I call him crazy okey we all do... but for real thats his name ‘Chizi’. They call him crazy because he really is but i think music made him krazy,YES music made him crazy, well maybe it did i will leave that out for you.The 'crown prince of benga' is fast becoming the flavor of Kenyan fusion and jazz music with a reputaion that is growing by leaps and bounds. This multi-talented 25 year old released his first album titled Suluwe back in 2005 while at Nairobi based Kijiji Records.
An album that featured collaborated work with Kenya’s top musicians including Eric Wainaina, Kevin Wyre, Neema, Kanjii,Mbugua and Aaron Rimbui.
Suluwe introduced Chizi as he is known to his friends to the music industry with such a bang that some were describing him as a ‘lyrical genius’ with a penchant for clever storytelling in wrapped in sweet melody. Songs from this album such as Sanasana, Songa and Waache waseme are still enjoying massive airplay on Kenyan and pan-african T.V stations ons.
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Since the release of this first album, Chizi has kept busy in the industry performing a regular monthly event dubbed Café mia moja at Nairobi’s August 7th Memorial Park in 2006and 2007.
The success of this show saw him called up to work on the UmojaPamoja campaign organized jointly by the American Embassy in Nairobi and Rainmaker Limited. The campaign was aimed at civil education and promotion of good governance and responsible voting in the run up to Kenya’s general election in December of 2007.
Other artistes included in the campaign were Suzana Owiyo, Eric Wainaina, Nyota Ndogo and Atemi. It was at this event that Dan’s quality as a performer was truly showcased with rousing performances delivered at the American ambassador’s Residence as well as the KICC grounds in downtown Nairobi.
SOUGHT AFTER SONGWRITER
Meanwhile Dan threw himself fully into songwriting and has since penned some of the most memorable songs of the last few years for various artistes including:
Domestics(for Kanji Mbugua and Atemi),
Nimechoka and Ibaada(for rappers A-star and Riggah),
What if, Nanana and Mr Money for Kanjii Mbugua
Lift your hands and Shamba la wanyama (for Tim‘the ennovator’ Rimbui).
Currently Dan is in the process of writing material for former project fame finalist Wendy Kimani’s upcoming album produced by Pine-creek records.
AWARDS
In 2008 Dan won two Kisima awards for Best male Urban fusion artiste as well as songwriter of the year. He beat a talented field of artistes that included the likes of Kanjii Mbugua and Aaron Rimbui. This awards signaled the beginning of a new era in his musical journey and he then proclaimed himself ‘the crown prince of benga.’
THEATRE
He didn’t stop at singing this our prince of Benga, In 2006 Dan got involved in theatre with a musical play entitled Lwanda- a ghetto story. In 2007 Dan played the lead character in this massively successful critically acclaimed musical production leading to an invitation in 2009 to audition for a part in Mo Faya, the first Kenyan musical to be staged in the of-Broadway New York Musical Theatre festival.Chizi delivered brilliant performances in both the run in New York as well as the run in Nairobi’s Go Down arts center and was a pivotal part of the musical’s success. Currently there is talk of Mo Faya being staged on Broadway and Chizi is certain to play a key role in that undertaking.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Currently Chizi is in the final stages of preparing his sophomore album for release in 2010. This album is being worked on by renowned Emmy award winning producer Chris Adwar, David ‘blackman’ Muthami, Aaron Rimbui and multi-award winning producer Robert ’Rkay’ Kimanzi. The album is expected to be mastered in London’s Hilton Grove Studios and will feature work by Sanaipei Tande,
benga legend Dola Kabari, and Wyre. Also Chizi, backed by his band ‘The Wananchi’ plays his popular Café mia moja event every week at Rafiki’s Bar Lounge along Lang’ata road in Nairobi.
Further he is also involved in charity work serving as the Goodwill ambassador of the Afya Kenya Foundation a charity based in Nairobi that seeks to provide free healthcare services to the poor people in far flung areas on Kenya. Chizi takes a leadership role in fundraising as well as creating awareness for the charity beside performing at the foundations monthly fundraiser Art for Afya.
Dan Chizi has stood out from the rest of the musical 'gang', as a talented vocalist songwriter actor and ambassador how he manages to do all this only he knows.
Thank you Dan Aceda for awesome music and contribution to society.
To reach chizi; Dan ‘chizi’ Aceda
Managed By Kipawa Music Ltd
P.O Box 14707 00800
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 020 203 2 432,0735 768 177,
0722 715 719
Email: david@kipawamusic.com
www.kipawamusic.com
Music available at: http://www.systemrecords.co.uk/chizi-suluwe-p-970301.html
Watch videos: http://www.kikasha.co.ke/videos/view.php?f=MzU=
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=120905673863&oid=82278956589
Facebook.com/danchiziaceda
Twitter.com/mwanawasimba
Facebook Group: The Dan chizi Aceda Network Fan
Email: danaceda@ymail.com
Support the Afya Kenya Foundation at: http://afyakenyafoundation.org/
