| Groove Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in the African Christian music industry |
| Country | Kenya |
| Presented by | Groove Awards |
| First awarded | 2004 |
| Website | home |
The Groove Awards is a Kenyan annual Gospel award. The winners are chosen by the public. The award's coverage has spread to include other East African countries, [1] including Rwanda. [2] It is sponsored by Safaricom and MoSound Events. [3]
The first Groove Awards were presented in 2004, at a small gathering. [1] Kevin Mulei is the founder of the groove awards. [4] It has since grown to be a live-broadcast event courtesy of media sponsors. To date, more than 1,200 artists/groups have been nominated and 270 Groove statuettes presented to exemplary Gospel musicians in Kenya and the larger East African region. The 8th awards ceremony, held on 1 June 2013, was attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta. [5] The ceremony takes place annually in Nairobi. [6]
Initiated in 2013, Groove Camp, [7] a 3-day annual forum, unites, equips and raises the standards of gospel musicians and gatekeepers by equipping them with relevant skills to improve their craft and ministry. The camp draws more than 150 artists and 15 facilitators who tackle issues concerning the music ministry and industry.
The second Annual Groove Camp was held in April 2014 and featured new and seasoned gospel artists, many of whom were named nominees of the 2014 Groove Awards. [8] Borrowing from the Groove Awards 2014 theme, 'Let Your Light Shine' (LYLS), derived from Matthew 5:16, the camp's purpose was to ignite in the hearts and minds of artists, a conversation that will keep burning throughout the year.
Attendance at the Groove Camp is by application. [9]
Each year, Groove Awards nominees stage performances in selected towns and cities in Kenya to popularize the upcoming awards and win the public's favour. These events are sponsored by Safaricom and are broadcast to the public live on partner mainstream tv stations K24 TV and previously on NTV and KTN
There are 19 categories of awards in 2018. [10]
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician who served as the 4th president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
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.
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Owen Mwatia popularly known as Daddy Owen was born on Friday 1, 1982, is a Kenyan contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist and songwriter from Kakamega, Kenya. Owen is the brother to Kenyan Award-winning gospel musician Rufftone. He is a member of the Kenya Assemblies of God Church, Buru Buru, Nairobi and is signed to Beats & Blessings family. Daddy Owen is now married to Farida Wambui.
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Gloria Owendi, commonly referred to as Gloria Muliro, is a Kenyan Gospel musician and songwriter. In 2005, she released her first studio album, titled Omwami Aletsa. As of 2013, Muliro had four albums to her name, the most successful being Kibali (Mandate), which has the popular song "Sitolia" featuring Willy Paul. The album earned her six Groove Awards nominations. She went on to receive the female artist of the year award at the eighth Groove Awards, an event that was attended by President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
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Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, known professionally as Sinach, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and senior worship leader at Loveworld until 2021. She is the first singer-songwriter to top the Billboard Christian Songwriter chart for 12 weeks in a row. Her song "Way Maker" received three nominations and won the Song of the Year at the 51st GMA Dove Awards, making her the first Nigerian to win the Award. She also won the BMI song of the year, and in 2021 was recognized by the US Congress while on tour in the United States of America.
Wilson Abubakar Radido is a Kenyan artist and songwriter from Nairobi. He is the chief executive officer and founder of Saldido international entertainment.
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Evelyn Wanjiru Agundabweni 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" and "Tulia."
Odi pop is a Kenyan music style which involves localized hip hop and draws influences from reggae and dDancehall music to build on an African Rhythm base performed in sing-along rap in heavy Kiswahili/Sheng language. There are several sub-genres stemming from this umbrella term including Gengeton, Dabonge, Debe and others. The music is spearheaded by Kenyan youth and most of them are pursuing their careers as music groups opposed to solo careers.
Nzioka Siwadie Waita is a Kenyan advocate who has served as the 2nd Chief of Staff of Kenya's State House and Head of Kenya's Presidential Delivery Unit since 5 January 2018. He succeeded Joseph Kinyua, who is Kenya's Head of Public Service, at the start of the 2nd term of President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya. Prior to this appointment, Waita served in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Head of the Public Service, deputising Joseph Kinyua in both capacities. And prior to this he served as Secretary, President’s Delivery Unit.
Janet Achieng Otieno popularly known as Janet Otieno, is a singer and songwriter of gospel music from Kenya. She was the winner of Mwafaka Awards and nominated at Groove Awards for "Collaboration of the year" in 2014 for the song "Napokea Kwako" which featured Christina Shusho from Tanzania.
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