Collela Mazee
Encyclopedia
Collela Mazee was a Kenyan musician, who was a leading member of the Victoria Jazz band alongside Ochieng Nelly. They were among the originators of the benga music
, a music genre with origins in Kenya's Luoland
.
Born in 1954 in Gem, Siaya District
Collela attended Ngere High School where he was introduced to music in the school band. By the time he was through with education, Collela had a basic knowledge of music. Near his father's house, there lived a guitar-player and after school, together with others, he usually went to his place and watched him play. That is how he developed an interest in the guitar. He was still a child and his parents like others, did not want him to become involved in music. The risk of being found out was high and the punishment heavy. When his parents and parents of his friends caught them, they were beaten severely. They built their own little guitars which they strummed on the way back from school. When they came near home, they hid them. That is how they learnt the guitar. “We couldn't help doing it, it was in our blood," said Collela.
On leaving school in 1971, Collela joined the then Victoria Jazz. In the same year, with Ochieng' Nelly Mengo (Dr Nelly), they released their first record with AIT produced by Phares Oluoch Kanindo. Ochieng Nelly Mengo was born in Nyanza in 1950 and developed interest in music while still at school. He began to play a home-made guitar when he was very young. He played for and danced with his school friends. Things went on like that until he left school in 1966, and continued playing in the village until 1969 when he joined George Peter's band. In 1970, he joined the late George Ramogi
(the leading figure in Luo music), but left him the same year. In December 1970, they founded Victoria Jazz.
The association between Dr Nelly and Collela lasted for only one year before they split up, with musicians going different ways. Only three members - Opiyo Emma, Okeyo Achayo and Collela - remained and the band had to start again from scratch. It was not until two years later that the band regained its footing and continued recording with AIT. In 1976, they switched to EMI
. Recordings at AIT were on the Sungura, and later, Lolwe labels. Dr Nelly founded his own band, Tausi, and own label, Hundhwe, with Kericho's Chandarana Records
. After the collapse of EMI, Kanindo started his own POK Music Stores but at the back of their minds, they were thinking of starting their own label because of the tribulations they had suffered while recording on other people's labels.
Dr Nelly's return in 1976/77 did not last and again Victoria Kings split into A and B because some musicians did not believe in starting their own recording company which they viewed as a source of more problems. Collela asked those who believed in the idea to join him and in 1979 Oula Records was formed. "Oula" means the spontaneous flow of water, the streams that form after the rain. “Oula will always flow. Meaning: Whether people like it or not, we will continue playing the music” Collela said in late 1990s.
More problems were to come as the band split further and Victoria C led by Awino Lawi was formed. The success of Victoria Jazz in the 1970s overshadowed other musicians like Festo Ochuka, Ojwang' Ogara and Keri Were who actually introduced the benga beat. Before benga, rumba, twist and chachacha were very popular. Benga is versatile and can turn into twist, rumba, and into any other music beats. Everything can turn into benga.
The benga style - its rhythms - has a certain sweetness which comes from the bass and solo guitars. It is a flavor people like. When you hear benga, you cannot help but dance. Dr Nelly explained that benga was infectious because it is the thoughts that enter the dancers when they dance to benga. It is really a traditional Luo concept even though other people may now like it. It is a word in Dholuo. “When you dance, you get back down like this, you get up, move like this - that is the meaning of benga," Dr Nelly once explained to a reporter.
Asked why benga practitioners play love songs all the time, Collela said: "We realized that it is really love songs that sell, which is why we play many of them."
Collela Mazee died in the evening of Tuesday 7 March 2000 at Masaba Hospital in Nairobi
, Kenya after being admitted to the hospital on the 4th Saturday suffering from cardio-pulmonary arrest. The musician left three widows, Hellen, Janet Aloo and Betty, and 15 children and 6 grand children. Benga lovers remember Collela for his platinum Dholuo hit songs Jack Jack (1974), Hellena Nyaduse (1976) and his high-riding hit, Solea (2000) among others.
"Dr Nelly", Ochieng' died on Wednesday 24 April 2001 at his rural Kabondo home, Rachuonyo District
, after an illustrious entertainment career spanning several decades. He is remembered with some of his best numbers including Sabina, OndiekChilo and Piny Luorore .
Benga music
Benga is a genre of Kenyan popular music. It evolved between the late 1940s and late 1960s, in Kenya's capital city of Nairobi. In the 1940s, the African Broadcasting Service in Nairobi aired a steady stream of soukous, South African kwela, Zairean finger-style guitar and various kinds of Cuban...
, a music genre with origins in Kenya's Luoland
Luoland
Luoland is the tribal homeland of the Kenya Luo , a people of western Kenya, also extending into eastern Uganda and northern Tanzania. This area consists roughly of the basin surrounding Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria...
.
