Father 'Kayamba' Katana recalls his performance for Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II

Bishop Henry Katana, who played Kayamba for both Pope John Paul the Second and Pope Francis on 10. October 2021. [Courtesy, Standard]

Father Henry Katana considers it a privilege to have played his Kayamba more than twice for two Popes. The 76-year-old priest of Saint Barnabas Catholic Church, Kaloleni Parish, played for both the late Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis, who died on Monday.

"I feel privileged that I played for Pope Francis in 2015. He was very happy to see us dance and perform with St Fatima choir of Kongowea. He enjoyed our performance," he said.

The ever-jovial cleric said he has played the Kayamba since he was ordained. He was invited to Rome and Israel to play his favourite instrument before Pope John the Second.

“They allowed me to play Kayamba thrice before Pope Paul II and once before Pope Francis. I also flew to Rome and Israel to play before Pope John the Second,” said Fr Katana.

Speaking with the Standard through the phone, Father Katana remembers the late Pope Francis as a humble and down-to-earth leader who was all about the less fortunate in society.

"I remember him as a humble and down-to-earth person. He was all about the afflicted in society. He went to Kangemi to see orphans," said Father Katana.

Dressed in an alb and a stole around his neck with the ends hanging down in front, Fr Katana has continued to play the Kayamba with ease for over 46 years.

He remembers playing the Kayamba before Pope Francis in Nairobi in 2015, during his first visit to Africa, where he held a mass service at the University of Nairobi (UON).

Father Katana said that he has been privileged to play the Kayamba before Pope John the Second three times.

"I played the Kayamba for John Pope the second thrice in 1980, 1985, and 1995. I went there for a liturgy. I was requested to play the Kayamba during the mass service led by Pope Francis," said Father Katana.

He said that playing Kayamba is a talent that he learnt from his father, who used to play at Giriama Festivals.

"Playing Kayamba is an inborn talent. I still play it. I learnt from my late father, who used to play the Kayamba during the Gigiriama festival,” said Fr Katana.

He said that he borrowed the Kayamba from his dad and went with it to St Aquinas, Nairobi, where he schooled, and they were interested and allowed him to play it.

Fr Katana said that with the talent to play the Kayamba, he has been able to preach the gospel across the world.

The priest said he used to play with his colleague, former Kaloleni MP Mathias Keah, around churches across the country to entertain congregations.

The late Keah, who served as Finance Assistant Minister during President Daniel Arap Moi’s regime, would assist Katana to light up congregations in churches in the Coast region.

He said that he still plays the Kayamba, having nurtured the young generation to continue spreading the gospel through the Kayamba.

Father Katana said that he is yet to retire at 76 and will turn 50 years strong in the altar service next year.

“I have not retired; I am headed to 50 years as a father, and I am 76 years old now. I have nurtured others to play the Kayamba and spread the gospel. I am at Makupa now with Father Mathew and Father Dodoe,” said Fr Katana.

He said that while studying in Dublin, he carried his Kayamba.

He said that for the five years he spent in Tanzania, he played in different places, including Moshi and Arusha.

According to Katana, when the Catholic Church introduced the use of instruments as tools of preaching by priests, he returned to his ancestral home in Malindi to get his father’s Kayamba.

“I took the Kayamba from my father, and I decided to use it to preach and entertain the congregation. I used to play in Nairobi and later in Tanzania,” said Katana.

Katana is also renowned for his use of humour and stories to preach and capture attention.

His sermons are characterised by laughter throughout the masses, as he quotes verses while narrating humorous stories to drive his messages home.