Twist

Linked through the figure of David Amunga to Mwangaza, one of the first African-owned labels after Kenya’s independence. Like Mwangaza, it is a 1960s label, but then picking a name after a dance craze rather gave that way.

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Uhuru Stars

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 one firm, the Tanzania Film Company, which specialised in producing documentaries for government bodies and had its own recording studio. Alex Perullo, in his book Live from Dar Es Salaam: Popular Music and Tanzania’s Music Economy (Indiana University Press, 2011), states that Uhuru Stars was the first TFC label, followed shortly afterwards by Sindimba. AIT pressed and distributed the Kenyan version of the label with the same catalogue numbers.

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UMOJA

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Umoja Mwana Shambe

Label with Lingala output in Kenya

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Upendo

AP Chandarana label for Luhya output

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Utukufu

Utukufu means ‘glory’ or ‘majesty’ in Kiswahili.

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Victory

Looks like a private one off from Kikuyu musician CDM Kiratu who produced records on several labels.

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VMS

Self-named label from Victoria Music Stores, the company that was also behind numerous other labels, including Lake Victoria.

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Waanyikaa

AIT Records label operating from early to mid 1980s and featuring tracks primarily by Les Wanyika offshoots produced by Felix G Njaakumu.

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Wageso

A label for productions by AC Kochomo, whose name is also attached to a raft of other labels including Awendo Rakido, Editions Tobina, Kidhir Sudi, Kung Fu and Oyaore Ondiek.

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Wahome Super Sounds

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Wamumbe

Joseph Wamumbe's own private label. 3 releases known.

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War Afrique

No info on this label

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Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers East Africa.

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Watergate

Luo Label

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Waw

Looks like a one off Black Savage group label, same group also released on black blood

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Wendo

Nairobi Label

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WRC

A label for licensed songs from abroad and English-language releases by East African bands. Usually hissy pressings running longer than 3 minute.

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Zambezi

Quite possibly a Zambian label

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Zebra

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Zeze

A CBS label from the early 1980s. Mostly LUO output.

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Ziki

Looks like a one off label by Francis Njoroge and Joe Kuria (of Awengele fame)

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