Music in context: Kenya

What is the course about?

Kenya is home to an incredibly diverse population and this is reflected in its music. As a country, it is has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity, turning it into a hub of migration for both economic and political reasons. This week, we look at the role these migrations played in creating and disseminating popular music genres in post-colonial Kenya. We focus specifically on the cultural interactions between various actors, including musicians from many African countries, business people from South Asia, and European settlers.

Sitting between two great bodies of water, the Indian ocean and Lake Victoria, Kenya holds an interesting geographic location. The British saw the port of Mombasa as the gateway to the resources held inland, so they commissioned a railway to link the coast with Uganda in order to extract wealth and link it to Indian Ocean trade routes. Through this gateway, and along the path forged by the railway, resources poured out and migrants poured in, bringing their stories, songs and cultures. It was here, halfway between Mombasa and Lake Victoria, that the British created a small railway depot called Nairobi.

By the end of World War 2, Nairobi grew into the bustling capital of Kenya, and laid the roots of what became a powerful music industry, drawing musicians and businessmen from around the world. This transformed Nairobi into a cosmopolitan melting pot with a prolific musical output. Two genres in particular stood out in this music scene: Rumba and Benga. These genres were highly mutable and hybrid, carrying a pan-African appeal that tells an interesting story of the various cultural interactions and aspirations that created them.

What will we cover?

- We begin by understanding the political, economic, and geographic context, from 1946 and beyond, that laid the backdrop for this music.
- We then look at how to understand popular music studies in Kenya, with its various distinctions, followed by an overview of key genres that emerged.
- We will take key figures, bands, and songs as our starting point to understand the wider stories of migration and intercultural crossings that are embedded within, paying particular attention to Rumba and Benga music.
- We shall end in the modern day, and introduce some key issues surrounding this topic.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Summarise the biographies of key composers
- Recognise some of the stylistic markers of their compositions
- List some of the most significant works of this period
- Sketch a roadmap of future works you may like to explore from this era.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is an in-depth topic: it assumes a broad familiarity in listening to this genre of music. There may be a focus on lecture style classes and specialist musical terminology, as well as homework tasks and /or reading lists for future reference.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Session(s) will mostly comprise combinations of lecture with guided listening and video study. Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

All classes, learning materials and online resources are included in the price. Those who wish to continue their learning outside the classes will be offered suggestions for further reading and listening, but this is not compulsory in order to complete the course. You will need to bring paper and writing implements to take notes and participate fully in group activities. All presentation material and class handouts will also be made accessible in digital format.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

To find out more about music history classes Music history courses in London and online which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.