Evelyn Wanjiru

Last updated
Evelyn Wanjiru
Evelyn Wanjiru.jpg
Wanjiru (2018)
Born (1990-05-06) 6 May 1990 (age 34)
Nairobi, Kenya
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Praise And Worship Leader
  • arranger
  • composer
  • songwriter
  • entrepreneur
  • Business Woman
Years active2010 (2010)–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2012)​
ChildrenMshindi Akweyu Agundabweni
Musical career
Genres Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music
Instrument(s)Piano, Acoustic Guitar
Labels Bwenieve
Website www.evelynwanjiru.com

Evelyn Wanjiru Agundabweni (born 6 May 1990) is a Kenyan gospel singer, worship leader, music director, songwriter, hostess of the annual event "Praise Atmosphere" and co-founder of Bwenieve production. She is best known for her hit songs "Mungu Mkuu", "Celebrate", "Jehovah Elohim", "Waweza," "Hossana," "Nikufahamu", "Asante" and "Tulia" featuring Vicky Kitonga among many others.

Contents

Evelyn Wanjiru and her husband Agundabweni Akweyu Agundabweni Akweyu and Evelyn Wanjiru.jpg
Evelyn Wanjiru and her husband Agundabweni Akweyu
Evelyn Wanjiru Leading Worship at Citam Buruburu Evelyn Wanjiru at Citam Buruburu.jpg
Evelyn Wanjiru Leading Worship at Citam Buruburu

Life and career

Evelyn Wanjiru started her music career at the age of nine years, as a child, she sang in a local church and school music festivals. She is the fourth-born of Helen Muhonja and Crispin Kinyua in a family of five. Born in Nairobi in 1989 She was brought up in the Nakuru Kenya Freehold Estate, where she attended Saint Mary's Girls Primary and Langalanga Secondary.

In her early education, she was deeply involved in drama and the school choir, presaging her later success. She later joined Tears Group, Nakuru, for a course in music before further benefiting from the government of Kenya at the 2010 Talent Academy at Kabarak University Nakuru. After early successes in church and school festivals, commercial success came her way when music producer Agundabweni Akweyu noted her talent. Together they started Bwenieve Productions, a music recording studio. She recorded her first album "Mazingira," which was later re-branded as "Waweza." This album resulted in increased public awareness and accolades, most notably for her songs "Waweza" and "Hossana." “Waweza” was nominated as Worship Song and Wanjiru as New Artist of the Year for the 2012 Groove Awards.

The song "Mazingira" was also selected as the theme song of the Kenyan government's campaign to reclaim Mau Forest in 2010. During the launch of this reforestation project in eastern Mau, the incumbent Prime Minister of Kenya was notably impressed by the song, appointing Wanjiru as the official music ambassador for Mau Forest. Under the auspices of this appointment, Wanjiru began the “Mazingira Bora Afya Bora" campaign for the promotion of good health and a healthy environment.

The title song of her second album "Mungu Mkuu", won the 2015 Groove Awards Album of the Year. The hit song Mungu Mkuu saw Evelyn rise to a higher level of musical stardom, since then she has been consistently releasing songs that are well-received across nations.

From her third album titled "Matendo", the song "Tulia" a collaboration with Vick Kitonga Won 2016 groove awards collaboration of the year, "Nikufahamu" from the same album was nominated for Afrima in the category 'inspiration African female artist of the year 2016' .She won the 2016 Xtreem awards worship song of the year. The Sauti Awards U.S.A 2016 nominated her for East Africa female artist of the year.

In 2017 Evelyn had two groove awards nominations; female artist and "Matendo" as album of the year, she was also nominated for Sauti Awards U.S.A. 2017 female artist of the year and Video of the year (Matendo).

In 2021 Evelyn released her fifth album "Mwanga" Mwanga” which is Swahili for Light. The Mwanga Album was produced live with audience present by her own record Label Bwenieve on August 30, 2021, at The C.U.E.A L.R.C Auditorium. It consists of 12 audio - visual songs. Mwanga Album was released on 24 November exclusively on Boomplay app.

Evelyn has toured different countries like the United States of America where she has performed in over ten different states, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda. She has shared the same platforms in ministry alongside renowned singers like Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Chandler Moore, Sinach, Mary Mary, and many more. She has done a collaboration titled "Sawa" with Zimbabwean gospel musician Tembalami the song that is doing very well with a lot of airplay, also she collaborated with Mkhululi Bhebhe on his live DVD recording that was done in Johannesburg South Africa the medley "Hakuna Mungu kama wewe" and in Ghana collaborated with gospel singer Celestine Donkor.

