Qqu

Last updated

Qqu
Qquin2013.jpg
Qqu at a recent dance event in Nairobi.
Background information
Birth nameMoses Qqu Odhiambo
Also known asThe Fishermans Hook, Double Cue You
Born (1980-10-28) 28 October 1980 (age 43)
Nairobi, Kenya
Genres R&B, African hip hop, Afrofunk, Electronic
OccupationsSocialpreneur, Singer-Songwriter, Media Strategy Consultant & Instrumentalist
InstrumentsDrums, Beatboxing, Singing, Bass Guitar
Years active2003–present
Labels Independent
Website Official website

Moses Qqu Odhiambo (born 28 October 1980), known commonly as Qqu is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, choreographer, performer, instrumentalist, lifestyle entrepreneur and digital artist.

Contents

  ==Biography==

Qqu was born to well respected Provincial Agricultural Officer and his mother who was an administrative clerk at Kenya Pipeline. Due to his father's duties, Qqu grew up with his mother. His four elder siblings were significantly older and thus were rarely around. Qqu pretty much led a secluded life. His brother first introduced him to music by playing beats on the dinner table, and it was here that Qqu delved into the world of music. Being a fast learner, Qqu would wake up hours earlier than usual just to sit at the breakfast table and wait for his brother to come to the breakfast table and learn the next rhythm.

Musical beginning

Qqu grew up listening to practically every form of music that he laid his hands on. Most notable collections he keeps to this day are Roger Whitaker, Diana Ross, Boney M, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Sounds of Blackness, Rebecca Malope. While in Primary School, Qqu was notorious for banging his desk in between lessons to make music, and this gave way to him becoming the youngest instrumentalist to join the Church choir at age 8. It was here that he felt most at home, growing in his faith and playing with great musicians such as Pete Odera, Sally Oyugi, Mary Warambo, Hellen Mtawali (whom he would later on join with as teachers at first and second edition of Tusker Project Fame alongside his fellow choreographer Ian Wainaina) Having finished High School, Qqu was part of the initial group that formed one of Kenya's most successful dance companies (Ollovar), and it was here that the seeds for music were sown. Alongside Ian Wainaina they formed the group NIX and they went on to record one of their most successful albums, Xaxawa.

Music career

Although influenced by a myriad of musical styles, Qqu favours the dancefloor, so HipHop, Salsa and Lingala are his greatest love. His musical tastes are for Conscious HipHop, Uptempo Lingala and Smooth Zouk. He is currently finishing off tracks for his Debut album, Alive. Qqu is working with artists like annieSoul, Juliani, Freestyle Essien from Nigeria, The Villagers and others. The album is set to be released in November/December 2014 and will be his first to have a worldwide release. Qqu performs in English, Swahili, Luo.

2005–2006 Xaxawa

Qqu while in NIX released this album and had great hits such as Beba (feat Ventura Rodriguez). Nakudanganya and one of East Africa's all time love ballads Sura ya Malaika.

2007 Utado

One of 2007's best club singles, also still with NIX. This song had a great twist in that both Ian and Qqu sang in their native languages (Kikuyu and Luo) and served as a unifying factor during the period before the 2008 General Elections.

2012 Hisivi

Qqu was featured on this radio hit with Wini Nkinda an accomplished Choreographer turned musician

2012 There she goes again with Chris Adwar

A Playful song that was set to be a free internet release.

Live performances

Qqu is known for his energy on stage, having been on tour with Wyre for over three years, Dance has become a hallmark for him. With his signature grin Qqu is adored by many and is a mentor to many dance groups that have since hit the scene. Qqu has shared the stage with many artistes like P-Square, Wutah, Oliver Mtukudzi, Bebe Cool, Chameleon, Kanjii, Eric wainaina, Kevin Wyre, 2Face Idibia, TMK Wanaume, Ray C, Morgan Heritage, Jay Sean, Raghav, Mr. Vegas, Kidum, Professor Jay, AY, Nonini, Jua Cali, Amani, Wahu, Nameless, Nyota Ndogo, Redsan, Nikki, Kleptomaniax, Susan Owiyo, Hellen Mtawali, Achieng Abura, Abbas, Ukoo Fulani, Longombas, and many more.

