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Joseph Kamaru (born 1939) is a benga musician from central Kenya. He is a leading Kikuyu musician,〔(Rough Guide to the World Music )〕 who has sold about half a million records.〔Eastafricanmusic.com: (The Music Business in Kenya )〕 Kamaru is from Kangema, Muranga District. In 1957 he moved to Nairobi where he got a cleaning job. He started pursuing music in 1965.〔Daily Nation, Lifestyle Magazine, April 18, 2009: (The memoirs of a musical maverick )〕 Kamaru made his first breakthrough in 1967 with ''Celina''.〔 The height of his musical career was between 1975-1985. In the late 1980s he was the first Kenyan artist to play at the Carnivore Restaurant, then only hosting foreign artists. According to Martin Dunford, the owner of the restaurant, Kamaru's vibrant performance opened doors for other Kenyan artist to perform at the venue.〔 Many of his songs were political, either praising or criticising the government.〔Kimani Njogu & Hervé Maupeu (2007): (Songs and Politics in Eastern Africa )〕 Initially he had a good relationships with president Jomo Kenyatta, but after writing a song condemning the murder of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki in 1975 Kamaru fell out with him. After Kenyatta died, the next president Daniel arap Moi was close to the artist. In 1980 Kamaru toured Japan as a part of President Moi's entourage. After the visit he composed ''Safari ya Japan'' praising the president. But the President was not pleased with Kamaru's support for multiparty democracy in the late 1980s.〔 In 1993 he turned from secular music to gospel music and disbanded his previous group, the Kamaru Supersounds.〔(Allmusic profile )〕 The change saw a plunge in his record sales.〔 Kamaru is the chairman of the Kenya Association of Phonographic Industries (KAPI), and owns a church ministry in Nairobi.〔Daily Nation, July 7, 2006: (My Take - Joseph Kamaru )〕 He also runs two record stores in Nairobi.〔East African, January 27, 2003: 〕 ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joseph Kamaru」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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