Osogo Winyo

Osogo Winyo, the singing weaver bird, whose real name is John Okinyi, started playing music in a band since primary school in Migori. His first band was called 'Nyarongi Panga Orutu System' in which he was singing and drumming. Due to financial constraints, he was not able to pay his school fees for form 4 and decided to move to Nairobi to do jua kali work in Kayole. While doing the simple jobs, he continued playing music. Osogo says: 'I didn't prepare to be a musician, it just happened. I wasn't trained how to play drums, how to play the mouth organ or how to sing, I just found myself playing music. On stage I develop my songs spontaneously'.

My dad was nicknamed Osogo, a name that comes from the bird that builds its nest during the season when maize is in plenty in my homeland. I therefore took that name but the fans gave me the surname ‘Winyo’ and I adopted all of them,