The 10th edition of East Africa’s premier gospel music event: Groove Awards, which seeks to fete the best in the industry is set to go down this weekend at the Safaricom Kasarani indoor arena.

The story behind Groove Awards, an outfit of Mo Sound events, is one of outright passion, vision and resilience  by the founder, Kevin Mulei dating back to 2004. From holding the event with only one trophy from the confines of the popular Tin Tin restaurant that was located inside the premises of the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) to Nairobi cinema and debts amounting to $25,000, Groove awards has with time grown in leaps and bounds and is currently one of the most prominent events in the entertainment sector not just in the country but in the entire East Africa region.

Groove awards continues to enjoy a lasting partnership with the country’s leading telecommunication firm Safaricom, which has been the main sponsor for the eighth year running and unlike in the past where Groove’s success would be depended   on the number of people who would buy tickets to grace  the event, nowadays attendance to the galla night is solely by invitation.

Kevin Mulei maintains that the Groove outfit is basically ministry while Mo sound remains a business.

“I was looking for an event that could appreciate artists and when someone is handed that trophy, its not the value of it that counts but  the appreciation and honour it carries,” he said.

Since its inception in 2004, over 1,000 artists/groups have been nominated and 240 Groove statuettes presented to Gospel musicians in Kenya and East African region.

Last year,  Sarah K and Bahati were feted for the Best Female Artiste Of The Year and Male Artiste Of The Year respectively with  Pitson’s  – Lingala ya Yesu scooping the coveted  Song of the Year award. 

Below is the list of 2015 groove awards nominees;

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bahati Kenya
Hopekid
LJAYMAASAI
Pitson
Pastor Anthony Musembi
Willypaulbongo

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Eunicenjeri11
Evelyne Wanjiru
JanetOtienoKE
Ladybee254
Loise Kim
Size8Reborn

Southern Africa Artist
• Abel Chungu -Zambia
• Benjamin Dube – South Africa
• Joyous Celebration – South Africa
• Magg 44 – Zambia
• Pompi – Zambia
• Rebecca Malope – South Africa

Song of the Year – Nyanza Counties
• Bi Uneye Gima Yesu otimo – Moureen Awuor
• Jerusalem Dalawa – Mark Odera
• Olemo – Christine Otieno
• Omorembe Toe – Fenny Kerubo
• Ong’e Ngamoi- – Muthoka Evaline
• Wasud Nyime – Emma Omonge

COLLABO OF THE YEAR

TamTam – Willy Paul Msafi and SIZE 8 Reborn
Matunda – Eunice Njeri& Lady Bee
Mimina – Kris Eeh Baba
MWANAKE – BENACHI AND KABERERE
WAKATI REMIX – FIDEL ATONDOLA
FURAHA – ESTHER WAHOME
7,. MFALME MKUU – Kanjii Mbugua
OLENKODIKOD – DIDDI KIMER
CROSSING OVER – REDEMPTION MUSIC

RAGGA/REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR
Abba – Jay General
Crossing Over – Redemption ft. Guardian Angel
Goso – jfamkenya
Delilah – Hopekid

Song of the Year – Nyanza Counties
• Bi Uneye Gima Yesu otimo – Moureen Awuor
• Jerusalem Dalawa – Mark Odera
• Olemo – Christine Otieno
• Omorembe Toe – Fenny Kerubo
• Ong’e Ngamoi- – Muthoka Evaline
• Wasud Nyime – Emma Omonge

Song of the Year – Central Counties
• Experiment – Betty Bayo
• Gichuri – Milkah Njambi
• Maithori – Sammy Irungu
• Ndiari Mwega – James Wanyoike
• Ngai Wa Itereri – Shiro Wa GP
• Tutigukurumana – Grace Mwai

G10 nominees.
Annie the DJ
Dj 21
Dj Frank
Dj G-Jo
Dj Mzito
Dj Tabz
Hype Ballo
Hype Guda
MC Kelly
MC Timeless Noel

Song of the Year – Eastern Counties
• Aning’ning’ Dance – Mbuvi Mbuvi
• Ikomanone – Wilberforce Musyoka
• Katiwa – Justus Mielo
• Kiss Kya Yutasi – Elizabeth Clipper
• Mwinire – Ameru Crew
• Ndumbule – Michael Mutuku

