“The BengaStream project aims to support young/upcoming artists in the various kinds, styles and shades of Benga – across the Kenyan ethnic identities and hopes to give it a new breath of life,” Adipo Sidang, the founder says.
He further opines that, BengaStream will be experimenting with all kinds of instruments, traditional and Western, to entertain the Kenyan audience.
“We feel there’s need to bring it back in different ways, but it must start with identifying great talent, then composing and recording the music, then sharing it with them world. That’s our thinking,” he explains.
BengaStreams has a new album titled, Sigand Ogila Nyakarondo by the poet, philosopher Adipo Sidang. The album is already popular.
Those that love true rhumba also enjoy poetry, great beats and well written and great tale.
On 22nd December 2022, Sidang released the audio tracks of the album on YouTube.
The songs, Sigand Ogila Nyakarondo, Ochieng’ Ongong’o, Tiga Ng’ute Bor, Dr Theophilus Chando and Isaka Wasamba are in the debut album.
BengaStream’s Adipo Sidang says his album featuring Ellie will have 6 songs.
“Sigand Ogila Nyakarondo”, the title song of which glorifies and tells the tale of the age-old Luo folktale of the hare and the spider, is going to shock the airwaves in Luo music circles. In the song Sidang’ narrates how the hare seeks a favour from the spider to build an “expressway” to the skies where the wily hare is scheduled to visit to his in-laws. The spider agrees and accompanies the hare, alongside other friends including the squirrel, the rat, the gazelle, etc. The juice lies in what happens when they get to the skies and are warmly received.
The artist, Ellie, demonstrates his prowess and power in belting out well-composed music. Ellie is a gifted vocalist attached to the Benga Maestro Johnny Junior’s BV Band.
Sidang’s BengaStream is a project that supports young and upcoming artists in the various shades and styles of benga, to give it a new breath of life.
The whole album was written and composed by award-winning author Adipo Sidang’ and produced by Sidang’ Studios. The track producer was Emka Bangonga, whom Sidang’ mentions in the songs.
BengaStream ad infinitum!
Sidang’ says BengaStream project will expand to include Nyatiti, Orutu, Obokano, and other artists; and other artists in what’s generally called Afrofusion/world music, across tribes of Kenya.
Listen and subscribe to the song number 1 in the album.
