Aloka Ohangla Group - Otieno Ochako Thume - The Singing Wells project

Here's famous Luo musician Otieno Aloka playing the orutu with his band. You can find his profile on our website here: www.singingwells.org/groups/ot...
You can read the field report from our visit here: www.singingwells.org/stories/d...
Recorded on the 29th November 2011 in Aluny Village, Nyanza as part of the Singing Wells project field trip to record the music of the Luo of Kenya.

[@clydecarter8411]

I am from a Caribbean island and this music is embedded deep in my genes, listening and watching those ladies dance makes me cry with ancestral feelings and joy.

[@alexkarisa5293]

Khonjokolio

[@alexkarisa5293]

K

[@sande6410]

The LUO of East and Central Africa

[@stanstano6064]

Tune good, a weh seh mayut

[@josephineotieno2389]

Ohangla music is very interesting especially during ceremonies n they play 16 drums orutu n all traditional instruments

[@emmanuelmunene4583]

I am from Meru but man I must admit Luo music is dope.

[@MrBabujinga]

Absolutely...that Orutu kills as a Rhythm section....and it 'talks'.

[@josephobwona252]

I am a proud Acholi/Luo watching from South Sudan. Sending love and peace to my brothers and sisters in Kenya.

[@ofwarekevin9541]

Much love to you too

[@sadsong3547]

We love you too

[@ombaraopiyo8443]

We love you too people, can we hook up guys?

[@evanceokoth3738]

my brother welkam

[@bigbrotherkenya5658]

Do u understand our luo in kenya??,,just curious

[@rockmoneymedia3607]

Mano Owadwa Otieno Alok Much Love From LuoSomalia🇸🇴🤘🏿 Owachoni Jakuo Ohero Wach Okwala To ngamakuale Ongee 😂😂😂

[@j.mcondiaso2836]

To my surprise, I have just spot my granny here dancing. I must show her the video. What a music!

[@georgemwangi7586]

Am a kikuyu but love every bit of this song. Cultural diversity

[@onyashed]

The colonialists messed your music with that mwomboko dance with that xylophone...but legend has it that luo guitarists went to akina Kamaru's bands and akina Queen Jane and Mugithi was reborn... True Cultural diversity..

[@davidrigiri3325]

My best driving music.Am a kikuyu,lived and worked in siaya.Its my second home.Driving all the way from siaya(alone) to Thika with this playing in the car.Best drive ever.

[@casperolu7973]

A true African MUST appreciate the tune and the beats of the ancestor.

[@simenyasikhulu]

Yenyewe muziki hauna kabila. Bora mdundo mzuri. Unaona vile mpiga ngoma yaani sogora anavyo twanga drums?

[@mosesokonji1981]

@@onyashed .

[@davidinyoung3046]

Who's still vibin' with this in 2020 🔥🔥🇰🇪💯

[@queenwere1]

2021 and I am having a good time

[@ricky_nazz3183]

2023 we still here!

[@nyarjohn747]

2024

[@samueljim8213]

Our luo talent straight from Sudan, northern Uganda to Kenya

[@prof.oduoroduor6471]

a proud luhyia with luo blood... hehehe.. who is enjoying this favourite in 2019......... great luo culture

[@gabrielotieno2424]

Otile brown

[@prof.oduoroduor6471]

@@gabrielotieno2424 amefanya nini?

[@renmumbo4150]

Hehe

[@prof.oduoroduor6471]

@@renmumbo4150 hehehe.. umefika huku

[@renmumbo4150]

@@prof.oduoroduor6471 kabisa, hua naskiza hii hit leo Ndo nimeona comment yako

[@Savic08]

This band would entertain us greatly at ukambani..we love those beats🔥🔥 and the vocals

[@djnickymosh7867]

October 2023. Here i came again.... how i wish life could be paused just for a moment and reversed, ooh gone are the old days... live long aloka wuod okombe, wuod ting wang'i!

[@janedorothy2463]

Who's still watching with me this 2018?...proud Luo

[@nyalalastephen9541]

Am with you nyathiwa

[@fredrickooko8917]

Am with you , i miss Otieno Aloka "mama piny agonda"

[@josephofula8907]

Jane Dorothy here I am, reminds me when I was in Ugenya very young by then.

[@e.crabtree4313]

Mit ndi, ahero ka luoko wang'a. Kata yier milielo to bende onge! Luo yawa, Luo sirikal. Ahero law Mama moruako majan. Ka ojogi to iwit kama aneno maler, mile bende iromo chuth.

[@ridersandroadsafety2501]

If I'm not wrong this was in UMALA village because these women are familiar

[@josephonyango7254]

The real ohangla still enjoying it 2021 Aloka the man to watch😅

[@philippaudi3551]

It's high time we embrace our culture as a people from nyanza ....I would like to be a traditionalist

[@twinscapital5207]

2019 still watching and listening. who is with me... I love it Originality Aloka mambo biad.

