Fancy Fingers and Winyo – Jawaya Jathum (Delicious Tunes, 2025)
Jawaya Jathum (“The Guitarist and The Music Lover”) is a 13-track Luo-language album that penetrates your soul. It interweaves traditional East African instrumentation with contemporary global styles. The collaboration between Kenyan musicians Fancy Fingers and Winyo brings together the sparkling sounds of the nyatiti (lyre) and orutu (fiddle) from Kenya as well as a lovely mix of Afropop, Benga, jazz, and zouk.
Grounded in the heritage of Luo culture, the album addresses themes such as love, land, community, and resilience. While Fancy Fingers handles guitar and production, drawing on a genre-coalescence approach, Winyo contributes vocals steeped in Afro-fusion and Benga traditions. Together, they create a hybrid sound that honors cultural legacy while embracing modern sensibilities.
Lyrically, Jawaya Jathum explores social change, belonging, and the healing potential of music.
Fancy Fingers (Polycarp Otieno) is a founding member of the award-winning Kenyan band Sauti Sol, Fancy Fingers is a guitarist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for fusing African rhythms with world music genres. His solo debut Father Studies highlighted his versatility. He is committed to cultural preservation and innovation.
Winyo (Shiphton Onyango) is renowned for his emotive voice and lyrical storytelling, Winyo is a singer and composer whose work is deeply tied to the Luo musical tradition. His style combines Benga, folk, and Afro-fusion, earning him recognition both in Kenya and abroad, including a nomination for the RFI Discoveries Award.
Buy Jawaya Jathum.
Author: Madison Quinn
