Watoka Mombasa kwenda Nairobi
Huko njiani maji saliti…
Mara redio yasema na jirani lako
Kwamba ajali mbaya imetokea njiani
Nao pasenja hawajulikani majina
On 3rd October 1930, a bus carrying 15 members of one family, a driver’s assistant, and a nanny plunged into the Indian Ocean at Mombasa’s Likoni Ferry crossing. The family was returning from the wedding of one of their own, Jimmy Verjee, which had taken place in Tanga, Tanzania. Everyone on the bus drowned, including the bus driver named Kombo. This tragic event was memorialized through the song Dereva Kombo (Ajali Haikingiki), written and sang by Fundi Konde. This was Konde’s way of paying homage to those who lost their lives that day and raising awareness about the importance of road safety along the ferry crossing. It remains one of his greatest hits to date.
Before Fundi Konde began producing timeless music, he was just a young boy named Kenga Mbogo.
Kenga was born on 24th August 1924 in a small village called Mwamba wa Nyundo in Kilifi, and he grew up in Waa village in Kwale. His love for music was established at an early age since his childhood was filled with traditional Giriama song and dance rhythms. He then joined the Waa Roman Catholic Mission School, where he learned to read music and took up flute and clarinet to play hymns, European waltzes and foxtrots. It was during this time that one of the Catholic missionaries in the area gave him the name Fundi.
When Kenga completed his studies in 1940, he got employed at the department of health but continued to pursue a musical career during his off hours. He adapted the name Fundi Konde as his stage name, Konde being his father’s name. He learned how to play the guitar, and with his band, was invited to play at events and parties. During these performances, Fundi Konde infused popular calypso and rhumba songs with Swahili lyrics and sengenya dance styles from the Giriama community. The more they played, the more attention they garnered. His music eventually became a point of conflict with his job and resulted in his termination.
The job dismissal might have been a blessing in disguise for Fundi Konde as he began performing in earnest. In 1944, with World War II in full effect, he joined the King’s African Rifles’ entertainment unit. For the remainder of the war, he travelled to different countries to entertain the troops and keep morale high. Being a trained soldier first and an entertainer second, Konde was always spotted with a gun hanging on one shoulder and a guitar on the other.
The end of the war in May 1945 freed Konde to return to his musical pursuits. Together with fellow band soldiers, he made his way to Dum Dum Studio in Calcutta, India. Here they made their debut recording of 10 songs, including Dereva Kombo and Majengo Siendi Tena. Konde’s time away exposed him to new forms of music, and he returned to the country as the first Kenyan who could play the electric guitar. His music became a staple on the African Broadcasting Service, a local radio station. He went on to join Peter Colmore’s African Band which was formed by the station’s leading producer.
Fundi Konde’s music crossed national borders and made him one of the most popular East African musicians of the fifties. He continued to release hits such as Olivia Leo, Kipenzi Waniua Ua, and Tausi Ndege Wangu – one of his most renowned songs.
In 1963, Konde retired to his farm outside Malindi. But this was not the end of the road for him as he returned to the music industry six years later as a studio engineer. Konde worked with emerging and established artists on producing high quality songs.
Fundi Konde passed away on 29th June 2000, leaving behind a legacy. He continues to influence the East African music scene through his songs and his collaborative projects.
Travel back in time to hear about the lesson we can learn from Dereva Kombo’s unfortunate demise.
Fundi Konde – Ajali Haikingiki