[@luckysosplaylist7541]

mit aduwa jo thurwa...the fact that he uses the traditional musical instruments to produce exceptional music is joy to my lakeside brothers

[@owinojesse-bobogembo9602]

This song garnered over 800k...wuoi ma piere otar onindo e par,ma kworo🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@ambroseoyamo7404]

Par was a very reckless place to sleep. But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger 😭

[@wbabu6155]

I have always loved Luo music and dance! I'm a Kikuyu. Some of my favorite artists like DO MIsiani and Collela Mazeee have since passed on. Sad!

[@amosoburu]

now this is true luo culture depicted in luo music

[@rajuu2136]

Am not luo am Somali but since I have interacted with the luos , I love you guys alot. Luopeans 👊😍 love your songs and your lifestyle really it makes me feel fantastic 🔥

[@evanceokoth3738]

we should bless you with a luopean beb from the lake side.... thnks alot and bigup somali

[@rajuu2136]

@@evanceokoth3738 thanks alot I'll always love luopeans no matter what their ascent of speaking it's cute. Not forgetting those songs I swear uh cant just sit down and litsen to them without standing up and dancing your shoulders to the song💘

[@evanceokoth3738]

@@rajuu2136 ,WELCOME, please enjoy ,

[@josephineachieng9044]

Thanks somali we love you too

[@cynthiariisah2050]

Loved u guy already sounds nice

[@byttlejuice145]

Ugandan luo here haha, Okello Ochako Thume, Okello has started his music, need more please, and I understand most things he is saying.

[@paulomondi4269]

Are you padhola?

[@carolinendinya9190]

Wow kudos,,,

[@babuitalanyi7230]

Everything is rhythm, vibrations. Gratitude to our Ancestors for you GODS.

[@AndyHarpist]

I drive some Luo musicians to Wales. In the United Kingdom. We stopped for a break, nowhere special, entered a small, suspicious, silent, country pub and took a drink..Someone suggested they play a bit, so they did, performing all this above. After15 minutes the entire pub..sheep farmers, tourists and locals were taken to Africa and were on their feet dancing....Wonderful!

[@nicholasowitioginga5009]

That was so fantastic. I wish I was there.

[@mwanafalsafa3613]

Wonderful moment it must have been,by any chance you recorded a video?

[@sejerian]

Awuoro nyaseje kaugagi........mitu nyere......wuod alego inyala wang'ni Jah bless

[@clydecarter8411]

I can see images of my long gone ancestors expressed in the faces of the dancing women, and in the rich cultural rymth of this musical genious performance. Thank you all and please let save this world from destruction, with love from Barbados❤🧡💛💫💥.

[@GeorgeOkumuOmollo]

You were here a year ago. You are still here today? MUCH LOVE into our cultural history. The musicians are from my village

[@clydecarter8411]

@@GeorgeOkumuOmollo Thanks George, and it is my hope that the spirit of our ancestors continue to guide and protect us.

[@stanstano6064]

Feel at home

[@madawokevinochieng6588]

Back in North carolina USA listening to this, really a charming song.

[@albiryusuf1680]

Madawokevin Ochieng jamming to this full blast all the way from Omaha, Ne and all my palls in love with it.

[@moustaphambaye8029]

Oh! Que c'est beau , quelle joie de vivre, respect à nos musiciens

[@castrowaero6233]

This is June 2019 but I'm still watching this, luo wan malo. Proudly luo. Proudly Tanzanian.

[@kaimelucahkarimi5028]

Love watching Luo traditional songs.They are well choreographed.

[@YouthCan254]

Ayiegi nyiri mamielgo.... Im enjoying from Texas

[@juvenaldasilva413]

extremely nice ,cheers from Angola 🇦🇴

[@newtonerick2368]

Traditional song, cultural diversity.....am very proud to be a Luo. Viva!

[@wakilinathannjoroge835]

Those ladies aren't letting the music go to waste. May God give them good health and more life to enjoy life for many more year

[@opiyo417]

That's the spirit!

[@lugslugittorhkaester7562]

The old grannys, love their dance. Aloka you should have shown us more of them... All these reminds me of funerals those days, Aloka was the man to play in disco matanga after burial, then when he's left and everybody's gone you start to feel the gap left by the diceased and the loneliness downs on you and you now know your loved one is really gone forever never to return.

[@peterwallacepeter8303]

I concour with u lugs..very true

[@kennethotieno995]

Disco matanga was Africans way of dealing with grief

[@stevemakathiambo8403]

they came to play in my step grandmother's funeral. back in 1997. We danced .the whole village came the young and old .