Western Africa Artist of the Year
• Frank Edwards – NGR
• Lara George – NGR
• Mercy Oheema – GHA
• Nathaniel Bassey – NGR
• Sinach – NGR
• Solomon Lange – NGR

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Barua – BahatiKenya
Jemedari – Size8Reborn
Kereka – Dkkwenyebeat
Sifa – AliceKamande
New Song – Tybe
Tam Tam – willy Paul Ft. Size8Reborn

Gospel Radio Presenter of the Year
Amani Ayila – Hope FM
Dj Ruff – Ghetto Radio
Eva Mwalili – Milele FM
Jay Njoroge – HomeboyzRadio
Joyce Gituro – Pambazuka
Lawrence Thuku – Truth FM

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Am Blessed – HopekidHk
Kibali – Florence Andenyi
Mtakatifu – Frank
Mungu Mkuu – Evelyne Wanjiru
Rauka – Kanjii Mbugua
Shekinah Worship – Pastor Anthony Musembi

Song of the Year – Coastal Counties
• Maombi – Anthony Musembi
• Nisaidie – Mercy D Lai
• Rafiki – Michael Yena
• Tuma Roho – Japheth Musila
• Tunakuabudu – Marion Shako
• Yesu Ameniona- Martin Murunga

Dance Group of the Year Nominees
All Stars
AltarMINdance
FlamersCrew
Genje
Gospel Warriors
Jims and Dims

Song of the Year – Rift Counties
• Ebeneza – Edna Lotole
• Ematatui – Pst Joyce Mumeita
• Erripoto Enkai – Charity Tajeu
• Kongoi – Lillian Rotich
• Maa-Leji – LJAYMAASAI
• Nyumbani – RuriSambili

HIP-HOP SONG
Didimia – keleletakatifu
Inaweza – Dj Lapoze
Mimina – KRISERROH Ft. Magg 44 & Abel Chungu
Opportunity Remix – Falenzy & Friends
Tonight – Recapp
Zongelela – SOCkenya

Song of the Year – Western Counties
• Khumuichomie – Florence Andenyi
• Kusieve – Anne Kamsa
• Ndakhuyanza – Pamela Wandera
Ndakhuyanza – Timothy Kitoyi
• Sandizaga – Linet Njoora
• Yohana – Geofrey Kwatemba

GOSPEL RADIO SHOW
Gospel Nite Live – GhettoRadio
Gospel Sunday- Milele FM
Pambazuka – RadioCitizenFM
Mwamba Radio Show – HomeboyzRadio
Shangilia – Hope FM
Tukuza – Radio Maisha

DJ of the Year
• DJ SADIC
• DJ Krowbar
• Djggactivist
• DJMOKENYA
• djruffkenya
• TOUCHtheDJ

NEW ARTIST/NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR
Camp David
Falenzy
Fidel Atondola
Florence Andenyi
Godson Jawabu
Innocent Persons
Recapp
Ruth Matete
Saint Stevo
Tybe

TV Show of the Year
Angaza – KBCChannel1
Ntvcrossover101 – ntvkenya
Gospel Sunday – CTV
KTN Tendereza – KTNKenya
THE SWITCH K24 – K24Tv
KTNTukuza – KTNKenya

Eastern & Central Africa Artist
• Christina Shusho – Tanzania
• Coopy Bly – Uganda
• Exodus – Uganda
• Father Micheal – Uganda
• Gaby Kamanzi – Rwanda
• Rebecca Soki – Congo
• Sarah Nkutile – UG
• Solomon Mkubwa – TZ
• Wilson Bugembe – UG
• ZB – TZ

WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
Kibali – Florence Andenyi
Mfalme Mkuu – Kanjii Mbugua Ft. Enid Moraa
Mtakatifu – Frank
Mungu Mkuu – Evelyne Wanjiru
Maombi – Pastor Anthony Musembi
Unatosha – Eunice Njeri

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Adawnage
ChristCycoz
Keleletakatifu
BandSamawati
SOCkenya
Vkpmusic

SONG OF THE YEAR
Barua – Bahati
Delilah – Hopekid
Heshima – Janet Otieno
Kilele – Pitson
Liwe Liwe – Guardian Angel
Mtakatifu – Frank
Mwanake – Benachi Ft. Kaberere
Mwema – Mercymasika
Tam Tam – willy paul Ft. Size 8 Reborn
Unatosha – Eunice njeri