Two Nairobi funk delights from The Mighty Cavaliers

"Want Some Records proudly reissues two explosive gems from Nairobi’s golden funk era: Mapendo (1977) and Fisherman (1976) by The Mighty Cavaliers. Long hidden in collectors’ circles, these records are bold reminders of a time when Kenya’s music scene rivaled the world’s best—groove-heavy, politically charged, and dripping with style.

Formed from Joe Omari’s original Cavaliers in the late 1960s, The Mighty Cavaliers became one of Nairobi’s tightest and most forward-thinking bands. With sharp horns, psychedelic keys, and irresistible rhythms, they brought a cosmopolitan sound to Kenya’s hottest venues, including their famous residency at the legendary Starlight Club.

Both albums were engineered by German sound wizard Detlef Degener, whose studio innovation elevated their music to international standards. Degener introduced the band to cutting-edge synthesizers, multi-track layering, and bold sonic textures that set them apart from their peers.

Mapendo, originally released on EMI Kenya, is the crown jewel—a polished, politically aware masterpiece. Tracks like Baruwa ya Soweto denounce apartheid, Mama Come Home captures exile’s heartbreak, and Africa Tuungane calls for continental unity. It’s socially conscious music you can dance to: sharp, funky, and deeply rooted in East African identity.

Their debut, Fisherman, is rawer but equally striking, with the title track offering a poetic critique of Kenya’s political class under Jomo Kenyatta. Together, these two albums show a band unafraid to experiment, to groove, and to speak truth to power.

Yet behind the music lies a cautionary tale. Like many African artists of the 1970s, The Mighty Cavaliers were exploited by record labels. Their names were erased from Mapendo’s cover, and royalties never materialized. Bassist Bonnie Wanda, now one of the three surviving members, reflects:

“We poured everything into this music. To see our credits missing and our work misused was painful. This reissue is about setting the record straight.”

Despite industry setbacks, The Mighty Cavaliers’ legacy has only grown stronger. Their sound—equal parts Nairobi funk, Afrobeat fire, and soul swagger—captured a city and a continent in motion, as bell-bottomed youth danced through political turbulence. These albums are sonic time capsules, but they feel just as fresh on today’s dancefloors.

Want Some Records is thrilled to bring these classics back, fully remastered and packaged with in-depth liner notes documenting this fascinating chapter of African music history.

With Mapendo and Fisherman, The Mighty Cavaliers reclaim their rightful place as pioneers of Kenya’s funk movement. This is more than a reissue—it’s a resurrection of a sound that shook Nairobi and deserves to move the world.