Phonogram chart advertisements
In 1979-80, The Standard, one of Kenya’s two main newspapers, ran a page every Friday in its Weekend section called The World of Music. Much of the space was given over to international acts, either on tour or on record. Many of the groups - Carte Blanche, Luv, Chilly - are long-forgotten Eurodisco acts, with more than one being hailed by the paper as being “the new Boney M”.
It also covered the Kenyan music scene and I will be drawing on its reports in more detail at a later stage. To begin with, though, I have concentrated on a two-column advertisement that Phonogram ran regularly. The content of these varied from week to week, sometimes just promoting a single new LP by, say, the Bee Gees; other times concentrating on international LPs and singles; and from time to time listing the top 10 international and African singles.
It has to be emphasised that these charts are adverts. They only feature records on Phonogram labels such as ASL, Polydor, African Beat and Philips and there is no telling on what basis the lists were compiled: they could be best-sellers or they could simply be singles Phonogram wanted to persuade people to buy.
Also, I have not slavishly copied out every chart, because the lists didn’t change that much over time. The research is based on microfilms held by the British Library’s Newspaper Library in Colindale, North London. Unfortunately the first microfilm I picked up was in reverse chronological order, so I assumed they would all be. Then I went on to the next and found it was in chronological order, so a few records appeared in charts that I didn’t copy out in their entirety. I have added these at the end.
In October 1979, CBS set up its Kenyan operation and began to take out advertisements that were very similar to the Phonogram ones, though, frustratingly, these did not carry label details or catalogue numbers. Because the newcomer had yet to start recording in East Africa, its early charts consisted entirely of international acts. That changed on February 15, 1980, when the first African acts started to appear in its ads.
I have started in 1979 following an earlier false start in 1974 when, after scrolling through two months back issues of The Standard, it became evident that the newspaper at that time didn’t cover African music at all.
The British Library collection is not complete, with some editions of The Standard unavailable on microfilm, particularly in June and July 1979.
Many of the records in these advertisements do not appear in the main discography. I will be adding them to it over time.
The interjection [sic] in some charts means that this is the way titles and/or band names appear in the adverts. Pre-computer typesetting was a laborious business and the people who laid out ads were often at the bottom of the rung and prone to errors.
1979: complete charts
January 26
Mtukufu Rais D Arap Moi
(ASL 2241) Les Mangelepa
Mwasemaji Wangapi Pts 1 & 2
(POL 418) Super Volcano
Tuku-Tuku (ASL 2242) Orch Bichaux Band
Pembeleza Bolingo (ASL 2244) Baba National
Sema Kweli Yako (POL 417) Super Volcano
Nyako Konya (ASL 2238) Les Mangelepa
Nancy Atieno Jabar (APL 733) Maroon Commandos
Baba Isaya (ASL 3374) Orch Fuka Fuka
Tembea Uone Mengi (POL 421) Simba Wanyika
Hamtosheki (POL 421) Gabriel Omolo
February 23
Shida (POL 422) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Mtukufu Rais Moi (ASL 2241) Les Mangelepa
Pembeleza Bolingo (ASL 2244) Baba National
Mwendwa Elena (PA 7209) Julius Kimondo
Zala Mayele (SN 013) Orch Amigo
Bana Souvinir [sic] (VV 257) Orch Veve
Flomena (PK 012) Jamhuri Jazz Band
