Eric Wainaina

Bio

Eric Wainaina is a singer and songwriter from Nairobi, Kenya.

Wainaina attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated with an honours in music, majoring in songwriting and engineering.

He joined the music industry in the mid-1990s as a member of a male a capella band Five Alive. His song ‘Daima Kenya’ is widely considered Kenya’s second national anthem and was recorded while he was a student at Berklee.

He released his debut album ‘Sawa Sawa’ in 2001, which is still to tis day one of the highest selling solo albums in Kenya. The song 'Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo', meaning 'the land of petty corruption' in Swahili, made Wainaina even more popular with the Kenyan public. "People don't call me Eric any more, they call me Kitu Kidogo when I'm walking through the streets," he told the BBC in 2001.

The success of 'Sawa Sawa' was followed with the release of ‘Twende Twende’ (2006) and ‘Love and Protest’ (2011).

Wainaina also wrote and starred in 'Mo Faya', a musical that was staged for eight weeks at the GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi. The show went national with 52 shows in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Wainaina was selected for perform at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. In 2010, Wainaina wrote and produced music for 'Tinga Tinga Tales' – a British-Kenyan children’s TV series comprising 52 episodes based on African folk tales. Commissioned by the BBC and Disney Channel, the series were later adapted into a musical that was presented at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway in October 2018.

Wainaina has worked as a music director for M-Net East Africa’s 'Maisha Superstar', a reality TV series designed to discover new musical talent from East Africa. He has participated in numerous projects including 8 Goals for Africa – a 2010 MDG campaign for the UN featuring Hugh Masekela, HHP, Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Soweto Gospel Choir. He has been brand ambassador for Transparency International, MS Kenya, Nederburg and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

He has won a number of accolades including Favourite Male Vocalist at the M-Net Awards , a KORA Award for Best East African Artist (2002), and Kisima awards for Best Afro-Fusion Artist, Best Song and Best video (2007). In 2018 Wainaina was honoured with the Music In Africa Honorary Award during the opening of the Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES). The award is presented by the Music In Africa Foundation to recognise the achievements made by African musicians in their home countries and the continent as a whole.

Wainaina has performed at Festival Mundial (Netherlands), the North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Zimbabwe), Arts Alive International Festival (Swaziland), Umoja Flying Carpet Festival (South Africa), Sauti Za Busara (Zanzibar) and ACCES (Kenya).

He has collaborated with artists such as Emmanuel Jal and P-Unit’s Frasha. In 2010, Wainaina co-wrote and recorded one of the official 2010...

Music

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Eric Wainaina
Hallelujah People
03:03
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Eric Wainaina
Fly Away Together
04:13
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Don't Bury Me feat. Blinky Bill, John Nzenze and Kendi Nkonge
03:22
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Eric Wainaina
1.Okay
04:08
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Revolution Time
04:12
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Eric Wainaina
Sing Mercy
03:46
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Mariana
05:03
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Eric Wainaina
Other People's Lives
04:17
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The Road (Featuring Baaba Maal)
04:59
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Orutu Special
05:01
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Selina
05:21
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Eric Wainaina
Baby Don't Go
03:47
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Rain On You
04:11
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Isn't It Funny
04:53
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Eric Wainaina
(Set The World) On Fire
03:07
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Fancy Car
04:12
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Hii Ngoma
04:32
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Tabasamu
04:01
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Adhiambo
06:04
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Dek! Dek! Dek!
04:13
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Dunia Ina Mambo
04:07
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Fungeni Macho
04:06
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Jana Ni Jana
04:39
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Mabawa
03:36
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Miili Yetu
04:49
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Nani Nani
06:11
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Ni Kii Kiega
06:01
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Subhaa
03:50
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Too Far From Home
03:50
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01 Sawa Sawa
05:22
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Eric Wainaina
02 Bolingo
04:10
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03 Kitu Gani Hii
00:33
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04 Nchi Ya Kitu Kidogo
04:40
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05 T.A.V
00:35
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06 Who Is To Blame
06:28
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07 Ritwa Riaku
03:37
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08 Unataka Gani
01:39
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09 Usiku Wa Manane
03:58
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10 Daima (Kenya Only)
05:16
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Eric Wainaina
Disco
04:02
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Eric Wainaina
Other people.... Eric Wainaina featuring Nneka
03:19
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Videos

