Soy market is usually calm, with little activity, especially at sunset. However, this routine calm was disrupted on the evening of December 12th, 2025—a day when Kenya celebrates self-governance, popularly known as Jamhuri Day.

As the sun slowly disappeared into the distant horizons of the mountain ranges in the west, a palpable excitement began to build within the market, which lies at the border of Kakamega and Uasin Gishu counties. That evening, the town was set to experience a live musical concert by Jamnazi, an Eldoret-based band, and this rare spectacle is what made the night truly unique.

Situated about 23 kilometres from Eldoret along the Kitale Highway, Soy is an agrarian township that has not experienced much of urban nightlife, save for minimal spillover from the neighbouring town of Eldoret. Falling on a public holiday and at the doorstep of the festive season, the concert served as a befitting curtain-raiser to the celebrations that lay ahead.

Riders of the dozens of motorcycle taxis, popularly known as boda boda, who usually sit astride their machines waiting for passengers heading deep into the hinterland, suddenly abandoned their routines. One by one, they drifted toward the newly rehabilitated Wajax Club, eager to catch a glimpse of the band, which was set to officially unveil the facility in a grand launch, in collaboration with Jabulani Radio.

This was not Jamnazi’s maiden performance in Soy. The band had previously staged another explosive concert at Makuti Club, and as such, a section of the residents already knew exactly what to expect from the seasoned performers.

For many music enthusiasts, a live concert is not just an ordinary night out. It is an opportunity to witness firsthand how great music is crafted. Rumba, in particular, is a unique and highly technical genre. Watching the equipment being set up, musicians taking their positions, guitars being tuned, and then the entire ensemble roaring into life is an experience that remains etched in memory for a lifetime.

Having previously sampled the band’s music on the radio, other recorded media, and even through similar concerts viewed on platforms such as YouTube, only heightens the thirst for a firsthand encounter with the music in its raw, live form.

The chance to mingle with the superstars themselves is an experience no fan wishes to miss. This was evident from the number of photographers milling around the venue, angling for moments to be captured alongside these musical geniuses.

Jamnazi Afrika, a band headed by Peter Dalidi, was birthed at a club known as Kutana in Eldoret town on April 2nd, 2002. The founding members included Awilo Mike, also known as Mike Otieno, a singer and composer, and Peter Dalidi himself, a solo guitarist, singer, and composer, among many others.

Over the years, the band has released several albums, composing songs that climbed the charts and produced hits which turned Jamnazi into a household name. Paradoxically, this fame only fuels greater curiosity, deepening the desire among fans to experience the band live on stage in a concert setting.

The palpable anticipation among the seated revellers at the expansive venue finally morphed into thunderous cheers when the Jamnazi team took to the podium at around 8:00 pm. The very first strike of the guitar chord for the song “Riziki” sent the crowd into a wild frenzy.

Being a familiar tune and possibly a crowd favourite, it was only natural that everyone sang along. But that was just the beginning. Some fans danced enthusiastically throughout the performance, while others sat back pensively, choosing instead to savour the sheer musical genius on display.

This brilliance began with band leader Dalidi Mwombe’s wizardry on the solo guitar, Ouma’s impressive finger dexterity on rhythm guitar, the marvellous vocal blend of the singing trio of Suleiman, Raja, and Dalidi himself, Oloo’s commanding drumming prowess, and the bassist’s zeal, skillfully executed across four strings.

One of the band’s most popular songs, “I Am Not Sober, advocates responsible drinking, proving that the night offered not just entertainment but also subtle education packaged within music. In the song, the composer narrates how he prudently spends his earnings. He first pays school fees, settles rent, and shops for the family, before finally seeking to quench his thirst with his favourite drink.

Many fans often fall in love with a band only after attending a live performance, and this possibly explains why legendary groups such as Mazembe, Mangelepa, Viva Makale, Virunga, Vundumuna, Les Wanyika, and many others from Nairobi’s golden era rose to such immense popularity.

Live bands were the cornerstone of club entertainment in the 1970s and 1980s, during a period when the country enjoyed a vibrant and robust music scene. Attention later shifted to DJ-driven music and English football. However, judging by the large crowds that continue to turn up for such concerts, it is evident that the era of live bands is slowly but steadily making a well-deserved comeback.

By Jerome Ogola

Jabulani Radio

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