Catalogue Group A side/B side Year
Number
EU 7-102 A: Daudi Kabaka & Party A: Hard Work (Kazi Ngumu)
B: Nashil & Peter Tsotse B: Bush Baby Twist (Kinda Wamba Twist)
with the Rainbow Boys
EU 107 D Kabaka and E Talian Bachelor Boy Twist/Safari Tanganyika
EU 7-109 Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi Tamaa Mbaya/Nakumbuka Adija
EU 127 Daudi Kabaka & Fadhili Harambee/Bibi Moupe
EU 7-128 Charles Sonko & His Party Alima Wangu/Kadogo Wangu
EU 130 Fadhili William Malaika/Hakuna Mwingine 1963
& the Black Shadows
EU 131 Fahili William Wee Jane/Tucheze Twist
& the Black Shadows
EU 7-133 Frida Sonko with Fadhili & Nashil Love Me Baby/Step Out, Lady
EU 147 Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi Sukuti Tribal Twist/My Cheating Wife
EU 149 Peter Nashil and Michael Mimi Watchman/Rudi Mamu
EU 7-160 Moses Katazza & Charles Sonko Pelusi/Omwana Atubuze
EU 7-161 Johnny Storm & Fadhili William Can't Believe It/Golden Ringlets 1965
EU 186 Peter Tsotsi & Nashil Pichen My Queen/Pesa Chakula
EU 189 Masagaza, Sonko A: Tuzimbe Enjumba
and Equator Boys B: Lady, Don't Go! (Mukyala Togenda)
EU 193 Frida Sonko with the Equator Boys Aloja Omukkwano/? 1965
EU 195 Daudi Kabaka & George Agade Western Shilo/Helule Helule 1966
7 EU 199 Fred Masagazi & the Equator Boys Ndi Wuwo/Osenidda Okkola
7 EU 241 Fred Masagazi Kola Zizo/Okukula Kwetta
with King Jazz d'Equateur
EU 252 Fred Masagazi and the Equator Boys Tekinnuma/Walana Mukulu, Sosi Muto 1966
7 EU 272 Gabriel Omolo Dhako Ok En Mususumba/Nyiego Hatari 1967
& Equator Sound Band
EU 277 Orch Melo Success Prierre Du Matin/Kulo Osenge
7 EU 290 Peter Tsotsi, Nashil Pitchen Pole Musa/Mpenzi Ni Merudi
& Equator Sound Band
EU 353 Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotsi Nafa Na Maraba/Hata Ujirembeshe
7 EU 1001 Fadhili William, Mona Miller Malaika/Njoo, Honey Njoo
& Equator Sound Boys
EU 1002 Benson Simbeye, Kivilila/You Went Away 1966
Blue Mtweve &
The Equator Sound Boys
7EU 1008 The Flames Hava Nagila/Mod Trad 1967
BB 7-24 Nashil Pichen & Peter Tsotse Usiniringie Na Suti/Nairobi Twisti
BB 7-32 Peter Muleli and J.A. Sore Vijana Wengine/We Sala Wangu
RA 7-3 Peter Tsotse & Nashil Pichen A: Mulofa Moja (Poor Fellow)
B: We Mwatuma (Aah Mwatuma)
RA 7-6 Joseph Gitau & Fadhili William Nitwa Kugeithia/Haicia Bendera
RA 7-12 The Jordan Boys A: Safari ya Chomogondai (North-West Journey)
B: Vipusa wa Kisasa (Modern Girls)
RA 13 Fadhili William & the Black Shadows Think First/Taxi Driver
RA 7-23 George Ramogi and John Tuda Onguo and Obondi/Ogembo
Equator International
7 EU 321 Equator Sound Band Wach Awacha Japuoni/Nyiwa Makawuono 1969
7 EU 345 Kabaselleh & Equator Sound Band Nyanam/Lek 1969
7 EU 372 Robinson Mwangi & Michael Njenga Wacoka Kenya/Kwanyu Ndigacoka 1970
7 EU 375 Equator Sound Band Chike Luo/Okelo Kadala
EU 395 Harun Akwyanga Mwana Ariranga/Kanyonyi Kamavaha 1970
JW 721-22
7 EU 423 Thomas Miti & Navongo Success Ajali Ya Rongai/Yepesa 1971
JW 777-78
In the late 1950s English expat Charles Worrod bought the assets of East African Records and by 1960 had launched Equator Sound Studio and with it the label. Its roster included many legendary figures of Kenyan music including Fadhili William, Daudi Kabaka, Peter Tsotsi and Nashil Pichen, as well as top Ugandan singer Fred Masagazi.
The label is best known as providing the original version of Malaika by Fadhili William, later an international hit for Miriam Makeba and recorded by countless others, although controversy still surrounds the actual authorship of the song.
Equator also hit big by adapting the Twist craze for the African market and through Kabaka’s song Harambee, which was played every hour after the news on Voice of Kenya radio for years.
The label folded in 1974 when Worrod left the country as a result of laws that barred him from running a business unless he became a Kenyan citizen.
EQUATOR RECORDS