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A few days ago, famed artiste, Nyashinski, was nominated for the upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards for the Best African Act. With just four singles in a year, the Malaika hitmaker will be battling it out with South Africa’s Nasty C, Nigeria’s Wizkid and Davido, among others.
In 2014, award-winning band Sauti Sol bagged the award. Kenya is ever so willing to embrace international acts with big names such as Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Jidenna, Ne-Yo, Diplo, Mi Casa, AKA, Nneka, to name but a few, making their way to our side of the globe.
And yet, Kenya is ripe with talent as Kelele Takatifu’s Moji intimates. If we look closely into all these brands jetting our way or touring other parts of the globe, you will realize they are celebrated in their home turf but when they go out to perform or tour, it’s actually an overflow and dismay.
If we want to compete on a global scale, for our acts to be bigger, we need to give them enough support. For instance, if someone stumbles on a Kenyan song online, and finds it has three million views, he/she will be like, ‘who’s this guy!’
The Kenyan-Norwegian artiste Stella Mwangi, who is still making waves with her self-titled Extended Play (EP), which catapulted her as one of the most successful East African artists in the music business of licensing in Hollywood.Fox Networks clinched her single Get Up and Go, also off her EP, to feature as a soundtrack on the second season of hit series Rosewood. Her hit single, Set It Off, was also featured on Being Mary Jane Season 4 alongside the first single Big Girl, which was leased to American production Donut Media.
Last month, news broke that Stella’s Get Up and Go will also be used as the theme record for Tommy’s runway fashion shows for a whole year as well as on digital campaigns and promotions to kick off the Tommy Now Fall Winter 2017 collection.
It is good to note that some are out to get fame, others money. When you have God and the right motives, doors will open.