AMANI BAYA
"Yes I am a born again, but I have to put food on my table...."Amani Baya, Coke Studio season 1&2 drummer says
Amani Baya is among the few instrumentalists who put food on the table from music but still manages to maintain his service in ministry. His heart for God and his fusion of that and his career intrigues me more than anything.
Currently embedded with Sauti Sol the AFRIMMA Award winning boys band, Amani plays drums but still serves at House Of Grace as a drummer and was once a music director.
His first love was the piano which he learnt how to play from their home. He later branched to learning the drums but can also play the bass guitar quite a baseline genius...and oh before I forget, he sings well too. Amani's drumming journey commenced at the age of 5 inspired by his musical family. His spiritual and musical life was inspired and reinforced by his parents who also provide musical instruments for them....don’t feel left out if you never had all of these growing up, I didn’t neither.
To all those who think I am too good to be on probation for 4 months, Amani was on probation for 2 years. Guess what, when at it, he constantly showed up for practice and seized the opportunity to practice. After the long wait, he was given a letter of declination for reasons he was not given. That did not stop him, he went to another church, House of grace, where he currently serves at wholeheartedly. He was still on probation but still gave his all- he bonded with the team, showed up for practice diligently and consistently, trained and gave ideas on music arrangement where need be and when he finally got the job. Amani Joined the team as a bass guitarist then later on majored on drumming and a music director after a few years at the House of Grace- a place he considers home- he earned ‘’the first big pay of his life from music 10,000 it was . "My first big pay was 10,000 shillings"
DrumJam CEO Amani, also has a heart to mentor all upcoming instrumentalists especially drummers,, hence Drumjam- a program set to mentor and let drummers in Kenya showcase their prowess.Speaking to him at Cafe Deli, he confirms that a bigger program is coming up, more like tours to support train and mentor all over Kenya, and later on in Africa too.
He started playing for secular artistes in 2008, Juma Tutu and the Tutu being the first. The first secular song he played was "Karubandika’’ in Juma Tutu’s musical tours. However when Tutu noted that Baya was so inclined to and had a stronger passion for ministry, he fired him, main reason being, " he was reserved".I was fired by Desmond Tutu..when he noted I was conflicting between church and his band.
He was hesitant to commence the secular journey but found a balance for it after a long hustle though. After Tutu, came The Niko na Safaricom tour which brought him and Sauti sol together.He has also worked with other virtuoso like the renowned Hugh Masekela, Wanny Angerer, Pastor Sila, Pitson, Papa Wemba, Salif Keita, Wyre, Nameless, Maia Lekow, Afrizo band, Gogo Simo, Silver strings. He has graced big events and stages including Niko na Safaricom grand tour, Beyond Idols Worship tour(U.S.A.), Coke Studio Africa season 1 & 2, Isiah Katumwa’s Live Concert and several tours with Sauti Sol.
Baya’s strong advice to all drummers: be disciplined, draw the line between your work and social life despite the friends you will find yourself working with. Separate work from personal relationships if you may, work hard and practice till you are out of breath."There always is a new thing that you do not know of no matter how good you are. Practicing often and playing all round music makes you realize it"
Click on the links below to watch him play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwXOLzyeSik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhAtOXDyi1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_-XADm2sY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD4uTJeRmRk
"Yes I am a born again, but I have to put food on my table...."Amani Baya, Coke Studio season 1&2 drummer says
Amani Baya is among the few instrumentalists who put food on the table from music but still manages to maintain his service in ministry. His heart for God and his fusion of that and his career intrigues me more than anything.
Currently embedded with Sauti Sol the AFRIMMA Award winning boys band, Amani plays drums but still serves at House Of Grace as a drummer and was once a music director.
His first love was the piano which he learnt how to play from their home. He later branched to learning the drums but can also play the bass guitar quite a baseline genius...and oh before I forget, he sings well too. Amani's drumming journey commenced at the age of 5 inspired by his musical family. His spiritual and musical life was inspired and reinforced by his parents who also provide musical instruments for them....don’t feel left out if you never had all of these growing up, I didn’t neither.
To all those who think I am too good to be on probation for 4 months, Amani was on probation for 2 years. Guess what, when at it, he constantly showed up for practice and seized the opportunity to practice. After the long wait, he was given a letter of declination for reasons he was not given. That did not stop him, he went to another church, House of grace, where he currently serves at wholeheartedly. He was still on probation but still gave his all- he bonded with the team, showed up for practice diligently and consistently, trained and gave ideas on music arrangement where need be and when he finally got the job. Amani Joined the team as a bass guitarist then later on majored on drumming and a music director after a few years at the House of Grace- a place he considers home- he earned ‘’the first big pay of his life from music 10,000 it was . "My first big pay was 10,000 shillings"
DrumJam CEO Amani, also has a heart to mentor all upcoming instrumentalists especially drummers,, hence Drumjam- a program set to mentor and let drummers in Kenya showcase their prowess.Speaking to him at Cafe Deli, he confirms that a bigger program is coming up, more like tours to support train and mentor all over Kenya, and later on in Africa too.
He started playing for secular artistes in 2008, Juma Tutu and the Tutu being the first. The first secular song he played was "Karubandika’’ in Juma Tutu’s musical tours. However when Tutu noted that Baya was so inclined to and had a stronger passion for ministry, he fired him, main reason being, " he was reserved".I was fired by Desmond Tutu..when he noted I was conflicting between church and his band.
Baya’s strong advice to all drummers: be disciplined, draw the line between your work and social life despite the friends you will find yourself working with. Separate work from personal relationships if you may, work hard and practice till you are out of breath."There always is a new thing that you do not know of no matter how good you are. Practicing often and playing all round music makes you realize it"
Click on the links below to watch him play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwXOLzyeSik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhAtOXDyi1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_-XADm2sY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD4uTJeRmRk
