Omena Band consists of Steven Kigunga Ouma, Paul Odundo Odhoge, the late Francis Were Owuor, Joseph Aboge Angwanga, and Zablon Ajwang Manguro. The band members are elders from Mbita, a vibrant town along Lake Victoria next to the famous Rusinga Island. Every three months, since June 2013, they travel to Kisumu to facilitate Arts Mentorship Workshops for students at One Vibe’s Music & Art Program.
Omena Band works with One Vibe to preserve the Luo culture by teaching youth how to sing in their native language, play the guitar traditionally, and preserve “Benga,” an endangered music genre from the Luo community. As stated by Tabu Osusa of Ketebul Music, “the Omena Band is definitely great in terms of originality,” which gives them a special niche in the music industry in Kenya and abroad. We continue to explore best ways of creating performance and production opportunities to ensure the band begins to support themselves through their craft.
You can find their song on iTunes:
Here are their two songs, ‘Omena’ and ‘Kipande’
‘Omena’ By Omena Banda
‘Kipande’ by Omena Band
