Spotify, Mbuzi Gang Celebrate 50 Years Of Music By Famous Band Them Mushrooms

By Isaac Tugume

Celebrated Kenyan music Band Them Mushrooms on Friday celebrated 50 years of music at a grand event that was spearheaded by international digital streaming platform Spotify.

Also on board during the celebrations was Black Market Records Kenyan singing group the Mbuzi Gang, who graced and fired up the vibe.

Held at the  Creative Hub, in Kilimani, Mombasa, the ceremony was aimed at acknowledging and appreciating Them Mushrooms for their great contribution   to Uganda’s music industry.

A legendary music band, Them Mushrooms are popularly known for their runaway hit single ‘Jambo Bwana’, which became a chartbuster in the 90s.

However, the event also doubled as a platform to announce the partnership between the Mbuzi Gang, Them Mushrooms and Spotify.

We have since established that following this understanding, Them Mushrooms are set to work on a number of studio projects with the Mbuzi Gang in a few days to come, which will feature prominently on Spotify.

This means that we are bound to see massive collabos between the Mbuzi Gang and Them Mushrooms any time for now, so all you have to do is look out for updates about their projects.

Meanwhile, during the celebrations of 50 Years of Them  Mushrooms  music, the Mbuzi Gang also held an interview with Spotify, during which they  talked about their musical journey and their latest jams like ‘Miondoko’ Ft. Rico Gang, Ndasu, among others.

About Them Mushrooms

Them Mushrooms is a musical band from Kenya, playing mostly Chakacha, some Benga and also some reggae.

 They are most famous for the Swahili 1982 song Jambo Bwana.

The band is composed of Teddy Kalanda, Henry Ndenge Saha and Ben Mutwiwa. They mainly do covers of previously written hit songs.

In 2009 bandleader John Katana was among four pioneering Kenyan artists given Head of State Commendation awards by president Mwai Kibaki. Musician John Nzenze was among the others.

The group was founded in 1969 as Avenida Success. The original line-up consisted of Harrison brothers Teddy Kalanda, Billy Sarro, George Zirro, John Katana, Pius Plato Chitianda “Jibaba” and Pritt Nyale. A fifth Harrison brother, Dennis Kalume, joined two years later.

In 1972 the group was renamed Them Mushrooms, from the mystical magic mushroom species that grow wildly across the depths of Africa’s rain forests. They are seen as East Africa’s premier band.