Tony Nyadundo

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Tony Nyadundo is a musician from Kenya. He performs the Ohangla a traditional style of music by the luo community. He is backed by the Ohangla Boys band. He is now branded the "King of Ohangla".[1]

Early life[]

He was born in in Tanzania. Tony's twin sister died while he was young. His family moved to Nyahera, Kisumu District, Kenya in 1978 and later to in Nzoia.[2] He went to Kongoli Primary School and then in 1985 moved to Bukembe Secondary School but dropped out the next year due to lack of funds. He worked as a tailor until 1992.[3]

Career[]

He tried also deejaying. His brother Jack Nyadundo formed a group performing Ohangla music, and Tony eventually joined the group after 1996. Later he formed an own group and moved back to Tanzania for a while. In 1998 he moved to Migori District in Kenya and performed for local fishing communities.[4] He also hired Onyi Papa Jey, an orutu player who has also since become a formidable musician. In 1999 he moved to Dandora in Nairobi but did not achieve much success and then moved to Kisumu, where his brother Jack had become a popular musician.[5]

His début album Ayaki was released in 2002.[6] This marked a turning point of his career and he finally started to gain financially from being a musician. His second album was named Kidi Oba e Toke, which translates "stoned on the back".[7] The name derives from a concert were his band was attacked by thugs who hit his drummer at back. Several other people were injured too.[5]

In 2006 he released album Obama. The name alludes to Barack Obama, the US president whose father is from the ethnic group as Nyadundo.[8][9]

At the 2007 Kisima Music Awards he won the traditional music category.[10] He was among 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in August 2007.[11][12]

In October 2009, he released a new album Migingo, named after the disputed Migingo Island.[13]

Tony is recognised for his hits like, dawa ya mapenzi, Obama and many more hits. He has performed in various countries including Germany and the US.[14][15]

He was married but divorced in 1994. He has two children from the marriage.[5]

See also[]

  • Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania

References[]

  1. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Daily Nation, 7 August 2009: King of Ohangla speaks
  6. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. ^ The Standard, 25 August 2006: Tony Nyadundo, Ohangla King Archived 31 May 2009 at archive.today
  9. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  10. ^ Kisima Awards winners 2007
  11. ^ The Standard, 21 August 2007: 100 most influential Kenyans Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ The Standard, 21 August 2007: 100 most influential Kenyans - Entertainment
  13. ^ The Standard, 2 October 2009: Nyadundo album launch Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ The Standard, 7 December 2008: Ohangla maestro spreads his wings
  15. ^ "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.

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