Kenya Music Awards: Musicians have won top honours locally, regionally and internationally. During the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in 2008, Kenya’s songbird Wahu won in the Best Female category. Other Kenyans were nominated -Jua Cali for Best Male Artiste and P-Unit for the Listeners Choice category.

In 2009, during the MAMA Awards, Nameless, Wahu’s husband, scooped the Best African Male and Africa’s Listeners Choice Awards. lt was held in Nairobi. Amani won the Best Female Award during the awards.

Kisima Music Awards recognises music talent in East Africa.The categories that are recognised include Afro fusion, benga, Asian music, hip-hop, boomha and traditional.

The Anual Groove Award is the top gospel music ceremony in Kenya. lt started in 2004. It has honoured artistes such as Daddy Owen and Kanjii Mbugua, who revolutionised the gospel music scene.

The all-male group Boys Choir of Kenya performed during the inauguration of US President Barack Obama. Suzanna Owiyo, the ‘Tracy Chapman of Africa’, beat a host of African artistes to clinch the single berth reserved fora female African artiste to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2004. In 2008, she performed at former South African Presiedent Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday concert in London.

In 1980, the Kenyan band Them Mushrooms (now Uyoga) released a Kiswahili song Jambo Bwana (Hello Mister), which has the refrain Hakuna matata that is a selling line for the country’s tourism.

In 1994, the animated movie, The Lion King, used the refrain and gave it international recognition. The song was written by Elton John and nominated for Best Original Song at the 1995 Academy Awards.

The Kenya Bengali Cultural and Welfare Society is active in social welfare and cultural propagation through music fiestas, stage shows and religious and cultural events.

Musicians, producers, promoters, media and the Government come together. The annual event features performances, exhibitions and workshops.

The festival celebrates art music such as ballet, opera and jazz.

The aim is to provide a platform for local and in international artistes to showcase their talents. The festival is a three day fun-filled affair with contemporary Kenyan music such as ‘kapuka’, ‘genge’ and ‘Afrofusion’ taking the pride of place.

The event has been held since pre-independence days and has more than 480 Categories. Performers compete From the zone to the national level in various categories: From folk and Jazz music to Indian classical and Rap music.

The festivals are also intended to develop cultural arts and creativity and preserve and promote cultural heritage through performance, information and entertainment. Schools and colleges festivals are
encouraged for the promotion of Kiswahili and other indigenous languages, the enlmacement of cultural exchanges among the local and foreign communities and the promotion of useful indigenous traditions.

The top musicians in this widely-selling genre are Loise Kim, Esther Wahome, Mary Atieno, Hellen Akoth, Jemimah Thiong’o and Rufftone.

Others are Daddy Owen, the Kassangas, Jimmy Gait, Kanjii Mbugua, Juliani and Reuben Kigame.

The top Gospel music producers are Bruce Odhiambo of Johari Clef, Tedd Josiah, Clement Rapudo aka Clemo of Calif Records, Lucas Bikedo of Ogopa Deejays, Eric Musyoka, Robert Kamanzi and Maich Black. Others are Kassangas Studio, Herbal Records and Bably Omar of Tabasamu Records.

The top local Rhumba act is Musa Juma and his Limpopo International Band.