DELA THE DEFINED DIVA

‘Kama ningekuwa jua, mpenzi, wewe mwangaza wangu, kama nigekuwa sauti, mpenzi, wewe kipaza changu, kama ningekuwa wimbo mtamu, wewe maandishi wewe kalamu’

Trans’

‘If I was the sun, my love, you could my sunshine, if I was your voice, my love, you my speakers, if I was a sweet song, you would be the wordings and the pen’

Lyrics from her song Kama in the album Paukwa

Love for music in Dela Maranga’s life her stage name ‘Dela’ started at the tender age of only 7, and she was already singing in church, this continued to primary and high school and was an active member of the choir. She always wanted to be a recording artist so, after high school she formed a group and tried to work with other producers but it didn’t quite work out.


Late 2007 she met Andrew Mageto of JME studios and he produced for her the track ‘Nakuegemea’, which was subsequently released in March 2008. It was when she was working with Mageto that she became interested in live music and it’s also through him that she got her music into mainstream radio. In the University of Nairobi, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, she met Dan “Chizi” Aceda (dubbed the crown prince of Afro Fusion). She decided to do background vocals for him in order to polish her performance skills.

Since then she has done background vocals for MAMA award winner Wahu, KORA Award winner Achieng Abura, KISIMA Award winner Didge, Stan, Wendy and many others. She has performed at various events like Tusker Project Fame, Idols, Sawa Sawa Festival, WAPI, Spoken Word and Love is…. both as a solo artist and as a background vocalist, she also performed at the much hyped unplugged Sauti Sol homecoming at Galileos sponsored by KissTv.


The tour and her album launch


In August and September of 2009 she was part of the New East Africa tour organized by Penya Africa and performed in the Netherlands, Sweden and UK alongside Sauti Sol and Stan.

The Leakey Auditorium in the National Museum was the place to be as Dela launched her first album ‘Paukwa’ in a gracious and electrifying show.

The room was packed and Dela did not disappoint either she kept everyone on their feet and all ears on the slow song performance.

“Paukwa” the title of her album is a Swahili word used to call for the listener’s attention to a folk story. These stories were a traditional mechanism for perpetuating the people’s heritage, imparting moral guidance and celebrating community spirit, the debut album “Paukwa” is the beginning of her story, her experiences and expectations. It is the beginning of her expression.

She has signed to Penya Africa under the producers Wawesh, Mageto and Sweden based Mastah L (Andreas), through whom her debut album Paukwa is released; it is a fusion of Afro, Neo-Soul, Reggae and Hip-Hop features Bien of Sauti sol and Mchizi Gaza of Ukoo fulani.

Her debut video 'ulivyo' is rocking the airwaves, sample it on youtube via the link below



‘Kama ningekuwa jua, mpenzi, wewe mwangaza wangu, kama nigekuwa sauti, mpenzi, wewe kipaza changu, kama ningekuwa wimbo mtamu, wewe maandishi wewe kalamu’

Trans’

‘If I was the sun, my love, you could my sunshine, if I was your voice, my love, you my speakers, if I was a sweet song, you would be the wordings and the pen’

Lyrics from her song Kama in the album Paukwa

Love for music in Dela Maranga’s life her stage name ‘Dela’ started at the tender age of only 7, and she was already singing in church, this continued to primary and high school and was an active member of the choir. She always wanted to be a recording artist so, after high school she formed a group and tried to work with other producers but it didn’t quite work out.


Late 2007 she met Andrew Mageto of JME studios and he produced for her the track ‘Nakuegemea’, which was subsequently released in March 2008. It was when she was working with Mageto that she became interested in live music and it’s also through him that she got her music into mainstream radio. In the University of Nairobi, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, she met Dan “Chizi” Aceda (dubbed the crown prince of Afro Fusion). She decided to do background vocals for him in order to polish her performance skills.

Since then she has done background vocals for MAMA award winner Wahu, KORA Award winner Achieng Abura, KISIMA Award winner Didge, Stan, Wendy and many others. She has performed at various events like Tusker Project Fame, Idols, Sawa Sawa Festival, WAPI, Spoken Word and Love is…. both as a solo artist and as a background vocalist, she also performed at the much hyped unplugged Sauti Sol homecoming at Galileos sponsored by KissTv.


The tour and her album launch


In August and September of 2009 she was part of the New East Africa tour organized by Penya Africa and performed in the Netherlands, Sweden and UK alongside Sauti Sol and Stan.

The Leakey Auditorium in the National Museum was the place to be as Dela launched her first album ‘Paukwa’ in a gracious and electrifying show.

The room was packed and Dela did not disappoint either she kept everyone on their feet and all ears on the slow song performance.

“Paukwa” the title of her album is a Swahili word used to call for the listener’s attention to a folk story. These stories were a traditional mechanism for perpetuating the people’s heritage, imparting moral guidance and celebrating community spirit, the debut album “Paukwa” is the beginning of her story, her experiences and expectations. It is the beginning of her expression.

She has signed to Penya Africa under the producers Wawesh, Mageto and Sweden based Mastah L (Andreas), through whom her debut album Paukwa is released; it is a fusion of Afro, Neo-Soul, Reggae and Hip-Hop features Bien of Sauti sol and Mchizi Gaza of Ukoo fulani.

Her debut video 'ulivyo' is rocking the airwaves, sample it on youtube via the link below