From the skies to the discotheque

By Harold Ayodo

Two decades ago, he was a specialist in handling the controls of a Kenya Air force jetfighter and spinning it in the skies.

Today, his hands are clever at handling musical instruments and spinning a mix that thrills crowds.

DJ Charles Ogweno, 50, quit the Forces after the 1982 abortive coup and chose to venture into music.

Ogweno, who is the proprietor of the famous Omega One mobile discotheque, says he is not done with the entertainment scene.

Ogweno, who was detained for eight months after the coup attempt, has spread his wings further afield.

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Former Air Force pilot Charles Ogweno, who started an entertainment empire in 1983 after his detention following the 1982 coup attempt. [PHOTOS: JAMES KEYI/STANDARD]

"I resolved to convert part of the ground floor of my mansion in Kisumu into a recording studio to help local artistes produce music," he says.

Ohangla maestro Tony Nyadundo and Onyi Papa Jay are among the artistes who record tracks at his Sound Check Studio. Gospel artistes also record there, saying the much if they were to get the services in Nairobi.

FLIGHT CADET

Ogweno, who joined the Air Force as a flight cadet and later trained as a pilot in the UK, ventured into the DJ world in 1983.

"I sought ways of relaxing after my release from detention without trial, following the attempted coup on Moi’s Government 25 years ago," he says.

He, however, does not regret shedding his military uniform for spinning music and becoming a household name in entertainment.

He started the Action Centre Disco with two speakers, a turntable, cassette deck and a domestic amplifier before Omega One was born.

"I spun as a DJ from 1983 until the early 1990s when I retired into management of the mobile disco that grew beyond my imagination," says Ogweno.

The entertainment mogul, who admits that discipline in the Forces enabled him manage his business, confesses how he swam against the tide.

"Omega was arguably the first discotheque to compete with the then popular live bands like Super Mazembe, Les Wanyika and Maroon Commandos," says Ogweno.

He says the mobile disco was a new concept in the early 80s and he relied on teacher training colleges and ASK shows to market it.

"We shared venues with respectable bands and battled for fans to rock overnight on several occasions," recalls the father of three.

Omega, which is a household name in western Kenya, has ten permanent employees and occasionally hires casual workers on major assignments.

"We hire out our systems to political parties at rallies and international bands that have played in the western region over the past 20 years," says Ogweno.

Omega One also played for years at Tokyo Omega Lodge in Otonglo in Kisumu and Webbs Club in Kisii.

"I named my sound Omega One because it was to be the first and the last mobile of its kind," says Ogweno.

Mobile discos that competed with Omega, like Intercity, Funkatek and Galaxy, all died along the way for many reasons.

"Omega produced seasoned DJs like Don Ben, who still plays with the Home Boyz and DJ Mike who, currently, is the manager at Mamba in Mombasa," says Ogweno.

Other DJs who learnt the ropes under Omega are Kim of Mon Ami and Charley of Kengeles in Kisumu.

He regrets that the Government does not take music seriously, arguing his sounds have been stopped in the middle of performances several times.

"There were occasions when we got permits from DCs only to be ordered to stop playing by chiefs," says Ogweno.

ADORED MUSICIANS

The entertainer, who says the late Franco and Benga stalwart George Ramogi were among his adored musicians, loves oldies.

"Oldies bring back memories as I age gracefully…music is food of the soul and I believe we all love it," says Ogweno.

Ogweno comes from Wawidhi location in Nyando District.

He says had he remained in the Air Force, he could have climbed up the ladder.

He recalls he was on training in Kisumu when he got orders to travel to Nanyuki on July 31, 1982 on the eve of the coup attempt.

"But I do not regret. I have managed to feed, clothe and educate my family," he says.

Ogweno, whose ambition was to be a medical doctor, went to Kisii High School and scored First Division in O Levels.

"I went to Kenya Polytechnic where I studied electronics after I could not afford schools that selected me for A Levels," he says.

Despite his age, he has not stopped moving around with Omega One disco, even after he established a recording studio in his house.

"I keep tabs on the sound until one of my sons takes over," he says.