader of the Kenya African National Union whom the British had imprisoned on false charges after the Mau Mau Uprising, was sworn in as Kenya’s Prime Minister on June 1, 1963, in preparation for the transition to independence. The new nation’s flag was modeled on that of the Union and featured a Masai shield at its centre.

Cyrus Moussavi

In 2016, Cyrus Moussavi of Raw Music International set out to document the origins of Omutibo, a uniquely Kenyan style of acoustic guitar music. Omutibo was invented by George Mukabi in the late 1950s and quickly adapted by his neighbours in a region that proved to be a hotbed of musical talent.

Moussavi travelled along the banks of the River Yala to record the songs and stories of a golden era of Kenyan music, on the brink of independence. The songs were recorded on location in the homes and yards of the musicians, with performances by Johnstone Ouko Mukabi, Shem Tupe (or Tube), Fanuel Amimo, Jimmy Bongo, Sukuma Bin Ongaro, Peter Akwabi, Zachariah Omufumbwa, Omari Machio, and Johanias Kiunya.

The recordings were co-released by Raw Music International and Mississippi Records, with the LP version distributed by Mississippi Records. The album features a deluxe metallic spot-colour jacket, with an 8-page full-colour booklet featuring interviews, photographs, and lyrics in English and Luhya. The digital version contains four additional songs.

Moussavi is credited as the producer, designer, photographer, and writer of the liner notes for the album. He also translated the songs, with Emma Nyol, Hanningtone Steven Okoth, Naman Obuyi, Shravan Vidyrathi, and Timothy Lusala.

Johnstone Ouko Mukabi

"Kwetu George (I, George)" is a song about the place where Johnstone Ouko Mukabi was born, Kisa Town in Kakamega County. The song mentions the different homes and people of the Tiriki, Maragoli, and Bunyore regions. Johnstone Ouko Mukabi is featured alongside other musicians on the album, including Shem Tupe (or Tube), Fanuel Amimo, Jimmy Bongo, Sukuma Bin Ongaro, Peter Akwabi, Zachariah Omufumbwa, Omari Machio, and Johanias Kiunya.

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