Follow
Wandia Njoya
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • CV
  • Media
  • Gallery

My roots

26/6/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Artist: Suzanna Owiyo
Label: Kirkelig Kulturverksted 
Year: 2010

How it got on my rack
I kept promising myself that I'd buy Suzanna Owiyo's album but the opportunity presented itself when she visited Daystar. So I have an autographed copy!

What I like about the album
This is a truly Kenyan album. The songs are rooted in the past, they have different cultural flavors. I mean, what could be more Kenyan than a Luo singing in song in Kikuyu with a chakacha beat? The instruments are fabulous. I love the nyatiti and the orutu in the songs, but the guitar is also something to write home about.

The themes are also varied, soulful and socially conscious, revealing a singer who has a finger on the pulse of society. My best line is in "Dhano le" decrying sexual abuse of children: "A man must be strong for a woman and child to be safe."

The bonus track, "Matatu," featuring Jua Cali was a pleasant surprise, revealing Suzanna's versatility as a musician.

My favorite song
My favorite song keeps changing. I do love "Osiepna" with Ogoya Nengo's wonderful voice, although I wished we heard more of her in the song. I also like "Usife moyo" which should be a jazz classic. The guitar work is superb and the message is wonderful. It is a song of love and care. But "Abiro" hits the spot. It's mellow and beautiful. The sound matches the theme of a prodigal daughter returning home. I also like "Ayango" for the simple fact that it encourages girls to go to school. I must mention Jamer - a song warning against alcoholism and which has a wonderful duet between Suzanna and the orutu at the end of the song.

0 Comments

    Wandia Njoya

    What's on my CD rack and book shelf

    Archives

    February 2018
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adawnage
    Book Reviews
    Book Reviews
    Chris Lyimo
    Chumba
    Eva Kasaya
    Kinyanjui Kombani
    Music Reviews
    Music Reviews
    Ole Kulet
    Suzannah Owiyo
    Victor Seii

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Dusty J