Newcomers shine at premier gospel musicians festival

Fresh talent scooped the top honours at the eighth annual Groove Awards that was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Saturday.

During the gospel awards show, Gloria Muliro won the coveted female artiste of the year while fast rising star Willy Paul was named the male artiste of the year.

The two had a successful year and collaborated to release the Sitolia megahit that was one of the top songs of 2012.

The two then had a nasty fall-out over the rights of the song but have since worked out their differences and even embraced each other on stage with Paul calling her “my mum.”

“It does not mean I am better than the rest,” said Ms Muliro when she received the award.

The two were just the cherry on top of a successful night that awarded some of gospel’s best in what is one of the most prestigious event in the Kenyan entertainment calendar.

NTV’s gospel show Crossover won the Television Show of the Year award after beating stiff competition from Citizen’s Kubamba show and KTN’s Tukuza.

It was a good night for Crossover after DJ MO won the DJ of the year trophy.

The late David Nthiwa, the host of the popular ‘90s gospel show Joy Bringers was honoured posthumously for his role in promoting gospel music in the country. Mr Nthiwa died last year.

Singer and song writer Mercy Wairegi of the Nakutazamia fame walked away with the Song Writer Of The Year which was one of the most anticipated awards.

Jimmy Gait walked away with the song of the year over his hit single Appointment which was received with shock by many after it beat out Willy Paul and Gloria Muliro’s Sitolia which was a crowd favourite.

Daddy Owen, who has previously dominated the awards did not win any trophy this year.

Tanzanian artistes Rose Muhando and Christina Shusho won the Skiza Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year and it was not a surprise when the crowd cheered when their names were read out.

The awards were very different this year compared to any of Groove’s last seven as it was graced by the President who received a thunderous welcome when he arrived. He told those present that he had to force himself to stay seated as he did not know if it was presidential to get down in song and dance.

“I do not know if a President is allowed to dance, I am still trying to learn a few things,” he joked.

He then tackled serious issues facing the entertainment industry like piracy, directing Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Art Hassan Wario to step up measures to protect musicians and other artistes from copyright infringement.

“Kenya’s music industry has witnessed exponential growth and the government is committed to ensure that arts is no longer a footnote but a driver of the country’s economic agenda,” said President Kenyatta.

He added that his government is ready to engage with entertainers to help grow the industry.

“Our doors are open to engage with representatives from the music,” Mr Wario echoed one of Jubilee’s campaign manifestos of constructing an ultramodern national theatre for the arts that will help “discover, nurture and promote local artistes.” He said the government was still keen on ensuring that TV stations aired 60 per cent local content.