Born in 1956 in Mombassa the late Oyub Ogada was regarded as one of the greatest Kenyan artists of all time. The vocalist and proponent of the nyatiti lyre hailed from a middle class family but found himself busking in London where he was 'discovered'. A full life of music and acting ensued and the rest as they say is history. Before his untimely death in 2019 Ayub recorded tracks with the British guitarist Trevor Warren in Kenya, which have been edited and curated into 'Omera' - a stunning and at times haunting collection. The second disk of the album consists some bonus tracks, re-imaginings of some of the songs (and others recorded previously) by Trevor Warren and some of the people who knew and admired Ayub: Bernard O?Neill, Count Dubulah, Oren Kaplan and Peter Chilvers.
Tracks:
CD1
1. Kothbiro; Live Ayub Ogada ? vocals, nyatiti, ankle bells; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar
2. Mountains of the Moon; Ayub Ogada ? nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, bells
3. Granary; Ayub Ogada ? voice, nyatiti, ankle bells; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, shakers
4. Omera; Ayub Ogada ? vocals; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, electric guitars, bass guitar, shakers, bells; Isaac Gem ? vocals
5. 45; Ayub Ogada ? vocals, nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, vocals, bass guitar; Isaac Gem ? vocals; Hossam Ramzy ? udu, goat hooves shaker; Toby Shippey ? trumpet
6. Tamuru; Ayub Ogada ? vocals, nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, synthesizer; Isaac Gem ? acoustic guitar
7. Seed; Ayub Ogada ? nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, bells; Dudley Phillips ? double bass
8. Ali Farka Toure; Ayub Ogada ? vocals, nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? electric guitars, vocals, shakers, bells; Boniface Mango ? bell stick; Marco Megido ? bass guitar
9. Job; Ayub Ogada ? nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar
10. We Are Just Waiting; Ayub Ogada ? vocals, nyatiti, matchbox percussion, antique drum; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar, electric guitar, bells; Sean Ross ? guest vocals
11. Mbira; Ayub Ogada ? Mbira, vocals; Trevor Warren ? shakers, bells, shekere, udu; Isaac Gem ? vocals;
12. It?s Raining?; Ayub Ogada ? nyatiti; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar
13. On the Fly; Trevor Warren ? spanish guitar
CD2
1. 45 Syriana ? Bernard O'Neill
2. Ali ? Oren Kaplan
3. Kodhi Clubmix ? Count Dubulah
4. Kothbiro (live in Kenya) ? Trevor Warren
5. Conversation ? Trevor Warren
6. Ayub ? Count Dubulah
7. Dero Revisited ? Peter Chilvers
