Kahungura

Undated Kikuyu single on a label that shares a PO box number with the Foundation label and may have been run by Joseph Gicheha, long a member of the Rift Valley Brothers.

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Kaifa

Kaifa Records was an Ethiopian record label. It released 53 records between 1973 and 1977. Ali Abdella Kaifa, better known as Ali Tango, managed the company. Singers who recorded for Kaifa included Alemayehu Eshete, Bezunesh Bekele and Mahmoud Ahmed.

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Kalagwena

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Kalambya

The label is part of the same stable as the Matunda and Mercury labels.

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Kalamindi

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Kamukunji

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Karura Brothers Sounds

Label dedicated to the Kikuyu band, led by James Mbugua.

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Kasanga

An intriguing label that appears to have had a longer history than most. Apart from the Kodedema Top Band and Elgonets singles, all the records with a KAS prefix come from the AIT master catalogue, suggesting that firm’s involvement at some stage.

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Kasongo

One of the Wamenyo stable of labels, which also included Bwana Otieko Weche, Log Dichiel, Piny to Angoni?, Weka Waka and X-Mas. The one constant across all these labels is that their records are undated.

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KBS

An Andrew Crawford Productions label dedicated to releases by Kenya Blue Stars.

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Kelly Brown

A private label for the Mombasa born Abdulkadir Mohammed Ali Bux, aka Kelly Brown.

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ken-tanza

A CBS label from the early 1980s that appears to have started out by licensing Tanzanian records for release in Kenya then very quickly broadened its scope to include any Swahili pop it fancied.

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Kenya United Sounds

One of the main outlets in the 1970s for records by the influential Kikuyu bandleader and entrepreneur Joseph Kamaru and his City Sounds Band.

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Kihingo Sounds

Kikuyu label

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Kihumbu Harmonic Sound

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Kikuyu Sounds

As the label name indicates, this was an outlet for Kikuyu singles by, with the exception of the Kilimambogo Brothers, some of the less well-known names on the local music scene. It is a sister label to Akamba Sounds.

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King Kong

An AIT label for productions by PO Kanindo that has three distinct strands. The first couple of singles are by a Luhya band who also recorded for Swara and Editions Shariff. The 700-800 series are by the main players on the Luo benga scene of the mid-1970s, artists Kanindo recorded often and on a multiplicity of labels. The 1000 series started later than the 700-800 series and features records by Kallenjin artists. Almost all of the listings for the label come from AIT’s master catalogue, but OK 1017 turned up on Ebay in March 2011 to confirm a slightly later start to the series. OK 1033 appears to feature two of the label’s bands coming together to record a song in praise of Daniel Arap Moi who became President of Kenya in 1978.

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Kirinyaga

AIT subsidiary label. Known to have bad pressings, meaning the audio will sound worse than the visual grading.

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Kiru Brothers

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Kombora

CBS subsidiary for Jobiso group. Orch Jobiso was both a breakway from Orch Simba Wanyika and later, after brothers Wilson and George Kinyonga reconciled, a flag of convenience outlet for George’s own compositions.

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Koth Kiyombi

AIT (Andrews International and Teal) label with mostly DO7 Shirati Jazz output.

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Kuja Mol

Late 1970s AIT label that features benga productions by Okoth Kodondi.

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Kung Fu

Luo label

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Kungu Chamo Piny

CBS subsidiary label.

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KWE

Quartet of singles by two Luo bands. I have found no information on Orch Oguyo and all I can say about the Yahoos Band is that both their singles were written by Sam Oketch, which suggests a link with Kendu Jazz Band.

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Kwetu

Julius Nyerere’s socialist vision for Tanzania during his term as president from 1963-1984 meant that record labels were few and far between. Kwetu, Sindimba, TFC and Uhuru Stars are all products of the state-run Tanzania Film Company, which specialised in producing documentaries for government bodies and had its own recording studio.

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Lake Victoria

Label from Victoria Music Stores, featuring productions by Okoth Kodondi. He is best-known for his extensive work with Luo benga bands on labels such as Ka-Ber and Kodondi but he also produced other bands too.

