Meet Nairobi’s Lento String Quartet
“Lento String Quartet is a breath of fresh air for the music industry in Kenya and it aims to get rid of the notion that you can only “make it as it were” as a rapper or singer but that you can be an amazing instrumentalist at a top-level,” Band Manager and art entrepreneur, Ian Lai.
Nairobi is set to welcome a new sound from a band that has been working together for eight months now.
Just like the Fantastic Four (probably even better) Lento string quartet is a group of four young and fresh violinists from Kenyatta University. All of them are below the age of 23 and boast of capabilities in very diverse fields that will literally shock you.
The band consists of band leader and founder Oscar Mbwana Chilumo, a Bachelor of Commerce student; Victoria Chebet, a music degree student; Elizabeth Sanya, an industrial Chemistry student and Francis Kaduki, an Economics and Finance major.
“There are quite a number of string quartets in the country but we believe that we are lighting the way for more like us who are not singers or rappers to make it onto the commercial stage.Its a challenge , but one that we have accepted fully,” Oscar Mbwana.
The Quartet’s repertoire of music is as diverse as the fields of study, and they can entertain you with anything, from reggae by Bob Marley, to throwback classics like Fadhili Williams’ Malaika, not to mention their amazing version of H_art the Band’s Nikikutazama.
LSQ takes pride in the fact that they aim to elevate the level of performance without lowering the level and quality of music.
“We also believe that music is the one language that is understood by every single person in the world,” notes the band manager. It is for that reason that in early June, they will be traveling to Oloitoktok to accept the role of Goodwill ambassadors for an anti-fgm campaign that is led by Lenkai Christian School and the women and leaders of Oloitoktok town and environs. For them, giving back to the community is at the core of their hearts, not just musically, but with their other talents and gifts.
From working with the best in the industry such as Fatuma’s Voice Rixpoet and Poet Tear Drops, the quartet is gearing up for a feature on an up-coming album by Gufy-dox and Rixpoet.
With slow but sure steps the quartet is growing a brand in music that they intend to use to bring entertainment investors to Kenya. “It is our hope that the international community will look at Lento String Quartet and say, if this is what Kenyans are capable of, we need to be there yesterday,” Ian Lai finishes.
20 Comments:
Michael Maina Chege says:
Great Ideas. Looking forward to seeing the performances.
jimmy says:
great addition to music scene in kenya.
D. Mwaura says:
This team is just Amazing!
May the Lord increase your Boundaries Lento!
I always Love you.
eunice says:
keep the blaze on comrades….our very own
Kweyu says:
That’s truly a fresh and new wave in music industry… Keep it up guys…your talent will take you places& bring you before great men/kings and rulers of the world
Ednah Milando says:
big up guys…. u r moving mountains
Brian Saina says:
Amazing. Good work wish you the best. Vicky I can see yooou:-)
Daisy says:
You guys are simply Amazing..!
Cheruto says:
amaizing!!! see you at the top!!!
Nicholas Rono says:
Nice nice nice i like hope to hear more and more from you soon.
Collins Maina says:
I love the idea.
Can’t wait to see it work.
Evannes Kimtai says:
Aaawesome!! ☺ I so much like this, you pipo are going places you do’wanna know how!
All the best LSQ
@Chevvy
irungu wa murimi says:
Ya”al are doing great work …can you do like a music (hip hop beats in string form)..
valentine says:
Can’t w8 for kenya to see what you guys can do#team lentostring#
ivy. E says:
all the best my fellow youngsters. …you have all it takes to make t n be the next worldwide hit
Rixpoet says:
It’s a pleasure working with Lento on our joint upcoming poetry album with my poet friend, Gufy Dox. They were also amazing at a past edition of Fatuma’s Voice. On our visit to Kenyatta University and talking to them closely, we learned how passionate they are about what they do. Kenya needs more of this.
joyce owendi says:
great idea…am eagerly waiting to see your works..keep it up
Oskata says:
You guyz are on point, your number fan is here…with Oscar’s passion, combined with you three, you are second to non…go go go
Paul Mwendwa says:
I will be glad to watch your performaces…u can let me when u perfom
Paul Mwendwa says:
I will be glad to watch your performances…u can let me when u preform