Amani (musician) explained

Amani
Birth Name:Cecilia Wairimu
Birth Date:28 November 1980
Birth Place:Thika, Kiambu, Kenya
Origin:Nairobi, Kenya
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:1999–present
Label:Ogopa Deejays

Cecilia Wairimu (born 28 November 1980),[1] better known by her stage name Amani,[2] is a Kenyan singer and songwriter. Her contributions to the Kenyan music industry have earned her several coveted accolades, including the Best Female category at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards, Pearl of Africa Music Awards, Kisima Awards, and Chaguo La Teeniez Awards. She released her debut album in 2006.[3]

Career

Beginnings

Amani attended Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School, where she was part of the a cappella group Sobriety. She signed a record deal with Ogopa Deejays in 1999, right after graduating from high school. She enrolled at the United States International University in 2000 and studied international business administration.

Career breakthrough: 200006; Tamani

Her debut single "Move On" was a radio hit. She released her follow-up singles "Tahidi" and "Papii" in 2001.[4] [5] Her 2002 collaboration with Nameless, titled "Ninanoki", was a major national hit.[4] Her later singles include "Talk to You" (featuring Patonee and Big Pin), "Bad Boy" (featuring Nyashinski of Kleptomaniax), Usiwe Mbali (featuring AY), "Tamani", "Missing My Baby", and "Tonight".[4]

She is currently the brand Ambassador for Airtel Kenya.

Her debut album, Tamani, was released in 2006.[6] She has toured in the United States, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Moreover, she has performed in Dubai, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Liberia and Djibouti.[6]

2010present: Grand comeback to the music industry

In 2010, Amani was featured on "Hands Across The World", a song written and produced by R Kelly. The song serves as the first release for the African supergroup One 8, composed of Amani, Ali Kiba, Navio, Fally Ipupa, 2face Idibia, JK, 4x4, and Movaizhaleine. Described as "an uplifting ballad" by Billboard's Diane Coetzer, the song was released by Rockstar 4000 Music Entertainment.[7] [8]

In 2013, she worked with Uganda's dancehall duo Radio & Weasel to release the song "Kiboko Changu", which serves as the lead single off her latest album. In 2015, she released the single "Kizungu Zungu".[9] [10] In July 2015, she released the reggae and dancehall-influenced song "Heartbreaker".[11] Its music video was shot at Nairobi's Garden Estate and officially released on 8 September 2015.

Cecilia Wairimu got born again in 2018 with 'My God' and 'Upendo' being some of her songs as a born again Christian.

Discography

Singles and studio albums

Year Single Album Ref(s)
2000"Move On"Tamani
2001"Tahidi"
"Papii"
2002"Ninanoki" (Amani featuring Nameless)[12]
2006"Missing My Baby"[13]
2008"Usiwe Mbali Nami" (Amani featuring AY)[14]
2009"Tonight"
2013"Kiboko Changu" (Amani featuring Radio & Weasel)[15]
2015"Kizungu Zungu"[16]
"Heartbreaker"[17] [18]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Award Nominated work Result Ref(s)
2002Chaguo La Teeniez AwardsBest Female Artist
2006Female Artiste of the year[19]
Collabo of the year "Bad Boy" with Nyashiski
Favourite Female Artiste [20]
Favourite Song
Favourite Collabo
Best Kenyan Female Artiste[21]
2007Boomba Female[22]
Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards)Best Female Artist (Kenya) [23]
Best East African Song "Bad Boy"[24]
2008Tanzania Music AwardsBest East African Song "Missing My Baby"[25]
Channel O Music Video AwardsBest R&B video in Africa [26]
Best East African Song
2009Channel O Music Video Awards Best Female Video "Tonight"[27]
Best R&B video
Best East African
Video of the Year
MTV Africa Music Awards 2009Best Female [28]
2014Best Collaboration "Kiboko Changu" featuring Radio and Weasel[29]

