Fadhili William
Encyclopedia
Fadhili William Mdawida (November 11, 1938 – February 11, 2001), was a Kenya
n musician
/composer
who is most famous for his song "Malaika
" which he recorded with his band 'The Jambo Boys' around 1963 .
Fadhili William was born to Halima Wughanga and Ramadhan Mwamburi in Mombasa
. His father, who died when Fadhili was only seven, was a traditional musician. Like three of his siblings – Ali Harrison Mwataku, Esther John and Mumba Charo – he became a musician. He started singing while in primary school in Taita. He went on to Government African School, in Pumwani in Nairobi
. He then dropped out of Shimo la Tewa Secondary School, where he had joined Form Three, to pursue a music career.
It was while at Pumwani, he said in an interview, that he fell in love with a beautiful girl, "an angel," to whom he composed and recorded Malaika (Angel) to console her when she was given away to an older man who could pay bride price
.
Malaika was recorded at the Equator Sound Studios (see Equator Records
) under the guidance of Charles Worrod
, who went on to promote and distribute the ballad.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
/composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who is most famous for his song "Malaika
Malaika
Malaika, which means "angel" in Swahili , is the most famous love song in Kenyan pop music, as well as one of the most widely known Swahili songs...
" which he recorded with his band 'The Jambo Boys' around 1963 .
Fadhili William was born to Halima Wughanga and Ramadhan Mwamburi in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
. His father, who died when Fadhili was only seven, was a traditional musician. Like three of his siblings – Ali Harrison Mwataku, Esther John and Mumba Charo – he became a musician. He started singing while in primary school in Taita. He went on to Government African School, in Pumwani 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...
. He then dropped out of Shimo la Tewa Secondary School, where he had joined Form Three, to pursue a music career.
It was while at Pumwani, he said in an interview, that he fell in love with a beautiful girl, "an angel," to whom he composed and recorded Malaika (Angel) to console her when she was given away to an older man who could pay bride price
Bride price
Bride price, also known as bride wealth, is an amount of money or property or wealth paid by the groom or his family to the parents of a woman upon the marriage of their daughter to the groom...
.
Malaika was recorded at the Equator Sound Studios (see Equator Records
Equator Records
Equator Records or Equator Sound Studios was originally known as East African Records, owned by Afcot Ltd, situated in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1960, Charles Worrod launched Equator Sound Studios Ltd. along with the Equator Sound Band...
) under the guidance of Charles Worrod
Charles Worrod
Charles Worrod was the proprietor of the Equator Sound Studios record label in Nairobi, Kenya, during the 1950s and 1960s, having left post-war England to relocate to South Africa, and later, Nairobi with his wife Wynne.Worrod keenly provided a fruitful atmosphere where his salaried staff could...
, who went on to promote and distribute the ballad.