Groove Awards is Kenya’s premier gospel music Awards Ceremony whose main vision is to promote, expose and celebrate Gospel talent in Kenya and across Africa. Since its inception in 2004, over 1,000 artists/groups have been nominated and 240 Groove statuettes presented to Gospel musicians in Kenya and East African region.
The 2016 Groove Awards ceremony took place last evening at the Safaricom Stadium, Indoor Arena however, Wilson Bugembe and Coopy Bly, the country’s nominated acts to the East & Central African Artist Of The Year category were unable to make it to the top list of winners.
Levixone’s hit collaboration with SOC, Mukutu had also been nominated in the Afro-Pop Song Of The Year category but saw no victory. In the Reggae Or Ragga Song Of The Year category, we had Uganda’s Christo Fabulous nominated with Mr. Googz for their single ‘Calling’ – No mention!
The event attracted several celebrities who availed themselves for what Kenya has termed as the biggest gospel awards event.
Mercy Masika and L-Jay Maasai were announced as the Female artist of the year and male artist of the year awards respectively, below is complete list of the 2016 Groove awards winners.
1. Male Artist Of The Year
LJay Maasai – Winner
Daddy Owen
Eko Dydda
Guardian Angel
JFAM
Piston
2. Female Artist Of The Year
Mercy Masika – Winner
Eunice Njeri
Evelyn Wanjiru
Gloria Muliro
Janet Otieno
Size 8
3. Group Of The Year
Kelele Takatifu – Winner
24 Elders
Christ Cycoz
Recapp
S.O.C (Saintz Of Christ)
