Fiston Lusambo in Kenya to record traditional musicians

The project is made possible through a partnership with Ketebul Music and is funded by the Arts Council of England. It seeks to record traditional music and make it relevant to today's audiences.

Lusambo will for the next two months travel across Kenya’s north where he will make field recordings of traditional music from the Turkana, Burji and Oromo communities. He will also make recordings of various traditional instruments such as the oporo, nyatiti, adeudeu and orutu.

Lusambo says that traditional music was once at the forefront of popular culture and entertainment but is nowadays seen as a dying art.

“It is clear that the interest and enjoyment of traditional music has decreased over the years, most prominently in today’s youth,” Lusambo told Music In Africa. "However, just because interest has lowered, it does not mean that traditional music is irrelevant today. It is important that those with a platform in the music industry challenge the notion that the genre is only for a select group of people by promoting the few musicians making it.”

The field recordings will be released later in the year as a compilation album after mastering is completed in London, UK.

“My goal is to emphasise that Kenya has great music that is yet to be explored, fused, experimented with and listened to,” Lusambo said. “Right now, I have limited performance opportunities due to the pandemic so there is a window to develop new work and take a new direction in my music.

“Before COVID-19, I performed with my own band, Zong Zing All Stars, and also played with a very successful fusion band, Afriquoi. My guitar playing skills are also well regarded and sought-after. The learning and teaching experience in this project will be valuable to my practice and increase my capability to bring this to UK musicians and audiences that always need new exciting music.”