Maroon Commandos
Encyclopedia
Maroon Commandos is musical group from Kenya
. It is a military band
belonging to the 7th battalion of the Kenyan Army
. They are based at the Langata Barracks in Langata
, Nairobi
. The group performs benga
, rumba
and other styles of music. They perform both original and cover version
s. The band plays often at state functions .
The group was formed in 1970 by bandleader Habel Kifoto and some other member. The next year they signed with Polydor Kenya and released the hit "Emily" . In 1972 the band had a traffic accident, which left some of their members dead. After the accident the band was dormant for five years before releasing their album Raziki Haivatu after 1977. They also released the song "Charonyi ni Wasi", whose lyrics were written in the Taita language
. "Charonyi Ni Wasi" became Maroon Commandos' first major hit .
The band had a 10-year recording break which ended with the release of Shika Kamba album in 2007, released by the Sound Africa label.
The band has had several line-up changes since its formation. Former bandleader Habel Kifoto has retired from the military and is currently (as of 2009 )the chairman of Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). One of its former core members, David Kibe Left the band after he rose in the military ranks and had no more time for the band . Another former member was Laban Ochuka, who also played for another army band, the Ulinzi Orchestra. Ochuka died in May 2006 .
Diwani Nzaro was the band leader still in 2009. From late 90s he was part of the Malindi-based "Magazines"-band, that disbanded in 2002. He subsequently joined Kenyan Army and their band Maroon Commandos. He contributed for the two latest albums of the group, Shika Kamba and Kenya Unite. While still a band member, he released his debut solo album in 2009. On the album he performs traditional giriama
songs . The group has also had female members, like singers Doris Chepchumba Tanui and Barbara Chepkoech Kiprotich (aka Waridi)
The album Kenya Unite was written in the response of the 2007–2008 Kenyan post-election crisis
. David Kombo is the current band leader, who joined the band in the late 80s and is the longest serving current band member (as of 2010). In the recent past the group has also had some members outside the military ranks.
Habel Kifoto died on July 31, 2011 in Nairobi as he collapsed due to a suspected heart failure
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...
. It is a military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
belonging to the 7th battalion of the Kenyan Army
Military of Kenya
The Kenya Defence Forces are the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. The Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Air Force comprise the national Defence Forces. The current Kenya Defence Forces were established, and its composition laid out, in Article 241 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya...
. They are based at the Langata Barracks in Langata
Langata
Lang'ata is a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya, lying south west of the city centre and east of Karen. The suburb consists of many smaller housing developments, referred to as estates. They include Nairobi Dam, Otiende, Southlands, Ngei, Jambo estate, Onyonka, Madaraka Estate and many others...
, 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...
. The group performs benga
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...
, rumba
Rumba
Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
and other styles of music. They perform both original and cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s. The band plays often at state functions .
The group was formed in 1970 by bandleader Habel Kifoto and some other member. The next year they signed with Polydor Kenya and released the hit "Emily" . In 1972 the band had a traffic accident, which left some of their members dead. After the accident the band was dormant for five years before releasing their album Raziki Haivatu after 1977. They also released the song "Charonyi ni Wasi", whose lyrics were written in the Taita language
Taita language
Taita, or Dawida, is a Bantu language of Kenya. It is closely related to the Chaga languages of Kenya and Tanzania....
. "Charonyi Ni Wasi" became Maroon Commandos' first major hit .
The band had a 10-year recording break which ended with the release of Shika Kamba album in 2007, released by the Sound Africa label.
The band has had several line-up changes since its formation. Former bandleader Habel Kifoto has retired from the military and is currently (as of 2009 )the chairman of Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). One of its former core members, David Kibe Left the band after he rose in the military ranks and had no more time for the band . Another former member was Laban Ochuka, who also played for another army band, the Ulinzi Orchestra. Ochuka died in May 2006 .
Diwani Nzaro was the band leader still in 2009. From late 90s he was part of the Malindi-based "Magazines"-band, that disbanded in 2002. He subsequently joined Kenyan Army and their band Maroon Commandos. He contributed for the two latest albums of the group, Shika Kamba and Kenya Unite. While still a band member, he released his debut solo album in 2009. On the album he performs traditional giriama
Giriama
The Giriama are one of the nine ethnic groups that make up the Mijikenda ....
songs . The group has also had female members, like singers Doris Chepchumba Tanui and Barbara Chepkoech Kiprotich (aka Waridi)
The album Kenya Unite was written in the response of the 2007–2008 Kenyan post-election crisis
2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis refers to a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that erupted in Kenya after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27, 2007. Supporters of Kibaki's opponent, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic...
. David Kombo is the current band leader, who joined the band in the late 80s and is the longest serving current band member (as of 2010). In the recent past the group has also had some members outside the military ranks.
Habel Kifoto died on July 31, 2011 in Nairobi as he collapsed due to a suspected heart failure
Discography
Their albums until 1991 were released by Polydor Kenya and the latest albums by Sound Africa.- Raziki Haivatu (1977 or later)
- Dawan Nimuone Hani (1983)
- Pesa Maradhi Ya Moyo (with Daudi KabakaDaudi KabakaDaudi 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"....
) (1986) - Hasiri na Hasara (1986)
- Bila Jasho "Mwakaribishwa na Maroon" (1989)
- Bonya Kutché (1990)
- Shikamoo (1991)
- Shika Kamba (2007)
- Kenya Unite
- Habel Kifoto & Maroon Commandoes - Greatest Hits