Kenyan music has a rich history that dates back to pre-colonial times when various tribes and communities had their unique musical styles and instruments. Over time, Kenyan music has evolved, incorporating different styles and influences from around the world. In this post, we'll explore the history of Kenyan music and its various styles and influences.

Traditional Music of Kenya

Before colonialism, Kenyan music was primarily vocal and instrumental music that was performed during cultural and social events. The music varied from one community to another, and each community had its unique instruments and musical styles. Some of the commonly used instruments included drums, stringed instruments like the lyre and the nyatiti, and wind instruments like the flute.

The arrival of Europeans in Kenya in the late 19th century brought about significant changes in the country's musical landscape. Missionaries introduced Western music, which led to the creation of choral groups that combined Western and traditional Kenyan music.

The Board of Directors of the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) is pleased to announce the declaration of royalties for the period 1st January 2023 – 31st March 2023 in the following categories and in line with the DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR that was presented to members during the Special General Meeting of 13th December 2022:

1. QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION FROM CONCERTS AND EVENTS -SCIENTIFIC

2. APRIL DISTRIBUTION FROM COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC (CTP) - HYBRID DISTRIBUTION i.e General distribution/ Catalogue based payments for both sound recordings and music videos/ Scientific

During the period under reference we collected a total of Kshs. 15,894,746.31/-, out of which Kshs. 7,947,373.16/- was spent on administrative costs. The balance of Kshs. 7,947,373.16/- has now been set aside for the distribution reflecting a ratio of 50% of the amounts collected.

The Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) has reconstituted its Board that has seen Faith Kithele elected as the new Chairperson of KAMP, following the stepping down of former Chairperson Angela Ndambuki.

Prior to the election, Faith Kithele was serving as the Chair of the Finance and Human Resource Committee. As a respected music producer, a renowned gospel musician, songwriter, Vocalist, mentor, inspirational and motivational speaker, she has played an instrumental role in the growth and development of the Kenyan music industry, and is committed to ensuring that KAMP continues to support and promote the interests of music producers in the country.

Outgoing Chairperson Angela Ndambuki Commented, “I am humbled to have had the opportunity to serve our membership as chairperson and provided strategic leadership culminating in the achievement of various milestones including the renewal of our CMO license. I will continue to play an active role to ensure the systems in place remain transparent and accountable to the benefit of our members, including the operationalization of the first scientific distribution mechanism for royalties.” 

Representatives of the producer and composer CMOs Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) and Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) respectively, and recorded music industry trade body the Recording Industry of Kenya (RIKE) traveled to South Africa on a study visit to the South African music industry companies between March 7 and 10. The visit was sponsored by South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), the CMO mandated to license the economic rights of producers and performers; and Southern Africa Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the CMO mandated to administer the economic rights of composers, authors, and publishers. 

The delegation was led by Hon Dan Wanyama, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Arts and Culture and supported by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global voice of the recording industry, working to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music globally.

The visit sought to afford the Kenyan CMOs new and inspiring perspectives to enhancing their operations, governance, and independence; and critical regulatory and policy practices that will facilitate sustainable licensing practices in the interest of right holders. The visit follows the recent efforts between Kenya and South Africa to stimulate trade against the backdrop the memoranda of understanding, including on broadening trade, signed by the two countries in 2021, and which included agreement to increase the volume of trade between the two countries that averaged over US$ 580 million and largely in favour of South Africa. Presidents William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2022 expressed commitment to implementing the bilateral agreements by initiating reciprocal visa-free entry deal effective January 2023. Implementation of trade agreements between the two countries is critical to the recorded music business, acting both as an impetus to improved representation of right holders by collective management organisations through bilateral arrangements as well as in incentivizing recorded music investors or record companies in both countries to invest in respective partner country.