From the land of long-standing gospel music legacy – Tanzania – here comes another artist, Zoravo, famous for ‘Wanakufananisha’. As is the case with Tanzanian gospel music, Zoravo’s songs have not only caught on in Tanzania, but also all over East Africa. In churches, Zoravo’s songs like ‘Majeshi Ya Malaika’ have persisted in worship sets. … Read more
Church band gone viral: from singing on a church stage to getting radio airplay, TV appearances and concert perfomances – this is the story of Karura Voices. The award winning band is an embodiment of a new era in Kenyan gospel music, one driven by live, authentic, and more so church-appropriate music. Listen to any … Read more
“If today was my last day,” the first line on Matthew West’s ‘While I Can’ struck my nerves hard, and for a moment I wondered, “Is Matthew OK?” Such a question, right at the start of a song is a bit uncomfortable, and arguably provoking. Truth be told, even on a bad day, you don’t … Read more
You’ve probably seen Ariel Fitz on her viral TikTok Christian reels, playing dual roles of herself, and her guardian angel. If so, you’ll agree – she’s entertaining, and very much relatable, right? Virtually every modern-day Christian can find some semblance of their daily life struggles on Ariel’s skits. Haven’t seen her yet? Well, Ariel Fitz … Read more
More often in gospel and other genres, background singers (BGVs) don’t get the attention of the audience; everyone eyes on the popular lead artists. But despite this, singing in the background can be the perfect launch pad for new singers. It offers mentorship from the lead artist, new connections to other artists, exposure and a … Read more
Men of Soul Kenya is an acoustic ensemble of five independent, recording and live artists, namely: Ciano Maimba, Isaac Kimani, Kato Change, Noel Nderitu, and Manasseh Shalom. It’s not your everyday type of band. The quintet stands out for its distinctive musical ensignia of laid-back rhythm and blues (rnb), far from the mainstream, and often … Read more
Picture this: in the chill of the night, a fifteen year old Anne Wilson wakes up to blue lights flashing through her bedroom window. What’s happening around here, she must wonder. She rushes outside, and is met by six fallen faces of men in uniform. It suddenly begins to feel somber. She darts back inside … Read more
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 … Read more
Stories and Songs Kenya debuted onto our screens in 2020, right in the glare of the COVID-19 pandemic, with (you guessed it) jovial stories and uplifting worship songs. Amidst the turmoil and uncertainties of the pandemic, their weekly YouTube broadcast ‘Worship Wednesday’ kept hope pretty much alive in Kenya and beyond. Their bond of friendship … Read more
Jonathan McReynolds would admit to this: hardly anyone starts adult life with everything figured out. Stepping into adulthood, life seems to demand more than ever from you. There’s a whole new bunch of responsibilities, expectations, and standards you suddenly have to uphold. The tragedy is: they don’t wait untill you’re ready, no! They’ll just keep … Read more