Singer Bahati wins big at the 2015 Groove Awards

Bahati’s hit song 'Barua' proved to be a charmer, bagging the singer three of the four awards he received in total. 'Barua', which has logged over 700 000 views on Youtube, won in the Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Most Downloaded Skiza Tune categories. In addition to the three Bahati also took home the Male Artist of the Year award. When he stepped up to receive the award, Bahati, who was raised in a children’s home, was overwhelmed. “This goes out to every child who’s in the children’s home,” he said, dedicating the award to his former home. “They should know that anything is possible.”

It was a tight contest, pitting Bahati against other crowd favourites like Pitson, Pastor Anthony Musambi, Hopekid, Willy Paul and Ljay Maasai. Not even Nairobi’s heavy rains could dampen the star-studded event, which was graced by the Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario. According to Citizen Digital, the awards ceremony, now in its 10th edition, was initially slated to be held a week ago but had to be postponed.

The event was not just graced by gospel artists but their secular counterparts as well, including rappers Rabbit Kaka Sungura and Octopizzo. Hosted by top gospel DJs Krowbar, Sadic and Mo, the event opened with a captivating performance by Bahati, followed by even more energetic performances by the gospel stars. One performance that brought the house down was Willy Paul and Size 8’s high-energy hit ‘Tam Tam’.

The full list of the winners is as follows:

• Male Artiste of the Year: Bahati
• Female Artiste of the Year: Loise Kim
• Southern African Artiste of the Year: Joyous Celebration
• Song of the Year Nyanza Counties: ‘Omorembe Toe’ by Fenny Kerubo
• Song of the Year Central Counties: ‘Ndiari Mwega’ by James Wanyoike
• Collabo of the Year: ‘Mwanake’ by Benachi and Kaberere
• Reggae Song of the Year: ‘Searching’ by TPK Sons
• G10 (Upcoming Promising Talent): DJ Tabz
• Song of the Year Eastern Counties: ‘Katiwa’ by Justus Mielo
• Song of the Year Coastal Counties: ‘Rafiki’ by Michael Yena
• Song of the Year Western Counties: ‘Ndakhuyanza’ by Timothy Kitoyi
• Song of the Year Rift Counties: ‘Erripoto Enkai’ by Charity Tajeu
• Western African Artiste of the Year: Sinach from Nigeria
• Video of the Year: ‘Barua’ by Bahati
• Album of the Year: Mungu Mkuu by Evelyne Wanjiru
• Dance Group of the Year: AltarMIN
• Hip-hop Song of the Year: ‘Mimina’ by Krisseroh ft Magg 44 and Abel Chungu
• Group of the Year: Christ Cycoz
• Gospel Radio Presenter of the Year: Eva Mwalili of Milele FM
• Gospel Radio Show of the Year: Milele FM’s ‘Gospel Sunday’
• DJ of the Year: DJ MoKenya
• New Artiste/ Group of the Year: Ruth Matete
• Worship Song of the Year: Florence Andenyi