Suzzana Owiyo

One of Kenya's top female vocalists, Suzzana Owiyo comes from Kisumu, near Lake Victoria. Growing up in that area Suzzana watched and listened as her grandfather played Nyatiti, a traditional stringed instrument.
While at school, Suzzana won many awards as her talents were recognised early at local and national drama and music festivals.
After finishing school Suzzana moved to Nairobi to be a backing vocalist for Sally Oyugi and then for the band Bora Bora. She moved back to Kisumu for another year then decided to become a solo artist.
Nairobi would be the best place to be based for opportunities so Suzzana moved back there, enrolled at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music and signed a contract to sing at a club in Karen. She was asked to compose a theme song to mark Kisumu town’s elevation to city status during its centennial celebrations in 2001. Her song was 'Kisumu 100' which has become very well known all over Kenya and Africa.
From 2002 to 2004 Suzzana performed at numerous international ceremonies and festivals, most notably the KORA Awards in South Africa, FESPAM in Congo Brazzaville and Festival Mundial in Holland. In December 2004 Suzzana and her band were on stage at the Nobel Peace Prize concert alongside a host of international stars. Suzanna was part of Ecofest in Nairobi, on 4th June 2006. The theme

was Discovering Home and she and other participants pledged to use music and art to sensitize the public about healthy living and the environment.
The lyrics of Suzzana's songs are socially and politically aware, covering issues such as child labour, womanhood and peace. She refreshingly sings in several different languages. Her music is mostly acoustic, a fusion of traditional and contemporary beats. Suzzana's first album, internationally titled Mama Africa has 12 tracks and was released in 2002. This was followed swiftly in 2004 by a second album, Yamo Kudho (meaning the wind is blowing). Two outstandingly beautiful tracks are a Luo version of the ever-popular 'Malaika' and 'Petit Soeur' in French. Both albums have excellent production - highly recommended! Suzanna can be heard on the compilation CD Spotlight on Kenyan Music on the momentous track 'Wakati ni Sasa' together with other prominent Kenyan singers.