ONE8: KENYAN SINGER AMANI IS NOW IN THE AFRICAN SUPER GROUP

There was excitement at SONY’s Rock4000 as Kenya’s chart topping songstress Amani joined the super African music group; - One8. This makes her the first lady of the One 8 group that consists of only male artists including Navio from Uganda, JK from Zambia, 4 × 4 from Ghana, Movaizhaleine from Gabon, Fally Ipupa from Congo DRC and Ali Kiba from Tanzania. Amani whose name means peace in Swahili is the seventh member of this extensive African music group that is bound to shake up the entertainment landscape in Africa very soon.



Born Cecilia Wairimu, Amani started performing at an early age in church talent shows and was already writing her own songs by the time she was in primary school. She recorded her first single while in high school. In 1999 she had her first radio hit, with the massive track ‘Move On’, one of the first home grown Kenyan songs to reach number one all major local radio charts. She followed up on this success with a collaboration with top Kenyan artist Nameless, and the hit track Ninanoki which became an instant classic across East Africa.

Amani wasn’t done with releasing hits, in 2004 another collaboration, with Big Pin and Pantonee gave Amani another hit with ‘Talk to You’, a song that became the most requested across Kenyan radio that year. The song topped all the charts and saw Amani’s sound developing into a richer and more accessible R & B style. Her highly anticipated debut album, Amani was released in 2006, soon followed with the release of her sophomore Tamani in 2007, both being awarded and becoming critically acclaimed across the region and continent.



Amani’s soothing music is urban and African, uplifting with unforgettable melodies that showcase both Amani’s vocal and song-writing talents. She has been awarded for Kisima Awards Best Female Artist 2006 and Best Collaboration, and in 2007 for Best Female Boomba Artist. Amani has also been nominated for a Channel O video award in 2008 for Best Female Artist East Africa. She won the MTV African Music Award for Best Female Artist 2009 alongside a slew of nominations at the 2009 Channel O Music Awards.

Amani has toured the world having played concerts in Norway in 2007, in Germany in 2008 at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, for the president of Ghana and even in San Diego, California during a US tour in 2008. Amani’s unique East African R & B and her undeniable style bring an uplifting and soulful feel to the ONE8 group.

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