- Title: KENYA: Yunasi, a popular Kenyan Afro-fusion band, launches second album
- Date: 13th September 2007
- Summary: (AD1) NAIROBI, KENYA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF YUNASI BAND PERFORMING PEOPLE DANCING TO THE MUSIC
- Embargoed: 28th September 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Reuters ID: LVABI6NQ3UZTA4MUFUYZBDTWN90I
- Story Text: Yunasi, a Kenyan Afro-fusion band launched their new album 'Nairobi' with an electric performance featuring the best songs from the new offering.
Fans got to their feet when the band opened the show with a performance of the album's lead track 'African Night'.
Yunasi have been entertaining since 1998. They started out as an acapella group singing at a local church. Then, they were known as 'Emmanuel's Clan'. The group changed its name and style of music after deciding to go into music full-time. Over time they have blended different styles like Sega, Isikuti and Benga to come up with their own distinctive style which they call 'sesube'.
"The show is called the Nairobi launch. We are just launching our new album which is called 'Nairobi'. Our style of music is called sesube. So basically this show is just to launch our album and to show the people that we are still strong and we are still going on," said Eric Odhiambo, the band leader.
Their style requires the players to use local musical instruments like the Nyatiti - a traditional guitar - and the Djembe and Bul drums. Estelle Lanoy, a French member of the group, plays the accordion.
They also sing in various Kenyan languages like Luo and Kisii.
The 8-member band, made up of seven men and Lanoy, has won both local and international acclaim over the years. In 2003, they were nominated for the All Africa Kora award. In 2004, they won the local Kisima Music Awards for the 'Best Afro-fusion Band' and in March 2006, one of their songs, 'Ji Opogore', which means 'People's Differences' in Luo, won third place in the World Music category at the United States International Song Writing Contest.
The group's fans are confident the new album will also do well.
"I think I found it interesting, I have danced myself... I've lost a few kilos dancing and you?" Belinda Ngugi, a social worker, asked her companion, Zeph Nderitu, who replied, "Me, I had fun."
Margo, a French national who lives in Nairobi, came especially to see Lanoy perform.
"Their music is unique, it's a mix about so many things. It's a reflection of Kenya, that is every part of Kenya is there and also part of somewhere else in the world. Because Estelle is here also with the accordion and for me it is something from my country so I feel happy to see friends and Kenya together," Margo said.
Most of Yunasi's songs examine social issues like corruption, poverty and drug abuse.
The band members are also involved in various social projects, like teaching music to underprivileged children in Kibera, one of Africa's largest slums. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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