Africa

Two subsidiaries of AIT that primarily concentrated on releasing the music of Tanzanian artists such as Western Jazz Band for the Kenyan market.

Press to see what we have in stock

Africa Sounds

Press to see what we have in stock

African Beat

This label appears to have had two very different incarnations: one in the late 1960s as an outlet for Tanzanian releases in Kenya and then, as a Polygram subsidiary, from the early 1970s to the early 1980s as an outlet for a roster of regional bands from within Kenya.

Press to see what we have in stock

African Eagles

EMI distributed these recordings by a production company launched by Daudi Kabaka and colleagues after their departure from Equator Sounds in 1972.

Press to see what we have in stock

African Freedom

A label dedicated to releasing music by Symekhersons

Press to see what we have in stock

Afro Pop

South African label subsidary of TEAL, mostly Zimbabwe artists. Inspired Analog Africa's label design.

Press to see what we have in stock

Afro-Rock

Label used for Jingo's fever single.

Press to see what we have in stock

AFRO7

Our own in-house record label featuring new and vintage sounds from the African continent.

Press to see what we have in stock

Afrousa

AIT sublabel for the Tanzanian AFRO70 band

Press to see what we have in stock

AGS

AGS was set up in the mid-1950s by Maganlal Jethalal Shah, who had co-owned CMS until he left after falling out with his business partner Meghji Karman Shah. Maganlal Jethalal Shah then set up African Gramophone Stores as both a music store and a recording and producing operation, in the same street as CMS, Nairobi’s River Road. The former partners became fierce rivals until CMS was sold to Joseph Kamaru in 1968 and Maganlal Jethalal Shah decided to wind up AGS in 1972 due to dwindling sales caused by cassette piracy.

Press to see what we have in stock

Agu Iroko Sound

Strange Kenya Luo label pressed in Nigeria. Great label design!

Press to see what we have in stock

Ahadi

Ahadi, a Nairobi music store, released a string of singles and cassettes in the 1980s, mostly of Tanzanian bands.

Press to see what we have in stock

Aida

This label was distributed by Melodica in Nairobi and appears to have specialised in Congolese bands.

Press to see what we have in stock

Aira Ehokeku

Kikuyu Gospel label

Press to see what we have in stock

AIT

AIT is an important player in the Kenyan music industry with a publishing wing, EIT, and lots of subsidiary labels such as Africa, Hoditone etc.

Press to see what we have in stock

Akamba Sounds

Label dedicated to Kamba benga, a sister label to Kikuyu Sounds.

Press to see what we have in stock

Akili

Label from Joe Kuria, funky output!

Press to see what we have in stock

Alka

Private label released one single in occasion Aga Khan's visit in 1981

Press to see what we have in stock

Almasi

The label - its name means “diamond” in Kiswahili - was distributed by City Sounds of Nairobi.

Press to see what we have in stock

Amep International

Amep International

Press to see what we have in stock

Amha

Founded by Amha Eshete in 1969. Amha released 103 45 singles from 1969 to 1975. One of the larger Ethiopian Labels.

Press to see what we have in stock

Angel

Stirringly sloganed “Music of the people, for the people, by the people”, this label seems to date from the early 1970s.

Press to see what we have in stock

Anyole

The label is named after the ancestral founder of the Abanyole, one of the sub-tribes of the Abaluhya.

Press to see what we have in stock

APL

1980s label from Nairobi’s Audio Productions.

Press to see what we have in stock

Apollo

Apollo was a Phonogram subsidiary operating in the early to mid 1970s primarily as an outlet for Gabriel Omolo and Apollo Komesha, one of the most versatile and popular bands of the period, mixing rumba and benga and singing in Kiswahili, Dholuo and English.

Press to see what we have in stock

Apuoyo Ogila

Luo label

Press to see what we have in stock

Arimbi

Kikuyu label by the looks of it

Press to see what we have in stock

Arrow Mshale

Kikuyu label

Press to see what we have in stock

ASL

Associated Sound (ASL) was a major conduit for Lingala records in Kenya, licensing tracks from labels in DRC Congo and Congo-Brazzaville.

