If there’s one place that has produced many household names in local rhumba, ohangla and benga music, it’s Siaya County.
While ‘Siaya Kababa’ may not have much to offer in terms of infrastructure, it is Kenya’s version of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which overflows with creative flair.
Some say that the place has ‘big egos’ and a rich musical culture that dwarfs Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori and other western Kenya counties combined.
Artistes currently topping the charts like Prince Inda, Musa Jakadala, Emma Jalamo and John Junior hail from Siaya. Then there are old Benga natives like Osito Kalle, Ochieng Kabaselleh, Okatch Biggy, Adwera Okello, Dola Kabary and Omondi Longlilo.
Siaya is also a proud home of benga sensation Aluoch Pamba, Ohangla queen Aquino Chogo, Ogina Koko, Bana Kadori, Emily Nyaimbo and Sultan Agodi, who’s a thriving maestro and the incumbent East Asembo ward MCA. The list is long.
But when it comes to the Rhumba genre, one man who has prominently put Siaya on the entertainment map is Musa Juma, founder of Limpopo International Band. He adeptly blended benga with Congolese Rhumba, with a timeless mix of vocals and instrumentals.
Fans considered him a reincarnation of Franco Luambo Makiadi and Pepe Kalle. In past media interviews, Juma described his unique style as ‘Benga Internationale,’ a strategic fusion of Luo benga with magical Congolese rhythms. It worked miracles.
Today marks the 14th anniversary of Juma’s death. Yet his music, his huge fan base agrees, has remained as captivating as ever. He is credited with revolutionizing the ‘primitive’ Luo benga into a more vibrant, modern and tantalizing genre that it is today.
“He is my favourite of all time,” says Baffine Olendo, a Nairobi-based Benga enthusiast. “Other than giving me a sense of belonging, Juma’s song have retained a feel-good value many years after he died,” she says, adding that her county of Siaya still oozes great talent.
Some of the musician’s hits such as Hera Mudho and Hera Mwandu, remain classics in East African Rhumba. “We loved his music. Mr Musa Juma, also known as MJ, bridged the gap between Luo benga and Congolese Rhumba, making benga more popular in Kenya,” says Paul Okinyi, a fan from Rodi Kopany in Homa Bay.
Tonight, and throughout this weekend, fans will pay tribute with online memorials, live performances of Juma’s songs, and listening parties across Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya and Kisumu. Fans in Europe and the US will also hold commemorative events in joints and online.
Lydia Owuor, an ardent fan will engage about 8,000 fans worldwide through her Facebook, TikTok and X platforms. She will not only play the legend’s hits but also share profiles of Limpopo Band members, top fans and sponsors that Mr Juma ever mentioned in his songs.
“He was extraordinary. Together with his brother Omondi Tony, who was also a Benga musician, we continue to celebrate them. I am happy to keep Musa Juma’s legacy alive,” says Owuor, known online as Lando Obera. She has digitized Juma and Omondi’s hits.
Beyond the online celebrations, devoted Benga enthusiasts in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Western Kenya towns plan tribute gigs at local entertainment venues to honour the fallen legend. Recently, fans pulled funds to build a mausoleum in Juma’s honour in Alego Usonga.
While scholars and observers recognize Siaya’s place in music, they say Juma’s impact was profound, with his artistry continuing to influence new generations of Benga and Rhumba musicians. But like every other musician, Juma’s careers was not with ups and downs.
After false starts in Kisumu and Muhoroni, Musa and his brother Omondi formed the Limpopo Band in 1990, releasing their first album in 1992. They performed in backstreet clubs with little impact. However, their persistence paid off in the early 2000s. Between 2001 and 2006, Juma and his brother dominated the Benga scene.
The team featured talented musicians such as John Junior (now leader of BV Band), Jose Mzungu, Sande Asweda, Frank Libe, Prof Azile, Salapata Salawowo and Ken Watenya. The maestro released eight albums featuring tracks like JB Omwaga, Rosy, O’yoo Daktari, Rapar Owino, Ongolo, Pacheko, Clackson, Rikni Nyombo, Fiance, Mayaka, Christina, Aggrey, Auma, Osiepe, Gidali, Ratego Baba, Siaya Kababa, Freddy and Saida.
His most adored songs were Fiance, Maselina, Siaya Kababa and Rapar Owino. In Maselina, he critiques faults some women for dating rich men and warns against using money to win love. In Siaya Kababa, Juma pleads with Helena, his estranged childhood sweetheart, to return to him. Another fan-favorite, Rikni Nyombo, advises the youth against rushing into marriage.
His revered hits like Maselina, Hera Mwandu (Love is wealth) and Hera Mudho (Love is blind) to date put listeners on the edge of their seats. One would think the hit-maker who fans called ‘MJ’ is still alive and belting them out live on stage.
Before he visited the US in 2010, Juma released Lake Victoria. That would be his last album. In one of the tracks, he thanks God and his family as he reflected on past challenges, including a failed marriage. The Rhumba icon died in Mombasa on March 15, 2011.