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THEM MUSHROOMS – THE STORY

Every music culture has its story of success and endurance. In Kenya, Them Mushrooms has outlived many groups without loosing their focus as a creative and performing band. Five brothers Teddy Kalanda Harrison, Billy Sarro Harrison, George Zirro Harrison, John Katana Harrison, and Dennis Kalume Harrison initially founded the group in 1972.

To date, Them Mushrooms is one of Kenya’s most successful bands in a well-rounded sense. Their thumbprints are evident in every discipline that constitutes the music business in Kenya. They have also helped launch and re-launch recording careers for other local artistes.

Jambo Bwana - their biggest hit recorded in 1980 earned the group silver, gold and platinum status (discs) for sales exceeding 200,000. It also entered charts in seven different versions, the most notable done by Europe’s famous 1970s disco group Boney M. Their slogan Hakuna Matata was adopted in a recording by Jimmy Cliff, which was also used as a theme song on the box-office hit movie Lion King.

Them Mushrooms has recorded signature tunes for the BBC radio (UK) and KBC radio (Kenya). A British film producer of a documentary on Kenyan athletes’ likewise featured their composition Pongezi Wanariadha.
Ndogo Ndogo - the strongest track on their 1985 album New Horizons, was
adapted as soundtrack of a Kiswahili language film titled Mahari – produced
by Paul Singh – a Kenyan filmmaker.

In 1988 Them Mushrooms released Ukimwi ni hatari and Beware of Aids, making the band the first   to have recorded and released songs on HIV/AIDS awareness in Africa.

The death in 1992 of youngest brother Dennis Kalume Harrison, then band drummer, was devastating. The band temporarily broke up, but pressure from their late mother Mrs. Mandi Harrison and fans brought them back together again.
Earlier on, George Zirro Harrison who played guitar and flute also bowed out, to pursue his own musical direction in Afro jazz. Band founder Teddy Kalanda Harrison retired on April 2nd, 2001. The remaining brothers have recruited other musicians to complete the band’s line up.

Toys of death a single released in 1998, earned the group commendation from the International Coalition against Landmines.

Through 2005 and 2006, Them Mushrooms was involved in the Afro fusion project SPOTLIGHT ON KENYAN MUSIC (sponsored by the French embassy and Alliance Francaise in Nairobi). The band rehearsed with and backed-up in concert, a total of twenty two (22) up-and-coming Kenyan musicians. These musicians went on to record compilation albums, which were released on the world market.

The band has performed in every imaginable venue among these Kenya’s dusty market venues in remote districts. Outside Kenya, Them Mushrooms has toured in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

To date, Them Mushrooms have not only survived tragedy and changing times, but are an institution that has spawned musical creativity in Kenya and East Africa as a whole.

THEM MUSHROOMS – THE MUSIC

When talking about Them Mushrooms – Kenya’s and East Africa’s popular music group – their hit song Jambo Bwana comes to mind unbidden.

The 1980 composition was for years, the band’s most distinctive legacy. Besides its
Simple and catchy lyrics, its beats and rhythm appeal as if mystically to fans globally.

But in a new quest to return to their roots, Them Mushrooms has now created ‘NZELE’music, which essentially borrows its rhythmic beats from Mwanzele, a traditional beat from Kenya’s’ coast.

Nzele’s most distinct facet is the ‘Call’ and ‘Answer’ style. This involves the lead singer, who lyrically “calls” out and backing vocals “answer” in a chorus response.

The instrumental accompaniment revolves around the bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards, flute, horns (sax/trumpet) and what the band refers to as a “stinging”
guitar strum.

Them Mushrooms’ Nzele beat is unique owing to its indigenous influence, which is artistically creative and innovative.

Their new Nzele style compositions reflect a whole new dimension for the group’s musical identity.

The direction the band has now adopted ushers in a new chapter for a group that maintains a tradition of recording ‘evergreen’ and somewhat timeless productions
with uncanny consistency.

And like its slogan aptly proclaims, Them Mushrooms is indeed the heartbeat of Kenya’s showbiz scene.

THEM MUSHROOMS - ACCOLADES

Them Mushrooms’ success as a band can be testified by the numerous accolades they have earned over the years specifically beginning the early 1980s. The following are awards the group has bagged to date.

SILVER DISC - 1982 for hit song JAMBO BWANA.

GOLD DISC - 1984 after JAMBO BWANA sales topped 100,000 units mark.

PLATINUM DISC - awarded in 1987 when JAMBO BWANA sales topped 200,000 units.

'THE BATTLE OF KENYAN BANDS' TROPHY –1987,awarded after the band was voted number one at the battle of Kenyan bands concert held in Nairobi.

'KENYAN SINGER/ARTISTES OF THE YEAR'RUNNERS-UP TROPHY – 1989.

CERTIFICATE - (from the International Coalition to Ban Landmines) – awarded for the band's anti-landmines song titled “TOYS OF DEATH” released in 1998.

'M-NET 2000 AWARD' – January 2000, courtesy of South African M-NET television channel. The band was voted Kenya's most favorite band.

'KENYAN BAND OF THE DECADE TROPHY' - February 2002 awarded by the Kenya Music Composers Association.

'BEST AIDS AWARENESS SONG RUNNERS – UP TROPHY' - awarded for the best AIDS awareness song by the Kenya Music Composers Association in February 2002.

‘KISIMA AWARDS’ – awarded in June 2004, for best group from Kenya’s Coast (coastal music category).

THEM MUSHROOMS - DISCOGRAPHY

1)	1980 - “Jambo Bwana” single

2)	1983 - “Mama Africa”

3)	1985 - “New Horizons” LP

4)	1987 - “At The Carnivore” LP

5)	1988 - “Going Places” LP

6)	1989 - “Almost There” LP

7)	1990 - “Where We Belong” LP

8)	1991 - “Zilizopendwa 91” CD Album

9)	1992 - “Zilizopendwa 92” CD Album

10)	1996 - “Kazi Ni Kazi” CD Album

11)	1997 - “Toys of Death” Single

12)	1998 - “Ni Yiyo” CD Album

13)	1998 – “Oh! Twalia” Single

14)	1999 - “Jambo Bwana” CD Album

15)	2000 – “Zilizopendwa 2000” CD Album

16)	2004 - “Uyoga” CD Album

17)	2008 – “Medawase”  CD Single and “ Zilizopendwa Raha” CD Single

18)	2009 – “Jaza Mwenyewe”  CD Single and video

19)	2011 – “Amani” CD Single

PERFORMANCE   TOURS

Them Mushrooms has had performances in:

Dubai/ Abu Dhabi/ Al Ain and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, Bujumbura in Burundi, Arriccia in Italy, Addis Ababa/ Dire Dawa/ Woliso/ Jimma and Sodere in Ethiopia, Djibouti city in Djibouti, Copenhagen in Denmark, Gaborone in Botswana, Kampala in Uganda, Zurich in Switzerland, the Africa Center, London in Britain, Mount Abu in India, Bahrain, Morocco, Mahe in Seychelles, Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and Athens in Greece.

When not touring other countries, Them Mushrooms perform locally adhering to a tight schedule of between three to four shows in a week.








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