Catalogue Group A side/B side Year
Number
RS 001 Francis Rugwiti Tigwo Na Wega/Mitugo Iitu
and Banana Hill Band
RS 006 Banana Hill Band Matatu/Ni Wanjika Thoni
RS 7-011 Banana Hill Band Marigiti/Tiga Kuherithia
RS 7-014 Banana Hill Band Mr Kiomboyo/Wiku Wiku
RS 016 Francis Rugwiti Karia Mburu/Maitu Ni Mutongu
and Banana Hill Band
RS 017 Francis Rugwiti Murata/Wendo
and Banana Hill Band
RS 018 Mondoko Banana Hill Band Situka/Mihango Ya Mbeca
RS 019 Banana Hill Band Njeri Mami Pts 1 & 2
RS 020 Banana Hill Band Mondoko Ni Tiguthii/Kwaga Muka
RS 021 Banana Hill Band Gagura Mwana/Wanyina
RS 022 Banana Hill Band Uhiki Wa Riu/Sibola
RS 023 Banana Hill Band Riua Rioita Uhoro/Munyendi
RS 024 Banana Hill Band Weru Wa Rukenya/Nougakua
RS 028 Rugwiti Sister Njira Nyinuke/Athuri
with Banana Hill Band
RS 101 Banana Hill Band Tufunge Ndoa/Dada Zulula
RS 103 Banana Hill Band Kwaheri Mama/Kilimanjaro
RS 7-104 Banana Hill Band Rose Mary/Boy Shuffle
RS 107 Banana Hill Band Wasio Jiweza/Emma
RS 108 Banana Hill Band Susana/America
RUGWITI SOUNDS
RS 018 is a Kikuyu record that turned up in London’s Revival Records store in March 2009; RS 016 surfaced on Ebay in November 2009 and Sofiane of Groovy Record in Paris supplied details of RS 7-011 in April 2011. A few days later in the same month RS 024 popped up on Ebay from another seller. Information about RS 001 was kindly supplied by Elbert of the Netherlands in October 2012.
I guess it was inevitable that Francis Rugwiti’s Banana Hill Band would have their own label given how prolifically they recorded elsewhere, cutting sides for Kirinyaga, Sawa Sawa Sound, Sokota, Njogu, Sibuor, Sululu and Wahome Super Sounds and no doubt a few others.
Details of RS 103 came, again courtesy of Sofiane at Groovy Record, in June 2013. The change of catalogue number may be because this single is in Kiswahili and all the others are in Kikuyu, a theory that gained further credence when Per Leuf from Sweden sent in details of RS 7-104 in July 2013 as it is also in Kiswahilii.