Veteran Kenyan Singer Ayub Ogada Dies

Veteran singer Job Seda, known to many as Ayub Ogada, passed away on Friday night after years of battling ill-health.

Ogada, who is famed for songs such as Koth Biro, En Mana Kuoyo and Obiero died at the age of 63 in Kisumu.

His characteristic instrument was the Luo nyatiti – a traditional eight-string instrument.

Ogada’s big breakthrough came in 1988 when a band that had been hired to play at a popular festival in Cornwall, UK, canceled thereby stretching his 10-minute slot to a full set.

He was later invited to take part in a recording at Peter Gabriel’s World Studios in Wiltshire, UK. In 1993, Ogada released his first album titled Em Mana Kuoyo.

His music was used on the soundtracks of films such as I Dreamed of Africa, The Constant Gardener, and Samsara.

Ogada also had a short stint as an actor, playing a Masaii warrior in Out of Africa and starring in a movie dubbed The Kitchen Toto.

In June 2018, Ogada made international headlines after American rapper Kanye West credited him as one of the co-composers of Yikes – the second song in his album titled Ye.

Kenyans took to social media on Saturday to thank him for his great contribution to the music industry.

Here's what they had to say: 

 

 

 

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