John Nzenze
Encyclopedia
John Amutabi Nzenze is a musician from Kenya
. He has performed the twist
dance style. Some of his most popular songs are Angelike (released in 1961), Julieta Rudi Tuone and Habari za Nairobi (Nairobi twist).
Nzenze went to St Peter’s primary school. He started playing with his father's guitar at the age of 12, but after learning how much time he spent playing it, his father sold the guitar. After finishing the school, he worked at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi. At the time he teamed up with Daudi Kabaka
, with whom he recorded three songs Masista, Bachelor Boy and Nyumba za Tobacco. These songs were released by Jambo Records and became hits.
He has toured Japan
, Britain
and various East Africa
n countries. in 1968 he represented Kenya at All African Music Festival in Algeria
, finishing third. As a result, president Jomo Kenyatta
feted him and his Air Fiesta Matata band, and Emperor Haile Selassie invited him to perform in Ethiopia
. Next year the band performed with Miles Davis
in Germany
, who was impressed with the band arranged them a tour to America. In 1971, BBC World Service
gave them a Best Band in Africa award Nzenze left his group in 1972, after which he went to perform regularly to tourists at the Panafric Hotel and later played at tourist ships. As of 2009, he performs at the Westlife Club in Kakamega
, and is still making music. He has also served as a board member of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya.
In 2009 he was among four pioneering Kenyan showbiz people given Head of State Commendation awards by president Mwai Kibaki
. Others were John Katana (band leader Them Mushrooms
), David Ndung’u and Conrad Karukenya (aka Tiger Power).
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...
. He has performed the twist
Twist (dance)
The Twist was a dance inspired by rock and roll music. It became the first worldwide dance craze in the early 1960s, enjoying immense popularity among young people and drawing fire from critics who felt it was too provocative. It inspired dances such as the Jerk, the Pony, the Watusi, the Mashed...
dance style. Some of his most popular songs are Angelike (released in 1961), Julieta Rudi Tuone and Habari za Nairobi (Nairobi twist).
Nzenze went to St Peter’s primary school. He started playing with his father's guitar at the age of 12, but after learning how much time he spent playing it, his father sold the guitar. After finishing the school, he worked at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi. At the time he teamed up with Daudi Kabaka
Daudi Kabaka
Daudi Kabaka was a Kenyan-born singer.The type of music he is known for is called 'Benga' a popular style in East Africa. His best-known songs include "African Twist", "Harambee Harambee" and "Western Shilo"....
, with whom he recorded three songs Masista, Bachelor Boy and Nyumba za Tobacco. These songs were released by Jambo Records and became hits.
He has toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and various East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n countries. in 1968 he represented Kenya at All African Music Festival in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, finishing third. As a result, president Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
feted him and his Air Fiesta Matata band, and Emperor Haile Selassie invited him to perform in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Next year the band performed with Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, who was impressed with the band arranged them a tour to America. In 1971, BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
gave them a Best Band in Africa award Nzenze left his group in 1972, after which he went to perform regularly to tourists at the Panafric Hotel and later played at tourist ships. As of 2009, he performs at the Westlife Club in Kakamega
Kakamega
Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 ....
, and is still making music. He has also served as a board member of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya.
In 2009 he was among four pioneering Kenyan showbiz people given Head of State Commendation awards by president Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
. Others were John Katana (band leader Them Mushrooms
Them Mushrooms
Them Mushrooms is a musical band from Kenya, playing mostly Chakacha, some Benga and also some reggae. They are most famous for the Swahili song Jambo Bwana. The band is composed of Teddy Kalanda, Henry Ndenge Saha and Ben Mutwiwa. They mainly do covers of previously written hit songs.The group was...
), David Ndung’u and Conrad Karukenya (aka Tiger Power).