Kenya: A Gospel Group Brought Together By Similarities

Kenya: A Gospel Group Brought Together By Similarities

The Nation (Nairobi)

MUSIC REVIEW
22 December 2007
Posted to the web 21 December 2007

Cosmas Butunyi
Nairobi

They have been brought together by passion for music. Besides, the five young artistes have more similarities than one.

Apart from being born in the same month, the Kisumu-based gospel group, The Izralites, have identical family backgrounds.

The male members, all of whom were born in March, were brought up by single mothers; while the females' parents are teachers and their birthdays fall in May.

Founded in late 2002, the group was born out of a chance encounter of Lenny Odhiambo and Jim Ogol, both aspiring musicians, at a friend's house. Then friendship sprouted from their common interests.

Incidentally, a concert was coming up at a church they both went to, although they did no know each other. After the encounter they decided to put together a song for the occasion. They performed and the response was so great they took music seriously.

Then they started singing in church, and at first, used only the keyboard as the accompaniment. Later, they graduated into recorded instrumentals. "We were interested in recording our songs, but we could not afford the studio charges as we were all students in high school," recalls Jim Ogol, the group leader.

They finally recorded their first demonstration song in mid-2003, which was well received at the venues. It is around this time that Tony Okoth, another youth from the church, joined the group.

Members' first names

All the while, the group was being referred to by the members' first names but with the incorporation of Tony, it became a mouthful. A name had to be found, and after a spirited search, they settled on The Izralites. "We settled on the name because we consider ourselves equal to the biblical Israelites, who were chosen by God for a particular purpose," explains Jim. The band's aims and objectives were, however, not clear then.

With the rebranding, the group intensified its efforts - so much so that towards the end of the year, they went back to the studio and redid the first demo and another titled Haijalishi (it does not matter to me). "The song was warmly received and we also liked it a lot, but we felt that feminine harmonies in the choruses would have made it perfect," he says.

They began hunting for talent among the women church-mates and, after a series of elimination, they had only two - Gladys Gero and Morrey Adala, who seemed to share the enthusiasm.

The two joined two days before a scheduled studio session, and had to be taken through a crash training programme. The songs which stayed in the studio for longer than anticipated, received encouraging sizeable air play.

Towards the end of 2004, The Isralites had discovered their vision: reaching out to young people, so they began plans to record an album. A budge was drafted possible fund-raising projects suggested. "We began working on the songs and recording them, but we did not like the end product," Jim explains. They shelved some of the songs and composed others. With the album's production, invitations to perform began streaming in from all over the country.

The group participated at the Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya (I am proud to be Kenyan) music contest that was organised by the office of public communications secretary and they finished among the top 20 finalists in the regional heat. "The contest boosted our morale and gave us publicity, which translated into more invites," he adds.

At the beginning of the year, the group came up with an idea for an album launch, which they scheduled for year-end. They, however, had to push back the launch as Gladys and Morrey were joining university later in the year.

In August, The Izralites launched Suluhisho (solution), a 12-track album recorded at Kisumu's Chuqua Records. The album features Vicky Dali of Christoboyz, Louisa and the Kisumu Pentecostal Church's children's choir. It is a mix of genres, including zouk, reggae and hip-hop.

The album, according to Jim, is doing well in the market, but the group isreinvesting the proceeds from the sales in their music activities.

Keen on expanding their frontiers beyond recording and album sales, the group has embraced event organisation. Recently, they hosted a gospel gig in Kisumu town that featured Jimmy Gait and other local gospel musicians.

"Young people do not buy music and we can only reach them at concerts," Jim says of the new venture. Moreover, they want to use the events that they organise to expose upcoming artistes.

"Many people come up but are stranded along the way due to lack of support from the established artistes."

Kenya: A Gospel Group Brought Together By Similarities

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The group has been performing all over the country, sharing the stage with virtually all the big names on the local gospel music scene. The Izralites also want to venture into video production, an expertise, they say, is not up to scratch in Kisumu. "We want to discourage the notion that Nairobi is the centre of entertainment, so as to expose other regions that have long been overlooked," says Tony.

He says the group is keen on getting rid of the excuse media houses give for not playing their music - poor quality. But it is not all smooth for the group: other commitments compete for the members' attention and getting time to practise and attend all shows they are invited to is sometimes an uphill task.

All but Lenny are college students. Lenny is a graphic designer and also operates a clothing line under the name, Tilymec, that produces T-shirts and other garments for local artistes. Occasionally they have had to perform without some members, especially the women, who recently joined university.

Besides, getting family approval and support has been hard to come by to most members, but with what they call intense prayers, their parents and guardians have mellowed. Tony, an orphan, lives with a cousin. When he began dabbling in music, the relative thought he was wasting his time, but gradually, he is accepting and supporting him.

Lenny has had it smooth right from the time he got involved in music, and has enjoyed his mother's support, although she never took him seriously.

"She now has had a change of heart and I no longer have to explain whenever I am going to shows as it is a normal occurrence," he explains.

It was not any different for Jim. "Beginning was not easy as I had the dubious reputation as a big joker," he says. But when the invitations to concerts began flowing in, they believed what I was doing."

The Izralites are yet to begin reaping from music since album sales are ploughed back into improving their trade. Moreover, they barely make money from the many shows that they take part in.

"We only ask for transport, accommodation and a little allowance," says Jim. He however takes issue with organisers whom he accuses of not paying artistes from the show fee.