Collela Mazee (real name Richard Owino) born in 1954 in Gem, Siaya District (Kenya) and dead 7 March 2000 in Nairobi (Kenya), Collela Mazee was a Kenyan musician, who was a leading member of the Victoria Jazz Band alongside Dr. Nelson Ochieng Mengo. They were among the originators of the benga music, a music genre with origins in Kenya’s Luoland.
Music Career
He was educated at Ngere High school, but quit midway to begin his career in music. In 1972 he joined Victoria jazz under the leadership of Achieng’ Nelly, another veteran of Luo Benga music. Nelly introduced Collela to the rigours of benga music but the pair soon split up in 1973. Collela Mazee took over the leadership of Victoria jazz hence forth. The band released such famous hits as jack-jack (1974), Nyaduse (1976) and others. Victoria jazz split again in 1979 into the various Victoria groups which ruled benga music in the 80s and 90s. Collela remained the leader of Victoria A.
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Collela Mazee
Collela Mazee together with D.O Misiani defined benga as a musical genre. His style was melodious and fused the various melodies from the Luo traditional musical instruments such as orutu and nyatiti into a modernised version. He sang mainly about love but also ventured into politics occasionally. He became a house hold name in Kenya and beyond.
Death
Collela Mazee died in the evening of Tuesday 7 March 2000 at Masaba Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya after being admitted to the hospital on the 4th Saturday suffering from cardio-pulmonary arrest.
Family, Wife and Children
The musician left three widows, Hellen, Janet Aloo and Betty, and 15 children and 6 grand children.
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