Born in 1954 in Gem, Siaya District
Siaya District
Siaya District is one of the twelve districts that make up Nyanza Province in the southwest part of Kenya. It is bordered by Busia District to the North, Vihiga and Butere/Mumias Districts to the North-East, Bondo District to the South, and Kisumu District to the South-East. The total area of the...
Collela attended Ngere High School where he was introduced to music in the school band. By the time he was through with education, Collela had a basic knowledge of music. Near his father's house, there lived a guitar-player and after school, together with others, he usually went to his place and watched him play. That is how he developed an interest in the guitar. He was still a child and his parents like others, did not want him to become involved in music. The risk of being found out was high and the punishment heavy. When his parents and parents of his friends caught them, they were beaten severely. They built their own little guitars which they strummed on the way back from school. When they came near home, they hid them. That is how they learnt the guitar. “We couldn't help doing it, it was in our blood," said Collela.
On leaving school in 1971, Collela joined the then Victoria Jazz. In the same year, with Ochieng' Nelly Mengo (Dr Nelly), they released their first record with AIT produced by Phares Oluoch Kanindo. Ochieng Nelly Mengo was born in Nyanza in 1950 and developed interest in music while still at school. He began to play a home-made guitar when he was very young. He played for and danced with his school friends. Things went on like that until he left school in 1966, and continued playing in the village until 1969 when he joined George Peter's band. In 1970, he joined the late George Ramogi
George Ramogi
George Ramogi was a Kenyan musician, who empowered the traditional luo benga and rumba genre of music. Ramogi was known for his spur of the good life and his notable appearances at bars and clubs in western Kenya-Nyanza region...
(the leading figure in Luo music), but left him the same year. In December 1970, they founded Victoria Jazz.
The association between Dr Nelly and Collela lasted for only one year before they split up, with musicians going different ways. Only three members - Opiyo Emma, Okeyo Achayo and Collela - remained and the band had to start again from scratch. It was not until two years later that the band regained its footing and continued recording with AIT. In 1976, they switched to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. Recordings at AIT were on the Sungura, and later, Lolwe labels. Dr Nelly founded his own band, Tausi, and own label, Hundhwe, with Kericho's Chandarana Records
Chandarana Records
Chandarana Records is a record company from Kericho, Kenya.. The company was known throughout Africa for releasing several thousand 45-rpm singles featuring a wide range of Kenyan and Tanzanian groups.Founded by A.P...
. After the collapse of EMI, Kanindo started his own POK Music Stores but at the back of their minds, they were thinking of starting their own label because of the tribulations they had suffered while recording on other people's labels.
Dr Nelly's return in 1976/77 did not last and again Victoria Kings split into A and B because some musicians did not believe in starting their own recording company which they viewed as a source of more problems. Collela asked those who believed in the idea to join him and in 1979 Oula Records was formed. "Oula" means the spontaneous flow of water, the streams that form after the rain. “Oula will always flow. Meaning: Whether people like it or not, we will continue playing the music” Collela said in late 1990s.
More problems were to come as the band split further and Victoria C led by Awino Lawi was formed. The success of Victoria Jazz in the 1970s overshadowed other musicians like Festo Ochuka, Ojwang' Ogara and Keri Were who actually introduced the benga beat. Before benga, rumba, twist and chachacha were very popular. Benga is versatile and can turn into twist, rumba, and into any other music beats. Everything can turn into benga.
The benga style - its rhythms - has a certain sweetness which comes from the bass and solo guitars. It is a flavor people like. When you hear benga, you cannot help but dance. Dr Nelly explained that benga was infectious because it is the thoughts that enter the dancers when they dance to benga. It is really a traditional Luo concept even though other people may now like it. It is a word in Dholuo. “When you dance, you get back down like this, you get up, move like this - that is the meaning of benga," Dr Nelly once explained to a reporter.
Asked why benga practitioners play love songs all the time, Collela said: "We realized that it is really love songs that sell, which is why we play many of them."
Collela Mazee died in the evening of Tuesday 7 March 2000 at Masaba Hospital in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya after being admitted to the hospital on the 4th Saturday suffering from cardio-pulmonary arrest. The musician left three widows, Hellen, Janet Aloo and Betty, and 15 children and 6 grand children. Benga lovers remember Collela for his platinum Dholuo hit songs Jack Jack (1974), Hellena Nyaduse (1976) and his high-riding hit, Solea (2000) among others.
"Dr Nelly", Ochieng' died on Wednesday 24 April 2001 at his rural Kabondo home, Rachuonyo District
Rachuonyo District
Rachuonyo District is an administrative district in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kosele, formerly it was located in Oyugis. The district has a population of 307,126 and an area of 945 km² . The district has two constituencies: Kasipul Kabondo and Karachuonyo.- External links :*...
, after an illustrious entertainment career spanning several decades. He is remembered with some of his best numbers including Sabina, OndiekChilo and Piny Luorore .