Their signature white turbans are not the only thing the Akorino are known for. This religious Kenyan group is also famous for its unique musical style. Akorino music is characterised by passionate singing, vigorous dancing, foot-stomping and drumming. The songs are sung in the Gikuyu language and the Akorino sound is derived from traditional African rhythms. The group was established in the mid-1920s, but members only started recording their music in 1972. Women have consistently played fundamental roles in the organisation, so it is no surprise that the first Akorino musicians to record a song were female. Milka Wairimu and Esther Wambui were the pioneers who paved the way for their community’s most successful recording artist: Mama Julia Lucy Mwaura.
Julia Lucy Mwaura was the daughter of Raphael Wamithi Kamau and Gladys Wambui Kamau. There is hardly any more information available regarding her personal life due to the extreme privacy of the Akorino. However, she still grew up to be the most well-known musician of her community. She was a pioneer of gospel music in the Mount Kenya and Eastern Kenya regions and she attributed her success to the holistic nature of her music. Like the other members of her community, Mama Julia Lucy believed that she could communicate with God through her music. To her, Akorino songs were “A form of prayer and were most effective when derived from a dream”. Some of her most popular releases are “Ukandirikina Mwathani” and “Thiaga na Kihoto”.
Apart from being a musician, Mama Julia Lucy was also a businesswoman. She was one of the first women in Kenya to establish and successfully operate a production house, which was located along Duruma road in Nairobi City. This was only the first angle of her business mindset. She soon supplemented her production house with a music store that became a regular meeting place for all members of the Akorino community. Her production company was fundamental to the growth of the Akorino genre as it was a gateway into the recording industry for many Akorino musicians.
In her later years, Mama Julia Lucy lived a quiet life with her family. She passed away on Sunday 14th February 2021. We celebrate this veteran musician for her trailblazing contributions to Kenyan gospel music.
Listen to her beloved song “Ukandirikina Mwathani”.