The Shiftars: RIP Benny Mascarenhas

 

The Shiftars, a rocking great band

By Cecilia Mascarenhas

 

 

Early last year Cyprian Fernandes (Skip) was in contact as he was doing true life stories for his blog and book on bands and musicians from East Africa, and wanted a story on The Shiftars, the 1960's band from Mombasa. Unfortunately, I could not do it in time for publication.  But here it is for those interested. 

 

Everyone who remembers The Shiftars ask me if they would reunite again...I doubt it though hope they will one day!  Their interests are so diverse now besides living far apart, it might prove to be a mammoth task!   Besides Benny is a firm believer that, despite having music in one's genes/ blood, it is the diligence of practise, that ensures - “the fit of all players in a band should be tight and in sync” – compatibility, when producing music and sounds, like those that made them famous in their youth in Mombasa, as without that, the music will just not sound right.

 

A personal photo book was gifted to the band boys when they turned around 65!  A kind of “Thank you” for the memories …  which was also shared with a few close friends!  This was to give some pleasure in rekindling thoughts and memories of their music as well as the pleasant times of our youth, the wonderful days of being teenagers dancing to the music of The Shiftars!  

 

Some of this material is adapted here as well as from an article I wrote for The Goan/Sacred Heart School’s 75th Anniversary Souvenir Brochure in 2007 since all the boys were educated there.  

 

 

The Shiftars group was formed sometime circa early 1964 by Benny Mascarenhas (lead guitar), along with Dominic Noronha (rhythm guitar), Polly (Pauly) Dias (bass guitar) and Rudi Lopes (drums), who were from the Class of ’65 with their Manager Victor De Souza, being from Class of ‘64 of The Goan/Sacred Heart School in Mombasa.  Their interest in music started early, influenced with the advent of electric guitars and the new sounds/ beats of Cliff Richard and The Shadows, who had taken the world by storm and created a new Kenyan generation when they visited Nairobi on their tour to South Africa.    

The aptly named film and song “The Young Ones” was just what the young ones growing up in the early 60’s needed, to infuse their youth!!

 

Benny at the age of 12, always had an interest in music, and whilst his father Joaquim played the violin, and his older brothers Lambert (violin), Leslie (trumpet) & Philip (trumpet) were musically minded, he preferred the guitar.  So to encourage his interest, his parents bought him a simple acoustic guitar from a store in Makupa.  Later, influenced by Hank Marvin and The Shadows No. 1 hit “Apache”, he and his friend Basil D’souza built themselves a guitar in the shape of Hank’s “Fender Stratocaster” and for “electrification”, pinched the mouth-peace from a local public telephone booth.  Benny twanged his way practising different technics and sounds, and by the age of 15, was recruited to play with a band named Conny Kit & The Pirates.  Encouraged by his dedication, his Mum, Maggie, bought him his first pukka electric guitar “Elite”.  The band consisted of Conny Telles, Joey Costa Correia, Benny, and Lamartin D'Souza.  

 

When the band was offered a contract in Italy, Benny was not able go with them as he needed to complete his schooling education and so gave his silver band jacket to Leslie Peters (cousin of Joey Peters of The Bandits) who was then additionally recruited to the group.  In Italy, the band renamed themselves The Bushmen but disbanded a few years later. 

 

So, as he was not able to go to Italy, Benny then decided to form his own band with his classmates who were as keen as he was to emulate the sound of The Shadows and Cliff, especially after their visit to Kenya, thus the formation of The Shiftars.  Dominic on rhythm, had the voice and looks of the young Cliff Richard and Benny, influenced by Hank Marvin, had the similar twang of the Fender Stratocaster which brought the band’s unique sound to our very own doorstep in Mombasa along with Rudi on drums and Polly on bass. They practised regularly in the garage at “Gupta Villa” (Dom & Rudi’s abode in Ganjoni), and as their repertoire progressed, they would occasionally play at venues including the Rex Hotel.  

 

In time Roger, the manager of Tudor House Hotel got to hear of them and offered them a booking to play every Saturday night at Tudor House Hotel.  Saturday night in Mombasa was never the same thereafter, as most teenagers made it their venue to Shadoogie and Shindig their way through the night!

