Wainaina at Manneberg

The show promises to be a rich and colourful explosion of the music of Africa, with Zimbabwe’s own rising star of the Shaina fame, Alexio Kawara, opening for the visitors.
A soft-spoken and fiercely focused musician, Wainaina has never allowed his attention to be removed from the business of crafting excellent music – from his earliest days of meticulous harmony training in the hit a cappella group, 5 Alive, through his first engagements with creating a new contemporary sound for Kenyan music – blending Benga rhythms from the 60s and 70s with  western harmony to produce what is dubbed Afro-fusion.
His two award-winning records, Sawa Sawa (2001) and Twende Twende (2006) are still among the highest selling records in Kenya and his lyrical and melodic prowess make him a highly sought-after composer in collaborative projects as well as music for the screen.
He was recently commissioned to write the music for a MDG campaign for the UN entitled “Eight Goals for Africa” which featured African greats such as Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Oliver Mtukudzi and Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Meanwhile, Alexio joins Wainaina, Oliver Mtukudzi and Dudu Manhenga in separate performances at the month-long South African festival, Arts Alive, later this month.