@kwachke254: Phares Oluoch Kanindo (pictured on the left w/ Tabu Ley) was born on November 29, 1942 in Siaya. He was termed the most successful producer in Kenya in addition to arguably being the earliest promoter of Kenyan music. He played a vital role in the development of benga music not only in the country, but on the continent. In the year 1961 he left the country to go and pursue a Diploma in Radio and Wireless Electronic in Czechoslovakia. He came back in 1963 and worked as a technician with the Kenyan News Agency and later on with the Voice of Kenya. In 1974 Kanindo, formed his own recording company, POK Music Stores, which distributed the music he produced music to DRC, Zambia, Malawi, and Nigeria. The Congolese singers Kabila Kabanze (Les Mangelepa) and Kasongo wa Kanema (Super Mazembe) both doubt that their Kenyan success would have not been possible without Kanindo. They both attest to the fact that he paid them well and bought for them the musical equipment they lacked. Some other Congolese greats that were his business partners and collaborators where musicians such as Franco, Verkys Kiamuangana, and Tabu Ley. In Southern Africa, specifically Zimbabwe, benga influenced local tastes and left an indelible mark on the country’s music. The unique guitar rhythms proved to be a hit. As the music caught on in Zimbabwe, local musicians adopted the sound and began to play their own variation of benga. They called it "Kanindo" taken from the name of the label that appeared on these records imported from Kenya. Kanindo also owned another label called Sungura and it too evolved into a genre that was a spin off of kanindo music. It is said that freedom fighters during the independence war in Zimbabwe danced to kanindo records during the night vigils known as pungwe.

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Tuesday 02 June 2026 19:02:10 GMT