 

How they came about the name is a bit of a story in itself.  As the bands at that time took rebel sounding names like The Pirates, The Bandits etc, these lads took the name of the then Somali raiders into northern Kenya who were known as “Shiftas” – but when the lads played at the Diamond Jubilee Hall for the political KANU Party’s annual ball, their celebrity guest Tom Mboya, a leading Kenya Cabinet Minister, came up to the stage to thank them for their enjoyable music and told them that he was not happy with their name!!. So, to avoid any conflict, Benny decided on adding the “R” to the band’s name.

 

Thus renamed “THE SHIFTARS”, was born and continued playing!! much to the chagrin and dismay of the boys’ parents and school board – as it was apparently affecting their studies, especially as their Senior Cambridge (O Levels) graduation exams were looming up that year, 1965.  Needless to say, despite many protests from their parents and the school board, the boys still carried on playing and thankfully passed the exams too!

 

They continued playing at Tudor every Saturday, and on reflection years later, meeting up with members of Safari Sound Band, it was gratifying to know that from hearing The Shiftars and seeing them play at Tudor, albeit through a window on the side, was what inspired them at their young age to as well take up music and were helped and tutored by a Goan teacher.  In gratitude they invited Benny and me to hear them play at Whitesands Hotel on our visit in 1994, when they unexpectedly performed their rendition of The Shadows numbers on the beach! 

The Shiftars were often popularly booked for various private Goan functions and weddings at the GI club, the Goan Tailors Society, as well as, the Diamond Jubilee Hall for various multi-racial weddings and functions encompassing some of their Swahili and ethnic music too.

 

The band’s performances at the local Annual Makadara Fete for the Idd/Eid festival as well, generated a large fan base among the young Arab/Muslim girls and boys who could not afford attending the hotel venues they played at.

 

Their one regret to this day, is not having had the facility at the time, to record some of their numbers like the Christmas Carols that were done in unique arrangements and the contemporary music they twanged without orchestration. 

 

 

Their popularity kept them very much in demand, and with the remuneration earned, plus help from the family, they then purchased new amplification from London, and guitars from Germany, which made the fiesta red Hofner electric guitars their signature look alongside the new 30 Watts WEM amplifiers that extended their tone and sound.  Also, when a visiting English naval ship’s band in need of quick dosh sold them their Watkins Copycat echo unit, it further enhanced their unique sound of The Shadows, and completed their act. 

 

In later years, it was wonderful for Benny and me to meet the real Mr. Watkins and be invited to his home studio in London, where he had designed the Copycat echo units and WEM amplifiers.  From our conversation with him, we were surprised that he clearly recalled the first order that he had from Assanands Music Store in Mombasa, which was for his WEM amplifiers, and how that initial order subsequently opened the market for him in Kenya.

In 1966, the band entered the Teen Beat Contest in Nairobi and came third but it was an experience for these young lads as they had to compose their own music and travel all the way to Nairobi on a shoe string budget to compete only to find that the bands that beat them, played copyright hit numbers from the UK charts – though deflated, it gave them a resolve to better themselves with enthusiasm nevertheless!  The following day they played at the RGI hop, thus creating a Nairobi fan base who would always make it a point to come to say hello and hear them play when in Mombasa.

 

From then on, their music went from strength to strength as they incorporated contemporary dance music and other chart hits to their repertoire thus creating a good modern dance band that were the envy of other bands by substituting different rhythms and guitar sounds in replacement of orchestration, thus creating a totally new sound and dimension. 

Though they continued Saturday Nights at Tudor House Hotel it was, late ‘66, at The Carlton Hotel, where they occasionally played that they were heard by Sean McCrindle, Manager of the elite 5 star Nyali Beach Hotel that primarily had only foreign tourist and the rich stay there.  He offered them a lucrative resident contract to play every Wednesday and Saturday night including, the Festive Seasons which drew in the Mombasa crowds making the band ever more popular as “Saturday Nights at Nyali”, became the hot spot for the majority of the local community as the band’s ever changing repertoire moved on to include a wide tempo range of instrumental dance music that had never before been performed on the electric guitar, as well as group vocals covering pop numbers including the Beatles early hits. 

 

For the Nyali Beach Hotel Brochure, the band had an additional uniform to encompass a touch of the Kenyan wildlife with red velvet jackets trimmed in fake leopard fur (red to match the guitars) ahem.

