Wawesh
Encyclopedia
Wawesh is a hip-hop artist and producer from Kenya
. The Sweden
-based MC has been creating a buzz in Swahili
-speaking communities in Eastern Africa and the Diaspora
via his three consecutive hit singles (Mjanja, Wawero and Wasanii) plus highly acclaimed debut album, “It’s Meant To Be”.
He started as a producer in 1993.
Under his alias, Kiboy, he also co-owns BlaO Entertainment, a production company involved in many projects including work for international names like Nas
, Talib Kweli
, Floetry
and Capone-N-Noreaga
.
Having gained experience in developing artists and creating hits for others, Kiboy wanted to deliver something for the Swahili speaking hip hop community and so he started the Wawesh project combining western-influenced beats with Swahili lyrical flow.
His late-2005 debut single, "Mjanja" was spread worldwide, was a huge hit in Africa and remains a major anthem in Kenya. The follow-up single, "Wawero" with its highly-produced video cemented his status in pan-Africa as an artist with serious intent. The release of his highly acclaimed album "It's Meant To Be" augmented this success.
Musically, the album derives inspiration from a variety of sources including African folk, Afro-American Soul, Ethnic European Sounds and other esoteric sources.
In between recordings, Wawesh has rapidly cemented his popularity in Africa, Europe and the diaspora gaining appearances across various media. He was commissioned to contribute to a major BBC
initiative (Africa Lives on the BBC/Africa 2005), appeared on BBC 1Xtra's DestiNation Africa (DNA) show, received regular rotation in clubs and major radio networks in Kenya, had a number 1 video on MTV
Base Africa for the single "Wawero", was playlisted on MTV Base Europe, and performed in a variety of major shows in Kenya and Europe such as Chaguo La Teenies, Afrolution, K’Naan's Tour, and Jamhuri Day UK.
He also co-founded Watu Wangu - a collective of Kenyan artists in Europe and attracted a sponsorship-deal from Jamhuri wear
(as endorsed by Jay-Z
, 50 Cent
, Akon
), directed his most recent video for "Wasanii", and produced an award winning album that was nominated for a Grammy Award
.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. The Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
-based MC has been creating a buzz in Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
-speaking communities in Eastern Africa and the Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
via his three consecutive hit singles (Mjanja, Wawero and Wasanii) plus highly acclaimed debut album, “It’s Meant To Be”.
He started as a producer in 1993.
Under his alias, Kiboy, he also co-owns BlaO Entertainment, a production company involved in many projects including work for international names like Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, Floetry
Floetry
Floetry was a British R&B duo comprising Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart . The group recorded two studio albums, one live album, and sold over 800,000 records worldwide. Formed in 1999, Floetry started on the performance poetry stage.In 2002, the duo released their first album entitled, Floetic...
and Capone-N-Noreaga
Capone-N-Noreaga
Capone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.-History:In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column...
.
Having gained experience in developing artists and creating hits for others, Kiboy wanted to deliver something for the Swahili speaking hip hop community and so he started the Wawesh project combining western-influenced beats with Swahili lyrical flow.
His late-2005 debut single, "Mjanja" was spread worldwide, was a huge hit in Africa and remains a major anthem in Kenya. The follow-up single, "Wawero" with its highly-produced video cemented his status in pan-Africa as an artist with serious intent. The release of his highly acclaimed album "It's Meant To Be" augmented this success.
Musically, the album derives inspiration from a variety of sources including African folk, Afro-American Soul, Ethnic European Sounds and other esoteric sources.
In between recordings, Wawesh has rapidly cemented his popularity in Africa, Europe and the diaspora gaining appearances across various media. He was commissioned to contribute to a major BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
initiative (Africa Lives on the BBC/Africa 2005), appeared on BBC 1Xtra's DestiNation Africa (DNA) show, received regular rotation in clubs and major radio networks in Kenya, had a number 1 video on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Base Africa for the single "Wawero", was playlisted on MTV Base Europe, and performed in a variety of major shows in Kenya and Europe such as Chaguo La Teenies, Afrolution, K’Naan's Tour, and Jamhuri Day UK.
He also co-founded Watu Wangu - a collective of Kenyan artists in Europe and attracted a sponsorship-deal from Jamhuri wear
Jamhuri wear
Jamhuri Wear is a Safari Lifestyle African clothing company.-History:Started in New York City in 2003 as a graphic tee shirt line. Jamhuri Wear's logo and name are inspired by the language and landscape of the continent that the brand strives to represent in the clothing world...
(as endorsed by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
), directed his most recent video for "Wasanii", and produced an award winning album that was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.