Ayub Ogada is one of the finest musicians in Kenya, a cool, soulful singer and exponent of the nyatiti lyre who has enjoyed an extraordinary career. In the 1980s, he was a busker on the London underground. Then he came to the attention of Peter Gabriel’s Real World label, recorded the classic album En Mana Kuoyo in 1993, and played stadium shows opening for Gabriel. He now lives back in Kenya, where this new album was recorded by producer and guitarist Trevor Warren. Ogada likes playing outdoors, and he is accompanied by a small band adding guitars, bass and percussion, along with the sound of birds, barking dogs and traffic. It’s a relaxed, easygoing set with sections that sound like a cheerful rehearsal or jam session, but he is in fine, gently hypnotic voice on songs that match slinky riffs with rippling solos from his beloved lyre.
