MyWeku

8 super stars from across Africa unite with R Kelly the R and B mega star, to form ONE8 - the all star group to take the best in music from across Africa onto the global stage, connecting millions of fans through the universal language of music. This collaborative super group sees Kenya’s delectable singer Amani and Nigerian superstar 2face Idibia joned by 6 others.

The others, all part of a SONY Music initiative and ROCKSTAR4000, incude Ugandan hip-hop artist Navio, Zambia’s biggest super star JK, Tanzanian heartthrob Alikiba, Ghanaian trio 4×4, Gabonese duo Movaizhaleine and DRC’s hot sensation, Fally Ipupa. The group will release  what many believe will be a hit track in November 2010 with accompanying video.

2Face, aka Innocent Ujah Idibia’s story did not begin with music but rather at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT). Once he had claimed his degree, the driven young Idibia pursued his passion for music.2Face, however has achieved most of his success as a solo artist and is now one of the most internationally recognized celebrities Nigeria has produced in recent years. 2005 saw 2Face become a household name when he took home an MTV Europe award for best African act, a Channel l Music Video Award for Best Male Video and Best African Video (both for “African Queen”) and a Kora award for Revelation of the Year. His video for African Queen was also the first video to be played on Pan African channel MTV Base. The song African Queen was also featured in the Hollywood feature film Phat Girlz.

Ipupa Nsimba aka Fally Ipupa is a singer, songwriter and respected guitarist who was born and raised in Kingshasa, DRC. Like many young performers of his generation, music was not considered more than a hobby and studies were forced to take priority over the young man’s passion.His first solo album was released in 2006 and Droit Chemin sold over 100 000 units, spawning the hits Droit Chemin, Liputa and Kidiamfuka.
In 2007 Fally was acknowledged by his peers in the music industry when he won the Best Male Artist Cesaire Award and Best Artist or Group from Central Africa in the continental Kora Awards.

Amani is one of the most talented and beautiful singing stars ever to come out of Kenya. Her name is a Swahili word that literally means peace and tranquillity, and the soothing sounds of Amani’s music reflect exactly that. Amani’s unique East African R & B and her undeniable style bring an uplifting and soulful feel to the ONE8 group.

 

4X4 is a Ghana rap group mentored by hip-life duo Buk Bak (Bright and Rooney). They released their first album ‘Siklitele’ in 2003, followed by a second album ‘Contestant Number 1’ in 2007. The group explain that they choose the name 4×4 because the whole crew was elevated by four minds: Bright, Ronny, Captain Planet and Abortion. We are sure that their great example to the youth mixed with their pride for their country will see 4×4 fit perfectly into the One8 project.

When it comes to the Tanzanian music style of Bongo Flava, (a combination of hip hop and traditional East African music), one man is at the top of the food chain. He goes by the name Alikiba and he is fast becoming an internationally recognised star. Alikiba’s Bongo Flava style is largely influenced “Zouk” music which has it’s origins in the Caribbean Islands. “Zouk” means “party” or “festival” in Antillean Creole and that is exactly what the music of Alikiba is all about.

Jordan Katembula, otherwise known as JK, is currently Zambia’s leading musical superstar, lauded as a household name in his home country as well as creating a name for himself across Europe.Apart from great danceable beats, the other magic ingredients are his incredible voice, stage presence and sophisticated choreography. On stage he is mesmerising and engaging, booking out concert halls with sell-out shows across Africa and Europe.

Daniel Kigozi aka Navio is one of the biggest hip hop names in Uganda. Navio has been at the forefront of developing the country’s bourgeoning hip hop scene over the last ten years and has made huge strides in pushing the genre to new heights in East Africa.

One of the continents most successful rap stories, ex-pats Movaizhaleine, now residing in Paris, France, have taken the African rap flag and are flying it high across the world for Gabon, and indeed the rest of the continent. In January 2007, MH assembled their own recording studio named “La Foret Des Abeilles” (the Drill of the Bees). In late 2007, they released their 4th album ‘TOME 2′. MH won the 2008 Video of the Year at the inaugural MTV MAMA Music Awards for their single “Nous”, despite the obvious political message in the track.

A pioneer of the Gabonese Hip Hop scene, MH is the longest-standing group in the rap community. With 6 top selling albums under their belt and more than a hundred spectacular showcases in Africa and Europ, the group is still growing from strength to strength.