Makadem - Ohanglaman (2008)

Makadem, also known as the Ohanglaman is a talented musician and vibrant performing artiste from Kenya. His stage presence, charismatic persona and powerful vocal delivery, has had him likened to the legendary King of Afro Beat, Fela Kuti.
Makadem honed his performance skills by entertaining guests at the beach hotels of Mombasa, his hometown at the Kenyan coast.
By 1999, he had become a full-fledged performing artiste and went on to record and release a reggae dancehall single titled ‘Mr. Lololova.’
Years later, Makdem caught the attention of veteran afro fusion producer, Tabu Osusa. This collaboration saw Makadem successfully transform his style of music from dancehall to a fusion of Benga and Ohangla. He went on to record his debut CD titled ‘Ohanglaman’ with Tabu Osusa, which was released under Ketebul Music in 2007.
Makadem has toured extensively in Africa and Europe, performing in regional festivals like Sauti za Busara (Zanzibar), Bayimba (Uganda) and Fest’Horn (Djibouti). He has shared the stage with top international artists such as Gregory Isaacs, Mighty Culture, Glen Washington, Baba Maal, Mahotella Queens and Lokua Kanza.
Makadem received international limelight when he released a song titled ‘Obama Be Thy Name’ in support of current American President Barrack Obama, during his campaign bid in 2008. The video of the song attracted both negative and positive feedback on YouTube, and was featured by CNN during the same campaign period.
Makadem has remained one of the busiest Kenyan artists to date with regular tours of Europe organized by One World. Some of the highlights of his career include opening for Seun Kuti in Copenhagen, Denmark in October of 2011 and performing at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival in France in May of 2012.
Apart from touring, Makadem also took some time off in March of 2012 after being selected and invited by the Institut Francais for a 3 month music residency at the Cite International des Arts in Paris France. During the residency, Makadem worked on improving his Kalimba playing skills as an understudy to Angolan Kalimba maestro, Lolendo Mvulu and also spent some time working on his guitar technique with the legendary Syrian Mbenza.
In 2014, Makadem has been part of the touring trio of himself on guitar, nyatiti and vocals, bass player Isaac Gem and contemporary dancer Fernando Anuonga, presenting a show titled ‘Romo.’ He was also a headline act at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held in Washington DC in June and July of the same year.

Tracklist:
01. Makadem - Ohangla Man (6:39)
02. Makadem - Kisumu Bound Bus (3:50)
03. Makadem - That Comb (4:44)
04. Makadem - Sami Hooyi (6:11)
05. Makadem - Nya Malo (7:22)
06. Makadem - Kalamba Jiggy (7:02)
07. Makadem - Nyaktiti (3:17)
08. Makadem - Priscilla (4:29)
09. Makadem - Mandolina (3:54)
10. Makadem - Dhi Ndalo (5:17)
11. Makadem - My Dota (5:02)
12. Makadem - Nya Nairobi City (6:03)