Chania River Boys was a Kenyan group that sang in the Kikuyu language. They are named after the Chania River, which is located in Kenya. There is very little information about the group, although the records they released mentioned Peter Kigia Wa Esther as the composer. The Chain River Boys may have been Peter's backing band, as he also composed songs from groups that used names such as the Chania Brothers and the Chania Sisters. It is also not known when the group started and disbanded, although Peter Kigia Wa Esther did release records under his own name as well. Many of the Chania River Boys records are not listed on the Discogs website and majority don't feature what years they were released.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have first played the Chania River Boys in 1993 when he was looking for records during the Little Richard Cover Search. He mentioned on his 26th March 1993 show that the Chania River Boys record, which was played, was a collaboration with the Kidija Sisters, and was one that he bought when he went to Kenya in 1973.
On his 27 April 1996 (BFBS) show, Peel mentioned a magazine called Holiday offered to send him and his family to Kenya to see the Chania River Boys but regrettably went out of business before this enviable offer would come to fruition.
Peel would continue play material from the Chania River Boys and it's franchise through the 90's and even dedicated a Chania record on his 24th October 2002 show to his cockerel, Nab, who recently died and was named after the Nab Woodley people who gave it to him as a birthday present.
Shows Played[]
- 26 March 1993 (& Kidija Sisters): N'Direnthira Fashiono () Joysounds
- 28 May 1994: ‘Pambele Zela Nyengese (7 inch)’ Best Sounds1)
- 17 June 1994: 'Pembo Lazela Ni Engese' (7 inch)
- 18 June 1994 (BBC World Service): Pambele Zela Nyengese
- 18 June 1994 (BFBS): Pambele Zela Nyengese
- 25 June 1994 (BFBS): Pambele Zela Nyengese
- 02 July 1994 (BBC World Service): 'Pacer Mamba Yotay'
- 11 November 1994: ‘Cucu Witu (7 inch)' Kigia Super Sounds
- 19 November 1994 (BFBS): 'Kuku Witu (7")'
- 19 December 1994 (BBC World Service): Kuku Witu (7")
- 10 February 1996: Pembelezela Nyengese
- 21 April 1996: unknown
- 27 April 1996 (BFBS): 'Pase Mambo Yote'
- 16 April 1997: ‘Unknown (Cassette – Tigana Now Nemed Kum Noga)’ Esther
- 22 April 1997: Tigana Naou
- 24 April 1997: Iteki Kano Eregua
- 24 April 1997 (BFBS): 'Nimwe Thukiriye'
- 01 May 1997 (BFBS): 'Itikia Kana Orege'
- 13 May 1997: 'Wendo Ni Wendo (Cassette – Tigana Now Nemed Kum Noga)’ Esther
- 21 May 1997: ‘Nim Wethu Kiri (Cassette – Tigana Now Nemed Kum Noga)’ Esther
- 22 May 1997 (BFBS): 'Wendone Wendo'
- 23 May 1997 (BFBS): 'Wendone Wendo'
- 29 May 1997: Ningwendete
- 29 May 1997 (BFBS): 'Nimwe Tukuri Ee'
- 26 June 1997 (BFBS): 'Ninguendet'
- 10 July 1997 (BFBS): N'Diri N'Dagwathia
- 24 October 2002: Pase Mambo Yote
- Chania Sisters (all song titles below are written phonetically)
- 17 June 1994: 'Rehe Touha Canwol (7 inch)' Kajia Super Sounds
- 25 June 1994 (BFBS): Reke Tuko Kanwo