Luseno’s Legacy

A gifted composer whose music career spanned more than four decades, Jacob Luseno was the second son of Mzee Daniel Munyasa and Robai Amuoke. He was born in 1939.

Veteran musician the late Jacob Luseno (left) with late Daudi Kabaka in a Kakamega Hotel. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Prior to joining music he worked in the advertising section of Pepsi Cola Company, Eldoret, in 1958 before moving to Nairobi where he was a supervisor at Starlight club.

When music came calling he teamed up with Clement Induli and Charles Likhaya for his first ever-musical performance in 1958.

With time the musician, who specialised in Luhya songs, initiated Phonotex Success Band. Apart from performing in various clubs within Western Province he later moved to Nairobi’s Bora Bora Hotel, Kawangware, where he was based for a long time. Luseno also featured prominently in most Luhya cultural nights, known as Mulembe nite, at various spots across the country.

He died in 2006 at 70, succumbing to malaria in his rural home in Kakamega.