Amani (musician)

Last updated
Amani
Birth nameCecilia Wairimu
Born (1980-11-28) 28 November 1980 (age 43)
Thika, Kiambu, Kenya
Origin Nairobi, Kenya
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1999–present
Labels Ogopa Deejays

Cecilia Wairimu (born 28 November 1980), [1] better known by her stage name Amani, [2] is a Kenyan singer and songwriter. Her contributions to the Kenyan music industry have earned her several coveted accolades, including the Best Female category at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards, Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Kisima Awards, and Chaguo La Teeniez Awards. She released her debut album in 2006. [3]

Contents

Career

Beginnings

Amani attended Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School, where she was part of the a cappella group Sobriety. She signed a record deal with Ogopa Deejays in 1999, right after graduating from high school. She enrolled at the United States International University in 2000 and studied international business administration.

Career breakthrough: 2000–06; Tamani

Her debut single "Move On" was a radio hit. She released her follow-up singles "Tahidi" and "Papii" in 2001. [4] [5] Her 2002 collaboration with Nameless, titled "Ninanoki", was a major national hit. [4] Her later singles include "Talk to You" (featuring Patonee and Big Pin), "Bad Boy" (featuring Nyashinski of Kleptomaniax), Usiwe Mbali (featuring AY), "Tamani", "Missing My Baby", and "Tonight". [4]

She is currently the brand Ambassador for Airtel Kenya.

Her debut album, Tamani, was released in 2006. [6] She has toured in the United States, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Moreover, she has performed in Dubai, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Liberia and Djibouti. [6]

2010–present: Grand comeback to the music industry

In 2010, Amani was featured on "Hands Across The World", a song written and produced by R Kelly. The song serves as the first release for the African supergroup One 8, composed of Amani, Ali Kiba, Navio, Fally Ipupa, 2face Idibia, JK, 4x4, and Movaizhaleine. Described as "an uplifting ballad" by Billboard's Diane Coetzer, the song was released by Rockstar 4000 Music Entertainment. [7] [8]

In 2013, she worked with Uganda's dancehall duo Radio & Weasel to release the song "Kiboko Changu", which serves as the lead single off her latest album. In 2015, she released the single "Kizungu Zungu". [9] [10] In July 2015, she released the reggae and dancehall-influenced song "Heartbreaker". [11] [12] Its music video was shot at Nairobi's Garden Estate and officially released on 8 September 2015. [11]

Cecilia Wairimu got born again in 2018 with 'My God' and 'Upendo' being some of her songs as a born again Christian.

Discography

Singles and studio albums

YearSingleAlbumRef(s)
2000"Move On"Tamani
2001"Tahidi"
"Papii"
2002"Ninanoki" (Amani featuring Nameless) [13]
2006"Missing My Baby" [14]
2008"Usiwe Mbali Nami" (Amani featuring AY)TBA [15]
2009"Tonight"
2013"Kiboko Changu" (Amani featuring Radio & Weasel) [16]
2015"Kizungu Zungu" [17]
"Heartbreaker" [11] [18]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationAwardNominated workResultRef(s)
2002 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards Best Female Artist—Nominated [19]
2006 2006 Kisima Music Awards Female Artiste of the yearWon [20]
Collabo of the year"Bad Boy" with NyashiskiWon [20]
CHAT Awards Favourite Female Artiste—Won [19]
Favourite SongWon [19]
Favourite CollaboWon [19]
Pearl of Africa Music Awards Best Kenyan Female ArtisteNominated [21]
2007 2007 Kisima Music Awards Boomba FemaleWon [22]
Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards)Best Female Artist (Kenya)Won [23]
Tanzania Music Awards Best East African Song"Bad Boy"Won [24]
2008Tanzania Music AwardsBest East African Song"Missing My Baby"Nominated [25]
Channel O Music Video Awards Best R&B video in AfricaNominated [26]
Best East African SongNominated [26]
2009Channel O Music Video AwardsBest Female Video"Tonight"Nominated [27]
Best R&B videoNominated [27]
Best East African [27]
Video of the Year [27]
MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 Best Female—Won [28]
2014 MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 Best Collaboration"Kiboko Changu" featuring Radio and Weasel Nominated [29]

Recognitions

Related Research Articles

Necessary Noize was a Kenyan hip hop group.

David Mathenge, better known by his stage name Nameless, is a Kenyan pop artist.

P-Unit is a Kenyan hip hop group consisting of Kenyan hip hop artists Frasha, Gabu, and Bon-eye.

Henrie Mutuku is a Kenyan Gospel Singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jua Cali</span> Kenyan Genge Artist

Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali, is a Kenyan rapper and record producer. 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.

Lydia Achieng Abura was a Kenyan singer who performed Afro-jazz, Afro-fusion, and gospel music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyota Ndogo</span>

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.

