Jambo Bwana
Sheet Music

Choral 3-part mixed choir Voices, Piano, optional Percussion, optional baritone voice

SKU: CF.BL926

Composed by Teddy Harrison. Arranged by Russell L. Robinson. SWS. Octavo. With Standard notation. 16 pages. Duration 2 minutes, 41 seconds. BriLee Music #BL926. Published by BriLee Music (CF.BL926).

UPC: 672405009263. 6.875 x 10.5 inches.

Russell Robinson is well known for his wonderful choral arrangements. Here he adds his unique touch to Terry Kalanda Harrison's Kenyan song of peace: Kenya is a good country, it is a country of peace. BriLee is excited to share this popular Kenyan/East African song with choirs of all sizes and abilities.
I first became familiar with Jambo Bwana when Duncan Miano Wambugu started our Africa Choir Pazeni Sauti at the University of Florida in 2009. I recruited Miano when on my second trip to Africa in 2007. At that time, I met with the administration of Kenyatta University to begin an institutional linkage program to bring a faculty member to the University of Florida to pursue the Ph.D. degree in Music Education and then return to the faculty at Kenyatta. Mr. Wambugu became Dr. Wambugu in the fall of 2012 and returned to Nairobi. As of this writing, The UF Africa Choir is under the direction of another Kenyatta University faculty member, Abbey Chokera, also on institutional linkage leave to pursue his doctorate; he is the former Director of the Moi Girls Choir in Nairobi. Duncan gave me a hand-written manuscript of the Jambo Bwana when he found out I wanted to arrange it. Like many people, I thought it was a traditional Kenyan folk song but soon found out that it was written by a Kenyan musician friend of Duncan's, Teddy Kalanda Harrison, in the 1980's and has become part of the Kenyan musical landscape. There are many videos of Mr. Harrison and his band performing this piece on YouTube. Swahili Translation: Jah-mboh, Jah-mboh Bwah-nah, Hello sir Ha-bah-ree gah-nee? N-zoo-ree sah-nah How are you? Very good Wah-geh-nee wah-kah-ree-bee-shwa Visitors are welcome here Ken-yah yeh-too, Hah-koo-nah mah-tah-tah Our Kenya has no problems Ken-yah n-chee n-zoo-ree, Kenya is a good country n-chee ye-n-yeh a-mah-nee It is a country of peace I have tried to arrange this so that it is faithful to the original song. As is tradition in East Africa, vocal groups are often accompanied by one or two drums. In this case, it is suggested to use two conga drums (one high and one low); however, the percussion can be whatever you choose. There are many opportunities throughout to use soloists or small groups. Feel free to make the arrangement your own with solos, percussion, adding movement, etc. Have fun singing this real Kenyan song! Hakuna Matata!