In the 1960s and 70s, Columbia University student David Nzomo recorded six albums of traditional Kenyan songs from his childhood for Folkways Records. These six albums include folk, work, dance, children's, gospel, and protest songs recorded in Swahili, Kikamba, and English. More than 40 years later, Nzomo visited Smithsonian Folkways to reflect on the recordings and his career.

African Rhythms: Songs from Kenya by David Nzomo is available on CD and digital.

While touring Kenya with his musical group in the late 1950s, David Nzomo realized that it was sometimes difficult to keep the audience’s attention during stage set–up and transitions. To fill the dead time, Nzomo played songs he used for weddings, parties, and local get–togethers, and that music subsequently turned into the core of his repertoire. He sings in Swahili, Kamba, and English on themes of courtship, marriage, life in a foreign country, and Kenya’s independence. Nzomo’s liner notes include musical notation, lyrics, and track notes.