Posts tagged: taarab

This Thursday TNL features Mr. Bado playing a mixture of Mwanzele, Taarab and Chakacha all music styles and rhythms from Kenya’s Coast. He replaces the previously scheduled artist Ms. Nina Ogot who cancelled her appearance.

Mr. Bado’s profile
Hailing from the coastal town of Watamu in Malindi, Mr Bado was born Mohamed Said. Although he started singing in 1994 while studying in Mombasa, he had been exposed to music his whole life. Mr Bado comes from a musical family that has been singing and performing Mijikenda dance and music for generations. He is the son of the legendary mwanzele singer and composer, Mzee Nyere wa Konde.
Listening to Mr Bado, one can’t help but notice the unique coastal harmonies and melodies that have clearly influenced his voice and style of singing. Growing up, he was inspired by his father’s Mwanzele style as well as by Mzee Maulid Juma’s Taarab, and Mzee Bhalo’s Chakacha.

Mr Bado is also an accomplished music producer in his own right, and he runs his own studio in Watamu called Bado Records, where he records his own music as well as support and help aspiring artists from Watamu. His songs, ‘Shemeji’ and ‘Susumila’ were mega hits in the coast region, earning him a performance slot at Safaricom Live in 2010. He is currently working closely with Ketebul Music. Mr Bado also finds time to perform at cultural events with his father and brothers. They were featured extensively in Ketebul Music’s Singing Wells project, where Mr Bado and Mzee Nyerere wa Konde were also featured in a collaboration with Benga fusion artist Winyo.

Catch a glimpse and listen of Mr. Bado