Music scene gets new sound from Sarabi band

Sarabi band in action. One of the most popular bands in Nairobi at the moment, Sarabi has eight young musicians aged between 20 and 23. The group brings together a group of friends who grew up in the tougher neighbourhoods of Nairobi, like Korogocho, Mathare and Huruma. Photo/FILE

What you need to know:

  • Tonight, they will launch a series of concerts called Kings of the Arena at the Alliance Francaise, a concept that involves 12 concerts, one every month at the same venue.
  • At each show, Sarabi will share the stage with a surprise group of new artists.
  • This will be a platform to expose new talent and in typical Sarabi fashion, the music will not be limited to a particular genre or style.

It can take a very long while before a new band shakes up the music scene with a fresh sound and creates an impact on the concert circuit with style and energy.

One of the most popular bands in Nairobi at the moment is Sarabi, eight young musicians aged between 20 and 23. The group brings together a group of friends who grew up in the tougher neighbourhoods of Nairobi, like Korogocho, Mathare and Huruma.

Little surprise therefore that their music is very conscious on message. Just last week, they turned up to provide the music during the aborted civil society demonstrations at Uhuru Park.

The band’s leader Nelson Mandela was among the activists arrested and later released by the police. During this interview, he jokes that he considers himself lucky not to have been locked up for nearly as long as the man he is named after.

“Our music is based on social justice. There is really no option for us; this is a way of life and we have to serve as an example and provide hope of a brighter day ahead,” says Mandela.

Last year, to coincide with the 50th independence celebrations, the group released a single called “Sheria” imploring Kenyans to live up to their civic duty in making the constitution work for the country.

Sarabi also put up a charged performance during the recent concert launch of the documentary “Songs of Social and Political Protest” by Ketebul Music, before a crowd that included Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

No major show passes by these days without Sarabi on the bill; from last year’s Story Moja Hay Festival, the Sawa Sawa Festival, to the 50th edition of Blankets and Wine in January this year.

12 CONCERTS

Tonight, they will launch a series of concerts called Kings of the Arena at the Alliance Francaise, a concept that involves 12 concerts, one every month at the same venue. At each show, Sarabi will share the stage with a surprise group of new artists.

This will be a platform to expose new talent and in typical Sarabi fashion, the music will not be limited to a particular genre or style.

“There will be a surprise every month, from school choirs to classical orchestras. We want to explore the broadest range of music played by young Kenyans.”

WHITE OUTFITS

It’s easy to brand Sarabi as the “new face of Afro-fusion in Kenya” as many have done but it doesn’t do these lads justice to squeeze their music into a box.

Their music is a product of diverse influences combining some traditional rhythms of Kenya, energetic benga with pop, jazz and rock.

Sarabi sets the bar very high by looking to the lyrical fire of Bob Marley and Fela Kuti, and the style and energy of Michael Jackson. During all their performances, they appear on stage dressed in head-to-toe white outfits.

“The most successful artists take their choreography as seriously as the music itself and we have learnt to bring that professionalism to our shows,” says Mandela.

They all started playing music in primary school when they were introduced to their first set of instruments by a youth organisation working in the slum areas of Nairobi.

The band itself was formed in 2005 with the name taken from the Swahili word for “mirage.” “Our music is influenced by the everyday happenings and we try to create a sound that vividly represents the society’s journey and our own experiences,” they say.

Talk shows

Their debut album “Oyaore” was released in 2013 and production is almost complete on a second set of songs.

An Afro beat inspired tune called “Suluhisho” that speaks to people who take their personal problems to radio talk shows and social media provides a good example of just how much the band has grown since they first appeared on the scene.

With eight members, Sabari is an unusually large band by today’s standards and despite having spent many years together, the musicians hardly go a day without rehearsing to tighten their musical bond.

These 12 shows will offer them a chance to introduce another crop of undiscovered talent.

Tickets for tonight’s event, which begins at 7 pm, cost Sh800 at the Alliance Francaise and are also available online at www.ticketsasa.com.

This article was first published in the Business Daily .