Kenyan musician Ayub Ogada, a virtuoso nyati player, died on Friday, February 1st, 2019. He was 63.
“Ayub Ogada, respect Wuod Luo! You are the reason I picked up Nyatiti. Thank you for sharing this fantastic 8 strings instrument with the world. I celebrate you! Rest in Power,” said Kenyan musican Suzanna Owiyo.
In a testimonial, famed vocalist and world music producer Peter Gabriel said: “I was very upset to learn of Ayub Ogada’s death tonight. His was a prodigious talent and when he was on he could mesmerise anyone and everyone within his range with his sensitive and melodic Nyatiti playing, accompanying that legendary gentle and hypnotic voice.
“In the early days of WOMAD and Real World Records many people weren’t interested to listen to music from other cultures and whenever I was trying to convince them I would play Ayub singing ‘Kothbiro’ and invariably win them round.
“It was always a pleasure making music with him and getting to feel that warm sensitive and musical intelligence at work. We will all miss him greatly.”
Read more about Ayub Ogada.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central