Tony Nyadundo
Tony Nyadundo is a musician from Kenya. He performs the Ohangla, a traditional style of music by the Luo community. He is backed by the Ohangla Boys band. He is now branded the "King of Ohangla".[1]
Early life[edit]
He was born in Kal in Tanzania. Tony's twin sister died while he was young. His family moved to Nyahera, Kisumu District, Kenya in 1978 and later to Kongoni in Nzoia.[1] He went to Kongoli Primary School and then in 1985 moved to Bukembe Secondary School but dropped out the following year due to lack of funds. He worked as a tailor until 1992.[1][2]
Career[edit]
He also tried his hand in deejaying. His brother Jack Nyadundo formed a group performing Ohangla music, and Tony eventually joined the group after 1996. Later he formed his own group and moved back to Tanzania for a while. In 1998 he moved to Migori District in Kenya and performed for local fishing communities.[1] He also hired Onyi Papa Jey, an orutu player who has also since become a formidable musician. In 1999 he moved to Dandora in Nairobi but did not achieve much success and then moved to Kisumu, where his brother Jack had become a popular musician.[3]
His début album Ayaki was released in 2002.[1] This marked a turning point of his career and he finally started to gain financially from being a musician. His second album was named Kidi Oba e Toke, which translates "stoned on the back".[1] The name derives from a concert when his band was attacked by thugs who hit his drummer on the back. Several other people were injured too.[3]
In 2006 he released album Obama. The name alludes to Barack Obama, the US president whose father is from the ethnic group as Nyadundo.[4][1]
At the 2007 Kisima Music Awards he won the traditional music category.[5] He was among 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in August 2007.[6][7]
In October 2009, he released a new album Migingo, named after the disputed Migingo Island.[8]
Tony is recognised for his hits like, dawa ya mapenzi, Obama and many more hits. He has performed in various countries including Germany and the US.[9][1][10]
He was married but divorced in 1994. He has two children from the marriage.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Top Kenyan traditional musician to perform in Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Nyanga, Caroline (2020). "From a tailor to king of Ohangla". The Standard. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Daily Nation, 7 August 2009: King of Ohangla speaks
- ^ The Standard, 25 August 2006: Tony Nyadundo, Ohangla King Archived 31 May 2009 at archive.today
- ^ Kisima Awards winners 2007
- ^ The Standard, 21 August 2007: 100 most influential Kenyans Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Standard, 21 August 2007: 100 most influential Kenyans – Entertainment
- ^ The Standard, 2 October 2009: Nyadundo album launch Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Standard, 7 December 2008: Ohangla maestro spreads his wings
- ^ Nation, Daily (21 June 2020). "Nyadundo still Kenya's most valuable artiste". Nation. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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