Custodians of Benga music in East Africa will forever mention Daudi Kabaka as one of the pioneers of the genre in the region.
Traditionally, names were believed to have power around them, predicting a person’s future or destiny. Daudi Kabaka was named after Kabaka D. Chwa of the Baganda Kingdom who’d ruled from 1897 to 1939 – the year of Daudi’s birth. The name undoubtedly sealed his destiny as a King, a pioneer, and legend in the world of rhythm, song and dance.
But just in case you’re wondering, Daudi Kabaka was Kenyan. Yes, he was born in Uganda (exact location: Kyambogo), but this was his family’s home at the
time of his birth because of his father’s job as a railway worker. In 1950 Daudi’s father was relocated to Nairobi. An eager 10 year old Daudi joined his father in the then colonial capital and continued his primary education.
At age 12, Daudi was inadvertently introduced to music through his dormmates who had guitars. The musical itch was soon transferred to him and he found happiness in playing, at first mimicking what he’d seen his dormmates do, eventually mastering the art of guitar playing. In 1954, sometime before his 15th birthday, he recorded his first composition titled ‘Nie Kabaka Naimba’. Three years later, he left school to join the service industry. Once again, this was another decision that placed him on the path leading him to his destined career. While working at Norfolk Hotel, he met fellow music-lover John Nzenze and the two wrote and sang songs together outside of work hours.
Eager to pursue his passion, Daudi left employment in 1959 to work at the Equator Sound Studios where he soon became a member of the studio’s band, Equator Sound Band. Here he became close friends with fellow bandmates Fadhili William, Gabriel Omolo, George Agade, David Amunga, and Peter Tsotsi. In the sixties, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Music in Nairobi for a two year course on music theory. All through, he continued making music and the mid to late sixties was perhaps the most defining moment of his career.
Daudi recorded hit songs like ‘African Twist’, ‘Harambee Harambee’ and ‘Western Shilo’.
And how did Kenyans receive his music? We’ll give you some imagery…
Picture this: a dancing hall packed with people. Each person is standing with their feet apart, ready to rotate their lower bodies and add a leg lift as part of their dance.
When Kabaka’s songs came on – especially African Twist – nothing else mattered except rhythm and dancing space. Harambee Harambee was played hourly on the Voice of Kenya (today known as KBC).
In the early seventies, he resigned from Equator Sound Band and Studios, and took the next step in his solo career. He ventured into entrepreneurship when he launched his own recording company, African Eagles Recording Ltd, and formed a studio band called African Eagles Lupopo. This pursuit turned out to be seasonal because before the end of the decade the company was shut down. Daudi continued with his music, releasing hits like ‘Bachelor Boy Twist’, ‘Bush Baby Twist’, ‘Pole Musa’, ‘Msichana wa Elimu’, and ‘Taita Twist’ to name a few. All were under his 1982 studio album ‘The Very Best of Daudi Kabaka’.
Since his passing in 2001, his songs have been featured in various Zilizopendwa albums and playlists celebrating nostalgic music from the fifties through to the eighties.
Daudi Kabaka… Indeed, a King of music in Kenya and East Africa.
What better way to celebrate the veteran than through song? Listen to Bachelor Boy Twist by Daudi Kabaka