Kamaru, Joseph
Heavy Combination
A crucial introduction to the `King of Kikuyu Benga'!
17 tracks that run the gamut from vibrant dancefloor chants with high life-esque guitars, to afro funk, drum machine and
keyboard driven disco grooves, and folk style laments. The music is raw, immediate, danceable, and packed full of
memorable hooks. The incisive lyrics range from protest songs to relationship advice. Joseph Kamaru was an incredibly
popular figure in his native Kenya, connecting with everyone from high-powered politicians to the rural and urban
working class, and his music deserves a much wider international audience.
Compiled by his grandson, the sound artist KMRU, in partnership with Disciples, the tracks have been carefully
remastered from original tape transfers by Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin. Sleeve designed by Karolina Kolodziej using
original archive material from the Kamaru family vaults. Extensive liner notes include essays by Kenyan academic Maina
wa Mutonya, music journalist Megan Iacobini de Fazio, and KMRU himself.
Price
Genre
Format
LP · 1 disc
Release
31-10-2025
Label
Item-nr
1317175
EAN
5056818802645
Availability
Not in stock
Tracks
Title
Artist
1
KENYA KURUNGARA
2
KE WAPENDANE
3
KWANDIKWO TI GUCIARWO
4
GARI LA TRELA (WITH CITY SOUND BAND)
5
WA MWENE NI UMWE
6
NJOHI NDIRI MWARIMU
7
KAROLINA
8
NGUNIA NGURU (WITH KAMARU MIXED GRILL WITH KAMARU SUPER STARS)
9
KIMIIRI
10
IKIHANDA MUNYUGI
11
CHUNGA RURIMI (WITH CITY SOUND BAND)
12
RIRIA MUGUTWENJA (WITH CITY SOUND BAND)
13
J.M. KARIUKI (WITH KAMARU CELINA BAND)
14
NDARI YA MWARIMU PT.2
15
MUHIKI WA MIKOSI
16
ANDU A MADAKARA
17
NI KIRUME
