User:Koecharles/Kipchamba Arap Tapotuk

Kipchamba Arap tapotuk (1937 to 2007)was a Kalenjin reknown artiste born in Bomet district.

THE KALENJIN COMMUNITY LOST THE GREATEST KALENJIN MUSICIAN KIPCHAMBA ARAP TAPOTUK WHO DIED ON april 7 2007. HE WAS TALENTED ARTIST WHO COMPOSED AND SANG SONGS OF ALL GENRES, BUT WITH A NOTICEABLE RUMBA BEAT. HIS SONGS NOT ONLY ENTERTAIN HIS FANS BUT ALSO EDUCATED ALL WHO UNDERSTOOD HIS LINGUAL.

HE COMPOSED HIS SONGS WITH GREAT MASTERY AND ENDLESS WITH COMPARABLE TO SHAKESPEARES SONNETS BUILD WITH GREAT RHYME,IMAGERY AND FLAVOURED WITH PROVERBS AND RIDDLES. HIS LIFE AND PASSING ON SHOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO ALL AND ESPECIALLY THE UPCOMING LOCAL MUSICIAN WITHOUT AND OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, TO ADHERE TO THEIR ROLE OF ENTERTAINING AND ALSO COMPOSE SONGS THAT UPHOLD OUR ETHICS AND CULTURE. THE GAP LEFT BY KIPCHAMBA WILL BE HARD TO FILL.

early life
Kipchamba dropped out of school early for lack of fees and started singing at the tender age of 10. His teacher at Segemik primary school, Linus Sitienei, discovered his music talent in 1950. Ã¢â‚¬Å“I owe much of my success to Mr Sitienei,Ã¢â‚¬? he once told journalists in an interview.

At school, Kipchamba was a bright pupil and active athlete, but his parents could not afford the Sh105 yearly fee required by the Catholic-sponsored Kaplong intermediate school, now Kaplong boys secondary, in Bureti district.

Breaking up with his first music partnership after four years in 1959 was not a setback. He played the traditional guitar, or chemonges, but and picked up the modern one later in a career that spanned half a century.

His band, KoilngÃ¢â‚¬â„¢et, comprised Oriango arap Chepkwony, Francis Langat, Moris Mainek and Sekeri Tallam, and their first recording happened in Kisumu. They then moved to Kericho to start recording with Chandarana Music Stores.

Kipchamba can be said to be the father figure of music in the Kalenjin land as he was a genius in the composition of high-quality, undiluted and inspirational songs.

Among his best are Kibiritit, Teret tab Kogo, Kimulogong, Mukeni and Mokori. But most probably due to low earnings at the earlier stages, Kipchamba did not at any one time live the life of a celebrity.

Former President Daniel arap Moi once described him as Ã¢â‚¬Å“a real and authentic singerÃ¢â‚¬? and recognised his role in the unification of cultures of all the Rift Valley communities.

Mr Moi, ODM Kenya presidential hopeful William Ruto, Cabinet minister John Koech, MPs Nicholas Biwott, Nick Salat, Paul Sang, Anthony Kimetto, Franklin Bett and Kipkalya Kones as well as former Nairobi provincial commissioner Francis Sigei were some of the many personages who attended the funeral.

http://www.kalenjin.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128:kipchamba-arap-tabotuk&catid=50:entertainers&Itemid=222 http://www.mashada.com/forums/politics/39367-tribute-kipchamba-arap-tobotuk-greatest-kalenjin-musician.html