KENYA KORA AWARD WINNERS
It was triple joy for Kenya as the ninth Kora music music awards ceremony was beamed live from Johannesburg to more than 700 million viewers across the world.
The continental fete saw Afro jazz singer, composer and pianist Achieng' Abura, rapper Big Pin (Chrispin Mwangale) and gospel singer DNG (Davidson Ngibuini ) win in their categories.
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| Abura |
And the local fans who watched the glamorous event on Sunday night received the news with jubilation.
Seasoned singer Abura who was nominated for the song, Toto Wangu, clinched the top female East African artiste jointly with the Ethiopia's Tsedenia Gebremarkos through Ewedhalehu.
Other artistes in the category were Ugandan Nujeli Ansobela, Tanzania's Lady Jaydeee and Renee and her Kenyan colleague, Jemimah Thiong'o, who entered Mwenye Baraka.
In her acceptance speech, Abura who was taking the third shot at the contest, said she was grateful that she made it at last. "I owe this award to all Kenyans who have given me support throughout this tedious journey, and the honour is for all of us," she said.
Over the years she has churned out tracks that boast of African beats, and has received wide acclaim from across the world.
This has seen her perform at high-profile concerts in the US, England, Spain, France, Germany, Senegal, Tanzania, South Africa and Zanzibar.
Little known gospel crooner DNG was the surprise at the awards. Although his music is not so popular locally, he bagged the best gospel male artiste award.
The singer who won through his soothing track, Samehewa, trounced seasoned singers such as fellow Kenyan Zziwa David for his song, Every Time I Call, Paul Gwala and Sipho Makhabane, both of South Africa, Francis Kalala of D.R. Congo and Zambia's Jojo Mwangaza.
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| Big Pin |
Speaking at the ceremony, DNG said the award marked the success of a painstaking musical voyage. "I owe this award to all Kenyans who accorded me the moral support, and I'd like to particularly thank my mum and my producer Ennovator," he said.
His his award had a greater stature for he bagged a continental award, and not a regional one as did Abura and Big Pin.
The business administration student at University of Nairobi said he would continue with the gospel songs and encourage more teenagers to join the field.
Born in 1986, his childhood was dominated by drugs and immorality. He was born again in 2003, and it is the salvation that would see him venture into the music career.
He sings in Kiswahili and English, and says he plans to make it big in music.
A rapper who has been in the shadows locally, Big Pin was yet another surprise at the fete. He was voted the best East African male artiste for her recent release, Natafuta, whose video clip has been topping musical charts across East Africa.
But Big Pin who did not travel to South Africa will miss the $5,000 (Sh400,000) cash prize as the rules state that only winners present receive the cash.
However, not many Kenyan winners won continental titles as they were voted out during the poll by viewers across the world. This was probably their undoing as many fans who voted came from South Africa.
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| DNG |
Congolese musicians Werra Son and Felix Wazekwa were both voted the best male artistes, whileThandiswa Mazwaifrom of South Africa was named the best female gospel artiste through her song, Zabalaza.
Other Kenyan musicians were Nameless and Mr Lenny, Rarewatts and Ennomizzizi and Redsan who is currently in London.
Kenya made a successful debut in the awards in 2002 when composer and singer Eric Wainaina, who was also a judge at this year's fete, shared the East African top honours with gospel singer Henrie Mutuku.
Last year, however, the Kenyan nominees came back home empty-handed and dejected despite having sent in the same number of entries as this year.
Kora is the only non-sporting annual African event broadcast live across four continents – Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
The awards, founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, have grown over the past eight years to recognise the scope and excellence of African Music.
KENYA KORA AWARD FINALISTS
While Tanzania’s representative to this year’s Kora All-African Music Awards have been known Juliana Wambura aka Lady Jay Dee, and Rene Lamira Kenya, a neighbouring East African country has also picked eleven singers for the music extravaganza held annually in South Africa’s Sun City.
The announcement of nominees was made recently in South Africa. Out of the record 36 Kenyan entries in the search for continental glory this year, 11 have been nominated to battle it out for the honours.
The winners will be announced and feted at a ceremony in Johannesburg on December 12, and for the first time in the fete’s history, nominees who win a Kora Award and attend the ceremony, will also get a cash prize of $5,000.
This year’s awards, to be beamed to an estimated television audience of 700 million in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, have attracted not only new entrants, but some surprises as well.
