Suzanna Owiyo

Suzanna Owíyo
Suzzana Owiyo at a Fashion Gala in 2016
Born (1975-05-10) May 10, 1975 (age 49)
Kisumu County
NationalityKenya
Occupationsinger

Suzanna Owiyo (born May 10, 1975) is a Kenyan musician and singer. She is a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill ambassador and she was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya Award in 2011.

Life

Owíyo was born in Kasaye village, Nyakach[1] in 1975 in Kisumu County. She has a Luo heritage.[2] Her grandfather who played the Nyatiti introduced her to music.[3]

In 2004 she was in Oslo where she performed as part of that year's Nobel Peace Prize Concert [4] for Wangari Maathai.

In 2006, Owiyo collaborated with Kenyan singer M'bilia Bel on the single "Kokoka", which earned them a nomination for Best Collaboration at the 7th edition of Kisima Music Awards.[5][6][7] In 2008 she sang at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute in London and she was then in Spain at WOMEX in Seville.[8] In 2009 she was at a Mandela Fete in the Radio City Hall performing for 70,000 and a TV audience of 50m people. She joined in as the invited stars sang "Happy Birthday" to Mandela with Stevie Wonder playing the piano.[9]

In 2010 she was nominated for the Radio France International's Découvertes 2010 award.[3] She is a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme[10] and she was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya Award in 2011.[1]

Nyotiti

She sang and played the guitar until she was reminded of the eight string traditional Nyotiti by the music of Ayub Ogada and Anyango. Her music combines traditional western music and contemporary genres. Her album Yamo Kudho begins with a song that includes music from a Nyotiti and from a Orutu. The Nyotiti was traditionally an instrument played by men but Owiyo and Anyango both became examples to others that women too could play the instrument.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Programme, United Nations Environment (2017-10-17). "Suzanna Owiyo | UNEP - UN Environment Programme". www.unep.org (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  2. ^ a b "A history of Nyatiti and the masters who play her name". PAM - Pan African Music. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  3. ^ a b "Découvrez et écoutez la chanteuse kenyane Suzanna Owiyo". RFI (in French). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  4. ^ Mahugu, Jacqueline. "Suzanna Owiyo's life lessons". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  5. ^ Banda, Tim Kamuzu (15 September 2007). "Kenya: Fresh From Oslo, Owiyo Vows to Bounce Back". Daily Nation. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ Tatya, Rafsanjan Abbey (9 July 2007). "Uganda: Seven Ugandans Get Kisima Nominations". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ Serunjogi, Titus (14 July 2007). "Uganda: Citizens Lined for Kisima Awards". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Year ends on a high note for Kenyan musicians". Nation. 2020-06-21. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  9. ^ "Owiyo stars at Mandela fete in New York". Nation. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  10. ^ Mbatia, Beth (10 March 2013). "Kenya: Suzanna Owiyo Calls for Tolerance". AllAfrica. Retrieved 27 November 2024.