Kisima springs

Rising above the hurdles that seemed to besiege it, the annual Kisima Awards put on a brave face and hosted a colourful gala night with Sh2 million going to the winner, Pulse witnessed this crowning moment

After Daddy Owen was named the winner of the Sh2 million Kisima Awards Artiste of the Year jackpot, the fully packed hall burst into celebration with ululation and frenzied cheer renting the air. The celebrated gospel singer got lost in thought and for a minute did not budge from his seat. He fell into deep meditation, lips quivering as he muttered words of thanksgiving, and then he majestically strolled to the podium. It was his moment of glory.

As he took the stairs to the podium, the visually impaired Denno was by his side, an embodiment of humility. This was the gospel singer with whom he sang the award-winning Mbona single.

So emotional was the moment that the two artistes broke into tears of joy with the crowd giving a standing ovation and some breaking into tears. In fact, the moment evoked the mood the Mbona, song is fashioned to create ‘Why us Lord!’

“I dedicate this award to Denno, with whom I sang the winning song Mbona,” Daddy Owen remarked after he recollected his emotions to face the sweet reality.

“Like I pledged, Sh1 million will go to Denno and the other Sh1 million will go to the Mbona Campaign which we started together,” he elucidated.

The old and new

The crowd was puzzled by his generosity and in disbelief; Denno broke into  tears as cameras clicked away.

“Wassup people. Thank you and God bless you. All I want you to know is that disability is not inability. What I need is not your sympathy, but your support,” he said, a ray of joy wafting across his face.

This was a culmination of a glamorous evening characterised by music and dance as the music industry celebrated winners in different categories at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC). Besides a few hiccups that had previously threatened the nomination process, the gala night went on smoothly.

Oozing attitude and swag, celebrities graced the red carpet and found comfort at the VIP section as thousands of their fans thronged the rest of the vast Tsavo Ballroom anticipating a memorable night.

After all, this was Kisima, the oldest and most reputable music awards in the region, having withstood the test of time — for almost two decades — since it was launched in 1994.

For the first time, showbiz newcomers Camp Mulla, Rabbit, Octopizzo, Xtatic and Alicious shared the platform and faced it off with heavyweights like Nameless, Wyre, Wahu, Emmy Kosgei, Nonini and Sauti Sol in a rather competitive affair whose verdict lay square with the judging academy.

And so was the range of entertainment. After Solo the Koko Master and Amina of Homeboyz Radio set the ball rolling shortly after 9pm, hip-hop rappers Kayvo K Force, Voodoseller and Kimya romped onto the podium and staged a cypher before Collo took the tempo high, rapping his new Understatement poetic lyrical single.

Winners joy

Riding high with his Swahili Shakespeare track, Rabbit and Octopizzo of the Ivo Ivo Ivo fame did not disappoint. Neither did Achieng’ Abura, Emmy Kosgei, Daddy Owen and Denno, Nameless and Juliet when their turn to entertain the elated crowd came.

There was an awkward moment after a number of politicians, who had graced the ceremony, tried to sell their political ideologies.

“This is Kisima. Don’t bring politics in this,” a section of the crowd booed. Sensing rejection amidst jeers, they quickly changed their tone to gel with the mood and purpose of the night.

Former beauty queen turned musician Juliet also caused a stir after she took the well-lit podium with an eight-month pregnancy, dancing and singing her heart and ‘weight’ away.

At some point, she tripped and almost went to the ground but quickly regained her strength and left the hall in laughter.

“I’m eight months, you know,” she joked.

But then again, the much-awaited moment was here and the first on the winners’ list was urban hip-hop group Camp Mulla who scooped the Best Upcoming Artistes category.

The group was in the adjacent hall and as they dashed in, it was a double dose of victory as they were also announced the Urban Group of the Year for their hit single Party Don’t Stop.

Genge godfather Nonini, who hasn’t won an award for some years now, made a comeback winning the Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year and Video of the Year awards for the song Colour Kwa Face. Willy Ousu, his video producer, seized the moment and accepted the Video of the Year accolade on the rapper’s behalf.

Wyre and Avril bagged the Ragga Artiste (Guarantee) and Boomba Artiste (Kitu Kimoja) categories, respectively, as Nameless took the Fusion Artiste slot for Coming Home.

Praises come pouring

“Sorry Wahu,” Nameless joked as he referred to his celebrity wife who had been nominated in the same category.

It was a great night for Nameless as he also claimed the Lifetime Achievement Award glory. P Unit and Sauti Sol won Collaboration of the Year (Gentleman) as Chameleone received the East African Recognition award. Otieno Aloka of the Kanungo fame won the Benga Artiste slot.

“Kisima has stood the test of time. It is one of the few credible awards we have in the region. We all need to support the organisers as we pull together to improve our entertainment scene,” Steve Ogesa, a foremost showbiz guru, told the crowd as he dismissed haters who had predicted that Kisima would be a flop.

“Pundits will always talk but you can’t argue with facts. This has been a great ceremony and we are all happy and proud of the winners,” he remarked.

“Those who declined the nominations were only afraid of losing. Kisima is a platform through which we celebrate our own,” Octoppizo told Pulse shortly after his performance.

Xtatic, who described Kisima as the Kenyan equivalent of Kora and Channel O Music Awards, echoed his sentiments.