Artists
Carol Atemi
Atemi Oyungu is one of the finest soul singers from East Africa. She began singing at the age of 10, and first made her mark in the music scene with the all-girl group, Intu. In 2003 Atemi joined Kenyan sensation, Eric Wanaina, as an assistant vocal harmony provider for his band, touring Zimbabwe with him and performing at Festival Mundial in Holland. She released her first single, Happy, in 2004; and in 2008 launched her debut album, Hatimaye, under Pine Creek Records.
Atemi collaborated with Ugandan sensation, Kawesa, and Nyatichi Nyasani on I need to Know, a song for a UNFPA project supporting sex education for children in schools. Another collabo, Earth Song, was with Kenyan musician, Nikki, for a UNDP project to clean the Nairobi River.
A mix of neo-soul and Afro fusion, Atemi's sound has been described as that of "Miriam Makeba meeting Jill Scott."
Emmanuel Jal
At Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday concert, Peter Gabriel called him an artist "with a potential of a young Bob Morley." Emmanuel Jal's music can be heard in the movie Blood Diamond, the National Geographic documentary God Grew Tired of Us and in three episodes of ER. He has been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, the Washington Post, Newsweek.com, and on NPR, CNN, Fox, MTV, and the BBC. Jal is a spokesman for Amnesty International and Oxfam, has done work for Save the Children, UNICEF, World Food Programme, Christian Aid and other charities, and has his own charitable foundation, Gua Africa. A documentary about Jal's life, War Child, premiered to acclaim at the February 2008 Berlin Film Festival and the April 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. His autobiography under the same name was published in the UK and the United States in 2009.
Jal has been eating one meal a day since December 2008, in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the construction of the school in Leer, South Sudan.
Juliani
East African hip hop sensation, Juliani scooped two Kenyan Groove awards last year, including the hip-hop song of the year (Biceps) and the album of the year (Mtaa Mentality). In 2008 Juliani won awards both in Kenya and in the United States, the former being a Groove award for hip-hop song of the year (Mtaa Mentality), and the latter a Talanta Award as the coveted male artist of the year.
Very socially conscious, Juliani has supported causes such as the World Vision Peace Tour around Kenyan cities and towns; Vina Na Maanaa, campaign against Economic Partnership Agreements; Stand Up Against Poverty, UN Millennium Campaign For MDG's; and has been a facilitator at the NCA conscious music workshop. The artist has been speaking in support of freedom of information, and in cooperation with Norwegian Church Aid spearheaded an environmental campaign last year. He represented Kenya at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen.
Chris Adwar and The Villagers Band
An established Kenyan band headed by Chris Adwar, The Villagers have been playing together since 2005. In addition to performing original compositions, they have backed an array of artists, including Jua Cali, Wahu, Winyo, Nina Ogot, Nameless, Sarah Mitaru, Atemi Oyungu, Chizi, Lam (Sudan), Nakaaya (Tanzania), Thabani (Zimbabwe) and others.
The Villagers were the house band in Tusker Project Fame, Season II, in 2008. In the "Hatua Show" in 2005 they pioneered the TV talk show format that integrates a live band in Kenya. They are still the house band in the show, which in 2010 goes into its fifth season.
In 2009 the band released their sophomore album, "Nofork Hotel", focusing on love, politics, and human desires for a better life. In 2010 the Villagers have performed at various concerts in and around Nairobi, including the Rift Valley Festival in March and "The A-ffair" April 1. They have also completed a successful tour of Kampala, Uganda, in April.