As the rest of the country will be ushering in the New Year this weekend in various styles, revelers in Kisii will be treated to a series of events to meant to showcase and promote talents in arts as well as entertain them as they end the year in style. One such event is the 2nd edition of the annual Gusii All Stars United Awards (GASUA), an event that fetes personalities in various arts especially music, dance, comedy, etc who have done Gusii region proud regionally and nationally for a whole year.
“Contrary to the inaugural event last year which did not attract any sponsorship, this year we have been able to reach and bring on board key stakeholders, among them the Kisii County Government which is fully funding it in conjunction with Egesa fm. We appreciate the support we have been getting from various stakeholders from the region, who now have a reason to invest in Gusii entertainment. This means a lot to the growth of our industry and the artistes in general,” says GASUA president Kevin Ombwori, better known as Kay B.
After a month long voting for nominees in 25 categories through sms short codes, the gala to announce and award winners will go down this Saturday 31st December, 2016 at Gusii Stadium as from 2pm till dawn. Winners in every category stand to win a trophy and Kshs. 10,000 cash courtesy of the Kisii County government.
The event will be broadcast live on Egesa fm. Main Mcees of the day will be Elizabeth of KBC’s Classmate Comedy and Je, Huu ni Ungwana alongside Citizen Tv’s Mashtaka actor Sereng’enge Osuto who also acts as a policeman on KTN’s Jameni. The duo hails from Gusii region and organizers wish to have them mentor other upcoming actors, actresses and comedians from the region.
“Our aim is to change the perception of our people who previously were very conservative in regards to showbiz and it was hard for our parents to let their children venture into music, comedy or dancing as a career. This is an area that has not been fully exploited and we are grateful that with the support of local vernacular radio stations and other stakeholders, this perception has changed,” adds Kay B who is a celebrated radio presenter with Egesa fm, the leading vernacular radio stations from the region. He also produces and presents a daily music television show alongside Dj O on Wholesome TV (WTV) dubbed ‘Vipaji Kenya’ which plays 100% Kenyan music.
Gasu Awards gala will be preceded by a talent search competition where youths with talents in music will battle it out for sponsored recording deals for both audio and video. Then later in the evening the event will be followed by an end year party, where revelers will party all night long as they usher in the New Year 2017, presided over by the area Governor James Ongwae.
Most of the categories in the awards, pose a stiff competition pitying big shots in music from Gusii region. For example it will be interesting to see who walks home with the coveted Male Artist of the Year Secular trophy, among the award winning Nyashinsk, Miggy Champ, Babu Gee, Smallz Lethal, Raj, Omae Lion, Agwatta Mfalme and Omodot Nana. Similarly the Female Artist of the Year is hotly contested by award winning Dela, Cece Sagini, Shourtie and Shabadoo who also have a huge following in the region. Another category that is interesting to watch is the Hip Hop Artist of the Year. This brings together lyrical heavyweights among them Nyashinsk, Smallz Lethal, Raj, Kash and Omae Lion among others. And yes, the controversial gospel singer SBJ he of the ‘Nyonyo’ fame is also nominated as the fast rising artist of the year!
Below is the full list of categories and nominees.