On April 7, 2012, Wanjiru married producer Agundabweni Akweyu at Buruburu Baptist Church Nairobi, where her late father-in-law, Rev. Kenneth Akweyu, who served as a senior pastor. Evelyn and her husband Agundabweni stayed in marriage trying to conceive, on the tenth year they conceived their first son, Mshindi Akweyu Agundabweni, who was born on 6 April 2022. She runs a fashion house named bwenieve clothesline, a mentorship program that has raised more aspiring musicians, together with her husband producer Agundabweni Akweyu they run Bwenieve Production and other businesses.

Discography

Albums

Complete Albums by Evelyn Wanjiru

Waweza
Studio album by
Evelyn Wanjiru
Released2012
Genre Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music
Length23:00
Label Bwenieve
Producer Agundabweni Akweyu
Mungu Mkuu
Studio album by
Evelyn Wanjiru
Released2015
Genre Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music
Length58:00
Label Bwenieve
Producer Agundabweni Akweyu
Matendo
Studio album by
Evelyn Wanjiru
Released2017
Genre Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music
Length32:00
Label Bwenieve
Producer Agundabweni Akweyu
Mwanga Album
Evelyn Wanjiru Mwanga Album Cover.png
Live album by
Evelyn Wanjiru
Released2021
Recorded30/08/2021
VenueC.U.E.A L.R.C Auditorium
Genre Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music
Length2 hr 11 min
Label Bwenieve
Producer Agundabweni Akweyu
YearAlbumNotes
2012Wawezawritten by Evelyn
2015Mungu Mkuuwritten by evelyn
2017Matendowritten by Evelyn
2019Celebratewritten by Evelyn
2021 Mwanaga written by Evelyn

Songs:

Waweza Album (2012)

  1. Waweza
  2. Unatosha
  3. Hossana
  4. Anthem
  5. Namlauduon
  6. Mazingira

Mungu Mkuu Album (2015)

  1. Mungu Mkuu
  2. Utukufu
  3. Yaweh
  4. Tunakuabudu
  5. Ila damu yake yesu
  6. Karibu Yesu
  7. Nimwamini
  8. Damu
  9. All Glory
  10. Neno Moja
  11. Damu Medley

Matendo Album (2017)'

  1. Nikufahamu
  2. Baba Inuka
  3. Tulia tf Vicky
  4. Matendo
  5. Halleluya
  6. Sema Nami
  7. Sawa ft Tembalami
  8. Nilingoze
  9. Subiri ft Mercy Masika & Emmy Kosgei

Celebrate Album (2019)'

  1. Celebrate
  2. Bless the Lord
  3. Jehovah Elohim
  4. Holy
  5. It is Amazing
  6. Nanyenyekea
  7. Sitaogopa
  8. I surrender

Mwanga Album (2021)' [1]

1.   Mwanga Album Intro

2.   You're Worthy

3.   Utukufu ( Live)

4.   Mwanga

5.   Nanyenyekea(Live)

6.   Everlasting(Live)

7.   Naringa na Yesu

8.   Baba Inuka(Live)

9.   Mungu Mkuu (Live)

10. Sifa Zitande

11. Umwema

12. Jehovah Elohim (Live)

13. Wonderful

Singles

  1. Jehova Elohim [2]
  2. Its Amazing
  3. Celebrate
  4. holy
  5. Everlasting
  6. No One Like You
  7. Sitagopa
  8. Worthy ft Eunice Njeri
  9. Favour ft Celestine Donkor
  10. Hakuna Mungu kama wewe ft Mkhululi Bhebhe

