Suzan Kerunen (born 1979) is a Ugandan world music singer and songwriter who performs African contemporary music in the local Ugandan language of Alur-Jonam (her mother tongue) as well as in English,

Swahili Swahili may refer to: * Swahili language, a Bantu language officially used in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and widely spoken in the African Great Lakes. * Swahili people, an ethnic group in East Africa. * Swahili culture, the culture of the Swahili p ...

and other world languages. She is a double Kora Award nominee who competed against Ethiopia's Michaih Behaylu, Astar and Bluz and Kenyan

Wahu Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, professionally known by her mononym Wahu, is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, former fashion model, actress, and entrepreneur. Early life and education Wahu attended Hospital Hill Primary School and proceeded to Precious Blood ...

and a PAM Award winner. She was appointed Uganda National Tourism Ambassador to promote Cultural Tourism. Kerunen has shared stages with Africa's best artists and musicians including Kenya's

Suzanna Owíyo Suzanna Owiyo (born May 10, 1975) is a Kenyan musician and singer. She is a United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill ambassador and she was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya Award in ...

, South Africa's

Yvonne Chaka Chaka Yvonne Chaka Chaka OIS (born Yvonne Machaka on 18 March 1965) is a South African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher. Dubbed the "Princess of Africa" (on a 1990 tour), Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South Afric ...

, ASA and other Diaspora artists at the KORA ALL AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS in Benin, Mama Africa

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba ( , ; 4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including African popular music, Afropop, ja ...

, Oliver Mutukudzi, Third World, Kinobe Herbert backed up by Soul Beat Africa at The International Jazz Festival.

Career history

Kerunen started her career as a young girl with her two sisters in an all girl group Soul of Africa. She later went on to launch her solo career with her debut Album NIMEFIKA a Kiswahili term meaning "I have arrived". Kerunen has also performed at major festivals including -The International Bayimba Festival in Uganda, Tusker Experience" at Silk liquid in Bugolobi. She is one of the organizers of the

Pearl Rhythm Festival Pearl Rhythm Festival is a world music festival organized by the Pearl Rhythm Foundation to celebrate Ugandan music and hosted annually at the National Theatre. The festival is the climax of all the activities in the Pearl Rhythm Foundation... ...

and World Music Day celebrations in Uganda. In 2009, Kerunen performed at The CHOGM celebrations in the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago, Blankets and Wine alongside Eric Wainaina,

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and Janziband.

Pimar Crossing Cultures Concert, 2017

In November 2017, Suzan held a concert titled Pimar Crossing Cultures which was held at Sheraton Kampala Hotel. She performed some of her new and old songs including Umbikulumbi, Faithfull, Echuli chuli, Minkulu, Tuk tuk and Tegiri, Olobo, Lek, Anyira, Hakuna, Pimar, Ugorunan, Acher Achera among others. The Concert was to celebrate her tenth anniversary in the music industry and to preserve cultural totems, proverbs, riddles and music. Other musicians such as Afrie, Ssewa Ssewa, Amaru and Giovanni Kiyingi also performed.

Discography

Awards

Tours and concerts

Ongea music week

Suzan performed at, ONGEA! – The Eastern Africa Music Summit in Nairobi on 28 January 2016 alongside Likizo, Sauti Academy, Wanny Angerer, Parking Lot Grass, Mswazzi, H_Art the Band and Jay A

Charity

Know Your Culture Foundation

Kerunene registered KNOW YOUR CULTURE FOUNDATION with an aim and vision of branding Uganda, A foundation that dedicates its effort to research, train and groom a culturally aware Ugandans and also promote cultural tourism as a development tool for Uganda .

Power of Hope Camp 2006, Kampala

Suzan used music in form of therapy and meditation to facilitate a retreat during the Power of Hope Camp; Kampala 2006 with the major theme "Building Community to Living Healthy and Powerful Lives" which was conducted in order to address some of the challenges faced by adolescents at the PIDC, Mulago Hospital.

Heart sounds in Uganda "Enkuba Yomutima"2008

Done in the United Kingdom with a replica visit clinic in Hackney London visiting Uganda in September 2008 to highlight Mental Health in Uganda, the project raised awareness of mental health issues in the community, reduced community stigma and discrimination, and empowered sufferers of mental illness by promoting and improving mental health services in both countries.

Fight against Cancer

In 2012, Kerunen collaborated with Rotary of Uganda on her third album launch, whose proceeds went to the cancer ward of St Raphael of St Francis, Nsambya Mission Hospital which needed completion where she invited other Kora Award winners like Jackie Chandiru and Benon to perform. “It is important for us to pool our resources and efforts to improve the care given to victims of cancer all over Uganda because it affects our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerunen, Suzan Living people 1983 births Folk musicians Traditional musicians Ugandan world music musicians Ugandan women musicians