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Furaha Wenye Gita (Happiness with Guitar)

by George Mukabi

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1.
Sengula Nakupenda 02:39
lyrics
ENGLISH: Sengula, I love you I had lots of love for you, baby Refrain: You! Sengula Oh! My dear Sengula I had lots of love for you It were better if we loved each other dearly Only that way will our family earn respect (Refrain) I seem to be getting tired with your behavior And I better send you back to your parents (Refrain) SWAHILI: Sengula ninakupenda Nilikuwa nakupenda mama Refrain: Sengula wee! Oh! Sengula wangu Nilikuwa nakupenda Ni vizuri tupendane Na nyumba yetu iwe na heshima (Refrain) Nimechoka na mambo yako Na nikutume nakwenu sasa (Refrain)
2.
Festo Amahaya 02:49
lyrics
ENGLISH: You! Lady Rael! Do you remember what you did? Lady Rael Do you recall what you did How you told Festo “Let’s go to Kisumu” So that you may be his wife! But when you reached Kisumu You stole all Festo’s belongings You reached Kisumu You stole all Festo’s belongings And left him with nothing You women of these days It were better we employed Sharp housekeepers To keep an eye on you To wait at home To wait at home Because of shoplifting! Theft on theft! Theft is bad SWAHILI: Eee! Bibi Rael! Kumbuka kitu ulifanya Bibi Rael Kumbuka kitu ulifanya Kumwambia Festo “Hebu tuende Kisumu Nokawe mimi ni bibi” Mlipofika Kisumu Ukaiba vitu vya nyumba Milifika Kisumu Ukaiba vitu vya nyumba Ukamwacha Festo pekee Kumbe bibi wa siku hizi Tuandike watoto Bibi wa siku hizi Tuandike watoto Wawalinde kunyumba Wawalinde kunyumba Mpaka miezi lalu ukuishe Shauri ya wizi Wizi ni mbaya
3.
Daudi Nyanza 02:49
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ENGLISH: Daudi Nyanza is our own home born He read books until he ended up in America But when he came back to our country He finally died My people if you don’t like progressive men It is better if we were all rich and equal Chemsumu Muli is crying a lot In the name of this Daudi Nyanza Oh, my brother SWAHILI: Daudi Nyanza ni mtoto wetu Alisoma mpaka America Aliporudi nchi ya kwetu Mwisho yake yeye alikufa Watu wa kwetu kama hamtaki watu Watu wote wawe watajiri Chemsumu Muli nalia sana Kwa jina lake uyu Daudi Nyanza Oh, ndugu wangu
4.
Bibi Mzuri Nyumbani 02:36
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ENGLISH: As we stand here to sing We must realize one thing If one has a wife at his house It is very important indeed A wife at your house Is likely to give birth to a child Who will bring respect to your family And you’re likely to see many of Your cousins coming to you If you have a child at your house It is very important in that It is the child who’ll bring respect to you All your cousins will drift towards you SWAHILI: Kuimba tunaimba Lakini kweli tukumbuke Ukiwa na bibi Kunyumba yako, ni vizuri Ukiwa na bibi Kunyumba yako ni vizuri Na bibi naye kweli Na ndiye tena atazaa mtoto Taleta heshima nyingi kwako Taoha wantugu wengi kwako Ukiwa na mtoto Kunyumba yako ni vizuri Na mtoto ndiye kweli Taleta heshima nyingi sanaa Taona wandugu wengi kwako
5.
Bibi Mama Ngani Mzuri 02:50
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ENGLISH: The trouble I encountered last year Reminds me of my mother Reminds me of my mother, Shikobe At times I see some people praising their wives Saying that they’re better than their mothers Ayooooooooooooooooooooo At times I see some people praising their wives Saying that they’re better than their mothers But let them remember that a mother Is the best of them all! For she carried you in her womb Til nine months Had ended And she gave birth to you She gave birth to you And then she stood the cost of your education And when you finished That is how you managed to get a wife! And so remember A mother of anyone is the best of them all! Oh, Shikobe! Let’s take the example of Joshua Kochwa Up to now he still laments his mother Esther That she died when he was at a tender age He underwent many difficulties And even when he got married When he thought the wife Would come to solve all his problems But she did not! So we should keep in our mind: A mother of anyone is the best of them all! And so remember our mothers are the foundation And today we are crying [complaining] About our mother-in-laws SWAHILI: Iletaabu nilipata mwaka uliopita Ilinikumbusha jina la mama yangu Ilinikumbusha jina la mama Shikobe Naona watu wengi wanasifu bibi zao Eti wanasema: anashinda mama yake Ayooooooooooooooooooooo Naona watu wengi wanasifu bibi zao Eti wanasema: anashinda mama yake Lakini kumbuka Kweli ndiye mama yako Alikubeba kwa tumbo Mpaka miezi tisa Zilipokwisha Ndipo alikuzaa Alikuzaa Tena akakusomesha Ulipomaliza Ndipo ukaoa bibi Kwa hivyo kumbuka Mama ndiye mzuri Oh, Shikobe! Joshua kochwa analia mama Esther Alimwacha Akiwa angali mdogo Alikuwa na bibi Alipata taabu sana Tena bibi Hakumaliza taabu Kwa hivyo kumbuka Mama ndiye mzuri! Kwa hivyo kumbuka mama ndiye msingi, Leo tunalia yule mama mkwe
6.
Kuoa Utaoa 02:47
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ENGLISH: Marrying is ok One may get married But after marrying Trouble may follow Almost immediately A long time ago, wives were good She’d quickly pick a waterpot To run to a local spring To bring water for your bathing She’d take finger millet To go to grind A long time ago, wives were good If you sent her for something, She’d go running Daudi Okwaro, a very good driver He picked me from my home And brought me back safely Kenyan taxi, Daudi Okwaro He took me to my home village To see my father He took me to my home village To see my mother SWAHILI: Kuoa utaoa, tuoe bibi Akifika kunyumba Anaanza matata Akifika kunyumba Anaanza matusi Zamani sana, ukioa bibi Akifika kunyumba Na mtungi wa maji Akuletee maji, uende uoge Aeendekwa wimbi Anaenda kusaga Zamani sana, bibi wazuri Ukimtuma kitu, anakwenda mbio Daudi Okwaro, dereva mzuri Alinitoa kwetu, akanirudisa kwetu Kenya taxi Daudi Okwaro Akanirudisa kwetu Nione baba Akanirudisa kwetu Nione mama
