NEWS

Anyango "KANKI" 2021.05.09 Release!!

The first full-length album in five and a half years by Anyango, the world's first female player of Kenyan traditional instrument Nyatiti. A new fusion of world music with Japanese Lyrics!

• Artist: ANYANGO
• Price: \2,750(Tax in)
• Label: JOWI music
• Release: 9th May 2021

"アレゴへの手紙" / A Letter to Alego

April 26, 2019　AFRI-CONVERSE #10

In a lead up to TICAD 7 scheduled to be held in Yokohama in August 2019, UNDP started to convene a monthly gathering, “AFRI CONVERSE”, to galvanize discussion on African development and TICAD as well as to promote networking among stakeholders. The 10th AFRI-CONVERSE session will look into Africa’s Diverse Culture and Beauty: Sports, Fashion, Dance, and Music.

• Friday, April 26, 2019 18:15-19:45 (Conversational Sessions)
• United Nations University Building, 1F Annex Space
  5-53-70, Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Map)
• Speakers: H.E. Mr. Solomon K. Maina, Ambassador of Kenya/ Chair of ADC Media, Culture and Tourism Committee
  Ms. Anyango, NYATITI Player / Vocalist, Japan-Kenya Cultural Goodwill Ambassador
  Mr. Takanori Nakagome, Around-the-World Dancer
  Ms. BUKKY ADEJOBI, AALOWA (Fashion)
• Language: English
• Entrance: Free
• Registration: Required from the website below.
  https://forms.gle/SKrgaXxrUu1chTUp6
• Contact: Chika Kondoh, TICAD Partnership Specialist, UNDP Tokyo Office
  chika.kondoh@undp.org Tel: 03-5467-4751

October 14, 2018　 NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN / Ukumbi wa Jumapili

In NHK world radio Japan, Anyango delivers Japanese culture and latest topics in Swahili.

• Jumapili, Oktoba 14
• Namna ya kusikiliza
  Unaweza kufikia kwenye tovuti inayofuata. Kuanzia 13:00 Oktoba 14 (Jumapili) wakati wa Japan.

May 22, 2018　NHK WORLD Japan

Japan-born Anyango is the first woman in the world to play the nyatiti, a traditional stringed instrument played by the Luo people of Kenya. What drives her to spread its sound around the world?

• May 22, 2018 20:40～ pm
• DIRECT TALK/ NHK WORLD Japan/ Captivated by the Sound of Joy
• Anyango Nyatiti Player / Singer
  https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/directtalk/articles/20180522/index.html
  https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/directtalk/

"Anyango Live in Tokyo"

"Kilimanjaro" MV / Ogwang

LIVE SCHEDULE

The 8th International Red-White Singing Festival 2018

• Saturday 20th October 2018 from 15:30 to 18:30
  Anyango will be around 17pm feat Kids!! Do not miss it!
• @National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (near yoyogi park)
  https://www.irws.org/

Anyango live @The Alchemist Bar, Nairobi

Everybody come on and join us!! Do not miss it!! Muthurukishion : Strings of The East

• Saturday, September 3, 2016　20:00 - LATE
• ANYANGO (JP)
• DBASS GANUN (TZ)
• DJ ZABU
• ADVANCE KES 500 GATE KES 1000
• M-Pesa Till number -- 91871
• The Alchemist Bar
  Parklands Road (Just behind Kwik Fit), Nairobi, 00525

UN Peace Ceremony Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo　

Anyango will be invited to perform at " Sing for Peace and Hope Concert" on the United Nations Peace Memorial Ceremony Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo in August. Anyango will perform all of them. The 70 years after the World War Ⅱ...
Everybody welcome to join this Peace Ceremony.

■8.2　Tokyo / Kioi Hall

• August 2, 2015 Open 15:15 Start 16:00
• Ticket : S-class : ¥3,000　A-class : ¥2,500
• Reservation : e-plus

■8.6　Hiroshima / Aster Hall

• August 6, 2015 Start 18:30
• Ticket : ¥2,000

■8.9　Nagasaki / Nagasaki Brick Hall

• August 9, 2015 Start 18:30
• Ticket : ¥1,500
• Reservation：095-820-1081

Nairobi, Kenya / Anyango Live

• November 29, 2014
  Anyango Live start around 15:30pm ～ (60min) / Open 14:30
• The Go Down Arts Centre, Dunga Road, Nairobi, Kenya
  http://www.newmuseum.org/artspaces/view/the-godown-arts-centre
• Entry free
• Contact：Japhet Njagi 0726992200 (o)

Uganda Milege Festival

• November 23, 2014, 17:00 at Main Stage
• Uganda Entebbe Botanical Gardens
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Botanical_Gardens_(Uganda)
• Tickets: http://milege.org/rufestival-2014/tickets/
• Manana Birabi.F Milege Inc P.O.Box 16652 Kampala
  http://www.milege.org info@milege.org

DISCOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

Anyango is the world's first female nyatiti player. The nyatiti is a traditional instrument of Luo tribe in Kenya. The harp-like instrument has traditionally been played only by men in the tribe. "Anyango" means "girl born in the morning" in Dholuo.

