Jamnazi Africa - Museke African artistes

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Jamnazi Africa
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1970-01-01
Michael Otieno
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Jamnazi Africa is an Afro-fusion group/band from Kenya. The group is led by Michael Otieno, who is musically also known as Owilo. JaMnazi means 'like a coconut' in the Giriama language. They wanted to use their talents for many purposes - just like a coconut. The band includes him (lead vocalist), Milton Ongoro (singer/guitarist), Peter Daliti (lead solo guitarist), George Okoth (bass leader), John Losa (drummer), Jerlous Kataliko, Yusuf Onari (drummer), Alpha Nyuki (keyboard) and Julius Ochuondo (solo guitarist).

Their music is Afro-fusion, and can be classified as Benga music. Awilo’s soothing voice and the excellence of the band has made them one of Kenya's most sought performing groups.

Awilo and a couple of his musician friends tried their luck in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania initially. It was difficult to compete with the Congolese groups and it was almost impossible to score Lingala hits as a foreigner. They later relocated to Kenya and pursued live band music. They ended up in Eldoret which had just one live band that played only Kalenjin songs. They first sang Bongo Flava, Lingala and African contemporary songs by various African musicians since they had not composed any of their own. They eventually saw the need to compose songs and the onus mostly fell on the shoulders of Awilo.

Awilo was inspired to write the 'I'm not sober' song after an experience where he refused an offer of Guinness because he wasn't sober. In 2002, Jamnazi entered the song for a Safaricom sponsored talent search competition and they emerged among the best groups. The song eventually became a local anthem driven by great radio station play. Part of the song's chorus goes like - "I’m not sober, Odiero, I’m not sober. I’m not sober because I have taken Guinness. I have taken Guinness that has got Michael Power".

Some of their songs include Kendu-Bay, I am not sober, Anyango, Talanta and Lelo Luno, Osiepe, Toujours Probleme, Anyango Bi Limaa, etc

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Song lyrics
Riziki (2007)
Riziki
I'm not sober

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