7.
Furaha Wenye Gita 02:48
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ENGLISH: Today let’s recall Like the day We went to Ebukhoba We had three girls And we had gone to pay Josiah Ombogo a visit He did one bad thing to us He snatched all our girls And hid them in one of his houses If you want to look for happiness Go and make friends with any guitarist Mukabi: Liar! Malenya: It’s true! Let’s moan upon the death of Makutsa We should mourn the death of Makutsa Omucharachara SWAHILI: Siku ya leo tukumbuke Kama siku moja Si tulienda kule Ebukhoba Tulikuwa na wasichana tatu Tulikwenda kule kumwona Josiah Ombogo Kitu moja alitukosea Kachukuwa wote Akaficha ndani ya nyumba yake Ukitaka raha kwako Kwenda bembeleza yule mpigaji wa gita Mukabi: Nuwongo! Malenya: Ni kweli! Tumlie Makutsa wafa Tena tuhalia Makutsa wetu Omucharachara
8.
Raha Inopoteza 02:39
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ENGLISH: Enjoyment in Nairobi, enjoyment in Nairobi Has misled me, has misled me There are many years, there are many years That I haven’t gone home, that I haven’t gone home My father and mother, my father and mother, Are waiting for me, are waiting for me I don’t know, I don’t know, If I am bewitched, if I am bewitched Oh George Mukabi! SWAHILI: Raha Nairobi, raha Nairobi Imenipoteza, imenipoteza Miaka mingi iyo, miaka mingi iyo Sijafika kwetu, sijafika kwetu Baba na mama, baba na mama, Wananingojea, wananingojea Mimi sijui, mimi sijui, Kama nimerogwa, kama nimerogwa Oh George Mukabi!
9.
Jared Onyango 02:50
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ENGLISH: Today is your happy day, Jared Onyango We are singing to you, we are singing to you, We are singing to the great boss of the railway We are requesting everyone from our place When you get at our place, when you get at our place, When you get at our place, you be great again Who doesn’t know that Jared Onyango is a great man? All Wakhayo, all Wakhayo, All Wakhayo love Onyango again Even Patrick Odunga loves Onyango very much SWAHILI: Ni furaha kwako Jared Onyango leo Tunaimba wewe, tunaimba wewe, Tunaimba wewe mkubwa wa reli Tunaomba watu wote wa kwetu Ukifika kwetu, ukifika kwetu, Ukifika kwetu uwe mkubwa tena Ni nani asiyejua Jared Onyango ni mkubwa? Wakhayo wote, wakhayo wote, Wakhayo wote wanapenda Onyango tena Hata Patrick Odunga anapenda Onyango sana
10.
Tom Itabale 02:47
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ENGLISH: We Kenyans are in trouble To help us out of this mess We should pray to our God Let him save us Kisumu, Mamboleo Neneheneeee! This man called Tom Itabale Came from Uganda To attend Firikita’s funeral at Kiringiri Three young men came too From a certain town in Uganda To attend Firikita’s funeral at Kiringiri But when they returned to their work in Uganda They were all sacked Because they came to attend Firikita’s funeral SWAHILI: Kumbe sisi wanakenya Tuko kwa mateso Tumwombe Mola Mpaka naye atuoko Kisumu, Mamboleo, Neneheneeee! Huyu Tom Itabale Alitoka Uganda Kufika Kiringiri kwa matanga ya Firikita Vijana watatu walitoka Muji wa Uganda Kufika Kiringiri kwa matanga ya Firikita Waliporudi Uganda Wote walitozwa Makazini mwao kwa matanga ya Firikita
11.
Kifo Cha Mukabi [Performed by Peter Akwabi] 02:50
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by Peter Akwabi, announcing the death of George Mukabi ENGLISH: Josiah Ombogo had a car And gave us a lift to Ebuhonga And in the company Of our beloved Malenya We took him To the funeral function of George Mukabi When we arrived at Emulunya village Glancing at Mukabi’s grave, Mister Malenya Could not control crying He said: “Where is my George?” Those from Butsotso location were very bad people For if George The Rock Were in his home place Kisa They would not have managed To cut him into pieces Like the logs of trees That are used for building houses SWAHILI: Josiah Ombogo namotokaa yake Alitubeba kutoka Ebuhonga Sisi tulikuwa Na Malenya wetu Tukimpeleka Kwa matanga ya George Mukabi Tulipofika mji wa Emulunya Tulikaribia kwao George Bwana Malenya Alipoona Kabwri Alilia sana George wangu amekwenda wapi? Watu Butsotso ni wabaya sana Walikata George kama mti George mwamba Angalikuwa Kisa Wasingemkata Kama mti wa kunjenga mjumba
12.
Mtoto Si Nguo [Performed by Johnstone Mukabi] 02:45
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by Johnstone Mukabi, son of George Mukabi ENGLISH: It isn’t a piece of cloth! A child isn’t like A piece of cloth that you’d Just borrow from anyone If you don’t have one That’s when you’ll realize And cry Me, George, the Rock I keep crying I do not have one! That’s why I’m crying! Odongo Nzofu, Nzofu died And all of Kashira clan Keeps crying because of him SWAHILI: Si nguo Utaomba mtu Mtoto si nguo Utaomba mtu baba Kikosa wakoee Utalia sana mama George Mwamba sina wanguee Nakosa wanguee Nihalia sana mama Odongo Nzofu, Nzofu wafwa Kashira wote Wanalia sana mama
13.
Kunywa Kidogo [Bonus Track] 02:51
14.
Kusema Wongo [Bonus Track] 02:45
15.
Kwetu George [Bonus Track] 02:43
16.
Tuli Saliwa Vijano Tano [Bonus Track] 02:47
17.
AGS Rekodi Afrika [Bonus Track] 02:28
18.
Sungmusa Na Riga Yako [Bonus Track] 02:48
19.
Rumulus Tunga [Bonus Track] 02:48
20.
Kweli Ndugu [Bonus Track] 02:39
21.
Tila na Tila [Bonus Track] 02:41
22.
Ruben Achieng [Bonus Track] 02:46
23.
Omuranga Wa Muka [Bonus Track] 02:51
24.
Usindi Wa Kenya [Bonus Track] 02:58
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25.
Siku Nilikua Safarini [Bonus Track] 02:40
26.
Hatuna Bahati [Bonus Track] 02:42
27.
Asante Kwa Wazazi [Bonus Track] 02:39

