Adawnage Band: Inception, Members and Journey Since 2008

Adawnage, the Kenyan gospel band is popularly known for its landmark songs Naomba and Uwezo. Since it’s inception, the band has demonstrated savvy talent and skill in both songwriting and music production.

Take Uwezo for one, a song fitting for the troubles of figuring out life and love. The song starts with a catchy, emotive acoustic guitar intro, pulling you right into the heart of the song. The lead vocalist, Kaki Mwihaki then proceeds with an inviting hum, and by the time the first verse begins to pour out, you’re all into the song – mind, body and soul.

The song goes along to present it’s message, packaged in a life problem and a prayer. The problem is: finding the meaning of life and finding love amidst pain and bitterness. The prayer is for strength to stand firm in God’s word through it all.

Such is the music that sticks along with you through the years. Its relevance to life is enduring. For this reason, it can be sufficiently argued that Adawnage band is one of Kenya’s top gospel bands.

Adawnage factsheet

Here are quick facts on the band:

Talentmania: story behind inception

The year is 2008, in Nairobi, and it’s the final day of a prominent perfoming arts festival, Talentmania. On the stage are contestants, eagerly waiting for the announcement of the winner. One of these contestants is Kaki Mwihaki.

This victory, just about to be declared will inspire the birth of something grander in the coming days. Such is not rare. Talentmania has been a springboard to succesful artists like Eunice Njeri, comedian Daniel Ndambuki a.k.a Churchill, Richard Astar Njau of CTA and Gerriey Wainaina.

The long-awaited moment is here. “And the winner is…Roselyn Mwihakiiii!” Roselyn scoops ‘the most outstanding vocalist’ award.

On the same stage, David Ogara, one of Adawnage’s founding members scoops ‘the most outstanding instrumentalist’ award. David also becomes a member of Stories and Songs much later in 2020.

After the awards, Roselyn wants to have a live music session with the band at Talentmania. Being the only vocalist, the band requests her to bring along a back up. Kaki reaches out to a friend, Robert Njuguna via text message, and he agrees to sing along.

Let’s form a band!

The live music session brings together artists whose attempts at solo careers haven’t been as forthcoming. But here is an opportunity to team up, put in a combined effort and launch their careers upwards.

So on this day, the artists form a band together. The day is May 28, 2008 (See clip). A new age has dawned!

As for the band name, the founder Roselyn suggests Adawnage on one of their meet-ups. Adawnage is taken from a-dawn-age. Seeing that the artists have a fresh start to their careers with the new band, it’s only fitting to call it Adawnage. (See clip).

And that’s how Adawnage came to be!

Safari: The debut

On the first year, the road up ahead proved to be sketchy for the band. They faced production setbacks, largely delaying their debut.

On an interview with Citizen TV, Robert Njuguna says it took them one year to record the first song in a Nairobi studio. The band then sought a different producer, Dominic Khaemba, based in Nyeri. Safari the song was inspired by the journey to Nyeri (literal journey).

It was a journey marred by mishaps: a flat tyre twice, and long delays. The band eventually arrived at Khaemba’s studio as late as 2am. Interestingly, Khaemba then suggested they write a song for that rough journey.

Changing producers, and travelling all the way to Nyeri proved worthwhile. The band would record three songs on a single weekend, a far outcry from one song a year.

Eight months later in December 2010, the band debuted with Safari, their first album. These songs from the album put the band on the radar: Safari, Tulizo and I live for You.

With a favorable reception to their music, Adawnage went on recording, and performing on live events. The band even performed at State House during President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure.

In 2013, the band released their second album, Safari: the Journey. In this album were the iconic songs; Uwezo and Naomba. Three years later in 2016, the band released a third album, Maisha.

Kaki Mwihaki: marriage, divorce & going solo

A year earlier in 2015, the lead singer Kaki Mwihaki had tied the knot. But her marriage hit the rocks, ending too soon.

Kaki suffered years of depression in her broken marriage, trying to salvage the marriage and even battling with suicidal thoughts. Eventually, she filed for divorce. She spoke to the Standard on her marriage in 2018 as quoted below:

“My marriage ended 3 years ago, the divorce was made absolute this year.”

“I sunk into depression and battled my lowest ever. I had nothing to look forward to and being alive was nothing but pain. I prayed that He (God) may take my life, but morning after morning, He kept me.”

Kaki Mwihaki, The Standard, May 4 2018

Inspired by her story, Kaki began a solo project in 2018. Given the personal nature of this project, Kaki stepped aside from the band, as quoted, not to taint the band.

Kaki debuted in May 2018 with a single, “Nani Kama Yahweh.” Later on, she released two more singles: “Jibu Si Kifo” and “Incredible.”

Her story got better in January 2020 when she was signed by Magichands, a US based record label. At this time it became clear that the singer had left Adawnage band.

Kaki released a number of singles under Magichands in 2020, including Tegemeo, Tabibu, and Asante. Her latest single at the time of publishing is Majeshi (2022).

Kaki currently resides in the U.S., serving in a worship team at Cornerstone Church in Arizona.

New membership

From 2016 to 2020, Adawnage remained active, appearing on events and perfomances, but without a new album or single. It was only in 2020 that the band released three singles: “Your Name,” “Hakuna,” and “Najitolea.”

Notably with the 2020 singles, the band had a new face – about twelve new members. Most of the familiar founding members were out of the picture, save for Robert Njuguna.

Here’s an Instagram post from the band’s page, showing the current members:

For more detail, here’s a list of the members and their roles, as seen on Adawnage’s Instagram page:

Upcoming album

On December 18 2022, Adawnage band had a live recording session of their new album Tawala, at CITAM Valley Road. News of the release date is yet to break. Once released, this will be the band’s first live recorded album.

Awards and recognition

Adawnage has been alive for 15 years now in 2023. That comes with lots of expertise and of course recognition. Adawnage is not only recognised in Kenya but also on the international stage. The band occasionally performs on local and oversees events.

In 2012 and 2017, Adawnage won Groove awards for the group of the year. The band also won a Groove award for video of the year, for their song “I Live For You” in 2017.

May the band keep blessing and reaching to our souls even more.

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Cover image source: Facebook/Adawnage band