Tembea Uone Mengi (POL 421) Simba Wanyika
Anna Ni Nguia (PA 7210) Mwasa Band
Samourai (ASL 3373) Les Trois M
March 30
Mwaka wa Watoto (POL 430) St Stephens Choir
Daniel Alitafusiri (POL 424) St Philips Choir
Shakwa Nishi (PA 7212) Phonotex Success
Milimani (ASL 3376) Boma Liwanza
Bibi (ASL 2245) Bichaux Band
Mwana Campus (ASL 3375) GO Malebo
Pamuzo (VV 258) Orch Kiam
Se Kizengi (SN 014) Lipua Lipua
Kutoka Babaeti (POL 423) Kitembe Juu Choir
Nafisa (PK 013) Jamhuri Jazz Band
Waona Kijicho (POL 425) Maroon Commandos
Daina (POL 426) Simba Wanyika
April 20
Mwaka wa Watoto (POL 430) St Stephens Choir
Mayaka (ASL 2246) Les Noirs
Seli-Tutu (ASL 2247) Baba National
Wanasoka (Abaluhya FC) (PA 7214) Okkamm Stars
Bibi (ASL 2245) Bichaux Band
Paulina (POL 427) Les Wanyika
Daina (POL 426) Simba Wanyika
Mwana Campus (ASL 3375) GO Malebo
Basololi (PA 7213) Phonotex Success
Nafisa (PK 013) Jamhuri Jazz Band
May 18
Mwaka wa Watoto (POL 430) St Stephens Choir
Daina (POL 426) Simba Wanyika
Seli-Tutu (ASL 2247) Baba National
Nafisa (PK 013) Jamhuri Jazz Band
Basololi (PA 7213) Phonotex Success
Nitatembea (APL 736) Apollo Komesha
Mwisho Wa Dunia (POL 429) ABC Starehe Choir
Pamuzo (VV 258) Orch Kiam
Kwaheri Wageni (POL 431) Nabil Sansool
Se-Kizengi (SN 014) Orch Lipua Lipua
August 31
Sina Makosa (POL 432) Les Wanyika
Panana (VV 259) Lipua Lipua
Musayire Kho (PA 7216) Abeingo Success
Baba Mdogo (POL 435) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Dracula (ASL 2250) Les Mangelepa
Sikujua Utabadalika (POL 433) Simba Wanyika
Charonyi Ni Wasi (POL 434) Maroon Commandos
Wanasoka (Abaluhya FC) (PA 7214) Okkamm Stars
Mere Ando (ISA 008) Tabu Ley
Abaluhya Soccer Kings (PA 7215) Butere
Sharpshooters
September 14
Baba Mdogo (POL 435) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Sina Makosa (POL 432) Les Wanyika
Dracula (ASL 2250) Les Mangelepa
Panana (VV 259) Lipua Lipua
Charonyi Ni Wasi (POL 434) Maroon Commandos
Namona Ya Wapi (SN 015) Lipua Lipua
Sikujua Utabadalika (POL 433) Simba Wanyika
Mimba (ASL 2251) Les Mangelepa
Salome (PA 7216) Abeingo Success
Mere Ando (ISA 008) Tabu Ley
September 21
Mere Ando (ISA 008) Tabu Ley
Panana (VV 259) Lipua Lipua
Sina Makosa (POL 432) Les Wanyika
Namona Ya Wapi (SN 015) Lipua Lipua
Dracula (ASL 2250) Les Mangelepa
Salome (PA 7216) Abeingo Success
Baba Mdogo (POL 435) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Wanasoka (PA 7214) Okkamm Stars
Charonyi Ni Wasi (POL 434) Maroon Commandos
Abaluhya Soccer Kings (PA 7215) Butere
Sharpshooters
October 19
Amua (ASL 2252) Les Mangelepa
Baba Mdogo (POL 435) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Miwela Wela (ASL 3378) Boma Liwanza
Sina Makosa (POL 432) Les Wanyika
Fofita (ASL 2253) Les Noirs
Panana (VV 259) Lipua Lipua
Julia Auma (PA 7217) Butere Sharpshooters
Linda (PA 7218) Jacob Luseno
Sikujua Utabadilika (POL 433) Simba Wanyika
Charonyi Ya Wasi (POL 434) Maroon Commandos
November 16
Give Me My Freedom/
Jesus Save My Soul (EBO1) The Ebonies
Kwa Nini? (ASL 2255) Nana & Orch Pepelepe
Pamela (POL 437) Les Wanyika
Amua (ASL 2252) Les Mangelepa
Miwela Wela (ASL 3378) Boma Liwanza
Baba Mdogo (POL 435) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Julia Auma (PA 7217) Butere Sharpshooters
Linda (PA 7218) Jacob Luseno
Asana Nela (ASL 2254) Baba Ilunga
Kendeka Malamu (SN 016) Orch Veve
Other chart records
May 4
Mwendwa Elena (PA 7209) Julius Kimondio
May 11
Siku Ya Sabato (POL 428) Changwithya Choir
Waona Kijicho (POL 425) Maroon Commandos
July 6
Ndungia Mali Yakwa (PA 7210) Mawasa Band
July 20
Kiolela (ASL 2249) Baba National
August 10
Sero Jodongo (BAO 001) Western (K) Luo Band
Magendo (Mcheza Mbaya) (APL 736) Gabriel Omolo
