Peter Akwabi - Kifo Cha Mukabi

Peter Okutoyi Akwabi has been composing and teaching music for over five decades. He was born in 1946 in Ebuhonga village in Kisa, Kakamega County. He has been credited with popularizing omutibo beats, a form of processional music from that part of the country, characterized by rhythms inspired by a traditional dance of the Luhya community. He started his musical career in 1963 when he cut his first disc ‘Kifo Cha Mukabi’, a song he composed while still in primary school as a tribute to his mentor, the legendary king of omutibo, George Mukabi. He went on to study music at Kenyatta College in 1969 and later taught at Alliance High School, just a few kilometers from Nairobi. During his illustrious musical career spanning over four decades, Akwabi composed over 250 songs, with Dada Njoo being his biggest hit. After retiring from the Teachers Service Commission, Akwabi joined Kenyatta University’s Performing and Creative Arts Centre where he directed music activities for another 12 years before finally retiring to his village in Ebuhongo were he currently resides. During this recording he was accompanied by his younger brother Silvanus Anyangu (vocals), Ben Mukabwa (bass) and Fiston Lusambo (guitar). They were also joined by Brian Nyamanga and Thelma Lukachia both members of Loko Band, the resident band at Dunga Hill Camp. Find more information about our recording with Peter here: https://www.singingwells.org/stories/...