The musicians have submitted video clips, colour photographs, and biographies in English and French.
Kenyan singer Nameless (David Mathenge) of the Ninanoki hit song fame, and Mr Lenny (Lenson Njuki), submitted their video clip of the song, Juju.
They will face it out with South African group Malaika Malaika, 02 and SSP Diye, both from Angola, Les Garagistes (Cote d’Ivoire) and JJC & 419 Squad (Nigeria) for the Best African Group.
The two, who are currently on a tour of the United States, have lately been wooing fans across East Africa with the same video, which has remained at the top of the charts.
Mr Lenny, of the Nataka Pesa hit song fame, is among the 11 Kenyans who failed to win even a single award in last year’s event. Nameless, whose other tracks include, Deadly, is making his debut at the awards.
Seasoned Afro Jazz singer Achieng Abura has been nominated for her song, Toto Wangu, and should expect a stiff challenge from fellow Kenyan Jemimah Tshieng’o’s track, Mwenye Baraka, and Ethiopian Tsedenia Gebremarkos’s Ewedhalehu.
Other contenders are Ugandan Nujeli Ansobela and Tanzanians Lady Jay Dee and Renee, who entered the songs, Distance, and Ngoma ya Kwetu, respectively.
Kenya is tipped for the Best Traditional African Group award, where it is represented by Enomizzizzi and Rarewatts, whose chakacha song, Kiuno Viuno, has enjoyed immense TV play across East Africa.
Their opponents are Mahube Qhubeka (South Africa), Machesa Traditional Group (Botswana), Moko Rwana Cultural Group (Botswana), Percussion Discussion Afrika (Uganda) and Wanne Star Group (Tanzania), who have entered the popular song, Asili ya Mwafrika.
Self-proclaimed “king of Luo rap” Big Pin (Chrispin Mwangale), who started his music career with E-sir (Issa Mumar), has been nominated for the Best Male Artiste award alongside, compatriot Redsan (Mohamed Swabir), and Ethiopians Hade Haile and Shewandagne.
Others are Uganda’s Chameleone (Jose Mayanja) and Eddie Rush. Redsan is riding high with the video of his song, Nakutaka.
Big Pin, who recently released the video clip of his song, Natafuta, told Lifestyle magazine he was confident of victory.
“Why should we fail to win? Our music has come of age and our music has a real identity of its own like the South African Kwaito.
We have what it takes to win,” the 21-year-old singer boasted
Stage name: Lydiah Dola Lydiah comes from a Christian family of ten children, she was educated in Nairobi, Kenya, and she is currently working in a motor vehicle spare parts company. In both her primary and high school times, she was the music club leader and soloist, and in High school, she received an award for the best soloist of the year. She entered into the world of song writing in 1997, and she experienced the real sweetness of music when doing one of her songs that got tears running down her cheeks. Her first and only music video is “DALA NO”, a single gospel music that she recorded in February 2004. It has been an inspiration to her. It is a good beginning for her and she is planning to record more music in the future for the glory of God and to bring people closer to him.
Redsan started music at a tender age. In 1998 he won h e carnivore star search competition and was awarded the best reggae award of the year and a year later, 1999, he started his own solo project. One of the first Kenyan artist to perform with world superstars on stage. In 20003, Redsan was awarded the “Kisima” and “Chago La Teeniez-2003”. He was nominated the best male artist et the best song, he dedicated this nomination to the lat E-Sir, to the honor of his contribution in Kenyan music. Still ini the same year, he released the album “Seasons of the San”, 6,000 copies were sold in Kenya and in the United States. He was nominated at the Kora All African Music Awards. Being the first artist of the “Dance Hall” in East Africa, he plans to plan at the Palm competition in Uganda later on this year. His album “Redsan” covers literally all four seasons. There is a song for each season in this album, and these makes it unique.
