Hellen Akoth and Alfred Mtawali recording their latest album, Vumilia

Recording artistes Alfred Mtawali and Hellen Akoth have produced Vumilia, a new music album that is likely to appeal to lovers of 'jazzy' Kiswahili music.

This recording-carrying seven Kiswahili and two Kigiryama songs-- launched in Kilifi on August 10, is the third of the husband-and-wife team whose trademark is rhythmical, soulful and danceable African tunes. The Mtawalis plan a concert in Nairobi's Parklands Baptist Church on August 31 at which they will introduce their new to the Nairobi audience. Mtawali's almost flawless Kiswahili diction is only matched by Akoth's rich vocals that are a combination of Dorothy Masuka, Miriam Makeba and Mahaliah Jackson's.

Though Christian and evangelistic, the Kiswahili numbers appear to take the lover of African music back to the golden era of Kiswahili music in Kenya when the likes of Kenya-based Tanzanians Mbaraka Mwinshehe Mwaruka, George Peter and Wilson Peter Kinyonga, Prof Omar Shaaban and Issa Juma, reigned-the 1970s and early 1980s. My favourite songs have always been those in Kigiryama as they tend to be authentically traditional in which one song flows seamlessly into another in intimate praise and worship.

Like the earlier recordings-Jeshi, Bwana Yesu-- this one is also self-produced. Mtawali sings and plays the lead guitar while Akoth vocalizes on Vumilia (Endure). Mtawali says Vumilia "is a song of encouragement for any one who may be going through difficulties." Also participating in the project are Ambrose Kazungu (bass guitar and vocals), Sammy Wambua (rhythm guitar) and John Nyika (keyboards). Unlike the previous two recordings, this one is mostly in Kiswahili.

"By doing this album in Kiswahili, we thought we would like everybody to get our message and probably do another vernacular album later on," Mtawali says. "The songs take various styles: reggae, blues, funk. Most of the songs talk about the hope we have in God and the fact that we need to endure suffering and not to take revenge when evil is done us. I think many people will find encouragement from this album.

" Kifo hakina huruma (death is merciless) says death intrudes into people's lives when least expected but that just as Jesus Christ overcame it, so will be believers. "We thought we should include this song to encourage the bereaved in places like Iraq, and Israel," Mtawali says. Rather than use the programmed saxophones on the keyboard, Mtawali resorts to a live saxophone for what he terms 'unique' experience. "We are investing in African music because we strongly believe in it. We hope we will someday hit the international market like our Senegalese, South African and Congolese counterparts," says Mtawali, a Bible Translation and Literacy translator. "By including only two Giryama numbers--one in reggae and the other in traditional styles--we tried to make this recording as unique as possible."

Saying Congolese, South African and Senegalese musicians have given their music identity, Mtawali challenges his compatriots to do likewise. " It is very easy to tell music from West Africa or South Africa. If you go to Congo-Kinshasa, you will find they have a musical identity. The way they dance is also quite exceptional," he observes. "What exactly is it that makes our music Kenyan? Why do we ape styles from beyond our borders? Why do we have to borrow guitar-playing styles from the Congo while we can come up with our own?"

Mtawali says he is following up the Kilifi launch of the album-which cost them Sh60000 (about US$750)-- with the Nairobi concert. So what have they done differently this time round from their previous recordings? "We have a live saxophone and better arrangement of the instrumentation and vocals," Mtawali says.

Due to their many Kigiryama numbers, Bwana Yesu and Jeshi have done extremely well at the Kenya Coast where the Miji Kenda communities -of which Giryama is part--dominate. However distribution has been a big setback. It makes a big difference to do music full time or have somebody in charge of sales and distribution," Mtawali says, adding that their music is sold and consumed in as far-flung places as Saudi Arabia, Australia, New and Zealand. Bwana Yesu, Jeshi and Vumilia are now available on CD. Bwana Yesu, a 12-song track, is a potpourri of lovely gospel songs in African styles. Lovers of taarab/bhangra, reggae, soul, gospel, rhumba, country, ballad (whatever style) are all likely to like it.

Kupigwa kwa Yesu and Asante Yesu are lovely traditional songs. Although in Kigiryama, the former is more danceable and Akoth's soulful voice comes up strongly captivating and keeping the attention of the listener from start to finish. Even then, it leaves one longing for more; its reggae beats are more likely to appeal to youthful listeners. The latter, on the other hand, may easily make the listener think that it is a Maasai song blended with Zulu. The humming is so appealing.

Keyboardist John Nyika

While Dambi kaifaha Bule sounds like Habel Kifoto's Maroon Commandos, Kifo cha mtu wa Mungu takes you down memory lane with the late Mwinshehe and the Kinyonga Brothers. The song traces the genesis of sin in the Garden of Eden, taking the listener to the present and at every stage showing its fatal result in history. The saxophone, cymbals and drums feature prominently. Mtawali soothes the listener: "Kuwa na Subira. Bwana atarudi." The slow, lushy jazz of the song flies over the listener's soul in contemplation. When Jesus Christ returns, Mtawali sings, he will wash away tears of sorrow from humans once and for all. Therefore, he sings on: "Uwe na subira. Kitambo kidogo atarudi."

After listening to Bwana nahenda, one will wonder why this was not made the title track. Although in Kigiryama, it hooks you right from the word go. For the evangelistic-minded, playing Na ujumbe in public will be as good as any fiery evangelist preaching and inviting the listener to make a commitment to Jesus Christ. Employing story-telling techniques, the singer introduces Jesus Christ to the listener and even urges him or her to receive him as their personal savior and shows him/her what to do once one has accepted Christ.

By recording Bwana Yesu and Jeshi, Mtawali says he hoped to evangelise his Giryama people through music. "The Giryama are my target. Many of the songs in the track are adaptations of traditional Giryama songs. I hope this will attract them to listen to the gospel," he says Although the Giryama were among the first people to be evangelised by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries, laments Mtawali, "they are among the least receptive to the gospel. They are obstinately clinging to their traditions." Consequently, other people refer to them as 'Washamba' (uncivilised). Mtawali contends, "The gospel was wrongly imparted on the Giryamas" and that as a result they have renounced it and are clinging to their traditional religion.

Asked why he employs contemporary beats like reggae and pop, Mtawali says he is also targeting the youth. He adds that recording and producing music in Kenya is a gargantuan task. "It takes courage and conviction for one to see the reason for producing music. One should not expect to get help from established musicians," he says. "Unless you are sure that the Lord has called you to serve Him through music, don't venture into it just because you think it is fashionable or you will make lots of money from it. You will be disappointed." more than Sh44000 (about US$550) on the Bwana Yesu project.

Like on the other two albums, the versatile multi-lingual gospel singer Akoth--who has backed several singing groups and individual musicians-backs Mtawali. Some of the other groups Akoth has backed include United Gospel Singers, Nairobi Baptist Church, Timothy Ngwinamila, The Kassangas, Christine Nguli and Sylvanus Oturi. Bwana Yesu has greatly benefited from her soulful Aretha Franklin/ Miriam Makeba- like voice. Other backup singers include Naftali Omolo and Dann and Rose Jeffa.

On Jeshi, the Giryama numbers-Uya kuku, Hukumu bado, Murokoli wangu ni Yesu-stand out. S iwezi, in Kiswahili, is slow but reflective. Jeshi, Muchimbire Shethani, Ts'endzi mino, Mambo yote and Bwana wanipenda sum up Jeshi.

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