Mercy Myra
Mercy Myra is a R&B musician from Kenya.[1]
Biography
In 1996, she joined the Calabash Band but left it the next year to join the R&B group Destinee and in 1997 she joined a band called Black Ice. She turned solo and released her first single "Sitaki" (featuring K-South) in the end of 1998, produced by Samawati Studios.[2]
She has performed in various concerts abroad, including the 2004 Zanzibar International Film Festival,[3] and Festival Mundial in Tilburg, the Netherlands in 2002 and 2003.[2]
Mercy Myra was part of the Divas of The Nile supergroup, that featured four Kenyan female musicians. The others were Suzzana Owiyo, Achieng Abura and Princess Jully. The group performed at the Festival Mundial in 2007.[4]
She moved to the United States in 2005, and consequently faded out of limelight.[5] In 2009 she won the Best Female Artiste category at the Msanii Awards, honouring US-based Kenyan musicians.[6]
She was married to Malimo Chahonyo Andega, an aspiring Kenyan hip hop musician using the stage name Attitude.[7] Their marriage ended in divorce in December 2015.[8]
Mercy Myra returns to the music scene in 2016 after signing a new deal with Atlanta-based label, Nu Royal Records, where she plans to collaborate with Grammy Award winning producer, Herman Little to create a "new" sound.[9]
Discography
Albums:
- Taba Samu (2001)
- Nyisri Malong'o (2003)
Singles:
- Afrikan Tango (2012)
- Back Home (2014)
Featured on:
- Rhythm Jets - Velocity (2015)
Awards
- 2003 Kisima Music Awards - R&B Artist of the Year[10]
- 2004 Kisima Music Awards - Female Artist of the Year
- 2009 Msanii Awards - Best Female Artist of the Year
Nominated:
- 2003 Kora Awards - Best East African Artist[11]
References
- ↑ Tom Parkinson, Matt Phillips, Will Gourlay: Lonely Planet - Kenya. 6th edition, Lonely Planet Country Guide Series, 2006 ISBN 1-74059-743-5
- 1 2 True Blaq Entertainment: Featured Artist - Mercy Myra
- ↑ Fly Global Music, September 29, 2004: Festival of the Dhow Countries, Zanzibar
- ↑ Sarakasi Trust: Annual Report 2007
- ↑ The Standard, March 28, 2009: The International Connection
- ↑ Eafricainfocus.com, July 10, 2009: Msanii awards honor Kenyan artists
- ↑ The Standard, January 29, 2010: Rapper Attitude back with Attitude
- ↑ The Star, Dec 4, 2015
- ↑ PR Log, April 16, 2016
- ↑ Binyavanga Wainaina: Kwani? 1 Kwani Archive Online, 2003.ISBN 9966983600
- ↑ Kora Awards Nominees 2003