 

 

They also procured an organ and harmonica, which Benny played in between twanging the guitar!  Thus increasing their range of music and variations to the popular hits of the time.

 

Sadly none of the music they produced was recorded except once in a flat, with a basic tape recorder, as recording studios etc. were few and expensive.  This was done when they were offered a chance to go to Germany and play the clubs, but thankfully declined due to parental pressure and not knowing what going to Europe could entail.

At the time being 19 years of age, they continued with their obligations at Nyali Beach Hotel as well as fitted in bookings for other occasions, whilst also working in their daytime career employment too.

 

With the political climate in Kenya changing and employment/career development hard to come by, 1968 changed the band members with Rudi, drummer, leaving for the UK and replaced by Jojo (Benny’s younger brother who had previously played the guitar in a band called The Wee).

Though still very popular and in great demand, it was future prospects that were unsecure and so in 1970, Benny and Jojo left for the UK and Polly and Dominic then emigrated to Canada. 

This meant that 3 members of The Shiftars were now in Canada and Benny in the UK!  And so it was inevitable that a reunion was in the offing – albeit an informal one in 1979 when we both visited Toronto and were joined by Polly (Theodora) from Nova Scotia and Dominic (Diane) from Edmonton.  It was fab being together again, and whilst jamming in the basement for old time sake, the boys realised that they had not forgotten their music though some "brushing up" was needed ... a phrase that was often used in humour and laughter, but the friendship was still very close and tight.

 

It was to be another 12 years before they could reunite again...purely due to work and career commitments.  21 years since their Mombasa days – the band reunited for a short public performance at “Karibuni Kwa Kenya Nite” in September 1991, held in Toronto, which was organised by the Goan Community (GOA) where, to a rapturous welcome, the boys played for just over an hour to ovations which brought many happy memories and tears to the ex Mombasa and Nairobi folks.  They were in fact only scheduled for a 30 minute slot, but the demands for more had them playing longer! Truly a memorable night. (Note their 1964 signature uniform of all black with the yellow string bow ties was recreated again for this performance).

 

 

 

 

The next day, they played at The Nags Head, a local pub for friends and family who wanted to spend time with them and reminisce the good ole days as well as joined on stage by the Remedios brothers from Mombasa.  The special T-shirts worn with The Shiftars photo was gifted to them by Henry Vaz, a staunch supporter, who also arranged the pub reunion of Mombasa friends.

 

 

Then in 1998, when the lads turned 50, they decided that the best way to celebrate was to get together for yet another reunion and this time it was held in Edmonton, Canada in June 1998, as Dominic decided to celebrate this milestone birthday, and brought the boys yet again in touch with their guitars & drums!. It was indeed a wonderful reunion.

 

 

 

 

This last reunion session finished with the song “Vision” sung by Dom.  It still resonates of when will we meet again...!!

 

 

 

At present, Rudi (Ninette) and Polly (Theodora) are in Toronto, and Dominic (Lourdes) is in Edmonton, Canada. 

 

Maybe one day, health and time permitting, the boys will get together for old time sake and have a reunion of sorts with the music and camaraderie they shared which kept them close and young!!... well, I try to egg my dear hubby Benny (here in London, UK) to start twanging again!  Lest he loses the touch of his first love! Ahem!

 

There are times, when we play the tracks that were later recorded at their reunions, and I close my eyes, I drift back to time when the cool breeze of Nyali Beach Hotel and Mombasa wafted over me, the stars in the sky sparkled, together with the moon doing it's bit and I enjoy reminiscing to their unique sounds of that era and the man I fell in love with and married!....though it is 46 years later!!

And in now putting their story for all to read, it will also enable our friends to drift back in time and reminisce as well as share the era of the band.  

With the help of friends, I was able to collate a few of the old photographs (some not digital enhanced!) so hope you enjoy reading and going back in time to what was our Yesterday in Paradise! Ahem!

 

In closing, the family of all 4 Shiftars wish you and your families reading this, a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New year!

 

Mingi good wishes,

Cecilia Mascarenhas

December 2018

 

What did your parents do (careers, professions, trades, etc) in Kenya

 

A work in progress: need your comments

THIS IS ALL ABOUT HOW GOANS HELPED BUILD KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA

so far I have focused on Kenya, a lot of the jobs will be similar in all three countries and Zanzibar. This story when finished illustrates how directly or indirectly Goans (as well as other communities) helped build Kenya until 1963 and after (Independence). No names have been used but would be happy to publish them if you send them to me. 

