Owiny Sigoma Band Live

Event information

This Nairobi-London sound clash mixes traditional Kenyan Luo styles with contemporary western influences, and really works ... both groups come together to create a quirky, slinky dance style." **** The Guardian

The earthy grooves of the Owiny Sigoma Band make their UK live debut at Café Oto. This 7-piece group made up of Kenyan and London musicians bring their charming culture clash to Dalston. Their debut album out on Brownswood Recordings is a collection of dreamy afro-grooves bring together the traditional folkloric music of Kenya and the modern jazz vibes of London.

In 2009 a close-knit London-based collective of musicians made up of Jesse Hackett (keys), Louis Hackett (bass), Sam Lewis (guitar), Chris Morphitis (bouzouki/guitar) and Tom Skinner (drums) travelled to Kenya. There they met Joseph Nyamungu, a phenomenal nyatiti player/teacher whose scope of knowledge of traditional Luo music is unparalleled. The initial meeting was a huge success and led to a number of sessions with Joseph and Charles Owoko, a drummer specialising in traditional Luo rhythms. These sessions concluded with time in a downtown Nairobi studio where the sound developed into something unique, fresh and full of verve.

The results are documented on the band's self-titled album is a collection of gloriously loose Afro grooves symbolic of the true culture clash between the Luo and London.