Ayub Ogada facts for kids

Job Seda (1956 – 2019), known as Ayub Ogada, was a talented singer from Kenya. He was famous for playing the nyatiti, a special eight-string instrument that looks like a harp. It comes from the Luo people in Kenya. Ayub's music often sounded very natural. You could hear sounds like birds singing, animals calling, and children playing in his songs. Besides music, Ayub Ogada was also an actor. He appeared in popular movies like Out of Africa (1985) and Kitchen Toto (1987).

Ayub Ogada's Life Story

Ayub Ogada was born in 1956 in Mombasa, Kenya. His family belonged to the Luo people. His parents were musicians, and they taught him about their traditional music. They even performed Luo music for people in Kenya and the United States. Traveling with his parents and seeing different cultures really shaped Ayub's music and his way of thinking.

Early Music Days

When Ayub was in school in Kenya, he played many different instruments in bands. He enjoyed both traditional and modern music. In 1979, after finishing school, he helped start a band called the African Heritage Band. They mixed traditional African music with rock and soul sounds they heard on the radio.

Moving to the UK and Big Break

In 1986, Ayub decided to go to the UK. He traveled to London with his nyatiti, the traditional Luo instrument. He earned money by playing his music on the streets and in the London underground train stations. This is called "busking."

In 1988, something big happened. He was asked to play at Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Festival in Cornwall. This festival celebrates music, arts, and dance from around the world. A band couldn't make it, so Ayub's short performance turned into a full show. Peter Gabriel, a famous musician, was very impressed!

Working with Peter Gabriel

After the festival, Peter Gabriel invited Ayub to his Real World Studios in Wiltshire. In 1992, Ayub sang backup vocals on one of Peter Gabriel's songs. In 1993, Ayub recorded his first album, En Mana Kuoyo (which means "Just Sand"). After that, he toured a lot with Peter Gabriel and the WOMAD festival.

Music in Movies and TV

Ayub's unique music has been used in many movies. You can hear his songs in films like I Dreamed of Africa (2000), The Constant Gardener (2005), Samsara (2011), and The Good Lie (2014). His music was also featured in the BBC travel series Long Way Round and Long Way Down, starring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. One of his songs, "Kothbiro," was also in the Mexican film "La Habitación Azul" (2002).

Acting Career

Ayub also acted using his birth name, Job Seda. He played a Maasai warrior assistant in the movie Out of Africa (1985). He also starred in The Kitchen Toto (1987).

Later Years and Legacy

In July 2005, Ayub Ogada performed at the Live 8 concert at the Eden Project. This was a big event to raise awareness about poverty. He opened the show with his band, Union Nowhere. They released an album called Tanguru in 2007, the same year Ayub moved back to Kenya.

In 2012, musician Trevor Warren visited Ayub in Kenya. They worked with Kenyan musician Isaac Gem to create an album called Kodhi (meaning "seed" in Luo). This album was released in 2015. Ayub also helped with the song for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, which was led by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Ayub Ogada is even credited on the Kanye West album, Ye, for co-writing the song "Yikes".

Ayub Ogada passed away in February 2019, at the age of 63. His music continues to inspire many people around the world.

Ayub Ogada's Music Albums

Albums

• 1993: En Mana Kuoyo
• 1998: Tanguru
• 2015: Kodhi: Trevor Warren's Adventures with Ayub Ogada

Singles

• 2005: "Dicholo"
• 1993: "Koth Biro" (This song was used in the movie The Constant Gardener, which was filmed in Kenya.)