Ahead of their highly anticipated Blankets and wine debut Les Wanyika this week announced that they will also be headlining FESTAC Festival from 21st to 27th May in Arusha.
Arguably the oldest Festival on the continent, FESTAC made a came back last year May in Zanzibar after a 45 year hiatus. “Les Wanyika band fully represents what FESTAC Africa is about; Bringing Africans together. The band has members from Kenya, Tanzania, Congo and Nigeria. We are officially welcoming Les Wanyika to the FESTAC family. They will be performing at all FESTAC Festivals,” Says Yinka Abioye, Chairman at The Inspire Group and FESTAC Festival.
Though formed in Nairobi Kenya In 1978, the history of Wanyika bands traces back to Arusha in the early 70s. Wilson Kinyonga formed Arusha Jazz after leaving Jamhuri Jazz In Tanga. When the band got a residency in Mombasa they changed their name to Simba Wanyika. Later on they moved to Nairobi where a few members left and formed Les Wanyika. A key founding father of Les Wanyika, Tommy Malanga played all over East Africa with Arusha Jazz before their name change. He has been active through the band’s history playing bass for all Les Wanyika hits including Sina Makosa, Afro, Safari ya Samburu just to mention a few.
“Our music is loved by all people from the president to his watchman. Jomo Kenyatta would summon us to play for him every time he would visit the Mombasa statehouse. Just last year we played for his son Uhuru at his last public holiday as a president. Every week we play for prominent judges, and our song is played at major national celebrations all over Africa,” He proudly informs.
On the road to Arusha, the band will create a FESTAC EP featuring other East African artistes which they will perform at several pitstops. Owing to their enormous contribution to East African music, organizers of the festival have also pledged to tour Africa with them in future.
“This is the beginning of great partnership,” Band leader Sijali Zuwa said. “We have fans all over Africa who have loved our music for years but have never gotten a chance to hear us, and we look forward to playing for them live.”
