JAMBO 520 East African 78, super rare, STAR SERENADERS SEYCHELLES BAND c. 1949

$

114

EXTREMELY RARE 78 RPM RECORD FROM KENYA
1 OF 4 I WILL BE LISTING
SUPERB CONDITION

"En Bas En Bas Bonavine" b/w "Un Petit Parole Mazok"

Jambo 520 (Kenya)

LABELS: White, red and black labels are in excellent condition

MADE IN KENYA

Released in 194?

Vocal with Hawaiian guitar, jazz piano and accordian

Vocals sung in Seychellois

ABOUT JAMBO RECORDS (from the Excavated Shellac website)

This week’s sonic diversion comes from Uganda, performed by members of the Nyoro/Haya culture. A group of singers accompanied by drum (ngoma) and the Nyoro/Haya rattle (nyimba). It stems from around the mid-1950s on the beautiful Jambo label.

Jambo’s story is very interesting. It was the first independent East African record label, established in Nairobi, Kenya by two British gentlemen, in 1947, under the umbrella of East African Sound Studios, Ltd. They sent tapes to England and had their records pressed by Decca, which were then shipped by air freight back to Nairobi (a three-day flight distance at that time). By 1950, the company had fallen on hard times and there was a management shake-up, after releasing slightly over 200 records. The studio was closed down. East African Sound Studios, Ltd. was taken over by the African Ground Cotton Company. Otto Larsen, a Dane, was asked to help set up and manage a record pressing plant in a new building in Nairobi, and Jambo resumed in the early 50s, continuing to repress the best selling of their 200 or so records. Thus, the birth of the new East African Records, Ltd.

Amazingly, Larsen and crew continued to repress those same 200 records until 1955, when Larsen took it upon himself to start a recording studio in a Nissen hut on the property, which was formerly used to make cardboard pots for planting (a side venture of East African Records, Ltd., as was the sale of jukeboxes). Larsen began to travel in the region (Dar Es Salaam, Kampala), making further recordings for Jambo, and recorded much local talent in Kenya, many of whom traveled to audition in Nairobi. Taarab music was recorded, African acoustic guitar, accordion-based pop, Hawaiian waltzes from the Seychelles, and rural Ugandan music, such as we have here – pressed and packaged by Kenyan hands.

By 1955, other independent labels were active in the region: Capitol Music Stores, Mzuri, AGS, Rubina and Rafiki, and Munange, to name a few. The majors were active as well: HMV, Columbia, and Gallotone and their subsidiary, Trek. Jambo continued pressing 78s (and 45s) until 1961, when it became Equator Sound Studio. They had released a total of about 1,000 records.

United States customers

We use the eBay calculated shipping system. Please click on the tab for details. We ship within 5 business days. For shipments within the U.S., delivery confirmations with tracking information is included. We use professional record mailers and one or more fillers. Shipping discounts are available on multiple purchases shipped in the same mailer - this applies to both U.S. and International shipments. When calculating postage, double albums count as two; box sets will probably cost more to ship than double albums.

International customers

All records are shipped via Airmail.

 NOTICE TO INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS - NEW SHIPPING RATES
As of January 27, 2013, the US Post Office has substantially increased postage costs for international packages. Please do not pay when receiving the eBay invoice. My invoice will be less because I print postage at home - but the increase is still substantial. Actual postage to ship 1 45 is $11.48 and, since I use the calculated method - which add the cost of my supplies - the total shipping cost for one 45 will be $12.98. The good news is that the cost will not increase when I ship 2 or 3 45's in the same package and additional 45's will only increase the shipping cost a relatively small amount. So if you are an overseas buyer, you will save a lot if  you buy more than one 45 at a time.
     The increased costs also apply to LP's but the percentage increase is much less. Also, shipping costs for U.S. buyers have only increased slightly.
     Again, please wait for my invoice or request an invoice from me when you are finished with your bids or purchases. It will be less than the invoice that eBay automatically sends you.
     I appreciate your understanding. Please do not leave me a low buyer satisfaction rating for shipping costs as that would hurt my standing on eBay. I actually lose money on shipping because both eBay and paypal take out fees for the amount you pay for postage.  Thank you, Becky.

Discount is available on multiple purchases shipped in the same carton. Please tell us what country you live in and the number of LP's you want. Final cost is based on the weight of the package.