Nyerere Wa Konde Music Club

The Nyerere Wa Konde Music Club is a family group based in Gede, in the Malindi District of Kenya, led by the legendary Mwanzele singer Nyerere Wa Konde. Nyerere became a musician in 1981, specialising in the Mwanzelestyle, a traditional genre originally performed at funerals by the Mijikenda tribes of Kenya’s Coast Province.

The group includes Nyerere’s son, Mr. Bado, a contemporary musician who has successfully fused Mwanzele with global hip-hop beats. Their collaboration reflects a powerful merging of traditional and modern musical influences.

We first met Nyerere Wa Konde and his family group during our initial field recording trip to Kenya in 2011. It was a privilege to watch a family so deeply rooted in musical tradition, combining contrasting styles to create their own unique sound.

Nyerere hailed from Sita, a small village about fifteen kilometres from Malindi, near the Indian Ocean. At the time of recording, Sita consisted of a few houses, peagroves, two cows, around 200 people—mostly children—and countless chickens. Despite its size, Sita has a rich history, having been visited by traders and travellers, including Chinese emperors in the 1400s, contributing to a layered musical heritage.

Nyerere Wa Konde led the village’s music group, creating a captivating sound characterised by complex polyrhythmic beats through clapping, stomping, and shaking; the Lungo—an instrument made from a large bowl filled with broken glass; and the Ndema, brass rings played to create ringing and muted tones.

The Mijikenda people, who inspired much of Nyerere’s music, consist of nine related Bantu ethnic groups: Giriama, Rabai, Ribe, Kauma, Digo, Chonyi, Kambe, Duruma, and Jibana. Their communities stretch between the Sabaki and Umba rivers along the Kenyan coast.
Nyerere was a central figure in keeping Mwanzele music alive. His music was deeply rooted in cultural memory and reflected the rich, layered history of the coast. His son, Mr. Bado, carried this legacy forward, blending tradition with contemporary sounds.
Nyerere’s life and work epitomise the spirit of Singing Wells: honouring and reconnecting the old and new generations through music.

The legendary Mwanzele singer and performer Nyerere Wa Konde passed away in November 2023.

Recorded: 29th March 2011
Country: Kenya