What’s the relationship between these two labels? They have the same logo and almost identical names but Koth Kiyombi is clearly marked as being distributed by AIT (Andrews International and Teal) while Koth Kiyobi lists just Teal as the distributor. The appearance in April 2010 of KIB 612 on eBay from a seller in South Africa suggests that Teal/AIT used the Koth Kiyobi label to sell East African music in either the South African or Zimbabwean markets. Complicating matters, subsequently singles have turned up with the same KIB prefix on Koth Kiyombi rather than Koth Kiyobi.
Koth Kiyombi provided yet another outlet for DO7 Shirati Jazz. DO Misiani’s band recorded songs for the Awendo Rakido, Bwana Otieko Weche, Chiew Rakuthe, Nyati Mkali and Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz labels under their main name as well as for numerous other labels as Shirati Luo Voice and other variants.
Sare River Jazz band are less well known, although they did cut sides for Lake Victoria.
KIB 621 features two veterans of Kenyan music, being written by Benson Simbeye and produced by Daudi Kabaka, who both recorded for Equator Sounds. The label’s numbering system doesn’t appear to follow any logical sequence.
KOTH KIYOMBI/KOTH KIYOBI
Catalogue Group A side/B side Year
Number
KK series
KK 1 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Charles Okumu/Lucia Auma 1977
KK 2 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Alfred Opondo/Gilbert O. McOpiyo 1977
KK 3 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Daniel Mboya/Joseph Oucho
KK 4 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Yamo Oloko/Okeyo Mejor 1977
KK 5 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Alice Atieno/Lucy Aoko
KK 6 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Sasana Duogi/Raymond Ouko 1977
KK 7 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Gilbert Obinga/B.A. Sobu 1977
KK 8 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Piny Lichna/Hellen Akinyi 1977
KK 9 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Owiti John/Tom Asunga 1977
KK 11 Sare River Jazz Band Rapar Tabu/Margarete Akumu 1978
KK 12 Central K Dumbe Dumbe Amimo Jakano/Prof. John Onyango
KK 13 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Piny Otumu Mudho/G.K. Jagembe
KH series
KH 78/1 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Jathieth Manyien/Safari Ya Tanzania
KH 78/2 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Mary Atieno/Peter Odera
KH 78/3 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Rossa Anyango/Oula Muomi Tineno
KH 78/4 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz CK Ozuoro Chien'g/Ibiro Wuothongi
KH 78/5 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Grace Ni Wangu/Penina Wangu
KH 78/6 Orch DO7 Shirati Jazz Njoo Tuowane/Mika Akello
KIB series
KIB 389 Orch Shirati DO7 Jazz Band Mapenzi Ni Kifo/Roby Japvonji 1977
KIB 419 Kabras Band Beatrice Nasibwondi/Mumela Juma 1980
KIB 612 Shirati L Voice Jazz Selly Karibu Nyumbani/Joice Pod Kins Mar Mon
KIB 621 Semeni Band Chisenge Lumbwe Pts 1 & 2 1977
KIB 625 Orch C.R. Tipo Tipo Awuor Nya Kisumu/Njago RagwelA: George Ojijo 1978
KIB 642 Central K Jazz Band Wuoth Iye Ber/Kaleb O Yier 1980
KIB 646 Central K Jazz Band Kony Uru Joram/Joram Tan'g URU 1980