Matata (band)

Last updated
Matata
Also known asAir Fiesta Matata
GenresAfro funk, rock
Years activeMid 1960s - 1974
Labels President Records, Crystal, Stateside Records, Chairman, RPM Records
Past membersSteeleson Beauttah
Nashon Gandani
Sammy Kagenda
Jacques Kalunga
Isaac Kisombe
Toby Kombo
John Nzenze
Patrice Oluma
John Otieno
Anwar Richard
Gabby Wamala

Matata was a prominent African rock and funk band that was formed in Nairobi during the 1960s. They released a number of singles and recorded two albums during the early to mid-1970s.

Contents

Background

Matata was formed by Kenyan Musician John Nzenze. They started out as Air Fiesta Matata. Influenced by Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and South African kwela, they gained popularity with Kenya's younger generation. [1] Along with the Ashantis and the Cavaliers, Air Fiesta Matata was one of the resident bands at Robbie Armstrong's Starlight club in Nairobi. [2] This is where the group became recognized. [3] They were later regarded as an Afro Funk band [4]

Some of the group's members were refugees from Congo. [5] The group's membership included Steel Beauttah on vocals and Gabriel Wamala on drums. [1] One of Matata's members was exiled South African saxophonist Dudu Pukwana. [4]

The group won the Best Band in Africa Award in a competition organized by the BBC World Service in London. [1] Finding international fame, the group also played to venues in the UK, US, France Germany, Norway and Switzerland. [5] [1]

Career

1960s

In 1968, they appeared at the All-African Music Festival in Algeria. There they were ranked as the third best band in Africa. In 1969 they stayed in Ethiopia for several months to perform for Emperor Haile Selassie. [5]

1970s

Having won the BBC sponsored competition to find Africa's best band, the ensemble was invited to come to the UK and perform for the BBC. They also played some venues in London and ended up being managed by Pearl Connor. She got them work in the UK and Europe as well as a job as the opening act for Miles Davis. When they got back to London they signed up for a two-album deal with President Records. [6]

In 1972 their debut album Matata – Air Fiesta was released on President Records. [7]

In 1973 there were some issues that would have an impact on the band. with work permits running out they had to return to Kenya. Some members left due to not wanting to divide their time between Nairobi and the UK. [6] At some stage, possibly 1974, former Foundations and future Sunburst member, Eric Allandale went with the group to Zambia. There they played for the Independence celebrations. [8] [9]

Later years

Founding member John Nzenze died on 30 May 2020 at age 80. [1]

Line ups

1971 line up

[10]

Discography

Album
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes
MatataAir Fiesta President PTLS 10521972
MatataIndependencePresident PTLS 10571974

[11]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Kenya</span>

The music of Kenya is very diverse, with multiple types of folk music based on the variety over 50 regional languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sham 69</span> English punk rock band

Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They changed their musical direction after seeing the Sex Pistols play live in early 1976. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The group's popularity saw them perform on the BBC’s Top of the Pops, and they appeared in the rockumentary film, D.O.A.. The original unit broke up in 1979, with frontman Jimmy Pursey moving on to pursue a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soukous</span> African music genre

Soukous is a genre of dance music originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, with faster dance rhythms and bright, intricate guitar improvisation, and gained popularity in the 1980s in France. Although often used by journalists as a synonym for Congolese rumba, both the music and dance associated with soukous differ from more traditional rumba, especially in its higher tempo, song structures and longer dance sequences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mescaleros</span> British backing band for Joe Strummer

The Mescaleros were the British backing band for British singer, musician and songwriter Joe Strummer, formed in 1999, which issued three albums prior to Strummer's death in 2002.

Malaika Nakupenda Malaika is a Swahili song written by Tanzanian artist, Adam Salim in 1945 and recorded for the first time by Kenyan musician, Fadhili William. This song is possibly the most famous of all Swahili love songs in Tanzania, Kenya and the entire East Africa, as well as being one of the most widely known of all Swahili songs in the world. Malaika in this context means "angel" in Swahili, and this word has always been used by the Swahili speakers to refer to a beautiful girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Snapper (band)</span> British instrumental band

Red Snapper are a British instrumental band founded in London in 1993 by Ali Friend, Richard Thair (drums), and David Ayers (guitar). The three core members are also joined by various guest musicians and vocalists on different records. Since the 2007 reunion Tom Challenger (saxophone) has also been a member of the band. According to music journalist Jason Ankeny of AllMusic, "the British acid jazz trio [are] notable for their pioneering synthesis of acoustic instruments and electronic textures".

<i>Goin Places</i> (The Jacksons album) 1977 studio album by the Jacksons

Goin' Places is the twelfth studio album by the Jacksons. It would be the last Jacksons' album released as a joint venture between Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records. Goin' Places peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States, and at No. 11 on the US Soul Albums chart. The album sold over half a million copies worldwide. A concert tour to promote the album, named the Goin' Places Tour, ran from January to May 1978.

Amon Düül was a West German political art commune formed out of the student movement of the 1960s that became well known for its free-form musical improvisations. This spawned two rock groups: Amon Düül and the more famous Amon Düül II. After both groups disbanded in the 1970s, some of the original members reunited in the 1980s under the name Amon Düül again, though this incarnation is commonly referred to as Amon Düül UK to avoid confusion with earlier versions of the band.

