Kibos inmates defy prison walls to win best group in 2013 Vybez Awards

2013 Vybez Awards Best Gospel artist Lavender Bunde (centre) celebrates with her fans after being    announced winner.  [PHOTO: MAUREEN ODIWUOR/STANDARD]

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

Their confinement behind the  walls of Kibos Prison did not deter them from making the best of their music talent and winning a regional award.

The four convicts, serving time for various offences, find solace in music. They were unanimously voted the Best Group of the year in the 2013 Vybez Awards.

But Dan Omondi (Daniela de messenger), Dickens Odari (Wick Dick), Isaac Owiti (Lizard), and Abila Chacha (Ras Albiegebe) were conspicuously missing when they were announced winners during the event at Club Cinnamon’s central square in Kisumu County.

The quartet are produced by Malique Abdala of Starbel Studio in Kisumu.

Vybez Awards was started last year by Victoria’s Entertainment to reward artists from Nyanza region who believe they have been sidelined from other awards in Nairobi and Mombasa.

The event came to a climax last Saturday with a new blood of artists winning most categories. Seventeen art categories were featured to celebrate and reward success in music, dance, poetry and theatre.

 The winners of the respective categories were decided by votes sent to Radio Sahara through an SMS code and the award’s website. The event attracted 20,000 votes.

Calvine Odongo aka June Rapsha was for the second year crowned the best artist of the year after receiving more votes from fans.

His songs Nyale and Donge have hit most radio stations.

“I really want to thank my fans for believing in me and for the second time voting for me to win this prize,” he said.

Elizabeth Ouko (Nahna) renowned for her hit song Hera Mudho retained the Best Female Artist of the Year.

The award for Best Producer was won by Angelic Studio’s Drexxy (Fred Ochieng) while Radio Nam Lolwe’s Presenter and Comedian Jakakamega (Lawrence Oyange) was crowned the Best MC.

DJ Slim (Stephen Otiato) came out tops in the DJ category while Yawa Dancer’s musician Michael Roberts was feted the Best RnB artist.

Best Video artist award went to Edda Nyangasi aka Needah for his song Ktown as Felly Fell took home the Best Hip Hop award for Kilio cha Samaki.

Mayienga FM’s Okumba Rawere (shield of the youths) show presented by Solomon Atito scooped the Best Radio Show of the year award while  the Best Collabo prize went to a trio comprising of Cool B (Kevin Omondi), Double B (Seth Omondi) and Fishy (Festus Ochieng).

Lavender Bunde was crowned the Best Gospel musician for her song Luandana. The Best Awareness song of the year award went to Marvin Abwao while MC Elem (Johnson Osewe) was crowned the Best Male artist for Verse Moja. Hotraxx Dance Group was awarded the best dance team in Nyanza Region.

Kosh Kosh by Jill Gucci won the Best Song of the Year as Hotline Reception received award of the Best New Act for Best Friend.

The event was sponsored by Techno Mobile Company, business man Abdulkadir Mohammed, Imperial Hotel, Chase Bank, Phiaton Travels and Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura.

VE’s CEO Aleki Alex said the awards seek to demystify the perception that Nyanza only does Benga music.

“We have a great team of young people doing award winning contemporary music. We need the media support to help them grow in this field,” he says.

Apart from trophies, the winners also received Techno tablets, Phantom and P3 phones.