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Music Landmark

Daniel Owino Misiani

1940 – 2006

The grandfather of benga

Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Kenya Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.

Why they are here

He pioneered benga, the guitar style that became Kenya's own popular music, and led Shirati Jazz for forty years while singing things about power that got him arrested.

Daniel Owino Misiani was a Tanzanian-born musician based in Kenya who led the Shirati Jazz collective from 1965 to 2006.

Called the grandfather of benga, he is the best-known benga artist in Kenya and abroad, and most benga musicians name him and George Ramogi as their greatest influences.
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