Leo Mkanyia’s New Album, Bangili, Set For Release

Leo Mkanyia is a singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and a multi instrumentalist. He plays the xylophone, various percussion and the harmonica, but his instrument of choice is the guitar.  Leo is also a guitar tutor.

Leo Mkanyia performing at The Godown Gig

Born into a family of musicians, Leo has been playing music for over 20 years. He was first inspired by his father, Henry Mkanyia,  a well-known jazz guitarist in Tanzania who was playing with the legendary DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra when Leo was growing up.

Henry Mkanyia

Leo began practicing music when he was eight-years old. He would copy chords by watching his father play, and later steal his father’s precious instrument and practice. Though his father never encouraged him to learn the trade, Leo was determined and encouraged by his mother.

It wasn’t until Leo was 12 years old that his father found out that the boy was stealing his guitar and had by then learned how to play it. Impressed by Leo’s persistence, he finally took his son under his wing and taught him the secrets of the trade.

As they say, the rest is history.

Thereafter, Leo joined several different bands and continued to develop his music and performance. In the process he also learned how to make and play his own percussion like the djembe, tumba and the xylophone.

Leo later decided to develop his own sound and style of music. He travelled around Tanzania researching on traditional dances from different tribes including the Makua, Wayao, Makonde, Gogo, and Sukuma. He discovered that Tanzanian traditional music was rich in rhythm and melody and had a  “bluesy” feel to it. This inspired Leo to develop his own modern style rooted in these traditional sounds but using contemporary arrangements, which he calls, Swahili Blues.

Leo Mkanyia & Juma Setumbi during a studio session at Ketebul Music

Leo has currently finished recording material for his latest album titled ‘Bangili,’ produced by Tabu Osusa and recorded at Ketebul Music Studios in Nairobi, Kenya.

Leo Mkanyia & friends outside Ketebul Music studios

The album features several other musicians such as Winyo, Makadem, Juma Setumbi and Nyota Ndogo among others.

Leo Mkanyia and Ohanglaman Makadem

Bangili is set for release later this year.