Sauti Academy is an amazing platform from which many artists in Kenya get their footing in their rise to stardom. The likes of Kiu, being the only girl band in town, H_Art the Band, Bahati and UP Nairobi’s Best Female Vocal Artist 2015, Prisca Ojwang’, have all passed through the Academy.
On the 15th of January, the class of 2015 graduated with pomp and glamor at the Goethe Institut, treating fans to a musical extravaganza.
The Sauti Academy Graduation concert showcased extra-ordinary and multi-talented musicians who stood out during the one year program. The artists that performed included Omari, Phy, Jovy Yabann, Shantyell, Esther Neema, Sy, Mariga and Nyawira Alison.
With the theme set as Urban Afro, we expected to see African inspired tunes and dances from each performer who graced the stage. Luckily, Omari did not disappoint with his folk tunes, sang in the Kisii language. His songs are mainly inspired by African societal issues like female circumcision and cattle rustling. His last performance was a dramatised performance of a drunk man, that left the audience mesmerized and in awe.
Another artist that moved the crowd was Sy, who, donning a Kitenge attire, enthralled audience members with his moves onstage. His choreography was on point, not forgetting the interesting introduction he used to woo the crowd, when he began singing right in the midst of it.
Phy rocked the stage with a retro band called The Movement. Alison, an artist to look out for, wowed us with her gospel tunes.
Robert Orwa was the emcee of the event, who kept up the hype from start to finish. Orwa is an actor: you may remember him from his role as Jimmy in the Dream Girls’ musical, produced by Sterling Quality. We had the privilege of watching him shine on the drums.
We can’t wait to see the next lineup of artists being cooked in the Academy. For those who just graduated, we hope to see them take Kenyan music to a whole new level!
(Photocredit: Grid Photography)
