Early Life
Charles Musyoki Kikumbi (also known as Kijana) was a popular Kamba benga music artist. He was born in April 1972 in Kimangu Town located in Yatta District Machakos county. Musyoki attended primary school at Kimangu Essential School and later moved to Nairobi where he acquired jobs within the Mechanical Range & Gikomba fields.
It was during his time working at a job in Gikomba that he honed his skills on the guitar, which led him to assemble a group of young men that formed into what became known as The Kimangu Boys Band.
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Recording their music proved difficult due to the monetary issues surrounding funding for their venture. However, with persistence, they landed themselves an opportunity through the Sua Generation who eventually after listening attentively enough times decided to grant permission for them to record their debut album Rabbeca back when it was released officially in 1991 unfortunately fell short without achieving the desired success rate expected by fans.
Music Career
Not allowing this setback to hold him down entirely musically despite heavy disappointment being dealt we found himself recovering pretty quickly musical-wise. He approached Joe Mwangi representing Matunda Production Company agreeing to become the official producer making the next upcoming second collection named Leo Ni Leo.
It gained popularity throughout the Kenyan media marketplace while directly competing head-to-head against established favorite band historical David Kasayoki-Katitu Boys’ Safari Ya Katitu the same year.
Family and Business
In 1995, Musyoki married Amina Ismail but their union was short-lived resulting in a divorce being filed three years later. By 1996 however, he had met and fallen deeply in love with Marrietta Kanini Musyoka who hailed from Apparatus while simultaneously working as an instructor at St Joseph’s Young Ladies Secondary School situated in Kibwezi.
Kijana became one of Kenya’s most celebrated musician-entrepreneurs who once found himself immersed deep into the thriving matatu industry knowing business insider secrets well.
He assembled notable musicians under specific conditions optimal quality sound conducive to pianissimo emergence respective signature sounds grouped during intense recording sessions building all-time classics together like Late Christopher Nzombo, John Muasa ([Kineene]), Sammy Kasee ([Simba Four]), Martin Mulwa Muthoka [(Ndyeteeleka), Bosco Mulwa (Musyoka) [Ng’anzeki], The Late James Mwau-Kilonzi Itching for organic sensation derived solely through superior trade controls — only releasing music strategically timed so became available exclusively seasonal increments including religious holidays providing great opportunities capitalize previously untapped markets musically speaking offered up by media networks constantly reaching out via radio broadcasts occupying nation-wide frequencies.
Popular Songs
From time to time, he would mix it up with some Luo Benga tunes (mainly from John Oketch & Kaudha Twins – Jane Ochieng), just like in his Volume 5 album – Kadogo & Paulina Manyanga. In December of 1999, Kijana released Kimangu 20 – Songs Of The Millennium which turned out to be the last album where he performed while still breathing.
Death
On 4th July 2000, Charles Musyoki Kikumbi perished in an accident that claimed his life at Katheka Kai on Machakos land. Afterward came weeks upon painful weeks for thousands of mourning fans until finally on Saturday, 22nd July 2000, Charles’ funeral took place at Kimangu Village amidst throngs full comprising among others Tony Wambua Ndilinge (the late Kilome MP).
He went into grave holding close his beloved lead guitar whose red shine shimmered! Two albums were later released posthumously namely; Munduume Ni Kiveti under Kimangu.