In 2005, she lived in the village of Luo, located in western Kenya, on her own to master the nyatiti. It was not easy to play the instrument, because it had never been played by a woman.

In 2007, she became so famous all over Kenya that she appeared on TV, in newspapers and on the radio many times. She played in front of fifty thousand people at the STOP AIDS Concert held in Kenya, hosted by the United Nations.

In May 2008, she performed in front of many African leaders in a ceremony for TICAD IV.

In July 2009, she was selected as "one of the 100 Most Respected Japanese People in the World" in "Newsweek Japan". In August, she published a book, "Yume wo Tsukamu Hosoku". The book was ranked first in the non-fiction section of "Amazon Japan". In September, she released her first solo album "Nyatiti Diva" and it was ranked first on Tower Record's World Music chart in Japan.

In May 2010, she released her second album "HORIZON". In addition, she was joined by other recording artists, such as the famous violinist Hakase Taro. In August, she appeared on a stage at the "Fuji Rock Festival", which is the largest outdoor music festival in Japan, and she was chosen as the best act in the world music genre.

In February 2011, she left for France to make a new album. Sally Nyolo, who was a member of Zap Mama, produced this Album and recorded with Anyango at four places in France and Cameroon. In July, she released her CD "Koe wo Kikasete" and published a book "Motto Toku e". The book was ranked firstin the music section of "Amazon Japan". In September, she will release her third album "Teï molo".

In August 2012, she published a book, "Anyango no Shin-Yume wo Tsukamu Hosoku", which was ranked first in the non-fiction section of "Amazon Japan". In July, she visited France and performed in Paris and Bordeaux. In October, she performed in Izumo-Taisha Grand Shrine, which is one of the most ancient shrines in Japan.

In 2013, regular concert named "Anyango Promenade" was held in Japan. This event is also a memorial event of Kenya's 50th Independence Jubilee. In March, she appeared on a stage at "Mvet Art Festival" in France. In May her interview was published in "Japan Journal", and that issue put her on the cover. During her World Tour 2013, she performed in Italy, Germany, France and Kenya. In October, she released a new album "ALEGO" in Japan. She has acted a radio personality of NHK WORLD Swahili for 3 years. A documentary of Anyango "My African Music" broadcasted via NHK WORLD TV channel.

In 2014, she continued touring the EU, North America, Asia, and Africa. She released her 5th Album "Kilimanjaro" in autumn.

In 2015, she was invited to perform at "Sing for Peace and Hope Concert" on the United Nations Peace Memorial Ceremony Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo in August. She released her 6th Album "Savanna" in October.

In August 2016, she released DVD "Anyango Live in Tokyo" in Japan, and she released her best album "The Safari of Eriko Mukoyama" in Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda. In addition, she performed at the reception parties of "TICAD Ⅵ" and "Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize", which were held in Nairobi. She appeared on NHK BS1 international report 2016 "WORLD LOUNGE" in September.

In January 2017, her best album "The Safari of Eriko Mukoyama" was also released in Japan. She has started to appear regularly in NHK Radio Swahili. In November 2017, Anyango was awarded with the Higashi-Kuninomiya International Culture Award for her ten-years of international friendship and culture exchange with Kenya.

In December 2018, the world’s first female nyatiti player Anyango published a book including her essays and 8 songs about the splendidness of life through the deep-spirited friendships with Kenyan friends.

In September 2019, Anyango released her first vinyl record “KAMBA NANE”.

In May 2021, a full album “Kanki” has been released. It has been five years since her last full album.

NYATITI

"Nyatiti" is a traditional instrument of the Luo tribe in Kenya. Its size is about twice as small as an acoustic guitar. The performer has three tasks when playing the Nyatiti: percussion, strings, and vocal. Anyango is the first female nyatiti player in the world because the instrument has traditionally been played only by men in the tribe.

The Nyatiti is played sitting low to the ground, while keeping a small distance from your body. You also put iron bells called "gara" on your right ankle and a metal ring called "oduongo" on the big toe of your right foot. Then, you sing and play keeping the beat by tapping the ring on the edge of the Nyatiti. The Nyatiti is also called Kanbanane. "Kanba" means string and "nane" means eight, so it literally means "eight strings".

The body is made of a hollowed fig tree and is like a hemisphere. Cow skin is put on the surface of the hemisphere. Nylon fishing lines are used for the eight strings, which have three thicknesses. In the past, female cow's Achilles' tendons were used for the strings instead of the fishing lines. Two thin bamboos like sticks and wood chips are bonded together by bee wax, which creates a deep echoing sound.

There are reasons why the Nyatiti has eight strings, why only men are allowed to play it and why it is called "Nyatiti". The first four days after a male's birth and after his death are said to be very special in Luo culture. In Nyatiti, the lower four strings represent the first four days of his birth and the upper four strings represent the four days after his death.

CONTACT

Please contact the address below if you have requests for performances or interviews.

ANYANGO Office JOWI Entertainment

• 2-4-12 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku Tokyo, 142-0064 JAPAN
• Anyango Office JOWI Entertainment
• TEL: +81-3-5749-0285 FAX +81-3-5749-0286
• E-mail: info@anyango.com
• Anyango Official Website: https://anyango.com