TV appearances

Qqu appeared in 2013 Orange Beat Ya Street TV show on NTV(Kenya) as the Chief Judge and was selected because of his role in pioneering the dance industry in Kenya. The show proved to be a major gaining the necessary top spot ratings in its time slot. The Competition saw the winner collecting a cool kshs 5million. The show showed Qqu in his element directing the young and upcoming groups and giving them solid advice on how to push their careers in dance.

Humanitarian work

A serious advocate for sustainable lifestyles, Qqu is an ecovangelist and is currently setting up basic plastic recycling plants which are cost effective and environment friendly, and are managed by the locals. He is obsessed with Hydroponics knowing fully how water is both a scarce and equally wasted resource. He hopes to find out ways to get this to the masses who might have little space to work with and challenge the notion that to produce you have to have large tracts of land. He's also the founder of the Alive campaign, which seeks above all things to encourage mentorship in primary and high schools. He's also an advocate for NACADA and Club 254 which seek to enlighten high school students on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. He was one of the founders of Inter prisons dance championship which is now in its fourth year with aim of giving inmates a creative outlet.

New media strategy and content development work

Having actively delved in IT at the same time as he did dance and music. Moses Qqu has been instrumental in the shaping and creating of new media space in East and Central Africa. He is a founding member of the Design Kenya Society which is a professional design institution that draws membership from students, professional and stakeholders in the design industry in Kenya. DKS is affiliated to Network of Africa Designers and by extension, International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). He has been instrumental in the shaping of Design Kenya Society and mobilization and recruitment of designers. He is also currently serving in the steering committee of the Art Directors and Copywriters Club of Kenya. Moses Qqu is also one of the key resource persons in the review and development of undergraduate, Diploma and Certificate programmes at the School of The Arts and Design at the University of Nairobi. His currently portfolio extends through the creme de la creme in corporate working on projects for clients such as Samsung, Orange Telecom, Alcatel, Safaricom, Coca-Cola, Barclays Bank and many more.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Producer credits

Awards

Won
Nominated

Related Research Articles

Eric Wainaina is a Kenyan singer.

Hubert Mbuku Nakitare, commonly known by his stage name Nonini, is a Kenyan rapper and former radio presenter. He is often referred to as the Godfather because he is very well known.

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.

Peter Gatonye, known better for his stage name Pilipili is a musician/singer from Kenya. At the beginning of his career, he collaborated with another musician, Gun B. Their best known song was "Nampenda". He also did a song with Ratatat. The song was called "Morale".

<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.

Tim Rimbui, better known as "Ennovator" is a Kenyan record producer, sound engineer and songwriter who has worked with many prominent Kenyan and East African artists. He is generally thought of as one of the leading music producers in Kenya. With the foresight of being creative, innovative and unique he chose the name Ennovator, which would best describe his sound and approach to music production.

Cecilia Wairimu, better known by her stage name Amani, 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.

Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, once known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards, are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video Awards. Since 2005 the awards have been held annually. The winners are voted by Channel O's viewers across the continent.

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.

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

Nyota Ndogo is a musician from Kenya who performs taarab-influenced pop music.

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.

Mr. Googz is a musician from Kenya.

Onyi Papa Jey is an ohangla 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.

INBORN! is an electro-rock band issued from Luxembourg. Since their creation in 2002, the band has been composed of Arthur Glass, Ben Thommes (Guitars), Jeff Braun (Bass), Max Thommes, Jan Kerscher and Claude Meisch . The band has so far released two albums as well as two EP's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan 'chizi' Aceda</span> Musical artist

Dan Aceda, is a Kenyan musician, entrepreneur, architect, and actor from Nairobi. He has recently been recognised by a Kenyan online magazine as having one of the top 10 most iconic male voices in his home country. In 2014 he was nominated to be a part of the Global Accelerator Conference for entrepreneurs organised by the UN Foundation in New York City. He is also a 2013–2014 Global Health Corps fellow

References