Daniel Kamau
Daniel Kamau Mwai "DK" (born February 1949 in Gatanga, Muranga District) is a musician from Kenya. He is of Kikuyu ethnic group and performs Benga music.
Daniel Kamau | |
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Birth name | Daniel Kamau Mwai |
Born | February 1949 (age 74) Gatanga, Kenya |
Genres | Benga |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Kamau comes from the village of Mabanda in Gatanga. Failing to pay the tuition, 1967 he dropped out of the Karatina High School in 1967. He decided to pursue a career in music, and released his first record in 1968.[1]
He made a breakthrough in 1970 when he released the “Murata/I Love You”, which became a national hit.[2] Around the same time he established a music studio of his own, the DK Nguvu Sounds. It would later attract musicians like Kakai Kilonzo.[1]
In 1977 his songs "Nana" and "Mwithua" were banned by the then state radio monopoly Kenya Broadcasting Corporation due to alleged obscenity.[3] In 1990 he formed a new band, the Lulus Band.[4]
He was the civic councillor of the Gatanga ward from 1979 to 1992.[1]
As of 2009 he is still performing, and has written over 1000 songs during his career. He is also releasing music videos of his past hits.[1]
References
- "DK: A thousand songs down and still going". The Standard. August 16, 2009.
- Worlds of the Indian Ocean connecting the past to the future February 19–23, 2009· Nairobi, Kenya: Film: Retracing the Benga Rhythm & Live Concert: D.K.Mwai and Queen Babito Archived 2009-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Michael Drewett & Martin Cloonan: Popular music censorship in Africa. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006. ISBN 0-7546-5291-2
- Richard Trillo: Rough guide to Kenya 7th edition, Rough Guides, 2002. 1858288592 ISBN