TPK Sons
4. New Artist Or Group Of The Year
Mash Mwana – Winner
Bon Mzalendo
Cliche
Eric Smith
Laura Karwirwa
P31
5. Song Of The Year
Mercy Masika – Nikupendeze – Winner
Daddy Owen – Vanity
Gloria Mulino – Nido Yako
Kelley Takatifu – Ngori
Pitson- Niache niimbe
Size 8 – Afadhali Yesu
6. Worship Song Of The Year
Evelyn Wanjiru – Nikufahamu – Winner
Abed Ngosso – Kimbilio
Eric Smith – Wewe Ni Zaidi
Eunice Neri – Uka
Frank – Jina La Yesu
Lady Bee – Hakuna Kama Wewe
7. Reggae Or Ragga Song Of The Year
JFAM & Omari – Wave – Winner
Dafari – Control
Guardian Angel – Give Thanks
Jam – Mention Jesus
Mr. Googz & Christo Fabulous – Calling
TPK Sons – Ngong Ngong
8. Hiphop Song Of The Year
Maluda (Feat. Juliani) – Easy – Winner
Eko Dydda – Nina One
MC LC – Serrre
P31 – Its Time
Recapp – 5 Stones
MC LC – Serrre
9. Album Of The Year
Mercy D. Lai – Emmanuel – Winner
Beth & HPB – Outcry
Daddy Owen – Vanity
Dafari – Preacher Bwoy
Eunice Neri – Uka
Kelley Takatifu – Ndoto Za Kapaa
10. Afro-Pop Song Of The Year
Magic Mike & Kris Erroh – Ayaya – Winner
Christ Cycoz – Some More
Daddy Owen – Vanity
Guardian Angel – Rejea
Kelele Takatifu – Ngori
SOC(Feat. Levixone) – Mukutu
11. East & Central African Artist Of The Year
Christina Shusho – Tanzania – Winner
Alarm Ministries – Rwanda
Copy Bly – Uganda
John Lisu – Tanzania
Rebecca Soki – Congo
Wilson Bugembe – Uganda
12. Collabo Of The Year
Everlyne Wanjiru & Vicky Kitonga – Tulia – Winner
24 Elders & Daddy Owen – Okokroko
JFAM & Omari – Wave
Magic Mike & Kris Erroh
Mr. Seed & Pitson – Happy Day
Recapp – 5 Stones
13. Video Of The Year
Size 8 – Afadhali Yesu – Winner
Daddy Owen – Vanity
Eko Dydda – Haina Budi
Janet Otieno – Roho Wako
Laura Karwirwa
Recapp – 5 Stones
14. Gospel Radio Show Of The Year
Gospel Sunday – Milele FM – Winner
Gospel Night Live – Ghetto Radio
Gospel Switch – Truth FM
Pambazuka – Radio Citizen
Shangilia – Hope FM
Tambira – QFM
15. Radio Presenter Of The Year
Eva Mwalili – Milele FM – Winner
Amani Aila – Hope FM
Dj Ruff – Ghetto Radio
Joyce Gituro – Radio Citizen
Lawrence Thuku – Truth FM
Selly Amutabi Kadot – Q FM
16. DJ Of The Year
Dj Ruff – Winner
Dj GG
Dj Mo
Dj Krowbar
Dj Sadic
DJ Tabz
17. Talent To Watch -DJ Covenant,Rurumuka,Inooro TV.
18. Gospel TV Show Of The Year
The Switch – K24 – Winner
Angaza – KBC
Crossover 101 – NTV
Kubamba – CITIZEN TV
Rauka – CITIZEN TV
Tukuza – KTN
19. Song Of The Year Rift Counties
Pst.Samuel Somorei – Ashe Mpapa – Winner
Carlos Kaptich – Mututan
Edna Lotole – Ebeneza
L Jay Maasai – Sigogo
Lillian Rotich – Chamyet
Moses Sirgoi – Assets
20. Song Of The Year Coastal Counties
Faith Mwikali – Ushindi – Winner
Evelyne Ndege – Sauti Za Furaha
Mercy D Lai – Dhoruba
Michael Yena – Pamoja
Pst. Anthony Musembi – Jehova Yu Mwema
Yvonne Aphia – Yule Yule
21. Song Of The Year Eastern Counties
Stephen Kasolo – Ngai Niwukilasya – Winner
Eunice Kyalo – Kuthina Yingi Ninaleo
James Mwongela
Justus Myello – Kathiiwa Tata
Michael Mutuku – Ivinda Ya Kukilwa
Pst. Dan Mutemi – Simu Mundu
22. Song Of The Year Western Counties
Timothy Kitui – Njingula – Winner
Jackie Wanyama – Nyola Luyali
Karol Tunduli – Ulila
Naomi Nyongesa – Khwacha
Papa Kisembe & Melody – Namusima
Sarah N – Ambah Ambah
23. Song Of The Year Central Counties
Phylis Mbuthia – Githe Tiwe – Winner
Charles Wachira – Matata Ma Maithori
Austin Muturi – Irathiro Ria Riua
Njuguna Gichecha – Ngai Ageka Kiundu
Sammy Irungu – Kirathimo
Shiru Wa GP – Ihinda Ria Kinya
24. Song Of The Year Nyanza Counties
Fenny Kerubo – Abasani B’ Omusunte – Winner
Lydia Scarlet Nyairabu – Omosae Omonda
Eunice Ogoma – Nyasaye Marahuma
Ev. Douglas Otiso – Yeso Tara
Evaline Muthoka – Yesu Iber
Maureen Awuor – Jerusalem Oiki
25. Western Africa Artist Of The Year
Sinach – Nigeria – Winner
Frank Edwards – Nigeria
Nathaniel Bassey – Nigeria
Onos Brisibi – Nigeria
The Preachers – Ghana
Tim Godfrey – Nigeria
26. Southern Africa Artist Of The Year
Joyous Celebration – South Africa – Winner
Abel Chungu – Zambia
Benjamin Dube – South Africa
MAG44 – Zambia
Pompi – Zambi
Tembalami – Zimbabwe
27. Skiza ringback tone of the Year
Mercy Masika – Mwema – Winner
28. Songwriter of the Year
Pitson – Winner
29. Audio producer of the Year
Saint P – Winner
30. Dance Group of the Year
Jims and Dims – Winner
31. Video producer of the Year
Sammy Dee – Winner
32. Outstanding contributor of the Year
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