Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ronald Ontiri Onchuru Bikundo is a versatile obukano player who was born in 1974 in Kisii. Ontiri started playing music in 1985 and recorded his first song ‘Bikundo Obaba mbono’ in 1994 and from then on he has been the main star of the obukano music genre from the region. Ontiri has performed in most entertainment venues within Kenya and is among the few Kenyan musicians with a huge fan base in the US and Canada, where he has also toured extensively. Ontitri has been invited to perform in South Korea and Germany, not mention that he was one of the leading performers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2014.
Ontiri on the obukano and vocals was backed by Leonidah Basbori on tumba and vocals with Lavin Kwamboka, Cliff Mogeni Mogaka, and Omuya Cyprine Moraa all on background vocals. Fiston was on guitar with Dave on bass.
Ontiri is married to Ruth Moraa and the two reside in Kisii town with their four children.
You can find out more about our recording with Ontiri Bikundo here: singingwells.org/stories/day-four-10-march-2022-rongo
Ronald Ontiri Onchuru Bikundo is a versatile obukano player who was born in 1974 in Kisii. Ontiri started playing music in 1985 and recorded his first song ‘Bikundo Obaba mbono’ in 1994 and from then on he has been the main star of the obukano music genre from the region. Ontiri has performed in most entertainment venues within Kenya and is among the few Kenyan musicians with a huge fan base in the US and Canada, where he has also toured extensively. Ontitri has been invited to perform in South Korea and Germany, not mention that he was one of the leading performers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2014.
Ontiri on the obukano and vocals was backed by Leonidah Basbori on tumba and vocals with Lavin Kwamboka, Cliff Mogeni Mogaka, and Omuya Cyprine Moraa all on background vocals. Fiston was on guitar with Dave on bass.
Ontiri is married to Ruth Moraa and the two reside in Kisii town with their four children.
You can find out more about our recording with Ontiri Bikundo here: singingwells.org/stories/day-four-10-march-2022-rongo
