Bana Sungusia Band is a Kisii music band that has been entertaining music lovers for several years. The band was founded in 1993 by Momanyi Kenyatta and Ellias King’oina.
Originally named Nyamira Super Jazz Band, the band evolved over the years to become one of the most popular in Kenya.
Momanyi and Ellias began singing in hotels in 1994, performing songs of other artists like the late Monyoncho and Arisi Osababu.
They used to sing at Nyamira Hotel, which was the biggest club in the region at the time. It was there that they caught the attention of Onsongo Omosongo, who was playing Obokano with Costa Mainga.
Impressed by their performance, Onsongo requested Momanyi to accept him into the band. Momanyi, recognizing his talent, admitted him to the band.
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With the addition of Onsongo, the band began to attract more attention. They caught the eye of Obwansu Production Producer Kennedy in Kisii, who was interested in working with them.
However, they lacked the funds needed to produce an album. Fortunately, Tom Sagwe stepped in and sponsored their first album, Volume 1.
The album was not an instant hit, and when Sagwe listened to it, he felt he had wasted his money. However, the band did not give up and continued to work hard.
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Bana Sungusia Band had a team of 15 members, including Nyanderi Bwondari, Kennedy Amisi, Ellias King’oina, and Omorendire.
They produced a total of 15 volumes over the years, each one building on the success of the previous one. Volume 1 had songs like Esafari Keroka and Chichokora, which were hit songs in 1996.
Sungusia Band’s hit songs include Lady Nyaboke, Mr. SUNGUSIA Boss, Nyabeta, Mokoyone, and Ford People. Their music was a unique blend of traditional and modern rhythms, which appealed to a wide range of audiences.
If the split of the Sungusia Band actually occurred in 2014/15, it means that the band was divided into two factions before the death of Onsongo Omosongo in 2017.
This would imply that the band’s internal conflicts had been ongoing for some time, and Onsongo’s death may have exacerbated the situation.
Kwasa Kwasa, releasing his first album in 2015/16, further supports the notion that the Sungusia Band split occurred before Onsongo’s death. It also suggests that Kwasa Kwasa had already begun pursuing his own music career before the band officially split.
Sadly, Sungusia Band experienced a tragic turn of events when lead singer Onsongo Omosongo passed away in 2017.
Kwasa Kwasa International Band membersย
The band split into two groups, with Kwasa Kwasa forming his own band called Kwasa Kwasa International, together with Nyakundi Drummist, Orecho, Makambo, and Job Mayenga.
Sungusia Band Membersย
Momanyi Kenyatta continued with the original Sungusia Band, with Siko Gichana, Guitarist Freddy, Bernard Makanta, Sammy Nyabaro, and Omorendire Junior drums.
The split had a significant impact on the band’s popularity, and they never quite regained the same level of success they had enjoyed before.
However, both bands continued to produce music and entertain their fans. Singer Onsongo junior and Siko Gichana have been instrumental in keeping the Sungusia Band’s legacy alive.
The death of Onsongo Omosongo in 2017 was a significant blow to the Sungusia Band, and his passing had a profound impact on the band’s future.
Onsongo was not only the lead singer, but he was also a unifying force in the group. His absence created a power vacuum that the band struggled to fill, leading to internal conflicts and ultimately the split of the band into two factions.
The last time that Momanyi Kenyatta and Kwasa Kwasa factions performed together was during Onsongo’s send-off ceremony. It was a somber occasion, and many speakers and fans urged the band to remain united in honor of Onsongo’s memory.
However, despite these pleas, the Sungusia Band split into two, with each faction going its own way.
The split was a significant loss for Sungusia Band, as it resulted in the loss of some of the band’s most talented members. It also led to the fragmentation of the band’s legacy, with the two factions competing against each other and diluting the band’s impact.
He was a talented musician who brought energy and enthusiasm to the stage, and his absence was felt deeply by the rest of the band.
After his passing, Sungusia Band was faced with the daunting task of replacing him. They tried out several singers, but none of them could match Onsongo’s talent and charisma. As a result, the band struggled to maintain its momentum and gradually began to lose its fan base.
In addition to the loss of Onsongo, the Sungusia Band was also plagued by internal conflicts. There were disagreements over the direction of the band and how to move forward after Onsongo’s death.
Some members wanted to continue performing the band’s classic hits, while others wanted to explore new styles and sounds.
These conflicts eventually led to the split of the band into two factions. Kwasa Kwasa formed his own band called Kwasa Kwasa International, while Momanyi Kenyatta continued with Sungusia Original.
The split was a major setback for the Sungusia Band. It resulted in the loss of some of the band’s most talented members and further eroded the band’s fan base.
With the two factions competing against each other, Sungusia Band’s legacy was fragmented and diluted.
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