Big band dream that died with Musa

FILE | NATION
Musician Musa Juma, leader of Limpopo International band, during a past performance. The musician died on March 15, 2011.

What you need to know:

  • Under the leadership of his widow, Winnie Juma, Limpopo International stayed together a few months, performing at various stages, some as big as the Ramogi Night of November 2011, before cracks emerged in the band.

It is three years since rumba maestro Musa Juma of Limpopo International band died. Wrangles among the band members, however, are threatening his legacy.

One of the former band members, Salawowo Salapata, when asked what is going on in the band, is quick to ask: “Tom, est-ce que tu peux nous reunir?” in which he was asking if this writer could facilitate the reunion of Limpopo International.

Musa Juma had a blazing desire to firmly grip the society with his music. And as Salapata puts it, “When Musa Juma sang, he really sang!”

The grand pan-African he was, Juma aimed at building a huge orchestra of African musicians by signing artistes from beyond Kenya’s borders and singing in diverse languages that would appeal to all.

From Tanzania, he brought into the band vocalist Jose Mzungu, and guitarists Makaranga and Makubania. From Congo, he brought in Mokili, Vasco da Gama, Frank Libe, Prof Azile and Salapata.

That assembly of talented guitarists, percussionists and vocalists added to his local stars of Sande Asweda, Ken Watenya, Prince Kassam, John Junior, Salim Watiechere and his own brother, Omondi Tony to make up the colossal ensemble of Limpopo International. Juma believed he had a force majeur to dominate the rumba scene for years to come.

However, the cruel hand of death took him away on March 15, 2011. The maestro would not strum his guitar anymore.

And with it a whole load of legacy seemed to have been washed away. Juma’s musical empire would also soon come tumbling down from the friction within the band.

Leadership of his widow

Under the leadership of his widow, Winnie Juma, Limpopo International stayed together a few months, performing at various stages, some as big as the Ramogi Night of November 2011, before cracks emerged in the band.

Soon, Sande Asweda teamed up with Salim, Makubania and Salapata to quit Limpopo International and form their own band, Extra Limpopo.

But why would did they walk out of the band that nurtured their careers and fame? “Mti mkuu ukianguka, ndege wamo mashakani,” (when a big tree falls, the birds that live there are in trouble), Asweda, the leader of the break-away group, says.

“There was no clear leadership in the band after Musa’s death,” he says. “So, to avoid constant disagreements, we opted out.”
Winnie Juma was then left with guitarist Prof Azile as the only prominent Limpopo musician, and was joined by Musa Juma’s sister, Millie Fedha. But even this group did not last for long.

In what Millie Fedha terms as a rebranding, but seen as break-away by other observers, she invited guitarist Prof Azile to form Super Limpopo.

So, three years since his death, the band that Juma struggled to build, has been split three-fold.

One of the strongest bands since the days of Ochieng Kabaselle is now a shadow of its former self, no longer existing as a unit.
All the splinter groups, however, still thrive on performing Juma’s songs, having made little attempt at composing their own hits.

But maybe the band members should have heeded their master’s call: “Kama mimi ni wewe, ningecheza Limpopo kila siku,” (if I were you, I would dance Limpopo every day).

It was a call for the artistes to remain in Limpopo band because he believed he had set up a formidable band for the growth of individual and group talent.

If not, they should have listened to the words of the song Christina. Listen to this: “Jomoko paro muziki mashindano,” (some people think music is all about competition).

“Moko odonjo ethum g’akili starehe mingi, moko odonjo ethum gi wivu na fitina mingi…” (Some are in music for the showbiz while others exhibit jealousy all over in the industry).

The writer is an archivist of African music