Press to see what we have in stock

ATANG

A Nam production

Press to see what we have in stock

Athi River

Interesting label with output from Loitokitok.

Press to see what we have in stock

Athiani

Kamba label

Press to see what we have in stock

Atinga

Polygram subsidiary wich seems to promote a politcal party.

Press to see what we have in stock

Atudo

Mid seventies LUO label, it seems reasonable to assume that Atudo was a label linked closely to Associated Sound (ASL) that specialised in releasing singles by Luo bands.

Press to see what we have in stock

Audio Productions

Sister label to APL from Audio Productions of Nairobi. Both feature Congolese bands.

Press to see what we have in stock

Awendo Rakido

AIT label featuring Dholuo productions by both Okoth Kodondi and CA Kochomo. Most of the listings for the ARA prefixes were added in February 2011 and are taken from AIT’s own database of recordings. The vast majority of the records are by bands such as Migori Super Stars, Kawere Boys and Gem Lucky Jazz who recorded prolifically for other labels. But Orch Malare Boys and Nyancha Mirieri Boys (please note: AIT’s database has two different spellings for this band, so I have retained this anomaly for now) only appear to have recorded for this label. AIT’s database do not list any titles with an ARB prefix, which suggests these records may have been made or distributed in other parts of Africa

Press to see what we have in stock

Azimio

Looks like a Kamaru Spin-off label

Press to see what we have in stock

Ba-Mbute

Produced by City Sounds in Nairobi and copyrighted by the same operation.

Press to see what we have in stock

Babukusu

The Bukusu are the largest tribe within the Luhya and this label appears to be dedicated to music from around Bungoma in Western Province.

Press to see what we have in stock

Bahari

Press to see what we have in stock

Bana Beru

AIR Subsidiary label predominantly Luo and Luhya bands

Press to see what we have in stock

Bana Moja

Press to see what we have in stock

BBS

Blue Boys Sound kikuyu label

Press to see what we have in stock

Bemba Records

Label with South African artists

Press to see what we have in stock

Bilanga

A label releasing Lingala music in Kenya.

Press to see what we have in stock

Bim Nyajuola

Luo label

Press to see what we have in stock

Bingwa

Nairobi label with releases by Les Volcano and Wanyika Stars.

Press to see what we have in stock

Black Blood

A Sapra label with mostly afro-rock crossover outings. Some killer 45's are found on this imprint!

Press to see what we have in stock

Blue Nile

Luo label

Press to see what we have in stock

Blue Shade

Early seventies label with luhya band output

Press to see what we have in stock

BMP

Uganda label

Press to see what we have in stock

Bolingo

Label with ouput from Congo and Tanzania bands.

Press to see what we have in stock

Boma

Sublabel of Jaca editions.

Press to see what we have in stock

Bomas

AIT label for the taarab group Bomas of Kenya

Press to see what we have in stock

Bomas of Kenya

Polygram's Bomas label

Press to see what we have in stock

Boxer

Sister label to audio productions.

Press to see what we have in stock

Bullet

SA label with distro in Kenya

Press to see what we have in stock

Bump

South African label

Press to see what we have in stock

Bumping

Luo label and some bands from Tanzania

Press to see what we have in stock

Bungoma

Produced and distributed by Shariff's of Bungoma, a town west of Eldoret near the Ugandan border. Shariff’s also produced singles on the Editions Bikos and Editions Shariff labels. Google found a Shariff Supermarket still in the town.

Press to see what we have in stock

Busula

Chandarana label for music from Uganda

Press to see what we have in stock

Bwana Otieko Weche

Label was part of the Wamenyo Recording Company of Nairobi, which also put out releases on the Wamenyo label.

Press to see what we have in stock

CBS

CBS Kenya released several disco oriented singles from both Kenyan groups, acts from South Africa and West-Africa. Those that are include Kenyan acts, such as Blue Stars, Congolese bands based in Kenya, such as Orch Moja One, and tunes licensed from Tanzanian labels such as the Mwenge Jazz Band’s Joka, which was licensed from Tanzanian Film Company. Often bad mastering on the tracks and insufficient information on the labels.

Press to see what we have in stock

CDKS

CDKS

Press to see what we have in stock