The 2005 Kisima Music Awards continued the expansion begun in the previous year, incorporating both entrants and acts from across East Africa including Musaimo, Ida and Diaspora. The ceremony was hosted by Tedd Kwaka (a.k.a. Big Ted), Ugandan Diana Muyera and Kevin Ombajo, a well established personality in the entertainment arena.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Afro Fusion | Kaz |
| Asian Music | Gupz |
| Boomba Rap | Pili Pili |
| Boomba Pop | Xyzee |
| Contemporary Gospel | Esther Wahome |
| Eastern Benga | Musaimo |
| Gospel Ensembles | Ruth Wamuyu |
| Hip hop | Ukoo Fulani MauMau |
| R&B | Mbuvi |
| Rap | Bamboo |
| Reggae/Ragga | Redsan |
| Traditional | Kenge Kenge |
| Best Artist/Group from Tanzania | TID |
| Best Artist/Group from Uganda | Blu*3 |
| Best Music Video from Uganda | Blu*3 |
| Western Benga | Peter Khayadi |
| Best Music Video from Kenya | Harry Kimani |
| Best Song | Harry Kimani |
| Best Collaboration | Pili Pili Feat. Ratatat |
| Best Male Artist | Pili Pili |
| Best Female Artist | Nyota Ndogo |
| Most Promising Artist | Maximum Melodies |
| Best Group | Kleptomaniax |
| Producer of the Year | Clemo (Calif Records) |
Judith Wambura Mbibo, known by her stage name Lady Jaydee, is a Tanzanian singer. She specializes in the R&B/Zouk/Afro Pop genres. Lady Jaydee was voted Best Tanzanian Female R&B Artist in 2002, performed at the Kora All Africa Designers Competition, and was awarded "Best R&B Album" at the Tanzania Music Awards on August 6, 2004. In July 2005, she won an award for "best female video for South Africa". She was among the first females to sing R&B in Swahili. Lady Jaydee is signed to one of Africa's most successful Music labels, Taurus Musik .She is also known as the Queen of Bongo Flava
Joseph Haule, popularly known as Professor Jay, is a Tanzanian hip hop artist and 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 artist, entertainer, radio presenter, businessman and philanthropist. He is often referred to as "the Godfather of Genge" and is well known for his controversial and sexually explicit lyrics.
David Mathenge, better known by his stage name Nameless, is a Kenyan pop artist. He is married to fellow musician Wahu Kagwi. They have two daughters, Tumiso and Nyakio
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. The group was disbanded in 1995 and Josiah joined Sync Sound Studios as a producer. In 1999 he left Sync Sound Studios and formed Audio Vault Studios. It was renamed to Blu Zebra in 2002.
Nakaaya Sumari is Tanzanian R&B-hip hop singer.
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 2004 Kisima Music Awards featured a newly expanded scheme which aimed to incorporate artists from across East Africa, most predominately 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.
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.
The 2007 Kisima Music Awards took place at Marula Manor, Nairobi, Kenya on 8 September 2007.
Kleptomaniax is a pop group from Nairobi, Kenya. The group consists of three members: Roba, Collo and Nyashinski.
Kevin Omondi Migot better known for his stage name Dola Kabarry is a benga musician from Kenya. He leads the band Orchestra Super Haki Haki. His songs are mainly in Dholuo language.
Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, professionally known by her mononym Wahu, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, former fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. She released her first single "Niangalie" which received positive reception all over Africa and the world at large. She is the inaugural recipient of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2008, for Best Female Artist category. Moreover, she has won the Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Chaguo La Teeniez Awards and Kisima Music Awards. In the acting industry, Wahu had a leading role in the television series Tazama.In 2017 she released a new gospel song "sifa".
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 "Zeze" and "Siamini".
East African Bashment Crew is a Kenyan-Ugandan reggae group formed by Bebe Cool from Uganda and his contemporaries. It consists of three members, Bebe Cool from Uganda, and the Kenyan duo Necessary Noize. All of them were already established musicians when the group was formed in 2005. While the members of the group concentrate on their main projects, East African Bashment Crew reunites every now and then.
Mr. Googz is a musician from Kenya.
Kevin Wyre is a R&B and reggae musician from Kenya known from the groups Necessary Noize and East African Bashment Crew as well as a solo artist.
Sauti Sol is a Kenyan afro-pop band formed in Nairobi by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi in 2005. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti.
