The 2004 Kisima Music Awards featured a newly expanded scheme which aimed to incorporate artists from across East Africa, most predominantly Uganda and Tanzania. It was also a source of controversy when the organisation's CEO Tedd Josiah was awarded the category for Best Producer. The ceremony was hosted by veteran music artist Eric Wainaina and radio presenters Patricia Amira and Robert Warobi.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Afro Fusion/Benga/Gospel Artist of the Year | Zipporah Muoso |
| Most promising Artist/Group of the year | Abbi |
| R&B Artist/Group of the Year | Didge |
| Best Music Video of the Year | Kenyan Gal Kenyan Boy - Necessary Noize |
| Central/Eastern Benga Group of the Year | Kayamba Africa |
| Best Female Artist of the Year from UG & TZ | Ray C |
| Ragga Artist/Group of the Year | Necessary Noize |
| Bumba Pop Artist | Nameless |
| Best Music Producer of the Year | Tedd Josiah – Blu Zebra |
| Song of the Year | Hallo Hallo – Wakimbizi |
| Traditional Group of the Year | Kenge Kenge |
| Western Benga Artist/Group of the Year | Jomenes |
| Best Music Video of the Year from UG & TZ | Ambassada – Watoto Inkane |
| Coastal Artist/Group of the Year | Uyoga |
| Best Female Artist of the Year | Mercy Myra |
| Best Overall Group of the Year | Necessary Noize |
| Best Male Artist/Group of the Year from UG & TZ | Deux Vultures |
| Best Male Artist/Group of the Year | Abbi |
| Hip hop Artist/Group of the Year | Wakimbizi |
| Contemporary Gospel Artist/Group of the Year | Catherine Mueni |
| Afro Fusion Artist/Group of the Year | Yunasi |
| Best Bhangra Artist/Group of the Year | Amrik Singh & DJ Gupz – Naktra |
Eric Wainaina is a Kenyan singer-songwriter. His career was launched with his debut album, Sawa Sawa, in 2001. Wainaina's music is a blend of Kenyan benga rhythm and East African guitars, with some modern harmony.
Joseph Haule, popularly known by his stage name Professor Jay, is a Tanzanian rapper, songwriter, politician and former member of the Tanzanian parliament for Mikumi constituency. He is one of the prominent representatives of the "Bongo Flava" Tanzanian hip hop subgenre, which mixes elements from both Western hip hop and the Tanzanian tradition.
Hubert Mbuku Nakitare, commonly known by his stage name Nonini, is a Kenyan hip hop recording artiste, entertainer, radio presenter, businessman and philanthropist. He is often referred to as the Godfather because he is very well known.
David Mathenge, better known by his stage name Nameless, is a Kenyan pop artist.
Tedd Josiah is a music producer from Kenya. He started as a musician, first briefly with the group Ebony Affair before forming a new group, Hart, in 1993.
Joseph Mayanja, better known by the stage name Jose Chameleone, is a Ugandan AfroBeat artist and musician. Chameleone sings in Luganda, English, and Swahili.
P-Unit is a Kenyan hip hop group consisting of Kenyan hip hop artists Frasha, Gabu, and Bon-eye.
The Kisima Music Awards is an annual awards program that recognises musical talent in East Africa. Despite being Kenyan-based the scheme awards artists from a variety of countries, predominantly Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and incorporates a range of music genres.
The 2003 Kisima Music Awards signalled a revitalisation of the scheme. They were held in a customised "Kisima Dome" and hosted by radio presenters Bernard Otieno and Pinky Ghelani.
The 2006 Kisima Music Awards were held in Nairobi, Kenya. They were the first of the awards to be broadcast across Africa on television, after the organisers partnered with South African satellite station Channel O, and was also the first to feature a "Social Responsibility" award category. The event encountered controversy when at least five artists refused to play at a later charity concert, citing that they had not entered a performing contract with the Kisima Music Trust. The motto for the ceremony was "Our Heritage of Splendor", and featured acts included Juma Nature, Obsessions and Nameless.
Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali, is a Kenyan hip hop artist. In 2000, together with record producer Clemo, he founded Calif Records where he has been ever since producing music which dominated East African music alongside Jose Chameleone of Uganda and Mr. Nice of Tanzania. Jua Cali performs in Swahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.
Blu 3 was a Ugandan all-female band formed in April 2004 after winning the TV show Coca Cola Popstars. The name is contrived to mean 3 Beautiful Ladies from Uganda. Original members were Jackie Chandiru, Lilian Mbabazi and Cinderella Sanyu. After winning the contest, they went on to record the albums Hitaji (2004) and Burrn (2007). The Hitaji album spawned the hit singles "Hitaji", "Frisky" and the afro beat "Tomalaako". The girls launched Hitaji at lugogo cricket stadium in December 2004 with thousands of fans. The "Hitaji" video went on to win the Pearl of Africa Music Award for Video of the Year.
Kleptomaniax is a rap group from Nairobi, Kenya. The group consists of three members: Roba, Collo and Nyashinski.
Nyota Ndogo is a musician from Kenya who performs taarab-influenced pop music.
Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, professionally known by her mononym Wahu, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, former fashion model, actress and entrepreneur.
TID is a Bongo Flava musician from Tanzania, whose real name is Khalid Mohamed. TID is an acronym of Top in Dar, in which "Dar" refers to Dar es Salaam, his hometown. He is best known for his hits "kiuno" "Nyota yako" "We dada" "Zeze" and "Siamini".
Mercy Myra Grundberg, better known as Mercy Myra, is an R&B musician from Kenya.
Deux Vultures is a musical group in Kenya performing hip hop and pop music.
Mr. Googz is a musician from Kenya.
Kevin Waire, best known by his stage name Wyre, is a Kenyan R&B and reggae musician. He is known for being a member of the groups Necessary Noize and East African Bashment Crew, as well as his solo career.