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Lamore

Early Kenyan label started in the late 60s, pre Melodica times. Established by Pravinlal Laljibhai Daudia.

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Les Kilimambogo

Label related to Kakai Kilonzo Sound, Kilimambogo Brothers and New Mwania Sound.

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Les Volcano

A Jaca label for Charles Ray Kassembe’s Orch Les Volcano produced by AC Kochomo. Kassembe took over leadership of the band after Mbaraka Mwinshehe’s death and it also recorded for Bingwa, Mlima and Superphonics, though never with the same level of success as under Mwinshehe’s leadership. For a full listing of labels, check out the Bands Index.

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Light & Sound

The only label releasing singles in Mogadishu Somalia throughout the seventies and eighties. Run by Dahir Omar. Early pressings was done in Lebanon, but the majority of output was made in Nairobi Kenya.

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Linga

CBS imprint that appears to have specialised in releasing records by Kenya-based Congolese musicians.

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Lisano

Congo label.

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Lulus

Another label run by DK Mwai.

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M.N.R.

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M.S.R.

MSR clearly stands for Mamicha Sound Recordings and the whole operation appears to have been owned and run by Mike Njenga Mamicha (The Wonder Boy) as he modestly credits himself on PCM 007.

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Maendeleo Ya Sega-Sega

Looks like a label with output from the Sega Sega Luo band

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Makwetu

Joseph Kamaru label.

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Mambo

All the rest of Mambo’s output as recorded so far is in Kipsigis. I can’t tell you anything about the bands or their music, but the existence of these records indicates a lively if little-known local music scene.

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Matata

A diverse label that emphasises on Luo music but throws a bit of everything into the mix.

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Mbutta

Luo Label.

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Melodica

One of the most prolific record labels in Kenya, both under its own imprint and as a distributor of subsidiaries. Started early seventies, the label is still running.

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Mercury

Label operated by Mercury music store Nairobi.

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MIME

Even though the catalog number is 020 I think this label only had one release.

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Misonga

One of many Andrew Crawford prodcutions labels

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Mkulima

Mkulima means “farmer” in Kiswahili. Nairobi-based Sapra were the producers behind several labels during the 1970s, most notably Hodi-Tone. This label was an Angola export label hence the no center pressings.

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Mombasa Roots

Private label for the groups releases, only one release documented.

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Moninga

French label with Congo Artists.

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Moto Moto

One of AIT’s subsidiary labels. With the exception of the Milambo Jazz Band singles, which are in Dholuo, the rest of these singles are in Swahili and the majority appear to be by Tanzanian bands, suggesting this became AIT’s main conduit for releasing music licensed from Tanzania.

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MPC

MUSICORT PRODUCTION COMPANY - One off label that released one single by Juma Toto Toddy Nationale

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Mu-Africa

Rift valley brothers private label.

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Mugoiri Sounds

Private Kikuyu label, only one known release.

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Muhito United

Nakuru-based label that seems to feature only one constant: production by David Wahome.

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Mumbi

Kikuyu label

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Mume Nikazi

Seems to be one off from Mombasa

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Musiciana

A Shariff’s of Bungoma label that is definitely a head-scratcher. How did a label based in Western Province come to issue MUSA 03, a record by a Kamba band whose name implies they came from Eastern Province? And why are both Orch Special Liwanza and Orch Shika Shika listed as the artists on MUSA 001 and MUSA 5?

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Musiki du Zaire

One of AIT’s subsidiary labels that basically does what it says on the tin, ie, release records by Congolese artists, many of them based in Kenya and Tanzania.

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mutomboka

Zambian label

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Mwamo Gusii

The language of the Kisii and the label name means "village elder’s chair". Another Chandarana output label.

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Mwewe Kipanga

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Mzalendo

Label with Shika Shika and Eagles Lupopo groups

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Mzee Kobe

Luo label where the label’s name “Old Tortoise” in Swahili is repeated in Dholuo, where Opuk - tortoise - is probably a praise name while Pek means important, big.

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