Benga legend Jamaranda plans to bounce back in style

After the death of Luo Benga king Okatch Biggy on December 18, 1997, his Super Heka Heka band members split to form their bands.

This new development gave rise to modern Benga artists like Oginga Wuod Awasi, Aluoch Jamaranda, Dolla Kabarry, Jerry Jalamo, Ogonji Jayimbo, among others.

With Biggy’s remix of the song Agutu Nyowila, Jamaranda rose to prominence before establishing his Malo Malo band. For several years, his iconic voice dominated the airwaves in entertainment clubs and vernacular FM stations.

Born in Ugadhi village in Bondo more than five decades ago, Isaac Aluoch, Oginga, and Kabarry are the only surviving members of the late Biggy’s Super Heka Heka Band.

When the Sunday Standard visited him at his home on the outskirts of Bondo town, the father of five narrated his music journey, stating that a humble beginning did not hinder him when he ventured into the music industry.

In pursuit of his talent and love for music, the former cane cutter in Awendo said he spent most of his daily wages to get a chance to play in bands such as the late Awino Lawi’s.

“It wasn’t easy to get a chance to showcase your talent in bands that had already been established. Sometimes you had to bribe some band members with a packet of cigarettes to be accorded an opportunity to play,” recalls Jamaranda.

The musician, who is currently performing at Nilotic Club in Bondo as a resident artist alongside Alex Jawaora, has been keeping a low profile, even sparking suggestions that he had been overshadowed by the Ohangla music wave.

“I have not quit music, and my fans should brace themselves for more surprises,” says the musician.

To prove his intent, he reveals that he is currently working on a new album, which he describes as a new phase of Benga.

“It is true the Ohangla wave has shaken the Benga industry, and we must do something new and unique to stay afloat in the industry,” he tells Sunday Standard, adding that the eight-track album will be out before the end of the year.

Already, his long-time fans like Lawrence Oduma and Stephen Ochieng have said they are eagerly awaiting Jamaranda's comeback.

"This is good news, and it is going to be like an end-of-year gift to his fans," said Oduma.

Jamaranda, who is married to two wives, says that having a wife was a requirement to join the late Biggy’s band.

“The late Okatch valued family life and he wouldn’t allow any person into his band if you didn’t have a wife and a house,” he narrates.

From a cane cutter to the composer of Diana, Atis Kapetito, Charly Kotung, Norah, Jaber Nyalego, and Malo Malo, among other songs, Jamaranda’s music journey has faced myriad challenges.

“Following the death of band members, I was traumatized and resorted to alcoholism. I was almost giving up,” he recalls.

Apart from the invasion of the industry by Ohangla, the student of the late Biggy says that the fragmentation of music bands has greatly contributed to the declining fortunes of Benga music.

He adds that the shrinking number of Benga music composers is also a challenge for the genre.

“Lack of creativity and issues with playing copyrights are other contributors to the poor state of the industry,” he says, adding that there is no shortcut in Benga music apart from regular practice.

While admitting that Benga has attracted many unskilled musicians, Jamaranda encourages aspiring and upcoming artists not to give up on their dreams.

“Regardless of what people say, I strongly believe this is the kind of music that has been and will continue to be appreciated by generations to come,” he says.

Jamaranda’s main message to upcoming artists is to stay focused, respectful, and honest to survive.