Tabu Osusa
Tabu Osusa is an iconic figure in the East African music industry and founding Executive Director of Ketebul Music, a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007 with the core mission to identify, preserve, develop, and promote the diverse musical traditions of East Africa.
Born on 21 July 1954 along the southern shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya he moved to Tororo in Uganda when he was 9 years old. In 1966 he joined St Peters Seminary in Mukumu Kakamega where he aspired to being a Catholic priest. However, he left the institution in 1972 to pursue other interests.
In 1974 Osusa relocated to the DRC then Zaire, where he taught English in Kisangani before taking the famous boat ride along the River Congo to settle in Kinshasa. He worked at popular jazz spots such as Afro Mogambo and Perruque Bleu in Kinshasa.
Osusa retuned to Kenya in 1978 and for over four decades, has been actively involved in the music industry as a songwriter, recording artiste, band manager, tour manager, promoter, and music producer. He has shaped the careers of some of the leading bands and individual artistes in East Africa such as the acclaimed Orchestra Virunga of Samba Mapangala and the Nairobi City Ensemble.
In 2004, Tabu Osusa was the lead music consultant for the television series titled “Movin’ & Groovin; in East Africa”: a music program that was commissioned by the Nation Media Group’s Convergence and Special Projects department, to trace the history of East African popular music.
In the same year, along with the Director of Alliance Francaise of Nairobi, Osusa co-founded the “Spotlight on Kenyan Music”, a project whose aim was to discover and promote music with traditional rhythms of Kenya. Apart from being the Executive Producer Osusa was the Creative Director of the program and chaired the Steering Committee of this talent search which recorded well over one hundred musicians across the country. The music was released on CD format starting with volume 1 in 2005, to volume 6 in 2014.
In 2006, Osusa was the Creative Producer and Consultant for “Muziki wa Kenya,” a series of concerts wsupported by the Goethe Institut aimed at showcasing Kenyan of music of the yesteryears.
Since 2008, Tabu Osusa has been the Project Coordinator of the Retracing Series: a series of research-based documentaries that seeks to capture historical events that have helped to re-define the East African music scene. The project, which was supported by the Ford Foundation Eastern Africa, has so far produced the following multimedia documentary packages;
- Retracing the Benga Rhythm (2008)
- Retracing Kikuyu Popular Music (2010)
- Retracing Kenya’s Funky Hits (2011)
- Retracing Kenya’s Songs of Protest (2013) www.ketebulmusic.org
Tabu Osusa was a member of the Equation Musique, a program that was initiated by the Paris based Institut Français bringIng together music professionals from the southern hemisphere to support their presence in professional music markets. He is among the few Africans involved in the arts and culture to be recognized by the France Cultures guidebook Raiders of Cultures.
In 2009, Osusa represented East Africa in the selection panel of the proposed Centre for Black Music (Le Centre des Noires) during the selection process held in Paris.
From 2011, Osusa has been the Project Coordinator for the Singing Wells project; a partnership project between Ketebul Music and the Abubilla Music Foundation (UK). The Singing Wells project aims at recording and archiving the diverse musical traditions of Eastern Africa. www.singingwells.org
In 2014 Osusa through Ketebul Music was appointed by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts Kenya and the Smithsonian Institute to program and curate the music that would showcase Kenya at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held in Washington DC from 25th June to 6th July 2014. The following year, Osusa along with Bill Odidi were among a group of authors selected to contribute to ‘Do-it-Yourself, Do-it-Together’ a publication about African Popular Music Archives, edited by Sarah Baker.
In 2016 Tabu Osusa was nominated’ Five Music Rights Champion’ by the International Music Council. The same year he joined the panel of judges at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held in Lagos Nigeria. He was also appointed as the Visa For Music Country Representative for Kenya.
In 2017 Osusa became the first Kenyan to receive an award from Visa For Music (Morocco) for his tireless efforts in documenting and archiving the diverse music traditions of East Africa.
Tabu Osusa was the lead author of ‘Shades of Benga’: The Story of Popular Music In Kenya 1946-2016. The 600 page book published in August 2017 traces the origins of Kenya’s popular music from the end of the Second World War to date.
In November 2022 Tabu Osusa was elected to serve on the board of Music in Africa Foundation at its milestone 10th Annual General Meeting in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. www.musicinafrica.net
Tabu Osusa was conferred the Order of Arts and Letters (OFFICIER DE L’ORDRE DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES) by the French government. He was awarded the honor in recognition of his commitment to safeguarding and promoting East African music over the past 40 years. The ceremony took place at the Alliance Française in Nairobi on 16 July 2021 officiated by the then ambassador of France to Kenya and Somalia, Ms Aline Kuster-Menager.
