Ochieng Kabaselleh's midas touch and legacy

Not many revelers believed he was a Kenyan artist at the peak of his career.

This was because of his professional behaviour and work style, which closely mirrored that of Congolese musicians.

His Benga melodies and lyrics were nearly indistinguishable from those of veteran Congolese artists.

That’s why many Kenyan music fans believed Benga musician, the late Ochieng’ Kabaselleh, was Congolese by origin.

However, Kabaselleh was born in Asembo Kokise, Siaya County, between 1948 and 1950.

His collaboration with Congolese musicians helped create music that remains beloved to this day, rooted in mutual admiration and influence.

His Benga music was fused with Congolese Rhumba, establishing working relationships with renowned artists such as Franco, Verkys Kiamuangana, and Tabu Ley Rochereau.

Despite these partnerships, his compositions were fundamentally original—authentic Benga and Rhumba that defined his music career.

His arrangement of musical instrumentation was outstanding.

Kabaselleh executed his Dholuo compositions with great precision, occasionally mixing in Kiswahili and Lingala, adding a flavorful twist to his melodies that still resonate with his loyal fans.

Some of his most popular songs include “Jaber Nyar Mama Achi Maria” and “Millicento”, among many others.

Kabaselleh led Orchestra Luna Kidi from the 1970s to the late 1990s, standing shoulder to shoulder with Benga legends such as Daniel Owino Misiani of DO Shirati Jazz Band, Dr. Collela Mazee of Victoria B Kings Band, and Gabriel Omollo of Apollo Komesha, composer of the timeless hit ‘Lunch Time’.

He frequently toured major Kenyan cities, mentoring numerous young musicians who later carried on his legacy after his passing on December 11, 1998.

During a 1997 visit to Nakuru, Kabaselleh told this reporter that music was deeply ingrained in his life and that he was committed to passing it on.

“It’s something (music) we know well, as we have dwelt on it for many years, and we will pass it on to the next generation with love and dedication,” he said during a performance at a nightclub on Kanu Street.
After his death, Orchestra Luna Kidi splintered into multiple offshoot bands, many led by those he had mentored, including his children and close family members.

As a result, the band gradually lost its identity—much like the legendary T.P. OK Jazz (after Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi’s death in 2004) and Afrisa International (after Tabu Ley’s passing).

The splinter groups included Orchestra Kidi Masanga, led by Reggy Kabaselleh, and the original Orchestra Kidi, briefly led by Joel Okello Babu after Kabaselleh’s death.

Reggy, the firstborn son of Ochieng’ Kabaselleh, now hopes to reunite the offshoot bands.

He said their goal is to restore the legacy of their father, which can only be achieved through unity. The plan is to merge the bands under a new name.

“Our desire is to make a formidable comeback as a united front and revive Orchestra Luna Kidi, but this time under a different name,” Reggy told Sunday Standard.
The band will be renamed Orchestra Bana Ba Kadorry (Children of Dorcas), in honor of Dorcas—the mother of Ochieng’ Kabaselleh, mother of musician Dorry Kabarry, and grandmother to Reggy.

Dorry Kabarry remains an active musician in the current scene.

Reggy believes collaboration and unity will help them regain ground and achieve new heights.

Musical collaborations have historically produced timeless music, such as the iconic “We Are the World” and “Nairobi/Lagos Night.”

We Are the World was a 1985 charity single that raised millions for African famine victims, featuring global stars like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and many others.

The song, written by Jackson and Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian, was a monumental success.

In Nairobi Night, legendary rhythm guitarist Lokassa Ya Mbongo teamed up with vocalists Ballou Canta and Yondo Sister, joined by guitar maestros Diblo Dibala, Ngouma Lokito, and Shimita. Their collaboration gave birth to two albums under the legendary group Soukous Stars: Nairobi Night (1991) and Amour Madinina (1992).

“This is the kind of collaboration we’ve been talking about—the kind that can return us to our glory days and honor our father’s legacy,” said Reggy.

And for that, he added, the sky is the limit.