One on one with ‘Kiatu Kivue’ hit maker Anastazia Mukabwa

Most people thought “Kiatu Kivue” was Rose Muhando’s song as Anastazia Katii Mukabwa, the singer and composer, was relatively unknown in the music industry in 1998 when the song rocked the airwaves.

"Rose Muhando featured in the song, but I was the one who composed it, " Anastazia says.

The album Kiatu Kivue has songs like “Kiatu Kivue”, “Heshima”, “Manamba wa Matatu”, “Nzinzi Lela”, “Nishike Mkono”, “Tabu Zangu”, “Utukuzwe and “Mfalme Farao”.

“I strongly felt that it took the hand of God to single handedly come up with this album as it was an expensive venture, ” she says in impeccable Kiswahili, a result of growing up in Momsasa and one of the reasons her fans thought she was the popular gospel singer from Tanzania Rose Muhando.

Anastazia, the mother of two, was born in Busia, Western Kenya, about 30 years ago. She is the second born in a family of six siblings; two girls and four boys. She was however brought up and educated in Mombasa where her father worked for many years. The mother was housewife.

LIFE CHANGES

They lived there for many years until her father passed on when she was in class six.

 She says, “That was when our good life changed and became very difficult. Dad who used to provide everything to us was no more.”

“I went to Maweni Primary School in Mombasa and completed my primary education in 1992, then to Mombasa High in 1993 completing in 1996. Following financila difficulties we faced then I could not even be given my certificates. I owed the school a lot of money in fees arrears,” Anastazia says.

She had to work extra hard and without choosing the kind jobs she did to make money to salvage her school documents.

“I worked as a house help at one time. I managed to clear the school fees debt and got my certificates,” says delighted Anastazia.

ROSE MUHANDO IMPRESSED

Anastazia says her talent in music was discovered in her early childhood though she adds that she did not have someone to help her develop it immediately.

“It was not until 1997 in Ushindi Baptist Church, Mombasa, when my bishop, Joseph Maisha, invited me to share the stage with Rose Muhando when she came to sing in our church to .I sang my first songs “Umenitoa Shimoni” and “Dunia Inapita”. She was very impressed,” she recalls.

Rose Muhando invited her to Tanzania where she stayed for two months touring and singing. Rose Muhando helped Anastazia to record all the music she had and did not charge her anything.

She told her that it had been revealed to her in sleep that she helps Anastazia in her music so that she could spread the word of the Lord comfortably. It was God’s order to Rose that Anastazia was to be helped.

“Upon returning to the country with the recorded music I went round allover trying to sell my music to my fans. It was not easy as I was very new in the field.

I even had to fast for three days and pray very hard for God’s intervention. After while God opened a way for me. My songs were played in a crusade and attracted Baraka FM Radio crew who liked my music and hence invited me to their studios for an interview.

Immediately my music was played by them became very popular and many other stations played it.”

BIG NAME

Today, in Gospel music, Anastazia Mukabwa is a big name. She is highly celebrated for her songs “Kiatu Kivue” and “Kalenda ya Mungu” and the recently released album Timing (2015) which has eight songs among them “Timing”, “Barua”, “Uko Mwema”, “Ebenneza”and “Yerusalem” among others.

 She has been nominated for and won many awards. In 2009, she won the Nzumari award – Best Female Award, (2009) Gospel Music Award – Best Gospel Song of the Year, (2010) Best Gospel Artiste of the Year, (2010) Best Artiste of Gospel and Secular and in 2011 she was declared the Best Female artiste in the Nzumari Awards.

Besides these, Anastazia prides herself of being the first upcoming artiste to do a collabo with Rose Muhando.

 “I thank God that my music is being appreciated all over the world pretty fast. I have received invitations and toured the whole of Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, Congo, Malawi, Uganda, South Africa and Britain,” Anastazia Mukabwa says.  

Asked about Gospel artistes who are her role model Anastazia said she looks up to musicians like Rose Muhando her mentor, Rebecca Malope, Yvonne Chakachaka, Euphraim, Mary Atieno, late Angela Chibalonza and the late Emachichi. The two for what they did during their lives and the legacy they left behind.

SUKUMA BIN ONGARO

She also acknowledges Pastor John Oketch, Bishop Joseph Maisha and the members of Jesus Evangelical Baptist Church, Nyali, who through their support made her what she is today.

Anastazia is married to Michael Mukabwa and they are blessed with two children; a son and daughter they live in Mombasa. She has a music studio – Mukabwa Music Production and other small businesses in Mombasa. In her free time, she visits and help orphans and prisoners.

To give back to the society Anastazia organises crusades and invites bishops to preach the gospel and also once in a while organises medical camps where people receive free medical treatment. She says the last medical camp she had was in Imironge, Emahaya, Butere in Kakamega where a lot people were rescued from jiggers

It was in one of my crusades that the secular artiste Sukuma bin Ongaro accepted Jesus as his personal saviour and he now sings Gospel music. He has recorded an album and he is looking forward to producing another one soon.