Joseph Katana Ngala (born c. 1935), professionally known as Mzee Bango (Old Man Bango), is a legendary Kenyan singer, saxophonist, composer, and the widely credited founder of the Bango music genre. Born in Mombasa, Ngala began his musical journey at a young age, forming a band with improvised instruments in school and later performing with groups like the Blue Boys Orchestra and the Five Star Band in the 1950s. He became a prominent figure in the coastal music scene, playing the saxophone and working a long residency at the Nyali Beach Hotel.
Ngala's lasting legacy is the creation of Bango, a distinctive genre that skillfully blends jazz and Latin easy-listening styles with traditional Kenyan coastal music, including influences from taarab. The genre was officially named in 1987 after the tremendous popularity of his original composition, "Naitaka Bango". Following this success, he founded the Bango Sounds Band. Mzee Ngala's music, which often focuses on themes of love and gratitude and is a staple at weddings along the Kenyan coast, has cemented his status as a cultural icon and a "musical baobab" in the country. He continues to perform well into his later years, influencing a new generation of Kenyan musicians.