Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno Siaya Kenyan born multiinstrumentalist singer songwriter, Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno is exploring northern shores and blesses us with his original melodies inspired from traditional East African music and combined with wise stories all the way from the shores of Nam Lolwe (also known as Lake Victoria). His principal instrument, the Nyatiti, an eight string lyre, animates the warm evenings of his natal Luoland of Western Kenya where he is from. Through its storytelling and distinctive otherworldly voice, his music gives an insight into our ancestor’s wisdom. Rapasa is very focussed on this heritage. He has in depth knowledge and understanding of traditional music yet he has researched Nyatiti music in such a way that he is able to place it in the context of today’s music landscape making it original in this genre. He released two albums “Tipona” (my shadow) in March 2020 and “Songs of Equality” in December 2019, work which was commissioned by the University of York in 2017 on the project Human Rights Defenders at Risk. He participated as a fellow in prestigious musician gatherings such as Making Tracks (2019) which toured in autumn the same year across the UK, OneBeat (2017), and back in 2016 in the Nile Project. In his upcoming release Rapasa is looking back at his tradition and what he learnt at a young age from his grandmothers and from growing up in rural Western Kenya. Having moved away from his natal province the artist is reflecting on KWEChE (Taboos in Dholuo, his native language). Thu Tinda!!!