In 2025 Tabu Osusa along with Bill Odidi, edited ‘Anyango Nyar Siaya’, the biography of Eriko Mukoyama. The book delves into the story of the Japanese musician who defied all odds, breaking gender and cultural norms to become the first woman to professionally play the nyatiti, an eight-stringed traditional lyre belonging to the Luo people of Western Kenya. Osusa is currently working on publishing ‘Swahili Rumba’ (The genesis of rumba music in East Africa), with focus on two pioneering musicians namely Fundi Konde and Ben Nicholas.
In early 2025 under Ketebul Music, Tabu Osusa and Paul Kelemba produced the play ‘The African Twist’ (The sound track of Kenya’s Independence’). The blockbuster show took place at the Alliance Française auditorium in Nairobi.
Khadija Mohamed
Paul Kelemba (Maddo)
In the vibrant heart of Nairobi, where stories pulse with life and culture intertwines with satire, Paul Kelemba, affectionately known as Maddo, weaves his magic through the ink of his pen. For 35 years, he has crafted the beloved weekly full-page cartoon feature, It’s a Madd, Madd World, a sharp, witty lens on the kaleidoscope of politics, society, and the arts published in The Saturday Standard.
Born in 1962, Kelemba’s journey as a cartoonist and illustrator began in the bustling streets of Nairobi. His artistic voice found a home in several esteemed publications, including The Daily Nation, where his unique vision sparked conversations and ignited laughter. Beyond the traditional canvas, he has also created impactful IEC materials for UN agencies and civil society organizations, and his themed comics have gained recognition through collaborations with Cartoon Movement.
In the 1990s, he introduced readers to Miguel Sede, a daring action hero comic strip that captured imaginations and hearts alike. His compilation, It’s a Madd Madd World 2007-2011: The Hot Years, published in 2012, showcases a rich tapestry of his work during a transformative era in Kenyan history.
But Kelemba’s contributions extend beyond the comic strip. As a founding member of Ketebul Music, he dedicates himself to the research and preservation of East African music, ensuring that its rhythms and stories echo through generations. He brings his passion for culture to the screen as well, serving on the board of Buni Media Limited and hosting the nostalgic music program Maddo’s Goldies on KBC English Service.
His artistry and commitment have not gone unnoticed. Kelemba’s accolades include the Kenya@50 Heroes Award for Outstanding Contribution to Kenya’s History from Kenyatta University (2013), the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Award in the GE Energy & Infrastructure Category (2015), and the prestigious Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Government (2022). In recognition of his lifetime dedication to journalism, he received the Lifetime Contribution in Journalism Award from the Media Council of Kenya in 2022. He is also a proud alumnus of the Bellagio Center Residency.
Away from the drawing board, Kelemba is a devoted father, navigating life as a widower with his three children: two daughters, one an illustrator and the other a lawyer, and a son who thrives as an IT specialist. Together, they embody the creative spirit that runs through his veins.
Through his cartoons, music, and activism, Paul Kelemba (Maddo) continues to illuminate the complexities of life, reminding us that in a madd, madd world, laughter and art are our greatest allies.
Bill Odidi
Bill Odidi has more than 20 years experience in radio and television, print and online journalism.
He is currently Controller of Radio Programs (Creative) at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) in Nairobi.
Bill is a prolific writer on trends in the music industry for the Business Daily, the Daily Nation and various online publications.
He regularly reports on African music trends for the program “Music Time in Africa”,on the Voice of America (VOA). Previously he presented the arts magazine show “Bonjour Culture” for Radio France International (R.F.I) from 2009 – 2011.
Bill served for two years as a board member of Music in Africa Foundation 2013 –2015.
He’s been a researcher and co-author with Ketebul Music on “Retracing the Benga Rhythm”, “Retracing Kenya’s Funky Hits of the 70s” “Retracing Kenya’s Songs of Social and Political Protest.” and “Shades of Benga: The Story of Popular Music in Kenya,” published in 2017.
Guy Morley
Guy Morley is the founder and Director of No Nation. No Nation is an independent UK based arts programming and promotion company. Some of the festivals that Guy has programmed include The Big Chill, Brighton Festival and African Soul Rebels.
