He stands tall because of the hit song “Malaika,” but even if the song were expunged from his discography due to the long-standing dispute over its authorship, Fadhili Williams would still remain a towering figure in Kenyan music for a cocktail of other reasons.

“Malaika” is easily the most popular Kiswahili song. Not only that, it is also East Africa’s most successful song in terms of the number of cover versions recorded, and by far the most recognizable composition from the region. Yet even without it, Fadhili would still soar high in the skies of popularity, buoyed by the successes of other classics such as “Taxi Driver.”

That alone would not be enough to define Fadhili. He was among the indigenous pioneer professional musicians in Kenya when he became part of Jambo Sounds, the house band at Jambo Records in the mid-1950s. Jambo Sounds later mutated into Equator Sounds after the record company was sold to Charles Worrod, a Briton of South African origin who is credited with popularizing the Twist genre that became extremely fashionable among urban youth in the 1960s.

Among this pioneer batch of musicians, further trained by Worrod himself and incorporated into the band, were Daudi Kabaka and Gabriel Omolo from Kenya, Nashil Pichen and Peter Tsotsi from Zambia, and Charles Ssonko, among others. Together, they formed a formidable nucleus that shaped the sound of modern East African popular music.

“Harambee Harambee,” “Helule Helule,” and “Taxi Driver” are just a few of the songs Equator Sounds recorded that set the pace for a vibrant music industry in the 1960s. During this period, Nairobi attracted an array of musicians from across the region. Being a dependable lead guitarist in such a competitive environment was no mean feat, and this secures an important segment of the region’s hall of fame for Fadhili.

As mentioned earlier, the authorship of “Malaika” has for decades been disputed, with several names floated as possible composers. Among them are Tanzanian musician Adam Salim, South African icon Miriam Makeba, and even flamboyant Kenyan trade unionist and politician Tom Mboya. Nonetheless, it remains a fact that Fadhili Williams is the uncontested legal owner of the song, having been the first to record it.

That is not all. He was also among the very first indigenous musicians in the region to gain fluency and technical mastery in playing the electric guitar, at a time when the instrument was still novel and scarce in East Africa.

Ironically, had Fadhili’s childhood wishes come true, the world might never have heard “Taxi Driver,” “Malaika,” or any of his celebrated songs. Despite being born into a musical family—his father a traditional musician and his mother equally involved in music—he initially did not intend to pursue music as a career.

Upon completing his secondary education at the famous Shimo La Tewa Secondary School, Fadhili aspired to be employed either as a police officer or by the then-lucrative East African Railways. He even sent applications for these positions, but none yielded a positive response. His mother, however, was hesitant about those ambitions and strongly desired that her son pursue music instead. She bought him an acoustic Gallotone guitar for 90 shillings, a considerable sum at the time.

According to the Presidential Music Commission’s biography of Fadhili, his father had died while he was still young, prompting his mother to relocate to Nairobi to fend for the family. His maiden engagement as a musician came with the Chem Chem Kids band, which specialized in performing at weddings and other neighborhood events. He also recorded with the African Mercantile Company, an opportunity that enabled him to perform outside Kenya, including in Uganda, at a relatively young age.

In 1955, the young Fadhili was spotted by East African Records, where he made his very first recordings. Being a versatile and talented musician capable of playing several instruments opened floodgates of opportunity for him. His engagements with the company also earned him a position as a talent scout.

However, it was during his time with Jambo Sounds that he truly made a name for himself. It was with this band that he recorded “Malaika,” “Taxi Driver,” and many other songs. Although the authorship of “Malaika” remains disputed, he consistently maintained that he wrote the song, claiming he composed it for a lady he fell in love with while still in school.

He also acknowledged having earned millions of shillings in royalties from the song. While “Taxi Driver” was not as commercially successful as “Malaika,” it nonetheless remains one of Kenya’s most iconic songs. According to Fadhili himself, “Taxi Driver” was based on a true story. He composed the song for his first love, Rosemary, who lived in Nakuru. He later married her, and the couple had six children. He subsequently married two other women and had several more children.

Born Fadhili Mdawida Williams in Taita on November 11, 1938, the “Taxi Driver” superstar’s health began to decline in 2000, and he died a year later. His works continue to inspire many to venture into music. He remains one of the region’s most decorated and influential musicians.

By Jerome Ogola