MUHONJA

Muhonja is a live-performing and recording musician, cultural activist, social activist, percussionist, music and performance coach and artivism consultant from Nairobi, Kenya.

Hailing from a family of musicians, her first inspiration from the tender age of seven was from her parents, who taught her how to play the guitar, further growing to become a self-taught player of the Kalimba, Mbira, Marimba, Shekere and Udu Drums. She actively took part in Music and Drama Festivals, winning all accolades! She later joined Moi University and Sauti Academy where she further learnt the art of live performance and music business.

With her beautiful signature smile Muhonja serenades her audience with smooth and mellow melodies that bring pin-drop silence and tears to your eyes not forgetting those upbeat happy feel good rhythms and powerful dance moves that make you forget your worries most definitely leaving you begging for more. She incorporates African chants, rituals, clothing, accessories, prayers fusing African music with genres like jazz, blues, reggae, name it! Through her music, she writes majorly about social and cultural issues affecting African women in the society. Her themes include women empowerment Gender Based Violence, rape, FGM, teenage pregnancy, corruption, deforestation, love, sex, pandemics etc, all written and sang majorly in Kiluhya, Kigiriama, Luo, Kiswahili and a touch of English.

Having worked with many local and international bands & Acts, Bengatronics, Permanent Presidential Music Commission- Kenya(PPMC) and currently working with her own band- Avasagala, Muhonja has graced big stages and festivals both locally and internationally such as Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar (2024), People Dialogue Festival in Kenya (2023), Women's World Music Festival in Ghana (2022), Old Mutual Amazing Voices Season 2 (2021) in South Africa, where her performance of Suzanna by Sauti Sol, backed by Malkeeya Project, Lovers & Friends Event, Ongea Summit, DyeVerseCity Festival, just to mention but a handful. This year 2024, she has been selected to perform at Hurungwe Arts Festival in Zimbabwe,UMP festival in Malawi, Kumbatia Arts Peace Festival in Kenya in partnership with the refugees communities in Kenya, Volkano Fest in Rwanda et al. In her self-titled album NAANGWA MUHONJA which loosely translates to "My name is MUHONJA” in Kimaragoli language, she has written, recorded and released songs like Unataka Nini, Kamulangu, Naambakhane, Luwere, Tsia, Uongo, Pepea, Uchungu Tamu, King of The Queens and Nimeona which have positively rocked both local and international airwaves!

Matters cultural and social activism and music, Muhonja has worked with UN Women Africa, Amref Health Africa, The Embassy of Netherlands, Make Way Program, Forum for African Women Educationalists-Kenya (FAWEK), ForumCIV in partnership with The Embassy of Sweden, Vice Versa Global, Kumbatia Africa, Youth Alliance of Kenya, We Lead, SRHR Alliance, Alliance Française Nairobi, Goethe Institut Nairobi, Andariya amongst others.Not only has Muhonja won the hearts of many people, but also many awards including :

*Finalist- African Leadership Academy - South Africa(2008/2009)

*Best Vocalist and Live Perfomer Dagoretti Empowerment Center Awards (2011)

*Best Female Artiste- Kreative Generations (2012)

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