Guy is also a freelance music promoter and deejay. In the course of his career he has produced a radio show called Afro Base, on Juice 107.2 and Totallyradio.com and been the resident deejay in several venues in Manchester. Working under the name Yam Yam, Guy Morley has produced and worked with a host of artists in the UK, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya.
Nathan Makokha
Nathan is a detail-oriented finance professional with expertise in financial oversight, reporting, and administrative system management. With a strong background in budgeting, compliance, and documentation, Nathan ensures accuracy and efficiency in financial processes. Skilled in preparing monthly and ad hoc financial reports, budget planning, and maintaining organized financial records, Nathan plays a key role in optimizing financial operations.
Shyam Shah
Shyam, also known as Shama, is a Kenyan Creative & Cultural Consultant, Musician, and
Educator, based in London. His portfolio career spans over a decade in both Kenya and the UK,
and includes being a band leader and manager, producer, session musician, composer/arranger,
musical artist, teacher, lecturer, and consultant. His experience as a practitioner is compounded
by a postgraduate degree in from SOAS University of London, where he focused on the cultural
complexities of development, decolonisation, and other issues facing societies in the Global
South.
As an educator and aspiring academic, Shama is interested in cultural flows between the Indian
Ocean, East Africa, Congo, and Cuba, particularly how they shape identity and diasporic
experiences. His particular area of speciality is Kenyan Popular Music, where he is currently
undertaking groundbreaking research.
A firm advocate of plurality in an increasingly homogenised world, Shama’s multifaceted approach
shows his never-ending passion for learning and gaining new experiences. Through his career, he
aims to address societal issues through the arts and culture. This culminates in his work as a
cultural and creative consultant, working on projects that create positive social change in Kenya and the UK.
Anditi Tigo
Anditi is a development strategist and innovation researcher with a PhD in Public and Development Management from Stellenbosch University. She is also a passionate singer-songwriter committed to preserving and promoting African culture through music, and inclusive cultural approaches.
With a strong interdisciplinary background, Anditi has conducted extensive research across several African countries, applying participatory methods such as co-creation, and citizen science to explore and address complex societal challenges. Her work reflects a deep commitment to cultural inclusivity, social transformation, and community empowerment.
She has served as a research consultant for numerous organizations, including, the EU Horizon’s REPOWER project, German International Cooperation Society (GIZ), Loughborough University and GAMOS, UrbanBetter, the World Resources Institute, the SARChI Project on Gender Mainstreaming for Energy Security, Practical Action, the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) in Nairobi, and the CoDEC Project at the University of Nairobi Living Lab. She has also been on editorial committees for various publications for the UN- Zambia, Stockholm Environment Institute, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya. Anditi was a student mentor in the QS Impact’s Future 17 program and contributes to academia as a part-time lecturer.
She brings valuable expertise in research, grant proposal writing, partnership building, multistakeholder convening and engagement, and creative music composition.
Rachel Olwanda
Rachel Olwanda is a seasoned professional specializing in Safeguarding and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) within social work and community engagement. With extensive experience in organization management, project design, and training delivery, she focuses on human behavior change, safeguarding, and child protection to drive meaningful social impact.
As a freelance consultant, Rachel excels in communication strategy, resource mobilization, and project management. Her strong administrative skills encompass financial management, strategic planning, and policy implementation. She is adept at coordinating diverse teams and managing multiple assignments while maintaining high-quality outputs.
Rachel has served as an international training consultant, earning commendations from the United Nations Cares for her effective training delivery to varied audiences. Her work spans critical areas such as gender and human rights, poverty alleviation, and health education.
Actively engaged in governance, Rachel supports local organizations and leverages her insights from diverse economic settings to foster high-performance environments that promote impactful change.
Fiston Lusambo
Fiston Lusambo (born June 30, 1958) is a British-Congolese guitarist, composer, producer, and recording engineer. Son of Yaka Antoine of African Jazz, he studied at I.N.A. in Kinshasa and began playing professionally at 15. He played with Kanako, Ototale Zangala, Bisengo, and Rumba Ray, later touring Japan and studying traditional Congolese music.
In 1991, he moved to Kenya, joining Samba Mapangala’s Orchestra Virunga before relocating to the UK. He is a core member of Afriquoi, Zong Zing All Stars, and a sought-after session musician. He has worked with Grace Jones, Kanda Bongo Man, Mose Fanfan, and others. Through Ketebul Music and the Arts Council of England, he led the Kenya Collaboration project, uniting diverse Kenyan musical traditions. His work is available on Google, YouTube, and Facebook.
