Forget the clubs, Rhumba lovers go on a road trip

Rhumba is the only music genre that has been around for generations and still has a cult following. When you think of rhumba, you think of a cool and relaxing experience, combined with slow dancing. Now imagine taking a trip with a rhumba theme…

This is a business opportunity that Peter Simbi and George Openda, the founders of Rhumba to the World, have taken advantage of.

“I had been on a lot of trips and when I came back I always thought I wanted to come up with something different. Trips that were designed to suit a specific audience. So in 2022, George and I got together and started Rhumba to the World,” recalls Mr Simbi, who works in the entertainment industry.

Two years later, Rhumba to the World organised rumba-themed trips to Tanzania, Fred’s Ranch, Samburu, Homa Bay, Mombasa, Diani, Kisumu, Namanga and Suswa.

“I remember our first trip. We only had 16 people, but now we are pulling more than 60 customers per trip and filling two trucks,” says Mr Simbi.

Mr Simbi’s love for rhumba started at a young age. “I was an air scout when I was in grade seven (now grade 7), we used to visit Moi Airbase a lot. During our visits I would always be found at the engine room playing rhumba songs and zilizopendwa“When we went on school trips, I was in charge of the music and I always gravitated towards rhumba,” says the 30-year-old, who is also a DJ.

Quickly navigate through Rhumba to the world’s TikTok page and you’ll see a group of happy people dancing to rhumba music or just listening to it quietly as they make their way to their destination. It would be unfathomable to think that many of the people there are strangers united by their love for rhumba.

Wangari Kamau, who has been traveling the world with Rhumba since its inception in 2022, says Lifestyle.

“During these trips I have met new people and made many friends. We are not clients; we are a family. We hold each other, we network and we support each other,” she says,

“I remember my first trip with the agency in 2022, when we visited Samburu for two nights and three days. When I returned to work that week, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Wangari, who grew up in Kiambu County, says people are often surprised when they hear her playing rumba because “it is often associated with people who grew up in the Western Region or the Nyanza Region.”

Many expect me to be more interested in Mugithi (the traditional folk music of the Kikuyu), but this is where my heart lies. I discovered Rhumba when I was a teenager. It was a journey of self-discovery. I wanted to know what music could soothe my heart, so I listened to gospel, mugs, rap and reggae, and my heart went to rhumba. I play a lot of rhumba at home,” says the 41-year-old.

She says she fell in love with the rumba through songs by Madilu System, especially Sansa ya Papier and Nzele.

Wangari associates rumba with self-confidence.

“Rhumba lovers, self-confidence and high self-esteem are inseparable. That’s because we believe in ourselves, know what we want and are a mature audience. Rhumba music is about life, love, death, growth and self-esteem,” she says, adding that she always listens to rhumba songs when she prepares for her work.

“I have rhumba mixes that I listen to. It’s broad and it has modern rhumba, old school and zilizopendwa. Not a day goes by without me listening to at least one or two rhumba songs. Rhumba is very relaxing and calming. Sometimes you even close your eyes without realizing it. It just flows and calms you down, especially after a long, hectic day.”

There are rumba lovers who have learned the language Lingala. When they sing along, they visualize the emotions.

Wangari says she doesn’t understand Lingala, but “if I really like a song and I don’t understand it, I go to the English translations and get the general meaning of the songs. Language is not a barrier when it comes to rhumba music. I can sing along to many songs as long as I understand the general message in the song. There’s one song I like that I only learned for a week: Nzele by Madilu System.”

Another rhumba lover is Roselyn Tanga. When she is not at work or at home, you will probably find her in one of the rhumba bars in Nairobi.

“There are so many rhumba restaurants in Nairobi, including Treasure Gardens, Kifaru Place, Pyasa Lounge and Greenspan,” she says.

Roselyn is also a big fan of rhumba concerts, she attended the Fally Ipupa concert in 2023 and the Koffi Olomidé concert. “I also attended the Ferre Gola and Mbilia Bel concerts,” recalls an excited Roselyn.

She was introduced to Rhumba by her sister at the age of 20. Since then, she has been listening to rhumba music her whole life. “At first, I was a reggae fan, but I started listening to rhumba when I was living with my sister. I listened to Loi by Koffi Olomidé and I was hooked,” says the 47-year-old.

Now she is addicted to the rumba trips.

“What I love about Rhumba to the World is that all their trips involve rhumba, from International House (their Nairobi boarding point) to the final destination. These trips are usually about letting go after a tough month or week and having fun without being judged. It was also a chance to network and learn more about rhumba and our local tourism. We recently went on a trip to Kisumu, where we visited Kit Mikayi (a rock formation in Kisumu that is said to resemble a woman). I happen to be from the West, but I had never been to Kit Mikayi before, so I found it very rewarding,” says the 47-year-old.

“I never bother to learn the lyrics. I enjoy the beat, the company and I sing along. You learn what the song is about from the audience and friends. Rhumba is soothing and infectious. After a hard day, week or month, the trips with rhumba are a way to relax. In the beginning, it was mainly older people who took the trips, but nowadays it is becoming more and more popular among young people,” says the mother of one of them who also likes to listen to rhumba in clubs and at home.

If there was one rumba singer she could have dinner with, who would it be?

Roselyn says without hesitation to Koffi Olomidé, the Congolese singer-songwriter and producer.

“I was recruited into rumba through his music,” she says.

For most rhumba lovers, the genre was passed on by their fathers. Tyson Anunda is one of them. He grew up with rhumba, thanks to his father.

“My dad used to have a cassette radio and the only music we could listen to in that house was rhumba. The first rhumba artists I listened to were Kanda Bongo Man and Madilu System. Now I only listen to rhumba music. My Spotify and YouTube are only filled with rhumba music. My favorite song is Monie by Kanda Bongo Man,” the 27-year-old tells Lifestyle.

Tyson, a businessman, appreciates the rumba trips because he gets to meet new people, network and even promote his business.

Rhumba crosses all ages and Openda, known in his cycles as ‘Son of Rhumba’, shows that it is not just a genre for the older generation. The 27-year-old is the co-founder of Rhumba to the World and is the group’s official deejay.

“I may look young, but my mind is old. I started listening to rumba when I was young because every Saturday and Sunday we had rumba night at home. Then I went to high school and there was all kinds of music like hip hop and dancehall. I found my way back to rumba when I went to Koroga Festival where Fally Pupa was the main artist. I started making rumba mixes, posting them on my YouTube page and seeing that people were interested. After that, I joined TikTok and started hosting live TikTok shows where I played my music. That’s where I met Peter Simbi after a fan came to my live and suggested that we do rumba trips with Peter,” says the civil engineering student, adding: “My nickname ‘son of rumba’ comes from Ferre Gola because his stage name is Le Padre. So I thought, if he is their father, then I can be the son of rumba.”

Peter says the cost of each trip varies depending on conditions and fuel costs.

“For example, the Samburu trip cost Sh9,500. The Homa Bay trip cost Sh16,000 for three days and two nights. And the Tanzania trip cost Sh16,500 for two days, including accommodation, security, food and site visits,” says Mr Simbi, who says their youngest client to date is 27 years old.