George Mukabi
George Mukabi (1930–1963) was a folk musician from Kenya and was one of the first recorded musicians in the country. In his short musical career, he recorded fewer than 30 songs.
He was influenced by recordings of Malawian bands and set out to emulate a fingerpicking style of guitar playing. His style proved popular, influencing musicians such as John Mwale, and created what became Sukuti music, popular among western Kenya's rural people. Some of his songs still receive radio play including "Sengula Nakupenda" and "Mtoto si Nguo", which he composed, but was performed by his son.
His style of music, "omutibo", was popular among urban Africans and played a part in influencing urban musicians such as John Mwale. In 2017, a compilation album of his work, Furaha Wenye Gita, was released by the US-based Mississippi Records, featuring liner notes from his son, Johnstone Ouko Mukabi. Alongside this, a documentary about Mukabi and his influence on Kenyan musicians entitled "A Child is Not a Cloth" was released, featuring Johnstone.
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