In the 1940's Tanzania, along with its neighbor Zaire, responded enthusiastically to the influx of Cuban music style music in the East and Central African Region.
Tanzanian groups began playing music influenced by "Cuban Rumba" with lyrics in Swahili and echoes of the ngoma (drums), singing and dancing. The Cuban Marimba Band under the leadership of Salim Abdullah perfected Swahili Rhumba and so did Wilson Peter Kinyonga (1947? – ?) - Born in Tanzania, Wilson Kinyonga and his brother George Kinyonga founded the rumba band Simba Wanyika which would later spawn Les Wanyika, Super Wanyika Stars and other offshoots.
Wilson and George Kinyonga began as musicians in their home town of Tanga in Tanzania when they joined Jamhuri Jazz Band in 1966. They moved to Arusha in 1970 and formed Arusha Jazz Band with their other brother, William Kinyonga. In 1970 they moved to Kenya and formed Simba Wanyika, which would become one of the most influential Swahil Rhumba bands in the history of East African music.
Les Wanyika was to become more popular as Simba Wanyika disintegrated.
The death of George Peter Kinyonga in August of 1995 served as the last nail in the coffin for Simba Wanyika. Subsequent attempts by some former band members to reassemble the band have not been successful.
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