music

The Tyranny of Benga

It doesn’t matter what part of Kenya you come from, there is a high-pitched guitar call to which your body answers to.

You may be dressed to the nines and trying hard to impress the lady you are with, or in a courtroom, making the closing remarks on a monumental case. When that guitar calls, you’ll put all your decorum aside as your knees buckle, elbows wing, waist spins and you dive into a jig unbefitting your status in society, complete with closed eyes and spouted lips. After several seconds, you open your eyes worried you might be alone in this, only to find the entire room replicating your every move. This is the call of Benga.

I answered to the call as well as Dan Aceda, The Villagers Band led by Chris Adwar and Eric Wainaina and The Best Band in Africa put together The Tyranny of Benga yesterday.

You can view more photos at KWELi.

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 1250

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 1250

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.8, ISO 800

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.8, ISO 800

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/60sec at f/2.2, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/60sec at f/2.2, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1250

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.2, ISO 1250

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/50sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/50sec at f/2.2, ISO 1600

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/125sec at f/2.8, ISO 1000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/125sec at f/2.8, ISO 1000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/80sec at f/2.5, ISO 2000

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.5, ISO 1250

Canon 60D. 50mm (EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) 1/100sec at f/2.5, ISO 1250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. aika

    April 8, 2013 at 6:50 am

    wow! awesome photos. I can hear that guitar! (^_^)

    1. mwarv

      April 8, 2013 at 8:26 am

      Thanks! Hope it got you dancing.

  2. James

    March 10, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    And just like that … Shamba la Wanyama started playing in my head…

Comments are closed.