[@19915105]

How I wish such bands can exist into the future. The old me to dance to this in 2060

[@biyogoaugustin931]

Hahaha

[@santossantos4189]

Omin wod twon wod Jaluo oywayo lyec ki yibe ,wee ni mit tutwal ,jok jok mamalo ,apwoyo. Brother son of Luo ,who pulls an elephant with its. tail , your music is very nice heavenly God bless you thanks (an wod Acoli ) am an Acoli man .

[@GJames-ng7xw]

U understand the Kenyan Luo?

[@KevHaggai]

I'm Luo and I clearly understand this.

[@user-ky2tc7in4g]

Juogi, now this is the music without borders . Hits differently with the drum beating as the heartbeat.

[@peterwallacepeter8303]

our Alego grannies does no mistake when they take it to the dance floor I promise you this was just awarm up dance.......am nt swallowing my words u can see if you have naked eye......

[@casperolu7973]

Listening to the tune of my ancestors. 2019.

[@jacobomondi5111]

I love this originality of Ohangla gentre.I witnessed this at early age wonderful.Old folks enjoyed then.Proud Luo from Congo

[@mriitho]

Alur?

[@carenbuluma3542]

I really miss my mom who passed away and she used to dance aloka's music. Rest in peace mom till we meet again.

[@collinsmboha5137]

Wuo Alego Randago !!! 2019 we still watching 👊👊👊💕❤️

[@BEL-qy4yu]

Authentic luo heritage. love this original luo instruments . I cant have enough of this stuff.

[@elijahnyakundi7157]

The rylics you dance without talking not to miss the sweat tunes

[@itzmuzick9542]

Who is watching this in 2019

[@osegocodes]

Am watching

[@christinemangira9884]

Me too really nice

[@richardokoth7218]

the guy has really changed i see him almost daily and you cant believe it

[@evansochieng773]

Am watching

[@evansochieng773]

@@richardokoth7218 where is the guy

[@rogershadao1975]

When drum like is main instrument then it becomes Ohangla music. The rest are accompaniments. So in this set are two music genres namely Orutu (Being played here) and Ohangla (Drum lying) but not in play. When in play as lead instrument the music is Ohangla. Both, however are in some situations played together depending on preferences to form a mix of either Orutu or Ohangla.

[@denniskabuitu7726]

Ndi mugikuyu na mimi manapenda hii nyimbo sana, goosebumps tupu...

[@prof.oduoroduor6471]

i can watch this 1000000times a day without tire... whhi is here 2019 na hagongi like..... luhya here but a luo culture inside...

[@PeterOluoch]

This is my village. Aluny, Siaya, Kenya.

[@bramwelkamau9725]

Is this guy is from siaya??

[@safpeakmedia5934]

@@bramwelkamau9725 yes

[@danisomondi5210]

@@bramwelkamau9725 yep

[@danisomondi5210]

So you own the village 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bramwelkamau9725]

@@danisomondi5210 uyu jamaa n musician mkali although siskii

[@lennyonyango3224]

When music was pure art and passion

[@josephotieno3943]

Otieno Aloka wuod Alego Siaya Kakan Randago. Now this what we call traditional ohangla. Originality is gold. Baas yoka muziki ndugu yangu

[@realitybwakire]

Now I know where RAO got his funny dancing style 🤣I love luopeans ❤

[@GeorgeOkumuOmollo]

Haha

[@opaslifestyle]

The old woman with owalo dancing adds more juice to this, super 👌 😍

[@hezroncreations]

Still watching in 2024❤

[@lisa07ization]

Played this over 10 times. We love our Luo friends ⛸🇰🇪💯And All other 40+tribes Kenya is better without AlShabaab and haters🇰🇪⛸💯💒🔭🚦❤️🖤💚

[@gladysaluoch1183]

We should have public places reserved for these kinds of music at least once a month so the youth can have a glimpse of what our music used to be like

[@paulrabolo4309]

2021 who is here with me, am proud to be a luo

[@wycliffewafula-fz8ox]

Mimi APA ,though I changed my name when I was adopted 😢

[@jakagerokeukamrembo9465]

pure and natural music, this is when music was music

[@fredrickopana4374]

This is the real luo ohangla, pien n'gech ywago te awuoro kuma piano noae mokethonwa thum

[@nathanomwangeomwange5574]

Am Soo proud you guys am omwange Nathan jakamreri watching from the city of Nairobi uthiru

[@shivum3464]

2021 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🥇🥇🥇🥇 Eish climax ni jega mono

[@AKenyan]

This is a perfect tune ❤and the lady dancing. Ni rwimbo rwega muno ma

[@mosesokea8594]

Still enjoying in 2020

[@johnirungu3161]

Beautiful song... we can’t be more proud of our diversity than this. Long live ohangla.

[@ronaldonyando5318]

It's still a wonderful world. Juogi!

[@stevebico1635]

who's still watching with me in 2019?

