Kenyan Diaspora set for Talanta Awards 2011

By Chris Wamalwa in USA

Hundreds of Kenyans living in the US will be congregating in Delaware this Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate the Fourth annual Talanta awards, 2011.

Talanta Awards celebrations held every year in different states in America is basically a gospel performances show meant to identify, appreciate and encourage artistic talents among the young Africans living in the US.

A poster advertising the Talanta Africa Awards 2011 ahead of the event this Thanksgiving weekend in Delaware.

Over time, apart from attracting participation from Kenya, the celebrations have also served as an appropriate holiday getaway for the Kenyan Diaspora during the thanksgiving long weekend. It’s one of the annual events held in the US that has continued to attract a larger number of young upcoming and aspiring gospel artists based in the US.

This year’s event will be held at Gospel Lighthouse Worship Center, 51 Blue Hen Drive, Newark, DE starting Thursday, November 24 to November 27.

Briefing the press Tuesday evening, Irene Magunga, the event coordinator said everything was in place and most guests from Kenya and around the US had already started checking into their hotels ready for the events. Among known artists that have already arrived for the event are MC Alemba and DJ MO from Kenya.

"It’s all systems go. What we are doing right now is to make sure that we have a grand dinner on Thursday to welcome our guests and participants. We expect not less than five hundred Kenyans during this weekend," she said.

Ms Magunga assured Kenyans that the organisers had pulled all the stops to ensure smooth running of the program whose culmination will be the presentation of awards on Saturday. Last year, the event was almost marred by time management issues, as is characteristic of most Kenyan events.

"We will keep the programme short and smooth this time around," she said.

Last years’ 3rd annual Talanta Awards took place at the Lighthouse Convention Center in Raleigh, NC on July 17 – 18, 2010 and saw about 14 states represented. Mr Bonifide (Kenneth Maina) formerly of the group Zaidi ya Mziki scooped the Best Artiste award while Mr Googz bagged Best Artiste (Kenya).

Other winners included popular rap group Infinity and Congolese artiste Kjean and Delaware’s teenage gospel singer sensation Christle Njambi who won the young talent award.

The awards Emcees were Thomas Njuguna (IN), Anne Nzuki (KS), Flo Mutiso (GA) and Angela Muiruri (Miss Kenya USA 2009). Gospel Artists present included Betty Maina, Jaci Madegwa, Chozen Vessels, Jesus Christ Groupies, Gospel Revivers, DKamaa, Kamnao, KJean, Irene Magunga, Grace Faraja, QBC, Infinity, L4C, VOW, God’s Replica, DFI Youth, the Messengers and Apostle Lucy Muthami.