The Kenyan National Anthem, as any national anthem should, stands as a symbol of unity, patriotism, and the pressing urgency denoting the time of its composition that needed to gather the people of Kenya into a sort of decorum that was vital for this young nation straight out of a long and ardous road to self-rule. Unlike many national anthems that were adapted from pre-existing colonial compositions, Kenya’s anthem was uniquely crafted by a team of local composers in 1963. Its creation process is somewhat symbolic. While the colonialists had employed the ‘divide and rule’ method that split Kenyans along tribal lines, the anthem acted as antithesis and a collective effort to blur these lines with a call to action that united Kenya as one, in theory at least. Its melody drawn from a Pokomo lullaby was distinctive in the sense that this was a neutral (for lack of a more suitable term) community, unlike the more polarized and populous Gikuyu or Dholuo people which were at the center of the postcolonial power dyanmics.
Origins and Purpose
As Kenya approached independence from British colonial rule, a National Anthem Commission was formed to create an anthem that would embody the aspirations and convictions of the Kenyan people and resonate with its citizens.
The anthem needed to meet several criteria:
- It had to express unity and patriotism.
- The melody had to be simple yet dignified, suitable for orchestration by military bands.
- The lyrics were required in both Kiswahili (Kenya’s national language) and English, ensuring accessibility across the multilingual population.
The Anthem Commission
The commission consisted of five members, each bringing unique expertise to the task-
- Graham Hyslop – A British-born musicologist and Kenya’s Inspector of Music in the Ministry of Education. He chaired the commission and was instrumental because of his background, incorporating traditional Kenyan music into gospel songs. He was the organist at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, and the Hyslop building in University of Nairobi is named after him. He passed away in 1978, shortly after Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s death. He led the All saints Cathedral and Alliance Boys choirs in composing the English version of the anthem.
- Professor Washington A. Omondi – A 22-year-old music graduate from Edinburgh University at the time who later became a renowned ethnomusicologist. He was the founding chair of the Presidential Music Commission and was, as an individual, the one who dissuaded a post-coup president Moi from changing the national anthem to reflect a new, perhaps more vigilant Kenya.
- Reverend Thomas Kalume – A clergyman and music teacher at St. Paul’s Theological College, credited for insisting that the anthem begin with a prayerful tone. He was the first clergyman to be elected to parliament, serving as the MP for Malindi North. An alumnus of Alliance Boys and University of London, he translated the New Testament form Hebrew to Kiswahili and passed away on March 15, 1975
- Peter Kibukosya – A music teacher at Eregi Teachers College and an alumnus of Queen’s College, Belfast, he was the chair of the Kenya Music Festival. Kibukosya passed away in 1978
- George Senoga-Zake – A Ugandan-born musicologist who specialized in East African folk music and later became a professor at Kenyatta University. He was in charge of arranging the national anthem and played a key role in founding the music department at Kenyatta University. He passed away in 2008.
The team worked under tight deadlines issued by the late T. J. Mboya who gave them only seven weeks to complete their task.
The Pokomo Lullaby
The commission sought inspiration from various traditional Kenyan melodies to ensure the anthem reflected local sensibilities. After several considerations, they selected this Pokomo lullaby traditionally sung by Pokomo mothers to their children which Graham Hyslop had previously documented during his research on East African folk music:
Bee mdondo, bee,
Bee mdondo bee,
Akudobee ni gani?
Huenda hukawabige watu wa makoneah,
Mwenzi uyawa, ni nani?
Composition Process
Lyrics Development
The team worked on crafting lyrics that would reflect Kenya’s spiritual and national aspirations. Reverend Kalume proposed that the anthem open with a prayerful invocation: “Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu” (“O God of All Creation”). This set the tone for the anthem as One Nation under God. The lyrics were written separately in Kiswahili and English rather than being direct translations. This approach ensured both versions retained their poetic integrity while conveying the same message.
Recording
- The Kiswahili version was performed by the Railway Training School Choir, conducted by George Senoga-Zake.
- The English version was recorded by combined choirs from Alliance High School, Alliance Girls’ High School, and All Saints Cathedral, conducted by Graham Hyslop.
Presentation to Jomo Kenyatta
On September 4, 1963, three versions of the anthem were presented to the then Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta at his Gatundu home. Kenyatta requested revisions to emphasize devotion and readiness to defend Kenya, reflecting concerns over emerging secessionist movements in regions like the Northern Frontier District and later Mombasa under the Mwambao Movement.
The final version of “Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu” was recorded on September 25–26, 1963, and performed publicly for the first time during Kenya’s independence celebrations on December 12, 1963.