It started with raw tapes. It ended in a full-blown musical resurrection.
Under the meticulous care of Gabe Rizza, Head Audio Engineer at Blue Pie Records, the legendary soundscape of Them Mushrooms has been brought roaring back to life—cleaner, crisper, and more powerful than ever before. This wasn’t just a remaster. This was a sonic rebirth, decades in the making.
Armed with next-gen restoration tools and an ear trained by decades in the studio trenches, Gabe painstakingly rebuilt the entire catalogue. Every pop, hiss, hum, and analog scar was healed. Every groove was remixed with reverence. The result? A time machine with better speakers.
These tracks don’t just sound good — they now sound better than they did when they were first recorded.
“The transformation is so powerful, it moved mountains.”
And it did.
John Katana, founding member and band leader of Them Mushrooms, was so blown away by the results that he didn’t just endorse the project—he joined it. Now an official part of ORDIOR (that’s O‑R‑D‑I‑O‑R for the record), John is helping expand this restoration and royalty innovation model to support iconic African bands across the continent.
It’s legacy work powered by cutting-edge rights tech and a team that delivers.
The Restoration Stats That Matter
This was more than a clean-up. This was a cultural rescue mission — and the results are now preserved forever in full fidelity.
A Legacy Reborn for the World
For over 50 years, Them Mushrooms have reigned as East Africa’s premier musical powerhouse. Their sound—fusing Chakacha, Benga, Taarab, Sega, reggae, and hip-hop—carried Kenya’s voice to the world. With hits like “Jambo Bwana” (selling over 200,000 copies globally), they became not just a band, but a cultural movement.
Now, that movement has new momentum.
Thanks to the joint restoration powers of Blue Pie Records, and ORDIOR, their timeless music is:
Jambo Bwana – Kenya’s Anthem, Africa’s Greeting
Released in 1982 by Them Mushrooms, Jambo Bwana (Swahili for “Hello, Sir”) became an instant and enduring East African classic. Crafted with uplifting Swahili phrases like “habari gani? nzuri sana” and the now-global phrase “hakuna matata,” the song didn’t just charm tourists—it sparked a cultural movement. With over 200,000 copies sold and widespread radio play across Kenya and Tanzania, Jambo Bwana became a sonic symbol of East African hospitality and pride. Its signature rhythm—infused with Chakacha, Benga, and coastal reggae energy—was both celebratory and uniquely Kenyan. The song has since been covered and remixed by global acts including Safari Sound Band and Boney M, but the original remains a national treasure and a timeless cultural export.
ORDIOR & Blue Pie: Protecting the Soul of “Jambo Bwana”
Today, under the strategic leadership of Robert Simmons, ORDIOR (O‑R‑D‑I‑O‑R) and Blue Pie Records, are working side-by-side with John Katana and the members of Them Mushrooms to restore and protect the publishing, copyrights, and royalty flows connected to this iconic anthem. This mission goes beyond cleanup—it’s a full-scale royalty rescue operation, ensuring that Jambo Bwana and the band’s wider catalogue generate income for the rightful owners: the artists themselves.
Since ORDIOR began working with the band, many of the historical copyrights have already been recovered and reassigned back to Them Mushrooms—digitally restored, properly registered, and ready for global monetization. The team has also restored over 1,000 archival assets and modernized the band’s digital footprint, including metadata enrichment, licensing readiness, and full catalog ingestion.
This is more than just a project. It’s a mission to protect cultural identity and honor artistic contribution. The journey so far has been incredible—and the best is yet to come. ORDIOR takes legacy seriously, and with Jambo Bwana leading the way, Them Mushrooms’ music is now ready to inspire generations to come—secure, protected, and forever celebrated.
And this is only the beginning.
Them Mushrooms didn’t just survive the decades — they’ve evolved, amplified, and now stand digitally immortal.
Official Links:
Stream The Full Catalogue on Spotify:
Them Mushrooms: East Africa’s Legendary Band Discography Highlights (via Spotify, Wikipedia, Discogs & Last.fm):
Spotify playlists like This Is Them Mushrooms and Greatest Hits 1984 compile their popular tracks, including Nyambura, Bonde Kwa Bonde, Akumu Nyar Kisumu, and Mother Kenya See
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