August 17
Nalingi Yo (ASL 3377) Matalanza
1980
January 18
Kasim Amefilisika (POL 441) Mlimani Park Orchestra
Kwa Nini? (ASL 2255) Nana Akumu
& Orch Pepelepe
Mwana Mayi (VV 2260) Orch Veve
Kwanyola Hasara (PA 7219) Kabras Boys
Cheza Na Maroon (POL 438) Maroon Commandos
Asana Nela (ASL 2254) Baba Gaston
George Ambuche (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
Okendeka Malamu (SN 016) Orch Veve
Julia Auma (PA 7217) Butere Sharpshooters: ad on this date features different number for disc (viz, PA 7218, which I think is a typesetter’s mistake)
February 8
Amua (ASL 2252) Les Mangelepa
Cheza Na Maroon (POL 438) Maroon Commandos
Mupere-Pere (PA 7221) Abeingo Success
Miwela Wela (ASL 3378) Boma Liwanza
Mary (POL 439) Simba Wanyika
Kwa Nini? (ASL 2255) Nana Akumu
& Orch Pepelepe
Sauda Unatia Aibu (POL 440) Mlimani Park Orchestra
George Ambuche (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
Kasim Amefilisika (POL 441) Mlimani Park Orchestra
Asana Nela (ASL 2254) Baba Gaston
March 7
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Maudi Ya Kila Siku (POL 444) Mlimani Park
Loboko (ASL 33790 TP OK Jazz
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Pamela (POL 437) Les Wanyika
Mupere-Pere (PA 7221) Abeingo Success
Cheza Na Maroon (POL 438) Maroon Commandos
Habari Njama (POL 443) St Andrew’s
Church Choir
Kwa Nini? (ASL 2255) Nana Akumu
& Orch Pepelepe
Mary Tuyamalize (POL 439) Simba Wanyika
March 28
Koleta (POL 448) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Maudi Ya Kila Siku (POL 444) Mlimani Park Orch
Habari Njende (POL 443) St Andrew’s
Church Choir
Goodbye (POL 442) Knightgale [sic] Boys
Loboko (ASL 3379) Franco
Pamela (POL 437) Les Wanyika
Mary Tuyamaliza (POL 439) Simba Wanyika
George Ambuche (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
April 4
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Koleta (POL 448) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Baleki Nzela (ASL 3380) Orch Pepelepe
Kutembea Na Bwana (POL 443) St Andrew’s
Church Choir
Mupere-Pere (PA 7221) Abeingo Success
Maudi Ya Kila Siku (POL 444) Mlimani Park Orch
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Jenifa Demba (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
Tukutendereza (POL 442) Nightingale Boys
Linda (PA 7219) Jacob Luseno
April 18
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Koleta (POL 448) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Kutembea Na Bwana (POL 443) St Andrew’s
Church Choir
Maudi Ya Kila Siku (POL 444) Mlimani Park Orch
Baleki Nzela (ASL 3380) Orch Pepelepe
Mupere-Pere (PA 7221) Abeingo Success
Tukutendereza (POL442) Nightingale Boys
Linda (PA 7219) Jacob Luseno
Jenifa Demba (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
Kwanza Jeulize (POL 447) Les Wanyika
Loboko (ASL 3379) Franco & TPOK Jazz
May 23
Kenya Hakuna Matata (POL 446) The [sic] Mushrooms
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Koleta (POL 448) Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Papa John Paul (EOO 10) C Csonko
& Flamingos
Loboko (ASL 3379) Franco & TPOK Jazz
Muthonua (PA 72222 [sic]) Muema Brothers
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Yangu Zamani (POL 445) Orch Pepelepe
Jenifa Demba (PA 7220) Okamm Stars
Maudi Ya Kila Siku (POL 444) Mlimani Park Orch
Days of Gunrule (EBO 3) The Ebonies
June 27
Ole-Ole (ASL 2257) Les Mangelepa
Virunga (ASL 2258) Orch Virunga
Kyeki Kya Mbesa (PA 7225) Kalambya Boys
Manguta (ASL 3381) TPOK Jazz
Kwanza Jiulize (POL 447) Les Wanyika
Kenya Hakuna Matata (POL 446) The Mushrooms
Akamba (ASL 2256) Viva Makale
Usiniangaishe (POL 450) Jambo Jambo
