User:Africanbonfire

—Dan ‘chizi’ Aceda From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dan ‘chizi’ Aceda Background information Birth name	Dan Kenneth Okoth Born	October 10, 1984 (age 23)

Origin	Nairobi,, Kenya

Genre(s) Benga, Afrofusion

Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, student

Instrument(s) Vocals, bass guitar, drums

Years active	2004 – present Label(s) Kijiji records

Associated acts	Kanjii Mbugua, Kevin Wyre, Eric Wainaina, Richard Kasika, Neema

Website	www.mwanawasimba.com

Dan ‘chizi’ Aceda (born Dan Kenneth Okoth on 10 October 1984) is a Kenyan afrofusion singer, songwriter. His debut studio album, SULUWE was released in late 2005, and features collaborations with rapper and producer Kevin wyre as well as Eric Wainaina. Suluwe produced two singles: "Sanasana" and "Waache waseme". Prior to the release of his debut album, Chizi's career gained momentum through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established artists. Notably, Chizi has written songs for Richard Kasika ("Kumekucha") Kanjii Mbugua ("What if"), Joseph Hellon (“Colours”) and Atemi Oyungu ("Domestics", also featuring Kanjii Mbugua); played the lead role on Eric Wainaina’s "lwanda-a ghetto story."

Contents

1 Biography 2 Recent endeavors 3 Discography 3.Singles

Biography Dan was born in Kisumu District, Nyana Province. His career began at the age of 9, when his Sunday school teacher begun teaching him to sing and dance. By the time he was 13 years old, Dan was singing with the church choir. Dan attended Strathmore School, and sat his O level examinations at 18. He was also the sportsman of the year and captain of the soccer team. Dan is currently attending the University of Nairobi (4th year, 2007-2008), where he studies Architecture with an emphasis on Interior architecture and culture. While at Strathmore, he dabbled in live performances and recording as one half of the music outfit “24C”. It is during this time that he met and worked with the then rising musical personality Richard ‘the real RK’ Kasika at the latter’s studio, “up in my room recording.’

Dan released his first song, “Pamoja”, in 1999 aged 15; it was recorded at Kasika’s studio. The single was a major flop and only got minimal airtime on Nairobi’s FM stations. His second and third songs “Kweli” and “Sly old Fox” released in 2000 didn’t do well either. He then took a musical hiatus and concentrated on his studies until the bug bit him again in late 2002 when he released “Woishe” and “Easy As” which did much better on the airwaves and local gig scene.”easy As” was produced by Dj Loop of the then “Baseline Studios” and featured little known singer Alice Mukami. In 2003, aged 19, he worked as an intern at FEBA (Far East Broadcasting Studios) Recording Studio in Nairobi. Here he wrote and recorded several radio jingles and feature music for the company’s FM station Baraka Fm which is based in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa. He also recorded two songs at the studio ‘Mapenzi gani” and “Buriani”. The latter was a tribute to Kijana Wamalwa the then Vice president of Kenya who died that year.

In 2004, Dan and his old friend Richard Kasika wrote, performed and produced the song “Nalia” that was performed at an anti-abortion event organized by Pro-Life International, held in Nairobi.The song and performance also featured the then upcoming Nairobi saxophonist James Ireri. Also in 2004 Dan met and worked with iconic Kenyan musician/producer Kevin Wyre on the song “Narudi” which was recorded at Kenya’s most famous recording studio, ted Josiah’s Blu Zebra studios in Nairobi. He also worked on another song “Ua langu” which was produced by Tim ‘the ennovator’ Rimbui at Samawati Studios. These last three songs formed Dan’s demo which was later presented to musical entrepreneur Kanjii mbugua. Kanji who was famous for being the front man for the renowned Kenyan group Milele, was running a music distribution company while setting up a record company and studio. Since that meeting, Dan and Kanjii have worked closely together, with Kanjii signing Dan as the first artist to join his new label, Kijiji Records. Dan sang backup in Kanjii’s band, The Villagers, which quickly begun to make waves on the Kenyan musical scene in 2005, upto and including performance at Kanjii’s regular live event “Live at the Village”; in turn, Kanjii provided tracks and musical direction for Dan’s debut album, Suluwe.

Recently, Dan contributed to fellow Kijiji artist A-Star's LP, The Light, and provided lyrics and vocals for "Shamba la Wanyama" on the album Kinanda 1, by Tim ‘the ennovator’ Rimbui.

Recent endeavors Dan was a part of the 2007 USAID/RAINMAKER campaign, Umoja pamoja that was aimed at encouraging Kenyans to exercise their right to vote and to vote wisely and peacefully. He worked alongside some of Kenya’s finest artistes including: Nyota Ndogo, Suzzanna Owiyo and Eric Wainaina and delivered rousing performances at the medial launch of the campaign held at the American ambassadors house in naironi and at the actual event at the KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Centre) COMESA grounds. He is also featured in Eric Wainaina’s musical, "Lwanda –A ghetto story” playing the lead character. The play is currently being used as part of a civic education campaign by URAIA to promote good governance and responsible citizenship in Kenya. Dan is currently working on a series of live concerts to raise money for the creation of a computer training center at the uzima tele Children’s home. Dan has long had links with the home which caters to HIV/AIDS orphans, found in Gitwamba slum in Nairobi’s Kasarani area. These concerts are scheduled to be held on 4th and 5th of April 2008. Dan is also set to launch his weekly live band event ‘Friday café’ in March of 2008 to be held in downtown Nairobi. Music sample: "Sanasana" "songa" From the album Suluwe. Co-written by David Muthami, the song is a afrofusion song, about how nothing can remain a secret forever. This sample features a portion from the first verse and chorus. Problems listening to the file? See media help.

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