Kakamega Forest Entertainment Group

The Kakamega Forest Entertainment Group was started in 2000 with KEEP but is now its own group since 2003.

The group is made up of 10 members, all guys (musicians & singers).

Girls are also expected to join and already help with the singing.

Story-telling is done by elders and mamas - about how the local community is living, how dependent it is upon the forest, how life used to be when they were young.

Musicians:

Alex Igumilu -drumset & also sings

Josephat Murilla – sings

Evans Lukalia -

Plus others.

The musicians play mostly environmental music & conservation songs in praise of the forest, also songs about Isukha culture.

Music and lyrics composed by the group themselves, as well as some traditional cultural songs such as at circumcision and funerals. The group also used by the Church for gospel music.

Group members work as boda-boda riders, 1 is also a mechanic and boda-boda rider.

Entertainment provided for visitors each Saturday from 2pm till 5.30pm.

No charge is made but donations are left according to the wish of each visitor (so some will pay a few shillings whilst others will pay more, for example, depending on their means.)

The group is also linked with Rondo Retreat, Golf Hotel and Sunset Hotel.

The group's musicians make their own instruments:

• guitars - (wood Cordia africana (Mukomari in Kiluhya)
• cymbols – iron sheets
• drums – wood (as above) and occasionally tins
• drumsticks – wood (Declea nobilis (Lutero in Kiluhya)
• guitar strings – wire and these are normally bought at the following cost:
• 1^st @ 150/=, 2^nd @ 180/=, 3^rd@ 210/=, 4^th@ 250/=, 5^th@300/=
• Switch – one set costs 1200/=

Chairman: Benson Ayuku, Treasurer: Evans Lukalia, Secretary: Josephat Murila

Organiser of the group- Abraham Imbayi. Contact +254 (0)73499438

Information provided by Abraham Imbayi. 15.2.07