A Kenya friend asked me the other day: what contribution did the Goans make in the building of the nation of Kenya: Simple answer probably every aspect of life (except politics).

 

1.  They helped develop a professional civil service that survived the prangs of the early days of independence. There were lawyers, Queen’s Counsels, and clerical support in the High Court and the magistrates’ courts. There Goan court clerks all around the East African judicial system. With others, they kept the postal and telegraphic system working. The Civil Service at all levels: district, provincial, in every inch of the country, it was the Goans who kept the wheels of colonial government in ship shape, even guarded it, improvised, improved and made the white man look good. Without the Goans and other South Asians there would have been no colonial government as such.

2.    Stenographers (secretaries) provided unbelievable support in helping new civil servants, ministers and assistant ministers and permanent secretaries, under-secretaries take baby steps in their first days and weeks and months in Government. Later, employment agences. Corporate CEOs, Company chair persons, Corporate Company Secretaries, Corporate investors, Corporate innovators, Bursars, corporate treasurers/Chief accountants and plenty more.

3.      There were several prominent Goans employed by the Kenya Parliament.

4.      There were priests and nuns who played a  wholesome role in meeting the religious needs of the people long before the advent of independence. At the same time, they partnered their local communities in building places of worship (churches) and schools for education throughout the country.

5.      Accountants helped professional businesses and services stay on top of their game in relation to their bottom line and a clear view of their profit margins or failures.

6.      Goan teachers continued to educate the future leaders, civil servants, engineers, accountants, etc until they were no longer wanted. Goan engineers, architects, planners, town planners, doctors, dentists, surgeons, nurses, radiographers. Ear Nose and Throat specialists, anaethethists, doctors, nurses, agricultural and scientists helped prepare the road after independence. There were several aircraft instrument technicians, aircraft maintenance specialists, and other Goans worked in different branches of the East African large and small aircraft aerodromes.

7.      Journalists, advertising specialists, graphic artists, secretarial colleges, tailors, carpenters, motor mechanics, insurance agents, financial advisers, sports club officials in Central Province, Western Province, the Coast, etc.

8.      Social and sports clubs showed way ahead in organisational and administrative skills for social and sports skills to continue development. Sportsmen and women made a huge contribution in the future athletics and other sports after independence. Bone setters, physiotherapists, midwives, child and adult psychologists and psychiatrists made their contribution as well as medical scientists who continued the batter against Malaria, Polio, Tsetse Fly, Dysentery, Cholera.

9.       Huge numbers of Goans kept the Railways running, as well administration and accounting and catering services. A few Goans even attended the Railway Training School in Nairobi. Many more Goans kept the sea-lanes open, the customs and excise, the passenger liners, and every other aspect of the sea.

 

Other Goans played key roles in Post Office administration as well providing skills in the fruit canning and export industry. Some Goans even ventured into the construction industry. More Goans were in all aspect of the travel industry. A large number played a key role in keeping East African Airways in the air, every aspect of maintenance, engineering, cockpit engineering et al. There were also many Goan pharmacists and chemists. Lots of Goan Bars and restaurants catered for all. There were chefs/cooks, musicians of all sorts, including a vibrant classical musician community.

 

Large numbers of optometrists and eye surgeons cared for people around the country.

My Mzee was a Watchmaker/Repairer+Dealer in Roemer watches. Malachy De Souza M.D.

Doris Souza

My father,Aleixo Rosario D'Souza, worked for the Government Press until his retirement in 1959.all 7 of us were born in Nairobi

 

Comment by a friend: Your list is comprehensive - and necessarily so, as Goans were involved in all walks of life. I would add cooks and chemists to the list. I think Dr. Rozendro Ribeiro deserves special mention as his use of quinine injections for malaria probably saved thousands of lives including that of my father. I was reading the other day that a Goan chef cooked for royalty on the railway and functions at Government House and Goan tailors were acknowledged to be the best. What about Goan politicians like Pio Gama Pinto, J.M. Nazareth, and Fitz de Souza? And journalists like a certain Cyprian Fernandes, Alfred Araujo, Norman da Costa and J. Rodrigues, newsreader Ivan Araujo … before all of them Saude George?

