Elijah Wald plays "Wazee wa Kisa"

"Wazee wa Kisa" ("The Old Men from Kisa" in Swahili) was recorded in the early 1960s by the Kenyan musician Herbert Misango. The English lyric is Elijah's fairly accurate translation of Misango's original, which unfortunately is not currently available. For similar music, and more info about Elijah's music and writing, visit http://www.elijahwald.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• elijah wald
• African acoustic guitar

[naidamu]

..asante Elijah..do not forget John Nzeze, Daudi Mukabi, David Amunga, Isaya Mwinamo, among the great Kenyan guitar "pickers". My dad had a gramophone and would play these songs. Just love them.

[burlesquepaper]

All great players. I met John Nzenze in Nairobi, and he helped me to get in touch with Fadhili William...

[Brutuss33]

Preciosa cancion Elijah, saludos from the south of Spain!

Juan

[jajudass1]

And it just so happens to be Melodica Musiki Store.....Salam to all the bros there.

[DomAleixo]

Hi, Elijah,

I visited your webpage and was really curious to find the book of John Low, "History of Kenyan Guitar Music: 1945-1980". Can you tell me if it´s a good and accurate work? I can´t find anywhere...

I have a collection of about 200 gramophone discs (78 rpm) of Luo guitar players from Kenya, I can organize a copy in one or two CD´s and send it for a copy of that book.

Congratulations on your wonderful work. Keep going.

Emerson - Brasil

[julieinorbit]

brilliant, just subscribed.

[sligoriver]

This is just too great., if you have any more african songs or stories about your travels and the musicians you met over there please find some time to share with us again. Living in Scotland I find it hard to get hold of music like this.

[gadaya]

Glad to see Elijah on the tube. I enjoyed very much his books and his instructional dvd about Joseph Spence... and he always wear the coolest shirts...