Popular Luo Cultural Artist to Hit Massachusetts Today Luo traditioanl artist, Tony Nyandundo performs for kenyans during a recent President Barack Obama Innauguiration Ball at the Hilton hotel in Rockville, Maryland .Hundrends of Kenyans attended the event .

by Odongo Makokha
LOWELL, Mass- MARCH 13-A wildly popular Kenaya traditional music artist, Tony Nyandundo, who is recently arrived in the USA to perform for Diaspora Kenyans during the President Barack Obama’s inauguration celebrations,   has finally arrived in Massachusetts together with his band of five men.

 The fierce looking, Luo cultural dancer, usually clad in leopard skin looking regalia with a fly whisk is scheduled to perform tonight in Worcester MA and tomorrow, Saturday , March 13 in Lowell .

  He  will be joined in the performance by Apostle Augustus Baraza of Kenyan Heritage & African culture.
 Baraza is a Washington DC based a born again Minister, a gifted artist, Musician, song writer and producer. He is a former night club singer who performed in Kenya’s Top Bands like Les Wanyika, Orchestra Les Volcano of Charles Kasembe, Kilimambogo Brothers Band and many others.

 Born and raised in the lakeside area on Kenyan, and popularly known simply as 'Nyadundo', the musician specializes in the Ohangla traditional style of music done by the Luo Community of the Western Kenyan region.

Tony is backed by the Ohangla Boys band, complete with an assortment of traditional luo musical instruments like drums and nyatiti etc.

Members of the Ohangla Boys band in action during the recent President Barack Obama's Innauguration ball in Rockville, Maryland.

Growing  in recognition,   nyandundo  is now  branded as the undisputed "King of Ohangla".

“This guy has tremendous talent, and it would be fun for Kenyans in Massachusetts to come out, have fun and witness the richness of the Luo culture as depicted by Nyandundo and the Ohangla Boys band, said Isaack xxx, one of the main events organizers.

During the recent events to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama,  Nyandundo performed in various venues including a  special invitation at the Kenya Embassy in Washington DC.

 He later performed for a large group of Kenyans who had gathered for an Obama ball by regular Wananchi at the Hilton Hotel in Parkvillee, MD  where he moved and excited guests with  Luo  folk songs  twisted  to  abundantly  praise of President barrack Obama  for being the first black president of the United states.

The young artist has   in the past performed in other countries like Germany.

Nyandundo is widely recognized for the hit ‘Dawa ya mapenzi’ among many others. In 2006, he released a popular album titled ‘Obama’, in reflection of President Barack Obama, whose late father was from the same region as Nyadundo.

During the 2007 Kisima Music Awards  ceremony, Nyandundo won the traditional music category and was named among 100 most influential Kenyans as selected by The Standard newspaper in August 2007. 
 
The Lowell event will take place tonight at the Castle Plaza, on 91 Stafford st, Worcester MA 01603, starting at 7.00 PM and ends at 1.30 AM.

Tomorrow Saturday March 14, Nyandundo and Baraza will perform at the at the Blue Shamrock Restaurant on 105 Market st Lowell, MA .The event kicks off from 7.00 PM to 1.30 AM.

Both events attract a $20 cover charge and organizers are contemplating providing barbecued goat meat for those who turn out, saying, "Nyama ya mbuzi yawezekana" ( goat meat is possible ) .

For more info contact:
Isaac-978-992-2138
Agwanda- 508-414-2076
Makoha- 617-959-9887

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