[@lavineoduor2189]

When ohangla was ohangla, love you papa😍😍😍😍#aloka nyale

[@fuegoradio...81]

As a music connoisseur, please allow me to call this medicine .

[@kevinOmondi-ur4nz]

Yath

[@nyakwarogao1280]

This song was great

[@ronnieraney5462]

I connect deeply with this for some reason. I love Kenyan music.

[@sammcouma5136]

Who is still it in 2020,corona pandemic

[@hamisimohammed8543]

Am in love with drumist

[@kevinawimbo854]

Otieno Aloka was a real traditional instrumentalist. A pure musical staff. Not the current hybrid instrumentation.

[@MrBabujinga]

Even him he's succumbing to the 'laziness' of the keyboard; programs everything, then plays alone!☹

[@VeejayRampay]

This is truly amazing, thanks for sharing a piece of the Luo culture with us.

[@nicholasotieno1063]

NOW THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OHANGLA LEAVE ALONE THOSE KEYBOARD KALONGOLONGO. MIT MARATARI

[@minblessing7175]

Aloka ma wuod John Onyiro the late bar sauri village manaigocho edalagi, I big up u more osiep fadhee👊👊👊

[@silass7957]

The one thing I always love about this groups is the lyrics, quite the punchlines... Mit aduwa

[@jursperhernandez8534]

That's it

[@jackiephyll1250]

Old is gold ✨️, these are the best .

[@wambuikiboi8713]

Iam a kikuyu I can't understand luo but I can't get enough of this song..🎶🎶🎶

[@victorndege6470]

Still watching in 2020, the real ohangla music

[@reaganobonyo]

Luo tradition songs are just the best...mituu yawa

[@denishowenga3265]

This is the true Ohangla, mitnaaaaaa

[@noahowino5473]

Waaaauu,,the mamas remind me of my late grandma,may her soul rest in peace

[@felixisoler2938]

Who's still watching Odiemo wuon ngoma in Jan 2021

[@KennedyOtieno-gg7st]

amazzzzziiiiiiiiing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jemimahanyango9138]

If junior girls cannot dance, let the senior girls do it for them. m humbled.

[@gloriousn6425]

Proudly LUO from Tanzania(shirati) Ma mit ndii

[@patrickstarshooter5221]

Hi, I am so keen on learning more about my brothers from Tanzania, I'm a Luo from Uganda (Acholi/Alur). Up until now, I didn't even know there was a Luo tribe in Kenya.

[@AllAgainstOdds]

Proud Luo of South Sudan. I also only discovered that there are Luo in Tanzania. So greetings to you my fellow Luos.

[@otienoochola]

How are you my brothers from, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda?! Am a Luo from Kenya..

[@emilyachieng5327]

@@patrickstarshooter5221 and me I didn't know that I have Luo brothers and sisters in Uganda

[@felixmakinda7689]

​@@patrickstarshooter5221Luo is one of the biggest and most popular tribes of Kenya. Great Luos include Raila Odinga, Jaramogi, Barack Obama Snr and Jr., Lupita Nyong'o. Those are big names globally.

[@graceosodo7011]

Those beautiful ladies are making it

[@sikukuu]

Sisemi kitu,Alego Siaya the origin of the LUO arts.

[@ocayaro]

I have no idea what they are singing about but there is something otherworldly about this tune. It would make a good ending credits song for an African-themed documentary.

[@paulkoth5947]

i love this tune,otieno aloka,come back to the traditional songs,very soothing indeed..achana na kina ohangla

[@mwangimagnet3564]

Am kikuyu loves it

[@patrickstarshooter5221]

LUO FOREVER!!

[@hasmukhpatel4085]

Wow.What a wonderful Performance by everyone.long may this culture survive.

[@BrendaAchieng-sy4jf]

Wathing in 2024!!

[@EDWINNalianya-ik9pn]

Am enjoying it 2024

[@dareminderblackseed]

Modern Ohangla producers are starving us our original beats, Y'all doing really great job still . yes n congratulations n I salute y'all esp #WuodFibi . I beg you guys to please pick few elements from our original sound n make it complement the beautiful modern Ohangla you've reinvented it into.Reggae created Dancehall,to date modern Dancehall borrows few original instruments from the ancient reggae roots music.just a request family .love you all again.. I leave w Love n respect . #WeDonjuok

[@Quilant749]

Na huyu aloka kumbe nimyoung na tena hundsome...naomba yke

[@joanatienoonyango3036]

This should be a serious career path. It'll surely employ a good number of people if well promoted, with music composers, singers, choreographers, instrumentalists and instruments manufacturers getting good business.

[@nicholasowitioginga5009]

Very true.

[@elianesantanna8867]

Já sei de onde vem minha paixão pelos ritmos diferenciados, enfim pela música

[@khajulamukhere7577]

It's here in Kenya