Mercy Myra
Encyclopedia
Biography
In 1996, she joined the Calabash Band but left it the next year to join the R&B group Destinee and in 1997 she joined a band called Black Ice. She turned solo and released her first single "Sitaki" (featuring K-SouthK-South
K-South is a hip hop production company who are among the pioneers of hip hop in Kenya. The group composed of two members, Bamboo KC and Doobeez , now Abbas. K-South was founded in 1995. Their name is an abbreviation of Kariobangi South, an estate in Nairobi where they were based...
) in the end of 1998, produced by Samawati Studios.
She has performed in various concerts abroad, including the 2004 Zanzibar International Film Festival
Zanzibar International Film Festival
The Zanzibar International Film Festival , also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries, is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It has been described as the largest cultural event in East Africa. During the festival, films are shown in Stone Town in Zanzibar City, as well as rural...
, and Festival Mundial in Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
, the Netherlands in 2002 and 2003.
Mercy Myra was part of the Divas of The Nile supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, that featured four Kenyan female musicians. The others were Suzzana Owiyo
Suzzana Owíyo
Suzanna Owiyo is a Kenyan musician. A singer-songwriter, Owiyo has been called "the Tracy Chapman of Africa".Owiyo was born in Kasaye village, Nyakach, near the lakeside city of Kisumu, Suzanna Owiyo was introduced to music at a young age by her grandfather who was a prolific Nyatiti player.In high...
, Achieng Abura
Achieng Abura
Achieng Abura is a musician from Kenya, who performs Afro-jazz, Afro-fusion and gospel music.She debuted with a gospel album I Believe around 1990. Her following albums were Way Over Yonder and Sulwe. In 2002, when she had shifted to Afro-jazz, she released album Maisha. Later she released album...
and Princess Jully
Princess Jully
Princess Jully is a benga musician from Kenya.She started as a back-up vocalist for Jolly Boys Band led by her husband Prince Jully . Prince Jully died in 1997 and subsequently Princess Jully took over the leadership of the band...
. The group performed at the Festival Mundial in 2007.
She moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2005, and consequently faded out of limelight. In 2009 she won the Best Female Artiste category at the Msanii Awards, honouring US-based Kenyan musicians.
Her boyfriend Malimo Chahonyo Andega is a Kenyan hip hop musician using the stage name Attitude.
Awards
- 2003 Kisima Music Awards2003 Kisima Music AwardsThe 2003 Kisima Music Awards signalled a revitalisation of the scheme. They were held in a customised "Kisima Dome" and hosted by radio presenters Bernard Otieno and Pinky Ghelani.-Winners:-External links:*...
- R&B Artist of the Year - 2004 Kisima Music Awards2004 Kisima Music AwardsThe 2004 Kisima Music Awards featured a newly expanded scheme which aimed to incorporate artists from across East Africa, most predominately Uganda and Tanzania. It was also a source of controversy when the organisation's CEO Tedd Josiah was awarded the category for Best Producer...
- Female Artist of the Year
Nominated:
- 2003 Kora AwardsKora AwardsThe Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
- Best East African Artist