The needle has dropped on the final track for Mike Andrews, the legendary broadcaster and music executive known to millions as "Mahanjam Mike". The founder of the iconic AI Records passed away in Nairobi at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that is permanently etched into the vinyl of East African history.

Born in London in 1938 and transplanted to Kenya at the tender age of six, Andrews was a mzungu with an African heartbeat. He didn't just listen to the music of his adopted homeland; he amplified it, preserved it, and sold it to the world.

The Voice of a Generation

His journey began at 19, when he walked into the studios of Cable and Wireless and convinced the skeptical colonial bosses that the youth needed rock and roll. His show, Music of the Moment, became a cultural phenomenon, introducing a generation of Kenyans to Elvis and the Beatles. But it was his pivot to local music that cemented his status as an icon.

Realizing that his listeners were hungry for their own sounds, Andrews founded AI Records. It wasn't just a business; it was a mission. He signed the greats—Orchestra Super Mazembe, Afro 70—and gave them the production quality they deserved. He turned the chaotic energy of Benga and Rumba into polished gems that filled dancehalls from Nairobi to Kinshasa.

• The AI Records Legacy: For decades, the AI Records label was a stamp of quality. Andrews navigated the pirated-infested waters of the industry with integrity, ensuring artists were paid and copyrights were respected. In 2018, his life's work was validated when Universal Music Group acquired a majority stake in the label, bringing the archive of East African sound to the global digital stage.
• A Life Well Lived: Beyond the studio, Andrews was a raconteur, a historian, and a man who loved Kenya deeply. He witnessed the transition from colony to republic, from analogue to digital, and he kept the music playing through it all.

The Final Bow

As news of his passing spreads, tributes are pouring in from artists, producers, and fans who grew up listening to his voice. Mike Andrews may have been born in London, but Mahanjam Mike belongs to us. He taught us that our music was worth recording, worth buying, and worth cherishing. Rest well, Mike. The music never stops.