Musa Juma - Topic

Musa Juma Mumbo was a rumba and Benga musician from Kenya. He was born to the third wife of his father, a policeman, who had three wives and a total of 18 children. He grew up in Homabay where he attended primary and secondary schools. He began singing and playing instruments at a young age. His first instruments were guitars and drums made from tins and strings. He was the bandleader, guitarist and composer for Orchestra Limpopo International. Most of his music was sung in Luo language. Some of his songs are a fusion of the Luo and Congolese musical styles. He also sang in Kiswahili and English.
He was born in Usonga, Siaya District. Juma ventured into music immediately after completing high school. It was a difficult decision because music was not paying in the 1980s in Kenya and it was not considered as a career. However, Musa's determination could not be stopped by the societal view of music and he pursued his talents and interests. After a long struggle, MJ and his brother Omondi Tony launched their band, Orchestra Limpopo International. Together they started playing rumba in small clubs in Nairobi and Kisumu.