Afro rock is a style of rock music with African influences. Afro rock is a dynamic interplay between Western rock music and African musical elements such as rhythm, melodies and instrumentation. Afro rock bands and artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s included Osibisa, Assagai and Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muruga Booker</span> American musician (born 1942)

Steven Bookvich known as Muruga Booker is an American drummer, composer, inventor, artist, recording artist, and an autonomous Eastern Orthodox priest.

The Higsons were an English funk-punk band, who existed between 1980 and 1986.

<i>Unicorn</i> (Tyrannosaurus Rex album) 1969 studio album by Tyrannosaurus Rex

Unicorn is the third studio album by English psychedelic folk band Tyrannosaurus Rex. It was released on 16 May 1969 by record labels Regal Zonophone and Blue Thumb, and was the last Tyrannosaurus Rex album to feature Steve Peregrin Took.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Neil</span> Scottish musician

Simon Alexander Neil is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro. In 2003, Neil formed the side project Marmaduke Duke with JP Reid, releasing two studio album's The Magnificent Duke (2005) and Duke Pandemonium (2009). Another side project fronted by Neil, Empire State Bastard, released their debut studio album Rivers of Heresy in September 2023, reaching number three in Scotland, forty six in the United Kingdom, number three on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Charts and sixty-nine in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael McKeegan</span> Northern Irish musician (born 1971)

Michael McKeegan is a Northern Irish musician best known as the bassist of rock band Therapy?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Allandale</span> Dominica musician

Eric Allandale was a trombonist, songwriter, and bandleader. During the 1960s, he was in number of bands in various genres which included jazz pop and soul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Them Mushrooms</span> Musical band

Them Mushrooms is a musical band from Kenya, playing mostly Chakacha, some Benga and also some reggae. They are most famous for the Swahili 1982 song Jambo Bwana. The band is composed of Teddy Kalanda, Henry Ndenge Saha and Ben Mutwiwa. They mainly do covers of previously written hit songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Nzenze</span> Kenyan musician (1940–2020)

John Nzenze was a musician from Kenya. He had performed the twist dance style. Some of his most popular songs were "Angelike", "Julieta Rudi Tuone" and "Habari za Nairobi ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apache (instrumental)</span> 1960 instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan

"Apache" is a song written by Jerry Lordan and first recorded by Bert Weedon. Lordan played the song on ukulele for the Shadows while on tour and, liking the song, the group released their own version which topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in mid-1960. The Shadows' guitarist Hank Marvin developed the song's distinctive echo and vibrato sound. After hearing the Shadows' version, Danish guitarist Jørgen Ingmann released a cover of the song in November 1960 which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

Sunburst was an African band that was formed in 1970 by Zairean guitarist Hembi Flory Kongo. One of its members was Eric Allandale who used to be with The Foundations, and previously the New Orleans Knights. The band is a part of African music history.

<i>Hi-Tension</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Hi-Tension

Hi-Tension is the sole album by Britfunk band Hi-Tension, released in 1978 by Island Records. Following the domestic success of the band's hit single "Hi-Tension", considered the first Britfunk song, the band recorded the album with producers Alex Sadkin and Kofi Ayivor at Island Studios, London. Disagreements arose between producer Sadkin, who proposed a commercial direction, and band leader David Joseph who wanted the album to retain the band's strong vibrant live sound. Hi-Tension reached number 54 on the UK Albums Chart, while "British Hustle" provided the band with their sole Top 10 hit. Despite its muted reception, and the group subsequently disbanding, Hi-Tension has since been regarded as a key and influential album in Britfunk and British R&B.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Music in Africa, 1 Jun 2020 - News, Kenya: John Nzenze's death ends African twist era By Lucy Ilado
  2. ↑ On My Father's Wings An Entrepreneurial Journey of Finding Humility, Resiliency, and a Lasting Legacy, By Michael Shirima · 2022 - ISBN 9781632995964, 1632995964 - Chapter 9 JOY, TRAGEDY, AND JOY
  3. ↑ The Weekly Review 1985 - Page 21
  4. 1 2 Opposing Apartheid on Stage, By Tyler Fleming · 2020 - ISBN 9781580469852, 158046985X - Page 384 Notes to p. 244, 118.
  5. 1 2 3 BBC News, 13 June 2020 - John Nzenze: The founder of 'Africa's best band' By Basillioh Mutahi, BBC News, Nairobi
  6. 1 2 We Are Cut, 7 March 2017 - Matata: ‘Wanna Do My Thing – The Complete President Recordings’ reviewed - Peter Robinson
  7. ↑ Music Republic Magazine, February 2017 - Matata: Wanna Do My Thing (RPM Records/Cherry Red) Out Now
  8. ↑ Record Collector, Issue 456 15 July 2016 - ALBUM, REVIEWS, Ave Africa | Sunburst - Reviewed by Kris Needs
  9. ↑ The Guardian, Fri, 21 Sep, 2001 - Eric Allandale, Powerful trombone master of jazz and pop by Val Wilmer
  10. ↑ President Records - MATATA
  11. ↑ Discogs - Matata Releases > Albums
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.