When you think of pre and post independence times, I’m sure it’s more of kupigania uhuru and the heated politics after, but what about the music scene?
Okay…okay, I know you’re aware of some bangers of the time, Jambo Sigara by Fundi Konde and the likes but let’s dive in to how they were made and the experience of making them courtesy of African Twist, a dramatized account of four young musicians, their hopes, loves and despair against the backdrop of the politics of an emerging nation.
African Twist peaks in its balance of music, politics, drama, romance and comedy with Michael Mwangi (Fundi Konde), Steve Ng’ang’a (Grant Chalo), Samson Omondi (Fadhili William) and Ojwang Airo (Daudi Kabaka) at the helm. 
The play pays tribute to Grant Chalo, the brainchild behind the hit song Malaika (1959) in collaboration with Fadhili Williams. The background behind the idea of the song makes listening to it hit closer to home, timely, to be precise.
Sam Omondi brings a blend of intellectualism and humor in a refreshing manner as Fadhili Williams, the Equator Band glue with quite a charm.
Ojwang Airo as Daudi Kabaka, the African Twist inventor, brings an impeccable macho flair to the legendary vocalist with a memorable physical iteration. Speaking of Twisti, Michael Mwangi as Fundi Konde brings it down quite memorably coupled with a fantastic rendition of Jambo Sigara.
On the other side of the political game, one wouldn’t imagine a character like Jack played by Brian Gaitan would tie it in with music with such subtlety. An alcoholic and reformed convict, Jack manages to supercede other’s perception of him by tricking a business/political mougle (Kieran Ratanya ‘Popo’) from harming Fadhili over a love triangle. Besides this, Gaitan excells in his signature physical comedy let alone his comedic timing.
The music in the show really transports one to a different time, making a second floor individual like me wish to have experienced it.
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