The 8th Annual Groove Awards went down yesterday, honouring this year’s best in gospel music in a colourful event graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta and beamed live across the country through KTN. Last year’s New Artist winner Willy Paul took a step up to claim the Male Artist of the Year award while his counterpart in gospel mega-hit Sitolia, Gloria Muliro claimed the well deserved award for the Female Artist of the Year.Once again, NTV’s Crossover 101 was named as the best TV show while Mercy D Lai is still running things at the coast. Newcomer Rigga’s album Urban Prayers lost the Album of the Year award to Hellena Ken’s Mambo Yanabadilika. For those residing under rocks or those who were watching Maid In Manhattan yesterday (the guys running the Groove Awards think there were none, given the un-updated status of their website), here is the complete list of winners:
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Gloria Muliro
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Willy Paul
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Bahati
GROUP OF THE YEAR – BMF
SONG OF THE YEAR – Appointment – Jimmy Gait
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – Conquerer – Joyce Omondi
WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR – Hutaniacha – Makenna
ALBUM OF THE YEAR- Mambo Yanabadilika – Hellena Ken
HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR – Bila Yesu – SOC
RAGGA / REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR – Holiday – Hope Kid
COLLABO OF THE YEAR – Wanajua – Pitson & Mwenye Haki
VIDEO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Eagle Films
AUDIO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Bizzy B
DANCE GROUP OF THE YEAR – Altermin
GOSPEL RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR – Gospel Sunday – Milele FM
RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR – Antony Ndiema – Tukuza (Radio Maisha)
GOSPEL TV SHOW OF THE YEAR – Crossover 101 – NTV
DJ OF THE YEAR – DJ Mo
CENTRAL SONG OF THE YEAR – Ruciu Rwaku – David Mambo
WESTERN SONG OF THE YEAR – Nge Ekhisi – Selina Sitati
NYANZA SONG OF THE YEAR – Sonko wa Sonko – Christine Atieno
RIFT VALLEY SONG OF THE YEAR – Kiboiboi – Faith Kosgei
EASTERN SONG OF THE YEAR – Utao – Purity Katieko
PWANI SONG OF THE YEAR – Nakungoja – Mercy D Lai
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (BURUNDI) – Redemption Voice
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (UGANDA) – Exodus
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (TANZANIA) – Christina Shusho
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (RWANDA) – Bahati Alphonze