Azawi

Azawi
Azawi at Swangz Avenue in 2023
Born
Priscilla Zawedde

(1996-02-02) 2 February 1996
Kampala, Uganda
Alma materMakerere University
(Bachelor of Commerce)
OccupationsSinger, songwriter
Years active2020–present
Known forMusical artist
StyleAfrican music

Priscilla Zawedde (born 2 February 1996), better known as Azawi, is a Ugandan singer-songwriter and dancer. She was signed to Swangz Avenue (record label) in 2019.[1] Her musical genre is Afrobeats[2] in both Luganda and English.

She became the first female Ugandan act to appear on the New York City "Times Square" and Los Angeles billboards.[3][4]

Early life and education

Priscilla Zawedde was born 2 February 1996 in Kampala to the late Walusimbi Samuel and Nakamatte Mary. She went to Buganda Road Primary for her early education,[5] and then to Mother Kevin Primary school in Mukono District, where she completed her primary seven. She went to St Henry's college in Ggangu Masajja, Lubiri Secondary School, London College in Nansana, and St Janani Luwum Secondary School for A-level. At Makerere University, she earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree.[6][7]

Career

Early career

Azawi's career began in 2005 as a dancer in the Kika dance troupe.[5] They performed on many stages. Four years later, she joined the dance group Crane Performers, while still in school. After realizing that she was failing in school, she stopped dancing. She nevertheless traveled twice to China to perform with the troupe.

Music career

In 2011, she started writing songs,[8] first as a hobby, before realizing she could make money from it. Her father died in 2012 and she had to help her mother and her two siblings, hence she concentrated on making money from songwriting.[8]

Azawi's songwriting skills got her a meeting with Eddy Kenzo, who eventually connected her to other artistes. She has written for artistes including kenzo, Nina Rose, Lydia Jazmine, Carol Nantongo, and Vinka.[9]

Azawi joined a band in 2015 while also working as a waiter at a restaurant her mother had started.[5]

After she quit her job as a waiter, she wrote "Quinamino," with the intention of selling it,[10] but when she walked into Swangz Avenue for the first time in August 2019, she got an offer to become part of the label instead.[8]

Azawi's breakthrough came in January 2020 after releasing her first single, "Quinamino".[11][12][13]

In November of the same year, Swangz Avenue management signed her. She released her first single under the label in January 2020.[14][15] She is still under the same label, and now has over 20 songs.[16]

Discography

Albums

  • Lo Fit (2020)
  • African Music (2021)[17]
  • Sankofa[18]

Singles

  • Fwa Fwa Fwa
  • Party mood
  • Gimme
  • Craving you heavy
  • Bamututte[19]
  • Thankful ft Benon
  • Majje ft Fik Fameica
  • Slow dancing[20][21]
  • Face Me ft A Pass
  • Fwa Fwa Fwa
  • Ku Kido
  • My Year
  • Tubatiisa
  • Party Mood
  • Nkuchekele ft Eddy Kenzo
  • Love you is easy
  • African Music
  • Ache for you
  • Quinamino
  • Repeat it
  • Lo Fit[22]
  • Crazy lover
  • Toast to 75
  • Mbinyumirwa
  • Envision
  • Craving You Heavy Remix ft. Chike
  • Masavu
  • 10 over 10

Source:[23]

Awards and recognition

  • Female Artist of the Year Janzi Awards 2021[24]
  • Outstanding Album of the Year – African Music Janzi Awards 2021[25]
  • Outstanding Afro Beat/Pop Artist Janzi Awards 2021[24]
  • Artist of the Year Buzz Teeniez Awards 2021[22]
  • Teenz Female Artist of the Year Buzz Teeniez Awards 2021
  • Teenz Hottest Songwriter Buzz Teeniez Awards 2021[22]
  • Teenz Hottest Song of the Year – "Slow Dancing" Buzz Teeniez Awards 2021[22]
  • Teenz Flyest video – "Slow Dancing" Buzz Teeniez Awards 2021[22]
  • Female Artist of the year Zzina Awards 2021/22[26]
  • Best Song Writer of the year Zzina Awards 2021/22[26]
  • Best Inspirational Song – "Majje" ft Fik Fameica Zzina Awards 2021/22[26]

