Okatch Biggy
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Okatch Biggy | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Elly Okatch Otieno |
| Born | 1954 Gem, Siaya District |
| Origin | Kenya |
| Died | December 18, 1997 (aged 42–43) Agah Khan Hospital Kisumu |
| Genres | Benga music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, drums |
| Labels | Biggy Sounds Production |
Elly Mathayo Okatch, better known as Okatch Biggy (1954–1997) was a Kenyan benga musician. His first album Helena Wang’e Dongo, released in 1992, brought him into the limelight.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Okatch (Okatch Biggy) was a Kenyan musician born in 1954 in Ujimbe, Dudi location, Gem, Siaya County Nyanza Kenya.[3] At age 21, Okatch tried to get into boxing as a career at the Railways Club in Kisumu. He was named "Biggy" as he was larger in appearance.
Super Heka Heka[edit]
Original members of the band included : Okello Adwera (bass guitar), Paul Olang'o (vocalist), Ochieng Viva (vocalist & composer), Dick Ouma 'Wuod Gi Mbala Jasuba'(Rhythm Guitar & vocals), Owiti Ahuja (Solo guitar), Bingwa (drummer) and Okatch (founder of the band). They were later joined by Oginga Wuod Awasi.
While in Kisumu, a few rich friends and lovers of his music like ; Prof. Francis Owino Rew, Hosea Songa and Oduor Leo organized a fundraising and the resultant cash was used to buy Biggy new musical instruments to start up his band.
His personal approach and singing style drew fans. Kisumu Junction Inn was the center for this music. The band's popularity later spread across Kenya.[4]
For the two years his music career peaked, Benga maestro Okatch Biggy bestrode the entertainment industry like a colossus.
Between 1995 and 1997, the artiste gave Benga music a new meaning and went ahead to snatch its control from legend Owino Misiani whose fame spanned Kenya and Tanzania.
Biggy stole the limelight after a prolonged lull in Benga, which saw kingpins like Ochieng Nelly, Collela Mazee, Awino Lawi, Ochieng Kabasellah, George Ramogi, and Ouma Omore take a beating from the invasion of the local scene by Congolese music.[5]
His seismic beats and striking compositions laced with words that bordered on the lewd earned him a special place in the hearts of fans in Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi where he staged most of his shows.
At the time of his death on 18 December 1997,[6] Biggy and his Super Heka Heka Band had recorded five albums and mentored young upcoming artists like Aluoch Jamaranda, Dolla Kabari, Oginga wuod Awasi, Jerry Jalamo, Ogonji Jaimbo,and Otieno Small among others.[7] [8]
Discography[edit]
- Studio albums
- Posthumous albums
References[edit]
- ^ Why legend of Okatch Biggy still lives on - Weekend - nation.co.ke
- ^ a b Okatch Biggy - Hellena Wang'e Dongo. OKATCH BIGGY. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Are these the most explicit Luo musicians?".
- ^ "Okatch Biggy: A Story-Teller's Anthology". 24 October 2020.
- ^ "A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE WOMAN IN OKATCH BIGgy's MUSIC: The Use of Imagery". Language and Linguistics.
- ^ "Remembering Okatch 18 years later | Kenya". 5 July 2020.
- ^ T. Michael, Mboya (2019). "Popular Music, Ethnicity and Politics in the Kenya of the 1990s". Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "OKATCH BIGGY - YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ Okatch Biggy - Dorina. OKATCH BIGGY. 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Okatch Biggy - Nyathi Nyakach. OKATCH BIGGY. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Okatch Biggy - Okello Jabondo. OKATCH BIGGY. 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Adhiambo Nyakobura live - Okatch Biggy. OKATCH BIGGY. 17 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via YouTube.