Mama Africa dazzles America

Ann Mwalagho is a poet, dancer, actress, singer and songwriter based in the United States. She has won several awards for her prowess on stage and is making Kenya proud millions of miles away.

They say prophets are celebrated abroad. That is true of 37 year-old Ann Mwalagho, a talented Kenyan based in the US. Ann is an accomplished poet, dancer, actress, singer and songwriter has been recognised for her prowess on stage. Her talent and passion has seen her win several accolades and share the stage with global giants.

She has entertained prominent personalities like Academy Award winning actor Forest Whitaker, Dr Maya Angelou, Dr Henry Louise Gates, former president Mwai Kibaki, President Jacob Zuma and Princess of Morocco among other dignitaries.

Barack Obama

And just recently, Ann was honoured to perform for US President Barack Obama at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in Washington DC. She is the first Kenyan poet to be honoured at International Library of Congress, in Washington DC for her exemplary performance in the entertainment industry.

Who is this accomplished thespian?

“I am an entertainer. I started doing this when I was a small girl. When I was seven years old, I would wake the neighbours up on the weekend by singing on top of my voice. I would compose my own songs or sing golden oldies like Pink Cadillac or Michael Jackson hits,” Ann recalls.

The last born in a family of three says she was well known in her neighbourhood due to her playful nature, social character and her ability to easily make friends.

 When she was aged eight, her teacher, who seemed to have recognised her talent, enrolled her into the children singing game group.

 “I was picked as the soloist of the group and we won at the provincial level. As a result of our success, we travelled from Mombasa to Nairobi via train to represent Coast Province in the national competition,” she asserts.

Mbalamwezi award

 She likens her discovery at the stage to a child dancing in the rain for the first time.

 “I loved performing so much, and once I started, I never stopped. I would entertain my relatives, friends and anyone who dared me to perform,” Ann adds.

Ann was so talented she won several awards during the music and drama festivals where she always stole the show. After sitting her KCSE results, Ann decided to pass time honing her skills at the Kenya National Theatre. It is here that she also met fellow thespians.

 “To pass time, I acted and sang in many of our plays at the British Council, Goethe Institute, French Cultural Centre and the National Theatre. Because of my hard work, I was awarded the best actress by the Mbalamwezi Award, which was the most prestigious theatre award ceremony in Kenya,” says Ann.

When the KCSE results were released, Ann joined Catholic University where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

African ambassador

 “In campus, I was so immersed in the performing arts, it won me several awards. I came to the United States as a result of being the best actress among all the universities in Kenya through the International Arts Achievement Awards. The winners of each category were to participate at a media workshop that took place at University of California in Los Angeles and I was among them,” Ann says.

 Though her journey seemed to be smooth, some twists and turns could not miss on the way. She says she was turned down in many auditions for American plays because of her Kenyan accent.

“I managed to overcome this and landed other lucrative roles,” she says.

 Ann also loves poetry. She became the poet performer who educated Americans about the value of Africa’s beauty. After her brilliant performance, people started calling her ‘The African Ambassador’ or ‘Mama Africa’.

 Through her poetry, Ann has travelled throughout the US and has shared the stage with the International South African Jazz legendary Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi.

Good upbringing

 Ann has been featured in many USA radio and TV stations and has been honoured by many local and international organisations for her work as a performing artiste, social activist and a philanthropist.

 “I have never given up or stopped using my talents. I have been pursuing my goals and dreams and I can honestly say I have achieved most of my dreams. This would not have been possible if it were not for my parents who supported me enormously and taught me all the virtues I needed to make it in life,” Ann says.

 She says her great joy is touching people’s hearts through her poems, songs, acting, comedy and dance. She says it is through her performance that she met her adorable husband.

 “I do not take this gift for granted. I am grateful to God for my talents and my success. Still, the sky is the limit for me,” says Ann.

The making of an African star

Ann was born in Nairobi and raised in both Nairobi and Mombasa. Her family moved to Mombasa when she was six years old.

She attended Star of the Sea Primary School.

When she was young, she says she loved to play and sing.

 “I entertained my classmates through song and dance whenever I got the chance, “she says.

In her neighbourhood, she was well known due to her playful nature, social character and her ability to easily make friends. 

She completed Standard Seven and Eight at Lang’ata Barracks Primary School after her late father was transferred to Nairobi. She later joined Moi Forces Academy Lanet, Nakuru for her secondary education.

Thereafter, Ann proceeded to Catholic University of Eastern Africa where she graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics. 

Ann who is married to a black American says her success in the entertainment industry is a dream come true.

During her free time, Ann loves to hang out with her husband and travel with her eleven-piece band. 

She is preparing for a three-day Taarab music performance at the National Museum of African Art in USA next month.

Photo: www.annamwalagho.com