Them Mushrooms is by now an institution in Kenyan popular music. The band s… Read Full Bio ↴Them Mushrooms is by now an institution in Kenyan popular music. The band started already in 1972, at that time with Osibisa and Black Blood as musical models. The founders were the Harrison brothers: Teddy Kalanda, John "Bishop" Katana, George Ziro and Billy Zarro. They have kept the band going ever since. First 12 years in the tourist hotels in Mombasa and then in Nairobi. As many other bands in East Africa they didn't own any instruments. They were dependent on hotel owners to provide instruments, a situation that very much restricts the freedom of bands in Africa. In 1976, however, Them Mushroom had managed to save enough money to buy their own set of instruments and become independent.
In 1981 Them Mushrooms issued their first album with CBS Kenya Records, named Mama Afrika after the title song, which was the first local reggae song recorded in East Africa. Their inspiration was Bob Marley. The album didn't sell very well. The general local audience was not ready for reggae at that time. The following years Mushrooms played mainly benga music from Western Kenya and chakacha from the coast and other local popular styles, but kept reggae as their secret love. In 1985 they introduced the style "reggae on benga", a fusion of reggae and benga which was a success. This beat has since been copied all over East and Central Africa. It is similar to soca from Trinidad or souk from the French Antilles.
In 1987 Them Mushrooms moved their headquarters to Nairobi playing at the Carnivore Restaurant. They also started to tour abroad and opened up their own recording studio "The Mushroom's Sound Lab" with John "Bishop" Katana Harrison (with dreadlocks on the photo above) as sound engineer and producer. This studio has been responsibel for a number of very successful releases with Them Mushrooms and other bands.
Like many other African musicians Them Mushrooms have been exploited. Teddy Kalanda Harrisons song Jambo Bwana has been an international hit recorded by Boney M and others, but Teddy never recieved any copyright money. Them Mushrooms have managed to learn their lesson and have gradually created their own production resources and record label. They are now in a position to indepentently direct their own activities. They are a postitive role model for other bands.
Today the lineup of Them Mushrooms is:
Henry Ndenge Saha drums and vocals, Freddy Awalla Onyango guitar and vocals, Dickson Owour Onyango trumpet and vocals, John Katana Harrison keyboards and vocals, Billy Sarro Harrison bass guitar and vocals, Teddy Kalanda Harrison tenor sax and vocals.
Dennis Kalume Harrison (R.I.P.) was a drummer in the earlier productions.
In 1981 Them Mushrooms issued their first album with CBS Kenya Records, named Mama Afrika after the title song, which was the first local reggae song recorded in East Africa. Their inspiration was Bob Marley. The album didn't sell very well. The general local audience was not ready for reggae at that time. The following years Mushrooms played mainly benga music from Western Kenya and chakacha from the coast and other local popular styles, but kept reggae as their secret love. In 1985 they introduced the style "reggae on benga", a fusion of reggae and benga which was a success. This beat has since been copied all over East and Central Africa. It is similar to soca from Trinidad or souk from the French Antilles.
In 1987 Them Mushrooms moved their headquarters to Nairobi playing at the Carnivore Restaurant. They also started to tour abroad and opened up their own recording studio "The Mushroom's Sound Lab" with John "Bishop" Katana Harrison (with dreadlocks on the photo above) as sound engineer and producer. This studio has been responsibel for a number of very successful releases with Them Mushrooms and other bands.
Like many other African musicians Them Mushrooms have been exploited. Teddy Kalanda Harrisons song Jambo Bwana has been an international hit recorded by Boney M and others, but Teddy never recieved any copyright money. Them Mushrooms have managed to learn their lesson and have gradually created their own production resources and record label. They are now in a position to indepentently direct their own activities. They are a postitive role model for other bands.
Today the lineup of Them Mushrooms is:
Henry Ndenge Saha drums and vocals, Freddy Awalla Onyango guitar and vocals, Dickson Owour Onyango trumpet and vocals, John Katana Harrison keyboards and vocals, Billy Sarro Harrison bass guitar and vocals, Teddy Kalanda Harrison tenor sax and vocals.
Dennis Kalume Harrison (R.I.P.) was a drummer in the earlier productions.
Greetings and Respect
Them Mushrooms Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Them Mushrooms:
Jambo Bwana Jambo, Jambo bwana, Habari gani, Mzuri sana. Wageni, Wakarib…
Kenya Hakuna Matata Jambo, Jambo bwana, Habari gani, Mzuri sana. Wageni, Wakari…
Kenya Hakuna Matata (Jambo Bwana) Jambo, Jambo bwana, Habari gani, Mzuri sana. Wageni, Wakari…
Mushroom Soup Wewe mrembo wa masinga kiumbe unayesifika Uzuri usio kifani …
Ngoma Ndio Hii Jamang'a muani Navuta bondo naenda kinani Jamang'a muani Nav…
Wazee Wakatike Usiibe, ukiiba (dont steal, if you steal) We utafungwa buure…
Za Kale Zipo Ohh itawezekanaje kufanya mapenzi pasipo na fikra, heri niwe…
Zakale Zipo Ohh itawezekanaje kufanya mapenzi pasipo na fikra, heri niwe…
Zilizo Pendwa kolo kolola mama kolola kolola kolo kolola mama kolola kolol…
Zilizopendwa kolo kolola mama kolola kolola kolo kolola mama kolola kolol…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Podtrash Radio
The tiny dialogue details are fucking phenomenal in this show. It’s insane how it’s not improvised. Even from small things like Tony repeating things incorrectly “yea before and after” when Paulie actually said “before and WAY before” to illustrate Tony’s indifference to the conversation and being in his own head.
David Chase was just a master at creating believable characters and personalities. Extremely layered and real people that you don’t believe these characters are actors. They only exist in this world.
That’s why a lot of the main characters got typecast like hell so they can never be seen as anyone else. But the background people like Phil Leotardo or Johnny Sac and crew seem to be getting parts. I know Gandolfini had some great roles after and there are some exception but nothing as big as this.
I’d say the biggest success out of this show was Steve Buscemi landing Boardwalk Empire. Despite being typecast he made you forget about Tony B.
Steven Van Zandt got a new show with Lilyhammer which did OK but he was essentially just Silvio if he lived in Norway. It was a fun show but nothing incredible.
Wish Gandolfini was still alive so they could be doing a REAL Sopranos sequel instead of the prequel they’re making now. But I’m so psyched to see that anyway. Sopranos reminds me of my Italian family and this show had a very special place in my heart.
I’ve watched the whole thing 1000 times and watched with commentary tracks as well. Too obsessed with this show!
Next of Ken
Unfortunately, YouTube has demonetized us and didn't provide much reason beyond a canned response. So we will be moving over to our new YouTube channel. If you want to keep in touch and continue to support NOK and its creators, feel free to subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOUw5gJI3HaVfV_Ym-NBsAQ?view_as=subscriber
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العثماني
Maybe because you're using copy righted content with no rights??!!
Ricky Ray
El Othemany Its not like hes uploading full episodes.
العثماني
@Ricky Ray it doesn't matter.
Ricky Ray
El Othemany You really think its okay to demonetize a channel for putting up clips like this? Wow.
Tomasz Kozien
@Ricky Ray your making money off of someone else's work! Why wouldn't it be ok to demonitize ?
ValhallaBeckons
"He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator." "His house looked like shit." was one of the funniest moments on the show.
Ocsjc13
When I first heard that I was like wait what then I reminded it and I cracked tf up
Joe Roberts
I love how it all got mixed up in his maple walnut ice cream.
Moe Knows
That whole episode has got to be the funniest of the whole series.