Them Mushrooms founder Teddy Kalanda Harrison exits stage

Them Mushrooms band founder Teddy Kalanda Harrison. [File, Standard]

Them Mushrooms band founder Teddy Kalanda Harrison has died. Kalanda passed on at his home in Mombasa at the age of 72.

He has battled multiple myeloma cancer for six-and-a-half years.

His younger brother John Katana Harrison confirmed the death. He said it was painful, but noted that God is the answer to everything that involves the humankind.

Katana said his brother had suffered enough for a long time with the illness that had him bedridden for close to seven years.

“This is the saddest moment to us as a family, but it pleases Almighty God to take him at this time since He’s the one who gives and takes away. We are saddened, but we must live with it,” Katana told The Standard.

Kalanda is best known for composing the hit song ‘Jambo Bwana’.

In 2018, he took to social media, to announce that he had been confined to a wheelchair and was undergoing therapy. He posted a photo of himself holding a cup of coffee, telling fans, “Beautiful people, this is where I am at right now… In a wheelchair and undergoing therapy for the recovery of the use of my legs.”

His death follows that of his younger son Louis Malushani Harrison, who died on July 2, this year in Greece from stomach upsets and heart-related complications. He was aged 49 and was a professional musician in Athens.

Malushani had been performing with The Big Matata Band for the past 14 years after relocating to Greece from Mombasa in 2010. Malushani was a vocalist-cum bass guitarist in his musical career just like his father.

Theirs is a family of musicians all the way down to the grand children.

Kalume Katana Harrison, the 22-year-old son of Katana is the latest member of Harrison grandchildren who’s active in the band, Them Mushrooms.

Kalume replaced Kalanda as a saxophonist when he (Kalanda) was diagnosed with cancer.

Another Harrison grandchild, who passed through the band on his way to his independent musical outfit is the first born son of the late Kalanda, Henry Matano (Harrison) who is currently based in Sweden .

Meanwhile, Katana said the family has started preparations for the burial.

“Our prayers are that we give our departed brother Teddy the warmest sendoff that befits him for the period he had served in the music industry through songs that have educated the Kenyan public and the world in general on a number of topical issues,” added Katana who is the current leader of Them Mushrooms Band.

The fallen musician is among the surviving band members who led Silver Jubilee Celebrations when the band marked 50 years in December 2022.

Them Mushrooms was formed in December 1972 in a lineup that consisted the first four Harrison brothers of Teddy Kalanda, Billy Sarro, George Zirro and John Katana, plus Pius Plato Chitanda and Pritt Nyale.

A fifth Harrison brother Dennis Kalume joined the team two years later (1974).

In 1982 they produced the Kenya ‘Jambo Bwana’ often referred to as ‘Hakuna Matata’, a song that sold the country globally as top tourism destination.

The band traces its early days to Kaloleni, Kilifi, and performed at the beach hotels in Mombasa before their relocation to Nairobi, first at Carnivore Restaurant, then Panafric Hotel.

The song’s global impact was further cemented when it was covered by the German group Boney M, introducing Kenyan culture to international audiences.

Their blend of folk Taarab, Sega (also known as Benga), and reggae rhythms captivated fans and helped the band dominate the airwaves in the 1980s.

Hits like ‘Mombasa Tena’ and ‘Embe Dodo’ further solidified their place in Kenyan music history.

Other popular songs of the band produced in the 80s are ‘Nyambura, Akumu Ber Nyar Kisumu’ and ‘Ukimwi Ni Hatari’.

In past interviews, Katana had said they grow stronger everyday as the band rebrands and reinvents itself.

In the meantime, messages of condolence to the family of continue pouring in. They include messages from from the King of Kwasa Kwasa Kanda Bongoman who resides in the United Kingdom and Sam Mangwana who stays in Luanda, Angola.

Former Kilifi Governor, Amason Kingi, expressed his sadness, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Ted Kalanda Harrison, founder of the famous Them Mushrooms band and composer of the hit song Jambo Bwana.”

Musician and friend Reuben Kigame also paid tribute, saying, “It is with deep sorrow that I have learned of the passing on of my friend Ted Kalanda Harrison. May God comfort the family at this difficult time.”

Cultural commentator Joyce Nyairo added, “Rest in Power, Teddy Kalanda. You blazed the trail and kept the fire burning.”