Omena Band consists of seven amazing elders and women from Mbita, Kenya. In June 2013 they began partnering with One Vibe Africa to help preserve culture.

http://www.onevibeafrica.org

Omena - Omena Band

Kisumu is the title of this brand new music made by Zack Okello a wonderful musician born and raised in Kisumu, Kenya. 

Zack taught guitar and voice classes at One Vibe’s Music & Art Program in the first six months of it’s existence before he moved to Lansing, Michigan with Betsy Okello, his beautiful wife.

Cultural preservation through music is an important aspect of One Vibe’s work, and Zack’s song depicts that by taking the listener through a journey in the lovely city of Kisumu, Kenya. The beauty of the people and the city of Kisumu inspired Zack.  This song talks about how Kisumu is growing fast, the hard work and creativity of the fishermen, and women who use natural resources around Lake Victoria to make a living. Zack also talks about how young people make use of hyacinth, a weed that is threatening the existence of Lake Victoria, to make beautiful furniture. Zack also uses this song to describe how fun it was to be brought up in Kisumu, and how growing up was filled with “dancing to the unique sounds of Kisumu music genres like Ohangla, Benga, and Nyatiti.” 

Credits:  
Written & Composed By: Zack Okello  
Producer: Ryan Wert  Recorded By: Ryan Wert at Elm Street Recording 
Sound Kisumu by: Zack Okello for Zack Okello & One Vibe Africa

Instrumentation:  
Lead Vocals: Zack Okello 
Base Guitar: Hank Horton 
Drums: Donny Brown 
Saxophone: Gary Clavette 
Guitar: Jeff Stafrr

For more info: http://www.onevibeafrica.org

Kisumu - Zack Okello

Rapasa Chants is a collaboration between Rapasa- Kenya, Cheick- Mali and Nathan Okite - Kenya.
The track was recorded in the US in November 2017 with Michal Shereikis

Migration Chants

Milele

Vacuum was written and recorded by OneBeat 2017 fellow Olga Maximova (a.k.a. Omma) from Russia and features performances by Kazakh composer and kobyz player Tokzhan Karatai, and Bratislava-based violinist Jan Kruzliak. While at Onebeat’s residency in Caldera, Olga was was inspired by Tokzhan’s instrument, the kobyz, and the experimental ways in which Jan’uses his instrument. Of the lyrics Olga says, "the words that you barely hear were taken from a dialogue about [a] vacuum; how to reach the vacuum, the void feeling inside you, when you have no stream of thoughts, and feel this emptiness, without pressure."

Composed by OMMA 
Omma - Synthesizer and Electronics
Tokzhan Karatai - Koby
Jan Kruzliak - Violin

Vacuum

Sin Palabras (No Words) was composed a few weeks before OneBeat 2017 by drummer and percussionist Johanna Amayo Conejo specifically for performance during the residency and tour. Johanna remembers, "[the song] was inspired by the excitement of knowing that I was going to be part of this great experience and also by the mystery of the things that were about to happen."

Composed by Johanna Amayo Conejo
Johanna Amaya Conejo - Drums + Percussion
Paulo Sartori - Electric Guitar
Hannah Fidler - Upright Bass + Vocals
Devin Greenwood - Synthesizer + Additional Bass

Sin Palabras

01 Wuoth (Superfly In Ciaro) 16bit Eq'd

03 Aduogo Ka 16bit Eq'd

Afro fusion dance track featuring traditional Nyatiti instrument fused with ROCK

NYATITI(1)

Dax Lion is a 24-year-old trailblazer on a path to ensuring his music touches many souls. He is from Kingston, Jamaica, the Caribbean Island known for producing some of the most talented musicians in the world. He overcame difficulties faced by young artists in his country, which included sitting for hours-everyday-outside studios for a chance to display his musical skills. Several years and a few producers later, the Lion keeps gathering momentum, and invites you to “grow and flow” with him.

For More info and the full interview please visit www.onevibeafrica.org

Dax Lion

Kenyan born multiinstrumentalist singer songwriter, Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno is exploring northern shores and blesses us with his original melodies inspired from traditional East African music and combined with wise stories all the way from the shores of Nam Lolwe (also known as Lake Victoria). His principal instrument, the Nyatiti, an eight string lyre, animates the warm evenings of his natal Luoland of Western Kenya where he is from. Through its storytelling and distinctive otherworldly voice, his music gives an insight into our ancestor’s wisdom. Rapasa is very focussed on this heritage. He has in depth knowledge and understanding of traditional music yet he has researched Nyatiti music in such a way that he is able to place it in the context of today’s music landscape making it original in this genre. 

He released two albums “Tipona” (my shadow) in March 2020 and “Songs of Equality” in December 2019, work which was commissioned by the University of York in 2017 on the project Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Other commissions include works for BBC Serengeti series. His participation in Sage Gateshead Artist in Residence 2020/2021 saw his last work release in which Rapasa is looking back at his tradition and what he learnt at a young age from his grandmothers and from growing up in rural Western Kenya. Having moved away from his natal province the artist is reflecting on KWEChE (Taboos in Dholuo, his native language). Coming soon are teasers of his next album release. Follow his work on https://rapasanyatrapasa.bandcamp.com 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Thu Tinda!!!

Migration Chants

Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno

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