Recognitions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 26 Oct 2009 . Amani's biography . 11 January 2016 . Ghafla! . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128184024/http://www.ghafla.co.ke/lyrics/j/102-biographies/biographies/462-amanis-biography . 2016-01-28 . dead .
  2. Web site: CECILIA WAIRIMU BIOGRAPHY DAILY NATION WAKENYA. wakenya.co.ke. 2016-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160920085409/http://wakenya.co.ke/cecilia-wairimu-biography/. 2016-09-20. dead.
  3. Web site: Amani (Musician) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140719040029/http://www.in.com/amani-musician/profile-16579.html . dead . 19 July 2014 . In.com . 11 January 2016.
  4. The Standard, October 30, 2009: Amani’s road to the top
  5. Daily Nation, Young Nation magazine, February 22, 2004: THE STARS: What really shaped their lives?
  6. The Standard, Pulse Magazine, August 8, 2008: Amani:
  7. Web site: Diane Coetzer. R. Kelly Backs African Supergroup. Billboard. 29 April 2017. 19 November 2010.
  8. Web site: Emily Wither. Teo Kermeliotis. R. Kelly backs African supergroup tipped for global stardom. CNN. 29 April 2017. 22 February 2011.
  9. Web site: 9 March 2015 . Pauline . Syombua . New Music: Amani- Kizungu Zungu . 9 January 2016 . Niaje . 9 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190309232425/http://niaje.com/new-music-amani-kizungu-zungu/ . dead .
  10. Web site: 13 March 2015 . Tony . Ndung'u . Amani Unmasked: Details Of Her Video Shoot That You Didn't Know! . 13 January 2016 . Ghafla! . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305111622/http://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/tv/31264-amani-unmasked-details-of-her-video-shoot-that-you-didn-t-know . 2016-03-05 . dead .
  11. Web site: 30 July 2015 . David . Kingsley . Amani Finally Drops Heartbreaker (Audio) . 11 January 2016 . Niaje . https://web.archive.org/web/20150730153630/http://niaje.com/amani-finally-drops-heartbreaker-audio/ . 2015-07-30 . dead .
  12. Web site: 21 August 2009. Baba Ghafla. Ninanoki. 12 January 2016. Ghafla!. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306202303/http://www.ghafla.co.ke/lyrics/a/52-amani-lyrics/134-ninanoki2. 2016-03-06. dead.
  13. Web site: Missing My Baby. 13 January 2016. Ghafla!. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821193440/http://www.ghafla.co.ke/lyrics/a/52-amani-lyrics/137-missing-my-baby. 2016-08-21. dead.
  14. Web site: Usiwe Mbali. 13 January 2016. EA Tube.
  15. Web site: 10 May 2013. Wangui. Gitei. Kenyan pop diva Amani releases new single. 11 January 2016. 98.4 Capital FM.
  16. Web site: 12 March 2015. Carole. Ndanu. Singer Amani Releases New Video- 'Kizungu Kizungu' (Video). 11 January 2016. Niaje. 4 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190304013739/http://niaje.com/singer-amani-releases-new-video-kizungu-kizungu/. dead.
  17. Web site: 9 September 2015. New Music Video: Amani's comeback continues with release of "Heartbreaker". 11 January 2016. 98.4 Capital FM.
  18. Web site: Amani - Heartbreaker. 23 January 2016. Kenyans.co.ke. https://web.archive.org/web/20160129041533/http://www.kenyans.co.ke/video/15187. 29 January 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: Kisima Awards - Winners 2006 . 2008-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090408174146/http://www.kisimaawards.co.ke/kminner.asp?cat=winners . 2009-04-08 . dead .
  20. The Standard, Pulse Magazine, May 5, 2006: The chosen few
  21. Musicuganda.com: PAM 2006 nominees
  22. http://www.kisimaawards.co.ke/kminner.asp?cat=winners07 Kisima Awards - Winners 2007
  23. Museke: Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) awards 2007 winners - Uganda
  24. Web site: Tanzania Music Awards - 2007 Nominees . 2011-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713150404/http://www.kilitimetz.com/awards/2007/nominees_2007.html . 2011-07-13 . dead .
  25. Web site: Tanzania Music Awards - 2008 Nominees . 2011-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081002221614/http://www.kilitimetz.com/awards/2008/nominees_2007.php . 2008-10-02 . dead .
  26. Music Industry Online: 2008 Channel O Music Video Awards Nominees
  27. Museke: 2009 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards nominees
  28. Museke: MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2009 winners
  29. Web site: Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards . Sowetan LIVE . 2014-04-17.

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