Eric Wainaina - DEK DEK DEK ft. Kakuma Sound x Shangry T9 x Sinaga Swaga (LYRIC VIDEO)
Eric Wainaina - Mabawa feat. Wanavokali & TLVSN
Eric Wainaina - MARIANA feat. H_art The Band, TLVSN & Angachi (OFFICIAL AUDIO)
Eric Wainaina - Mama Luka (LYRIC VIDEO) DAIL *811*446#
Eric Wainaina - Mama Luka (OFFICIAL AUDIO) DAIL *811*446#
Eric Wainaina - When Darkness Comes (from Pete Murimi's 'I Am Samuel') [Official Music Video]
Eric Wainaina - Tell Your Mother feat. Television (Official Audio)
DAIMA - #ChanjoKwaWote
Eric Wainaina & The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Ambassador Ryoichi Horie & Madam Yuko - Daima
Eric Wainaina with The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Ambassador Ryoichi Horie
An Interview with Eric Wainaina & The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Ambassador Ryoichi Horie
Eric Wainaina - Okay (Official Music Video)
Eric Wainaina - Okay (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Hallelujah People ( Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Don't Bury Me Live (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Dek Dek Dek (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Selina (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Ritwa Riaku (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - Daima (Live at the Alliance Française de Nairobi)
Eric Wainaina - When Darkness Comes (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - When Darkness Comes (from I Am Samuel)
Eric Wainaina & Jason Sibi-Okumu - Lonely Mile (Official Music Video)
Eric Wainaina - Gegenwind (Official Music Video)
Eric Wainaina - Hallelujah People (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - Fly Away Together (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - Brand New Day (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - Don't Bury Me (feat. John Nzenze, Blinky Bill & Kendi Nkonge) [Official Audio]
Eric Wainaina - Okay (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - Hold Me Down (Official Audio)
Eric Wainaina - Mariana
Eric Wainaina - Daima (English)
Eric Wainaina - Adhiambo
Okay - Eric Wainaina (Piano Cover)
Eric Wainaina on Friday Live on Kiss
Eric Wainaina performs on Friday Live on Kiss
O Come All Ye Faithful by Tis The Season Company.
'Tis the Season 2017-Don't Miss Out!
Daima Mkenya
Eric Wainaina - Can We Fly Away Together
Daima Mkenya
Aliye - Disco ft Eric Wainaina and Frasha
Patoh Njuguna - Disco ft. Eric Wainaina and Frasha
Eric Wainaina - Sing Mercy (Remix) [Official Music Video]
Eric Wainaina - Selina (Official Music Video)
Eric Wainaina_Rain on you
The Road Eric Wainaina ft Baaba Maal
Eric Wainaina Feat. Nneka Other People's Lives [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
8 Goals For Africa (Official Video)
Eric Wainaina on The Patricia Show
Eric Wainaina | African Voices Part 3
Eric Wainaina | African Voices Part 2
Eric Wainaina | African Voices Part 1
Eric Speaks on Performance
Live Performance North Sea Jazz Festival
Kenya Only
Eric Speaks on Dunia Ina Mambo
Eric Speaks About Five Alive
ImenibambaLive with Atemi Oyungu
Ukweli
Eric Speaks on Sawa Sawa
Sawa Sawa
Eric Speaks on Bwana Mkubwa
Bwana Mkubwa ft Lwanda Cast
Daima
Eric Wainaina Speaks on Twende Twende
Twende Twende(Official Video)
Eric Speaks on Adhiambo
Dunia Ina Mambo
Adhiambo
Nchi Ya Kitu Kidogo

Photos

KENairobi, Kenya
In operation since: 
1995

Contact

+254721946710
Rainmaker Ltd.
Profile added by Stanley Gazemba on 28 Jul 2018
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