Recoded his first album self titled “Big Pin” immediately after high school which hit number one in the Kenyan charts for almost three months. He has done various collaborations with top local artistes and the songs have been chart bangers. “Natafuta”, a Swahili word meaning I am looking for, and the song he has submitted for the 2004 Kora All African Music Awards. Describes the kind of girl he wants and what he would do if he eventually got her. It generally talks about certain specific qualities in woman that he is interested in i.e. body structure, facial beauty, personality etc. The inspiration came from him, because he was actually looking for a girlfriend at that particular moment.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 1964. Jemmimah’s life was one of many hardships, until the year 2002 when her dream of singing came alive after meeting a local music producer and he agreed to record her music. Late 2003, her debut album was released and received tremendous success, selling over 150,000 units therefore making it the best selling album in Kenya for that time. The first single on the “Alinitua” album called Mwenye Baraka is a popular song among Christians in Kenya and was also nominated for Kisima Awards (The Kenyan version of Grammy Awards) for song of the year category! She sings in Swahili her national language that she happens to speak extremely well.Her next album is to be released early 2005.
Achien’g Abura is a singer, composer and pianist who started her music at an early age in gospel and is now a reputable Afro-Jazz artist from Kenya. A Jazz undercurrent within strong East African beats and a distinctive powerful voice characterizes her music. Achieng’s first Afro-Jazz CD recorded in 2002, titled ‘Maisha’, was nominated for Kora All African Music Awards for Best East African Artiste, Best Female for both Kenya Kisima Awards and Kenya Music composers Awards in 2003. At the end of 2003, he released her latest CD ‘Spirit of a Warrior’ has been nominated for Best Female Artiste, Kenya Kisima Awards, 2004.
Duo made up Nameless whose real name is David Mathenge and Mr. Lenny born Lenson Njuki Eang’ang’a, both from Kenya, Nairobi. Nameless is one homegrown artist that has proven to the masses that Kenya has its own unique musical talent that can be showcased internationally. With a career spanning over 3 years, it is impossible to discuss Kenyan contemporary entertainment without mentioning his name. Matter of fact, Nameless is the epitome of new age Kenyan music with his popularity spreading throughout the country and beyond. Every song he has ever released has at one time or the other reached the top of popular Kenyan radio charts. Mr. Lenny music career started after he obtained his O levels in 1998. From 1999-2002 he went from one group to the other until 2003 when he released his first single “Cash Money” which became a big hit. He then hooked up with “Indiginas” and he featured in his song “M.O.U” which also was a big hit. Recently he featured in the song “Majuju” by Nameless, which is rocking the charts currently.
Esther Wahome was born on 24 December 1974. She grew up in a musical background, as her father was a musician and was discovered singing in church by Kenya television Producer, after completing her O level at Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi in 1993, she is now among top 3 famous gospel singers in Kenya. She has recorded seven charts bursting albums ever since, and rose to stardom soon after her first release. In the year 2001, she became the first Kenyan singer to be featured on an international compilation CD. Her song ‘furahia’ from the album by the same name was selected in Europe, and featured on the CD. Titled ‘stars of Afro-pop’, by A.R.C music and it was issued internationally. She has also shared the platform with famous gospel singers in UK like Noel Richards, Ken Reley and Why Friday Band, in big concerts in New Castle, has participated, and performed in big charity concerts in Kenya to raise fund.
DNG stands for 'Discipline and God', but my real name is Davidson Ngibuini. I chose this stage name because I want to be more like Christ in the way I live my life. I want t learn from Him and do his will. Born in 1986, in Kenya, the only child in his family. In july 2003, he gave his life to the Lord and he began the transformation to his life. I have loved music from a very young ge, having been exposed to all sorts of music genres. When I finally ventured into music in January 2003, I first started off with secular music until the time I got saved in July 2003 and shifted to gospel music. My music is a fusion of English and Kiswahili (which is the national language in Kenya).It is a mixture of R&B and hip-hop in a local style, which in Kenya, we call 'Kapuka'. My music is youthul, lively and contemporary. My music, being inspirational, rich and soul-searching aims at creating an impact and making a difference in peple's live by influencing them to live a righteous life.
Rarewatts: Rare power of entertainment (Rare – for scare, – units for power). This group from Kenya, was initially a dance group formed by Enock Mwendwa in the year 1990 and it remained to be so until the year 2001, when the group recorded their first single Dancing shoes. The group members are: Enock Mwemdwa, James Ongoro and Caroline Wangari. The group has an album Kiuno viuno composed by Enomizzizzi released in the year 2002 compromising of: Kiuno viuno, Mama mwenye nyamba, Dancing shoes (two versions) and Sema nijue. Enomizzizzi and Rarewatts as a group and as individual believe that, in all they do, what they know how to do best is entertainment. They started by crawling (dancing) and then they walked (composed and recorded their owns songs) and now they can run.
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