Younger artists like and Wakinyi have turned Mugithi into a stadium phenomenon. They add drums, bass, and keyboards. Purists call this "Mugithi pop" and frown.
While Mugithi's modern "one-man-guitar" format solidified in the in urban centers like Nairobi, its roots stretch back to the mid-20th century.
Here is an overview of the genre:
The real purists will tell you: If there’s more than one guitar, it’s not Mugithi. If it’s before midnight, it’s rehearsal. If you’re sober, you’re not listening properly.
Go for the curiosity. Stay for the whiskey. Come back because you finally understood the "Heeeey!" and it felt like coming home.
To understand Mugithi, you must know its three gods:
