GEORGE FOMBE AKA YAHOOS

May 24, 2026 - 04:00 PM

George Fombe, aka "Yahoos," was a big name in audio production in the entire East African region in the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond.

This name featured prominently in what Congolese refer to as "kobwaka libanga," a term that means mentioning a name in a song. The name was also mentioned at the commencement of almost all VOK programs in those days. It went beyond that; despite not always getting a direct mention, George Fombe was the sound technician behind several audio commercials aired by the state broadcaster in those days.

When you hear "Sportsman ni sawa hasa," a very popular advertisement for a British American Tobacco cigarette brand, it was recorded by George Fombe.

George Fombe, who says the moniker "Yahoo" was a popular name that came by accident and didn't mean anything, was the brain behind the recordings of several top Kenyan musicians and many others from East Africa. Vigelegele by Western Jazz, a Tanzanian band headed by Shamba Ramadhani, was his recording, as was Nawashukuru Wazazi Wangu by Black Warriors, comprising musicians from DDC who had opted to do a recording outside the band's system. He also recorded Maquis Du Zaire and many others.

Ochieng Kabasele's Nyar Kanyamuot, among many other hits by this musician, was also recorded by George Fombe, who has stuck to his trade to date without any intentions of ever seeking retirement.

George has recorded several top Congolese bands, including Virunga. Others include local superstars such as Kakai Kilonzo, Francis Rugwiti, Joseph Kamaru, Joseph Gicheha, Albert 'Wamaitu' Gacheru, Daniel Kamau 'DK', Peter Kigia, David Kasyoki Wamutoo, and Katitu Boys Band, Charles Musyoki Kikumbi and Kimangu Boys Band, and Martin Mulwa Muthoka and Mananja Boys Band.

In those days, the country's sole broadcaster was VOK, which ran three services: National Service, General Service, and vernacular stations. The state broadcaster did not record any commercials or privately sponsored programs; these were done by outsourced production houses. It is for this reason that George Fombe "Yahoos" became a household name in the era as a popular sound technician, also known as fundi wa mitambo.

Some of the programs that passed through his hands were "Sanyo Juu, Sanyo Top," which was initially done by Tido Muhando and then taken over by Fred Obachi Machoka. Others were "Maisha Bora na East African Industries" by Amina Fakii and "Ongeza Maarifa" by Joshua Makale, among others.

George Fombe was born in Nairobi's Eastleigh in March 1949 and attended Racecourse DEB Primary School before joining Pumwani Secondary School. His mother was a nurse. He was then employed at the High Fidelity studios, where he was taught the craft of recording by Hakam, an Asian sound engineer.

He had been taken to High Fidelity by Simon Ndesanjo, a London-trained and respected broadcast journalist who also plied his trade with VOK. Ndesanjo was his brother-in-law. When Ndesanjo bought CBS Records, George relocated with him.

In later days, CBS was acquired by Andrew Crawford, which meant that George Fombe, already a big name in the trade, became an employee of the production house. Worth noting is that Andrew Crawford later acquired High Fidelity, thus reuniting George Fombe with his former acquaintances.

This production house has also been associated with veteran producer Betty Tett, whose siblings Sheila Tett and Margaret Safari formed part of the iconic Kenya Blue Stars, yet another band whose success is largely attributable to George Fombe's production skills.

Among his peers were Isaya Mwinamo and Christopher Mbindyo of Polygram, Babu Kanyottu of Sawa, Babu Shah, and many others. Although technological advancements have redefined music production, with machines replacing central positions previously occupied by human beings, the roles played by the pioneers cannot easily be erased from the country's history.

BY JEROME OGOLA