Mercy Myra Grundberg, better known as Mercy Myra, is an R&B musician from Kenya.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qqu</span> Kenyan musician

Moses Qqu Odhiambo, known commonly as Qqu is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, choreographer, performer, instrumentalist, lifestyle entrepreneur and digital artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauti Sol</span> Kenyan band

Sauti Sol is a Kenyan Afropop band formed in Nairobi in 2005 by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti Sol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avril (singer)</span> Kenyan actress and singer (born 1986)

Judith Nyambura Mwangi, who is better known as Avril, is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. She was formerly signed to Ogopa Deejays, one of the leading music production and record labels in Kenya. As a singer, she is known for the singles "Mama", "Kitu Kimoja", "Chokoza" and "Hakuna Yule". As an actress, she is best known for playing Miss B'Have on Shuga: Love, Sex, Money (2012). Avril's contributions to the Kenyan entertainment industry have earned her one Nzumari Award, one Kisima Music Award, one Golden Mic Award and two Chaguo La Teeniez Awards.

Daniel Lubwama Kigozi is a Ugandan rapper and record producer. Starting off his career, he was part of the award-winning hip hop group Klear Kut, along with fellow rappers The Mith & JB, that introduced the term "Ugaflow" to describe Uganda's hip hop scene. Navio is best known for his successful solo career with hits such as "Ngalo", "Bugumu", "One & Only", and "On and On".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Sanyu</span> Ugandan musician (born 1985)

Cinderella Sanyu is a Ugandan musician. She was one of the original members of Blu*3, along with Lilian Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru. She has performed with P-Square, Wahu, Beenie Man, Ne-Yo, Tiwa savage, Bobi Wine, Shaggy, Chameleon, Bebe Cool, Davido, Mr. G and Radio & Weasel.

<i>Lies that Bind</i> Kenyan TV series or program

Lies that Bind is a Kenyan television soap opera that premiered in November 2011 on the network KTN. It mainly features themes like polygamy, greed, lust, power and contemporary issues that affect families.

<i>Kona</i> (TV series) Kenyan television series

Kona is a Kenyan primetime telenovela that premiered on Africa Magic Channel on 26 August 2013 to 2014. Starring Nini Wacera, Lwanda Jawar, Abubakar Mwenda, Brenda Wairimu, Muthoni Gathecha and an ensemble cast.

References

  1. ↑ "Amani's biography". Ghafla!. 26 Oct 2009. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "CECILIA WAIRIMU BIOGRAPHY | DAILY NATION WAKENYA". wakenya.co.ke. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  3. ↑ "Amani (Musician)". In.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 The Standard, October 30, 2009: Amani’s road to the top
  5. ↑ Daily Nation, Young Nation magazine, February 22, 2004: THE STARS: What really shaped their lives?
  6. 1 2 The Standard, Pulse Magazine, August 8, 2008: Amani: [ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Diane Coetzer (19 November 2010). "R. Kelly Backs African Supergroup". Billboard. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Emily Wither; Teo Kermeliotis (22 February 2011). "R. Kelly backs African supergroup tipped for global stardom". CNN. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Syombua, Pauline (9 March 2015). "New Music: Amani- Kizungu Zungu". Niaje. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Ndung'u, Tony (13 March 2015). "Amani Unmasked: Details Of Her Video Shoot That You Didn't Know!". Ghafla!. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 "New Music Video: Amani's comeback continues with release of "Heartbreaker"". 98.4 Capital FM . 9 September 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Kingsley, David (30 July 2015). "Amani Finally Drops Heartbreaker (Audio)". Niaje. Archived from the original on 2015-07-30. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Baba Ghafla (21 August 2009). "Ninanoki". Ghafla!. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Missing My Baby". Ghafla!. Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Usiwe Mbali". EA Tube. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Gitei, Wangui (10 May 2013). "Kenyan pop diva Amani releases new single". 98.4 Capital FM . Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  17. ↑ Ndanu, Carole (12 March 2015). "Singer Amani Releases New Video- 'Kizungu Kizungu' (Video)". Niaje. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "Amani - Heartbreaker". Kenyans.co.ke. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 4 The Standard, Pulse Magazine, May 5, 2006: The chosen few [ permanent dead link ]
  20. 1 2 "Kisima Awards - Winners 2006". Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  21. ↑ Musicuganda.com: PAM 2006 nominees Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ Kisima Awards - Winners 2007 Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ Museke: Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards 2007 winners - Uganda Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ "Tanzania Music Awards - 2007 Nominees". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  25. ↑ "Tanzania Music Awards - 2008 Nominees". Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  26. 1 2 Music Industry Online: 2008 Channel O Music Video Awards Nominees Archived 2016-01-22 at the Wayback Machine
  27. 1 2 3 4 Museke: 2009 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards nominees Archived 2009-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Museke: MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2009 winners
  29. ↑ "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.