Elani (band) explained

Elani
Origin:Nairobi, Kenya
Years Active:
Label:Record Union

Elani is a Kenyan African pop group from Nairobi. It consists of three members; Wambui Ngugi, Brian Chweya and Maureen Kunga.[1] The trio released their debut single"Jana Usiku" in November 2013 that became a great success,[2] paving way for their subsequent singles. In 2014, the trio released numerous singles in the making of their debut album Barua ya Dunia.

History

2008 – 12; Band maturity

Elani met in January 2008 at Alliance Française in Nairobi. It originally consisted of four members; Wambui Ngugi, Maureen Kunga, Brian Chweya and Daniel Kimani.[3] Kimani's departure has never been explained.[4] They became more serious between 2010 and 2011 when they mutually decided to take their careers to the next level.[5]

2013  – Present; Barua ya Dunia

In 2013, the band released their debut single "Jana Usiku"[6] [7] In March 2014, Elani released their second single "Milele",[8] the song talks about two lovers who live a forbidden passion, thereby the lady's family tries hard to marry her off to a doctor.[9] The video was shot by Sauti Sol's Savara Mudigi in conjunction with Sol Music Entertainment and directed by Enos Olik.[10] In mid 2014, the trio released "Kookoo", a song that was shot in the streets of Nairobi, and is the most successful production the band ever released since it was the most downloaded song in the downloading platforms.[11] As of 16 July 2014, "Kookoo" was ranked second in the respective week's chart just coming right after Bahati's "Barua".[12] The band has also released "hatua", "Zuzu",[13] "Uko Wapi", "Barua ya Dunia"[14] and "Mahindi. In 2016, the band featured Chameleone in their new single "My Darling".[15] [16]

Controversies

On 12 January 2016, Elani released a statement through their YouTube channel and their other social media platforms, accusing the Music Copyright Society of Kenya(MCSK) of corruption over music royalty disparity.[17] Having paid them KES 31,000 for their royalties for television and radio air play.[18] They later stated, that after addressing their complaints to the relevant authorities of the society, Brian, one of the band members was called by the society's offices and paid a compensatory KES 300,000,[19] making the motive behind the two payments questionable.[20] MCSK later defended itself stating that all said by the band is not entirely true but accepted the fact that the band was paid peanuts but they (MCSK) later discovered a mistake on their (MCSK) part where they failed to monitor the band's songs for the period dated July 2013 to June 2014. Adding that KES 300,000 was compensation for the royalties lost within that period for which their song received massive airplay finalizing that that is a common mistake that happens not only to Elani but also other musicians.[21]

Band members

Current members
Previous members

Personal Lives

Maureen Kunga

Kunga is a law school graduate (University of Nairobi)

Wambui Ngugi

Ngugi is an Actuarial Science graduate (University of Nairobi).

Brian Chweya

Chweya is a law school graduate (University of Nairobi) and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Discography

Studio albums

Barua ya Dunia

Singles

YearSingle DirectorAlbumRef(s)
2013"Jana Usiku"Steve MuriungiBarua ya Dunia[22]
2014"Milele"
"Kookoo"Ogopa Videos[23] [24]
"Mahindi"
"Hapo Zamani"[25]
"Hatua"
"Zuzu"[26]
"Peperuka"
"Uko wapi"
"Barua ya Dunia"[27]
2015"Nikupende"[28]
2016"My Darling" (Elani featuring Chameleone)[29]
2018"Heartbeat"Ogopa Videos

Awards and nominations

Year Association Award category Nominated work Result Ref
2014Channel O Music Video AwardsMost Gifted - East"Kookoo"[30]
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Best African Pop[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 28 May 2014. Harun. Momanyi. Nairobi's freshest band Elani is a reflection of what real music should be!. 4 January 2015. MomanyiHarun.com.
  2. Web site: 9 January 2014. Eva. Njoki. Jana Usiku by Elani. 14 January 2016. Kenya Buzz.
  3. Web site: Conversation with Elani. 12 February 2016. Moderate Kenyan.
  4. Web site: Elani. 12 February 2016. Wamathai.
  5. Web site: 18 May 2014. Josephine. Mosongo. One on One: Elani. 12 February 2016. Nation.
  6. Web site: They off on the right foot with hit song Jana Usiku. 26 February 2016. Mdundo KE.
  7. Web site: Music video by Elani performing Jana Usiku. 26 February 2016. Capital FM.
  8. Web site: Elani - Milele. 26 February 2016. Nation.
  9. Web site: Elani – Milele. 26 February 2016. Fetterly.
  10. Web site: Hot Video: Elani – Milele. 26 February 2016. Radio Mbao.
  11. Web site: Elani – Kookoo. 26 February 2016. Nation.
  12. Web site: Bahati's letter 'delivered' as Elani kookoo's into 2nd place in this week's TOP 10 . 26 February 2016 . Mdundo KE . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150421164706/http://mdundo.com/news/2063 . 21 April 2015 .
  13. Web site: Elani Zuzu remix. 27 February 2016. Mdundo KE.
  14. Web site: Elani, Barua Ya Dunia. 27 February 2016. OMG.
  15. Web site: Elani x Chameleone – My Darling. 26 February 2016. Not Just OK.
  16. Web site: 12 February 2016. Laureezy. Elani x Chameleone My Darling. 27 February 2016. V3Rcity. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820032043/http://www.v3rcity.com/audio-visual/music/elani-x-chameleone-my-darling/. 20 August 2016. dead.
  17. News: Why Is This Popular Kenyan Band Calling Out Music Industry Corruption?. 27 February 2016. Okayafrica. 14 January 2016 .
  18. Web site: Kenyan band Elani slams copyright society over royalty disparity. 27 February 2016. Music in Africa. 14 January 2016 .
  19. Web site: 13 January 2016. Chris. Sommerfeldt. 'Enough is Enough:' Elani Demands Copyright Society Pay Their Artists Fairly. 27 February 2016. Kenyan Vibe.
  20. Web site: 13 January 2016. Manuel. Ntoyai.
    1. ElaniSpeaks: Music Copyright Society of Kenya under attack again
    . 27 February 2016. Mediamax Network.
  21. Web site: "Elani Not Entirely Truthful" – MCSK CEO. 27 February 2016. Nairobi Wire. 18 January 2016 .
  22. Web site: Elani: Jana Usiku. 14 January 2016. Bottom line. 11 September 2013 .
  23. Web site: Elani: Kookoo. 14 January 2016. Bottom line. 30 April 2014 .
  24. Web site: 5 August 2014. Ovie. O. Elani-Barua ya dunia. 15 January 2016. Not Just OK.
  25. Web site: Elani Release New Music Video "Hapo Zamani". 26 February 2016. NaiBuzz.
  26. Web site: New music alert: Elani with 'Zuzu' . 26 February 2016 . Mdundo KE .
  27. Web site: New Video Alert: Elano Barua ya Dunia. 26 February 2016. EbonyLife TV. 8 August 2014 .
  28. Web site: Elani release their nikupende lyrics video. 15 January 2016. Kiss 100.
  29. Web site: WHY ELANI ARE CHARGING FOR NEW SONG. 26 February 2016. Nairobi News. 14 February 2016 .
  30. Web site: SAUTI SOL AND ELANI NOMINATED FOR THIS YEAR'S CHANNEL O AFRICA MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. 16 February 2016. The Insider.
  31. Web site: Elani bags Best African Pop award. 16 February 2016. Nation TV.