abbi

music is beautiful,
it is the language of the heart,
it is the bridge between heaven and earth,
the connection of all men,
it needs nothing but willingness,
and readiness to hear it
it is the language of life
it brings newness, fullness and peace
to all men, women and children
enjoy it!
the music
the musicthe musicthe musicThe style of Abbi’s music has been termed as afro-jazz or afro-fusion and has been
growing in popularity around the country and abroad, as it contains the rare ethnic
sounds and rhythms of Kenyan people’s traditional music meeting the world
influences today. Understanding, harmony and peaceful co-existence independent of our different
cultures and backgrounds are the major themes in this music.

“We can create a new world-culture through music”

With the globalization and the world coming together, Abbi uses his traditional
language and rhythms to contribute to the new world-culture. Globalization is not
about standardizing, but about contributing with as much diversity as possible. It is
about appreciating the best of every beat of every culture and creating a new
beautiful global sound. This is why the music has flavors of salsa, reggae, rock,
samba and even other rhythms from the African continent. Yet not loosing the
Kenyan identity.

The vision of a world-culture is also reflected in the fusion of contemporary and
traditional instruments such as mixing zeze (Tanzania), accordion (France), boum
boum (Kenya), djembe, kora, (West Africa), marimba (Africa), violin, cello, piano
(Europe), flute (African & European), sax, drums, guitar, bass, keyboard.

“The drum reminds me of my roots, the melody of my people”

One of the strongest aspects of Abbi’s music is the live performance. It is about how
he connects and interacts with the different audiences, which creates the
atmosphere and makes each show unique. As for his recordings, most instruments are recorded live capturing the spirit of the
musicians. Abbi chooses his musicians not only because of their technical skills, but
mostly because of their uniqueness as people.

Along the lines of fusing instruments and cultures, Abbi experiments with uniting
different languages such as Luhya, Kiswahili, French, Gujarati, Luo, English, Arabic,
Hebrew, and experiments as well with creating out of all this an abstract language
resulting in a new unique expression of life.

performances

2007

•
Director & co-producer of NACADA anti-drugs campaign song. Collaborating with
Nyota Ndogo, Jua Kali, Barbara Guantai, Makadem & Nazizi
•
Unity Concert, Alliance Francaise together with numerous artists
•
Song-writer and co-producer of song for UNESCO HIV/AIDS awareness campaign
•
KANYAGA UKABILA concert with Eric Wainaina, Suzzana Owiyo & Iddi Achieng
•
Intellectual property & anti-piracy campaign with World Intellectual Property Org.
•
KIKWETU festival, German Embassy
•
‘2030-vision’ Kenya Government song project
•
WOMEX attendance, Sevilla Spain
•
‘Indigo’-album launch Alliance Francaise Nairobi
•
Basecamp, Maasai Mara

2006 .
North Sea Jazz Festival, Nairobi
•
Pavement, Nairobi
•
UNEP Annual Meeting, Nairobi
•
North Sea Jazz Festival, Netherlands
•
Performance with Angelique Kidjo, Carnivore,
Nairobi
•
Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
•
Sippers, Nairobi
•
Private VIP concert, Nairobi
•
Italian Institute, Nairobi
•
Basecamp, Maasai Mara
2005
•
Festival “Mundial on Tour”, touring The Netherlands.
•
Resident band, Club Sound, Nairobi
•
Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
•
Carnivore, Nairobi
•
UN Diplomats conference, Nairobi
•
Basecamp, Maasai Mara
•
Fest’horn Festival, Djibouti


2004

•
Collaboration with Luigi Cinque, together with Mercy Myra, Emanu Uzele, Italian
Cultural Center in Nairobi.
•
”Mudunia”-album launch live at the Carnivore, Nairobi.
•
Cafe Creme, Nairobi, Village Market, Nairobi,
•
UN General Council Conference at the UNEP HQ, Nairobi.
•
Basecamp, Maasai Mara
•
Recieved Kisima awards for best male artist and most promising artist.
2003

•
Festival Mundial, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
•
Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
2002

•
Fete de la musique festival at the Alliance Francaise, Nairobi. Collaborating with
Jil Caplan, France.
•
Sarakasi Festival at the Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi.
•
UN General Council Conference at the UNEP HQ, Nairobi.
Achieng’ Abura

From 1996 to 2001 Abbi performed with Achieng’ Abura as her backing vocalist around Kenya including a tour in Spain.

The Boyz / Safari

1993 Abbi started off his career as gospel a cappella singer with “The Boyz”
1997 “The Boyz” were renamed “Safari” and switch to playing cotemporary urban
gospel. In 1997 the album ’The Journey’ was produced in England
1997 + 1999 On tour through the UK, 2000 On tour through Germany

records
Mudunia (2003)

“Mudunia” was the first album of Abbi in an Afro-Fusion style, which lead to the
formation of the group Abbi & Kikwetu.

Indigo (2007) The album “Indigo” is a true fusion of Kenyan music with influences from the World.
Abbi has invited several Kenyan-as well as international musicians to feature on
Indigo, e.g. Mercy Myra, Barbara Guantai, Nynke Nauta, Dennis Inyani (Yunassi)

contacts Abbi :

www.myspace.com/abbimudunia
www.abbimusic.com

“I know love to be the force of life
that shapes the future”