BMF scoops US Talanta award

Representing celebrated gospel group BMF, Patrick Maina, a member of the quartet, was the envy of all as he graced the podium to receive the coveted Best Artiste of the Year (None USA) award during a glamorous Talanta Awards ceremony held in Washington last week.

Silas Mwenda, a versatile new singing sensation, was awarded the best upcoming artiste during the ceremony attended by scores of music lovers and hundreds of Kenyans living there.

It was a glitz red-carpet affair of the fifth edition of the Kenyan fronted US-based awards, tailored to embrace and develop talents.

For the past four years, the Talanta Awards have been held in the East Coast of the US but this time round, the event was held in West Coast, in the rainy suburbs of Seattle Washington at Green River Community college.

It was well attended with a majority turn out seen from Kenyans living in Seattle and California. Other guests flew in from Kansas City, Missouri, Washington DC, Tennessee, Texas and New York.

The ceremony kicked off with an introduction of the host Betty Maina and the emcee Alemba (from Kenya) - who won Best collabo alongside Sam, Ken and Chase and Marie Ojiambo from New York.

There was a lively ensemble of song, dance, spoken word and catwalk. Social responsibility was also highlighted with the best role model award going to Grace Mbuthia from Kansas City, who talked about her medical outreach program which she did in Kenya earlier in the year.

Talanta Director Meggie Waruri said the awards will be held in Nairobi next year.