about

An almost mythical figure of African acoustic guitar, GEORGE MUKABI's reinvention of fingerstyle quickly spread from western Kenya throughout East Africa, before his tragic death in 1963.

Hailing from the Luhya speaking Kisa Region, Mukabi combined local elements of the nyatiti lyre and sukuti drum into the bouncing "omutibo" guitar style, in which melody, rhythm and bass lines all merged in two hands on one instrument.

An imposing man who was both respected and feared, he sang of the tumults of marriage, morality and Kenyan life, selling hundreds of thousands of records in East and Central Africa, though only dimly recognized overseas.

54 years after his passing, we are proud to help preserve the legacy and legend of George Mukabi. LP and digital versions include a 12 page booklet featuring an oral history by George's son, Johnstone Ouko Mukabi, along with several other peers and family members, as well as full lyrics in Swahili and English. Digital version includes several additional rare recordings.

We are attempting to present a full discography of George Mukabi in streaming digital format. Several songs are still missing - if you can assist our project, please contact us at discosolvidos@gmail.com

credits

released October 12, 2017

George Mukabi - Guitar / Vocals
Jack Malenya - Percussion / Vocals
Song 11. Kifo Cha Mukabi [Death of Mukabi] written and performed by Peter Akwabi
Song 12. Mtoto Si Nguo written by George Mukabi, performed by his Johnstone Ouko Mukabi

Produced by Cyrus Moussavi and Gordon Ashworth. Liner notes by Peter Akwabi and Cyrus Moussavi. Restoration and Mastering by Timothy Stollenwerk at Stereophonic Sound. Co-released by Raw Music International and Mississippi Records. Vinyl version distributed by Mississippi Records.

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