Kothbiro
–Ayub Ogada
Auma do you hear what I say
The rain is on it’s way
Return our cattle home…
Following the rediscovery of Zhao Cong’s masterful finger-picking on the Chinese pipa last week, I continued my search in my audiophile playlist and found another song featuring a traditional plucked-string instrument, this time from Africa.
The nyatiti is a type of lyre played by the Luo people, who originate from an area in Africa that covers South Sudan, Ethiopia, northern Uganda, eastern Congo (DRC), western Kenya, and the Mara Region of Tanzania. More specifically, the nyatiti is usually an eight-stringed, plucked, bowl-shaped yoke lute.
Ayub Ogada, a descendant of the Luo people, whose real name was Job Seda, was a Kenyan proponent of this musical instrument. Here he sings Kothbiro, one of his hit songs, in which the nyatiti is prominently featured. This song featured on the soundtrack of the 1993 film, The Constant Gardener, which was shot in Kenya.
While busking on the streets of London from 1986, he was asked to play at the WOMAD Festival (World of Music and Dance) in Cornwall in 1988. It was here that he impressed Peter Gabriel, formerly of the band Genesis. His music career blossomed. His music is featured on several film soundtracks.
Incidentally, Ayub also appeared in a few feature films under his real name, including Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford. Tragically, Ayub passed away in 2019 at the age of 63. Just before his death, he could be seen in his last interview plucking at the strings of his beloved nyatiti. A short snippet is embedded below.
Kothbiro, a traditional lullaby in the Dholuo language of the Luo people, has been covered by various artists over the years, each offering a unique interpretation. My favourite interpretation from my audiophile playlist is by VOENA (Voices of Eve ‘N Angels), the internationally renowned children’s choir based in California.
lenny unencumbered 