 

Yes, Goans came to Kenya for employment opportunities that were not available in their homeland but, in the process, they provided valuable services at a level of ability, competence and integrity that set the standard for those who followed.

 

Another Goan from Goan sent me these questions:

 

Would it be accurate to say that outside of India, (with the exception of Portugal) Goans exerted a tremendous influence on  Kenyan life, and in what way? In every way possible, the above provides some idea to the extent that Goans were involved in the building of Kenya, not indirectly but indirectly. Many knew the day would come when they would have leave their paradise. Others would not hear of it.

 

What was the political contribution to Kenyan life and would it have got more enhanced had Gama Pinto lived? Why did Goan political contributions peter out as the years of independence went by? Goans were never political as such. People like Dr ACL de Sousa and other like him played some part in the politics of the day (1930-1950s). Later JM Nazareth tried to show the Goans the way into politics but he was dismayed by the continual infighting. He spent of his time with the Indian Congress which was a more politically active. I always thought that he brought a better quality of politics to any discussion/argument. The subjective title of the greatest Goan politician my go to Dr Fitzval de Souza, brilliant lawyer, Deputy Speaker of the Kenya Parliament, Member of the Kenya Parliament. He was clever enough to realise that rich Indian businessmen were good for business and good people. He was also clever enough to know exactly when to get out of the political even though he was one President Jomo Kenyatta’s closest advisers. Joe Murumbi, the Goan-Masai, Goa-educated half-caste was an outstanding man but he made the dominant Kikuyu politicians nervous because he was quite close and respected by Mzee Kenyatta. In the end, he resigned from the vice-presidency and returned to his vast art and book collection. He died a sad man. Once the Mau Mau, had surrendered, there really was no room for Pio Gama Pinto. However, in the fight for independence, assisting the Mau Mau, developing political strategies for the political fight for indepence, Pio Gama Pinto more than any other Goan made the biggest contribution in winning independence.

He was too honest a politician for the powerful Kikuyu and the fact that his socialist ideals were being exploited by the capitalist Luo leader Oginga Odinga did not help his cause. His close friend Dr Fitzval De Souza had tried to convince him to get out of Kenya politics (in fact, Pio Gama Pinto was planning to do just by moving to the Tanzanian border to closer to helping the fight for the independence of the Africans in Mozambique, Angola, Southwest Africa (later Namibia). After a swearing match with Jomo Kenyatta in the grounds of Parliament House, he had written his own death warrant. As a freedom fighter, Pio Gama Pinto stands with the best. Pinto was the cleanest politician you could find anywhere. As a political and armed struggle strategist, there were few who were his equal. In the final analysis, JM Nazareth and Dr Fitz de Souza made some genuine contributions in Kenya’s political arena. However, no one really pushed the cause of the Goan.

 

Like most Indians, the Goans kept to themselves. Were inter-marriages rare between Goans and Africans? One or two maybe!

 

What was the Goan contribution to the Lancaster House Conferences? Nil. Jomo Kenyatta invited Dr Fitzval de Souza to be present at two or three conferences on the path to independence. But it was as a Kenyan and not as a Goan that Fitz de Souza found a seat at the Lancaster House conferences.

 

Many Goans chose to migrate to the west when the Brits left perhaps making the Africans wonder if they were not really keen on contributing to Kenya? Is this accurate and thus in a sense self-serving?

 

We do not hear much about the Hindu Goan contribution to Kenya. Were they too few to make a difference? Did not know they existed growing up but then again, the only Hindu Goans I met were in Goa. There must have been some in East Africa but I never met a single one.

 

The Indian community was recognized as the 43^rd tribe of Kenya. Was the decision in your view motivated by political gains (Uhuru) or did the Kenyan leadership genuinely acknowledge the contributions of Goans and Indians? I think it was a political joke.

 

Finally, what was Kenya in the Goan imagination of those days? Before independence, it was akin to paradise. We lived as if we were in Goa only a much better quality of life, employment, social quality, a much larger array of sports, East African and international sports. It was a life that dreams are made of. These days I share long talks of friends grew up within East Africa. The reason we celebrate this nostalgia, it was for most quite a brilliant life, even the less fortunate still speak lovingly for their time in East Africa.