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef(s)
2020Impact AwardsHonoraryEverlastingWinner
2020Maranatha AwardsBest live ministrationHakuna Mungu Kama weweWinner
2019Mwafaka AwardsFemale Artist of the yearCelebrateWinner
2019Groove AwardsArtist of the yearCelebrateNominee
2019Groove AwardsWorship song of the yearCelebrateNominee
2019Groove AwardsSong of the yearCelebrateNominee
2018Sauti Awards U.S.AWorship song East,west ,South AfricaJehovah ElohimWinner [3]
2018Maranatha AwardsFemale Artist of the yearJehovah ElohimWinner
2018Maranatha AwardsCollaboration of the yearSawawinner
2017 Groove Awards Female Artist of the yearMatendoNominee [4]
2017 Groove Awards Album of the yearMatendoNominee [5]
2017 Sauti Awards U.S.A Female Artist of the year E.AMatendoNominee [6]
2017 Sauti Awards U.S.A Video of the yearMatendoNominee [7]
2016Afrima AwardsBest female African inspirationalNikufahamuNominee [8]
2016Mwafaka AwardsFemale artist of the yearNikufahamuNominee [9]
2016Mwafaka AwardsCollabo of the yearTuliaNominee [9]
2016xtreem AwardsFemale artist of the yearNikufahamuNominee [10]
2016xtreem AwardsWorship Song of the yearNikufahamuNominee [10]
2016 Groove Awards Worship Song of the yearNikufahamuWinner [11]
2016 Groove Awards Female Artist of the yearNikufahamuNominee [12]
2016 Groove Awards Collabo of the yearTuliaWinner [11]
2015 Groove Awards Album of the yearMungu MkuuWinner [13]
2015 Groove Awards Female Artist of the yearMungu MkuuNominee [14]
2015 Groove Awards Worship Song of the yearMungu MkuuNominee [15]
2015Xtreem AwardsWorship Song of the yearMungu MkuuWinner [16]
2015Xtreem AwardsCollabo of the yearTuliaWinner [17]
2015Xtreem AwardsFemale artist of the yearMungu MkuuNominee [18]
2015Mwafaka AwardsFemale Artist of the yearMungu MkuuNominee [19]
2015Mwafaka AwardsSong of the yearMungu MkuuNominee [20]
2014Xtreem AwardsWorship Song of the yearWawezaWinner [21]
2014Xtreem AwardsCentral Kenya Artist of the yearWawezaWinner [21]
2012 Groove Awards Worship Song of the yearWawezaNominee [22]

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References

  1. ↑ "Evelyn Wanjiru MWANGA - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  2. ↑ Jehovah Elohim, Evelyn Wanjiru. "Evelyn Wanjiru-Jehovah Elohim".
  3. ↑ "Sauti Awards winners 2018".
  4. ↑ 2017 female artist of the year, Groove awards. "Groove Award Nominees 2017 and how you can vote for them". Standard Digital News. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ album of the year, groove 2017. "Groove Award Nominees 2017 and how you can vote for them". Standard Digital News. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2017-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Female artist of the year E.A, Sauti Awards 2017. "Nominees | Sauti Awards". sautiawards.com. Retrieved 2017-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ video of the year, Sauti Awards 2017. "Nominees | Sauti Awards". sautiawards.com. Retrieved 2017-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Poll: BEST FEMALE ARTISTE IN AFRICAN INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC". afrima.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  9. 1 2 "Full list of the Mwafaka Awards nominees | UlizaLinks.co.ke". www.ulizalinks.co.ke. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  10. 1 2 "Xtreem Awards KE - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  11. 1 2 winners. "2016 groove awards winners". Archived from the original on 2016-08-04.
  12. ↑ Groove, Awards. "Female Artist of the year".
  13. ↑ Groove, Awards. "Album Of the year". Archived from the original on 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  14. ↑ Groove, Awards. "Female Artist nomination". Archived from the original on 2016-05-14.
  15. ↑ Groove, Awards. "Worship song nomination". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  16. ↑ Uliza, links. "Winners".
  17. ↑ 254blog. "winners". Archived from the original on 2016-05-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "254blog". Archived from the original on 2016-05-14.
  19. ↑ ghettoradio. "mwafaka nominee". Archived from the original on 2016-05-13.
  20. ↑ ghettoradio. "Mwafaka awards". Archived from the original on 2016-05-13.
  21. ↑ "2012 Groove Awards Nomination List".

Sources

  1. http://www.evelynwanjiru.com/bio/
  2. Evelyn Wanjiru's Wedding anniversary
  3. 2016 Groove female artist of the year Archived 2019-01-05 at the Wayback Machine nominee
  4. 2016 Groove worship song of the year winner
  5. 2016 Groove collabo of the year winner
  6. Evelyn Wanjiru news-uliza links .Retrieved 27 April 2016
  7. Wowan to Woman-Daily nation news paper retrieved 24 April
  8. 2015 Groove awards album of the year winner Archived 2018-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
  9. 2014 Xtreem awards worship song of the year
  10. 2015 Xtreem awards worship song winner
  11. 2015 Xtreem female artist nominee
  12. 2015 Xtreem collabo of the year winner
  13. 2012 Groove awards new artist nominee
  14. 2015 Groove awards worship song nominee Archived 2019-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
  15. 2015 Groove awards female artist nominee Archived 2019-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
  16. Evelyn Wanjiru Album launch Buzz Daily nation. Retrieved 24 April 2016
  17. 2015 Mwafaka awards female artist nominee
  18. 2015 Mwafaka awards song of the year
  19. 2014 Xtreem Awards central Kenya Artist
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