BY CAROLINE NYANGA
A lot has been said about sensational gospel singer Dennis Mwangi Popularly known as Papa Dennis. But despite this the flamboyant gospel singer who has given many local music bigwigs a run for their money continues to remain talk of town. The musician who is aiming higher says there is no turning back and that .
Things that make Papa Dennis stand out among his peers:
The musician cum dancer has been dubbed the fastest growing local gospel singer who has managed to surpass his limits to become one of the best products of the gospel music industry going by his achievements.
A former street urchin born and raised in Western Province, Papa Dennis begun this year on a high note by becoming the first local musician to shoot a video worth Sh2 million that features a number of prominent personalities. The video recorded at Sarakasi Dome was directed by an international producer.
Prior to emerging into the limelight he was part of some Congolese musicians who in the process nicknamed him Papa Dennis from his original name Dennis Mwangi.
Living with them influenced his unique music, scintillating dance styles and flamboyant dressing that is known to be part of Congolese culture. To many he is the younger version of Daddy Owen also known as Papa Fololo.
During his initial struggling days of his music career he was snubbed by Dj Pinye’s Beat show but despite this a few months later he became the first local gospel artist to be accorded international airplay on MTV base for his song ''Njoo'' ft Tonzi from Rwanda.
He has been named among the bad boys of gospel musicians alongside Willy Paul, Tony of MOG, Ringtone, Hop Kid and Bahati. This is due to the fact that he has been romantically linked to a socialite Martha Wajero, a Mass Communication student at Daystar University- something he confirmed during his earlier interview but only to deny it months later claiming that Martha was a groupie and socialite who was out to tarnish his name, image and music career.
On top of this he even went ahead to share photos on social media posing next to a Caucasian model in Dubai, prompting speculations that he had found a new love despite protests from his jilted lover Martha.
Unlike most of his peers who have a habit of hyping their birthday party’s celebrating it or associating with big wigs, Papa Dennis marked his 24th birthday last year with the vulnerable - street urchins within Nairobi area.
As an upcoming artist he solely catered for the cost of video shoot for the song Foundation co-written and sang with fellow gospel artist Daddy Owen. “When we decided to work together we said we were doing it for God. I wanted us to do something that would challenge people. I told him I would cater for the cost of shooting the video. But we co-wrote the song.”
Apart from winning Pulse Music Video Awards and Mwafaka Awards in a row for Best Male Artist Papa Dennis, received a whooping 15.7 million shilling pledge towards the growth of his career from a Dubai tycoon. According to his management, the deal was struck when he had visited The UAE where he performed at a sheikh's daughter birthday party.
He is an orphan who has tasted the harsh side of life from being a street urchin to doing menial jobs like selling mitumba clothes and hawking plastic bottles and glasses in order to survive upon dropping out of Mtoni primary school after the death of his parents.
His becomes the first gospel musician whose video for the single 'Njoo' was attended by top politicians. Twenty six guests including Members of Parliament
He is the first and only Kenyan gospel artist to receive a career boosting invitation in the United Kingdom in 2015 to attend and perform the annual Face of Kenya UK- a beauty pageant and an award ceremony that promotes beauty, achievement and integrity for young people.
Apart from Huu Mwaka hit maker Jaguar who attracted limelight when he was spotted cruising city roads in a convoy of swanky rides the gospel wonder boy is the only musician viewed as his competitor. The singer has a thing for ostenity was spotted with classy European-made sports cars during his viral song Injili.
On top of this he was also seen navigating city roads in a convoy of classy Sport Utility vehicles in his new video dubbed ‘Njoo’ featuring Rwandese sensation, Tonzi. The song which saw Papa Dennis flying in Africa’s most sought after producer, Godfather, to shoot the video.