GASUA AWARDS 2016 NOMINEES
- BEST MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR SECULAR
Nyashinski
Miggy Champ
Babu Gee
Omodot Nana
Smallz Lethal
Raj
Omae Lion
Agwatta Mfalme
BEST FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR SECULAR
Shourtie
Elyn Tran
Shabadoo
Dela
Cece Sagini
BEST MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR GOSPEL
Falenzy Usher
Mc K
Mc Jac Matara
Boaz Dr. B
Douglas Otiso
Born B
Pharry K
Makubamba
BEST FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR GOSPEL
Pensilah Moraa
Vallen B
Biyaki the Brand
Lydiah Nyairabu
Fenny Kerubo
Bona Bii
Liz Mogotu
HIPHOP ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Kamtu Fulani
Smallz Lethal
Raj
Nyashinski
Kash
Omae Lion
Zman Ontoes
DANCEHALL/REGGAE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Miggy Champ
Mc Pompat
Jungle Master
King Menace
Bradfyter
Jiggy
Kosha
GENGE/GHIPUKA ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Sweet 14
Babu gee
Vekta
Lilsliq
Nare One
Mc Maduu
Jim Kaka
MALE BAND OF THE YEAR
Oruure Are
Kwasakwasa
Ong’eng’o
Mzee Kijana
Abagosabusia
Bonyakoni Kirwanda
Sky Ogamba
FEMALE BAND OF THE YEAR
F-Power Nyamogoko Band
Brenda Mokaya
Sabby Okeng’o
Emily Bana Ebisora Band
“OBOKANO” ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bikundo Ontiri
Jared Mombinya
Ratai Arati
Onyoni Sakawa
Amakura Kamba Nane
Enguba Kamba Nane
GOSPEL CHOIR/SONG OF THE YEAR
Nyansara Catholic –Egesa
Kiamokama Ebenezzar –Ebokia bokie
Hema secondary- Yeso Nachiche
Metembe Secondary-Ning’o
Justus Marube-Tongaina amandasi
Douglas Otiso-Tara
SOCIAL AWARENESS SONG OF THE YEAR
Tong’aina Amandasi- Justus Marube
Why-Mr. Bloom & Brax
Chisemi- Bana Ebisora Band
Tongi Etaya- Sabby Okeng’o
Ahadi za Uongo-Speedix
Utanipenda-Duke Dukon
Salimia Watu-Babu Gee
FAST RISING ARTISTE OF THE YEARSECULAR
Hezzypa
Steve Sakado
Duke Dukon
Shabadoo
Kamtu Fulani
Swazberry
Slen Nelo
FAST RISING ARTISTE OF THE YEARGOSPEL
Busy Boy
Vena B
Alvin
Speedix
Obeddy
SBJ
Labbo Mi
BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Copy Paste- Various artistes
Omae & Labalaa-Kitu Kali
Why-Mr. Bloom & Brax
Amarwa-Vinto & Alto
Omodot Nana & Zman Ontoes-Nakaya Kare
Keeikush ft Cephalo-African Baby
Tomorrow-Brax ft Saint P
Gud One- Vekta ft Lisliq
VIDEO OF THE YEAR SECULAR
Tuliza Moyo- Elyne Tran & Vinto Neskon
Champion-Miggy ft Sunshine Eve
Genda-Shourtie
Kitu Kali-Omae ft Labalaa
Now You Know- Nyashinsk
Nyanchama-Agwatta Mfalme
Ningwanchete-Shabadoo
VIDEO OF THE YEAR GOSPEL
Ninajua Mungu Mkuu- Mc Jac Matara
Fungua Macho- Mc K ft DK Kwenye Beat
Huyo-Falenzy Usher
Bless me- Obeddy
Dalili ya Moto-Born B
Kaa Nami-Pharry K ft Valen B
Hossana-Mitema
MC OF THE YEAR
Mc Jiggy
Mc Emonyo
Mc Dudu
Mc Maasai
Mc Corporal Ontumbato
Mc Kenyanchigiri
Mc Ojays BMG
DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Cross
DJ Twin
Dj Brihood
Dj Darius
Dj Falenzia
Dj Qaleb
Dj Roudge - COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Mkisii ni Mkisii Duo
Corporal Ontumbato
Omong’ina Porogoko
Ayeiya
Nyabotobe
DANCE GROUP OF THE YEAR
Gladiators All Stars
High rated Dancers
Black Dimension Dancers
D4J Dancers
MUSIC STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Republic Inc.
Gato Records
BM Records
New Home Muzik
Alka Pro Studios
Basslyn Music
Eversure Studios
VIDEO DIRECTOR/PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Sam C-Republic Inc
Harry-Taya Media
Samora-254 Films
Young 50
Bonny Bruce
Jaymenge-Calm Media
Nezzo- NF
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD OF THE YEAR
John Mogaka Ras
Bonface Bonny Bruce-B-Photography
Cephas- Unique Shots Media
Mathew Moturi- Artisque Media
Stal Images
COVER SONG OF THE YEAR
Duke Dukon- Hello
Calvin Joy- Sobo Mama( My Number One)
Amarula (Amarwa)- K-flow
King Menace-Pesa
Mbagala-Omae
Brax-Ukimuona
Vinto Neskon-Kwenda