Other activities and achievements

Azawi is now a Guinness brand ambassador.[27][28][29] This was also evidenced in her video for "Majje", which featured Ugandan artiste Fik Fameica[30][31][29] and at her recent maiden sold-out concert at Lugogo, Kampala in July 2022.[32]

Azawi in 2021 was featured on billboards in Los Angeles and New York City's Times Square,[33][34][35] making her the first female and third Ugandan act to appear on the billboard after Eddy Kenzo and Bobi Wine.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ray, Lee (2019-12-31). "BRAND NEW: Swangz Avenue Set Date To Release New Signing, Azawi's Song". Routine Blast : Gossip, Showbiz, Breaking News in Uganda. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  2. ^ Bm, B. (2021-10-11). "African Music by Azawi is the Album of the year!". Galaxy FM 100.2. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  3. ^ "Azawi shines brightest on billboards in New York and London". Nile Post. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  4. ^ a b Witness, Eye (2021-10-23). "Azawi becomes the first UG female artist to appear on Times Square". Galaxy FM 100.2. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. ^ a b c Okereke, Caleb (30 November 2020). "Meet Priscilla Zawedde aka Azawi, Uganda's rising star". The Observer – Uganda. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  6. ^ "I almost quit my course at campus just after year one – Azawi reveals". MBU. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. ^ "Swangz Avenue's New Singer Azawi Graduates with a Bachelor's Degree". blizz.co.ug. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  8. ^ a b c "Interview: Meet Azawi, Uganda's Rising Star". OkayAfrica. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  9. ^ "Azawi". Music in Africa. 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  10. ^ "10 Things you didn´t know about Azawi". Hard Rock Media. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  11. ^ Dash, Phame (2021-08-09). "Songs That Made These New Ugandan Artists Famous, Number 3 will Surprise You". PHAME DASH. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  12. ^ "Uganda's Azawi: 40 minutes that changed my life — East African Herald". EastAfricanHerald. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  13. ^ "Milestone: Azawi's 'Quinamino' features on Major Lazer's mix". PML Daily. 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  14. ^ Ray, Lee (2019-12-31). "BRAND NEW: Swangz Avenue Set Date To Release New Signing, Azawi's Song". Routine Blast. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  15. ^ "Fresh Talent: Swangz Avenue to release Azawi in January 2020". MBU. 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  16. ^ "Swangz Avenue signs new artiste Zafarani". New Vision. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  17. ^ "Azawi on MTV Base list of artistes to look out for this year". New Vision. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  18. ^ Troy, Kevin. "Azawi's Sankofa Album – a Melodic Tapestry of Memories and Dreams". Capital Radio. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  19. ^ BAMUTUTTE, 2021-10-09, retrieved 2023-02-19
  20. ^ "Music Review: Slow Dancing – Azawi & Myko Ouma (acoustic version)". New Vision. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  21. ^ "Jinja Hippos invite Impis with Azawi vibes to dance". Monitor. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Full List of Buzz Teenz Award Winners 2021". ChimpReports. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  23. ^ "Azawi". Deezer. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  24. ^ a b "Who won what at the Janzi Awards 2021?". MBU. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  25. ^ "The good, the bad and the ugly of the maiden Janzi Awards". New Vision. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  26. ^ a b c Bm, B. (2022-03-26). "Zzina Awards 2021/22 Full List Of Winners". Galaxy FM 100.2. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  27. ^ Ruva, Roy. "Swangz Avenue Singer Azawi Signs Mega Guinness Deal – Chano8". Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  28. ^ Mugisha, Mugibson (2021-08-16). "Azawi Lands Very First Brand Endorsement of Her Career. Joins Fireboy DML, Beverly Naya As Guinness Brand Ambassador – MUGIBSON". Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  29. ^ a b "Azawi Joins Celebrities Fireboy, Meji Alabi as New Guinness Ambassador". ChimpReports. 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  30. ^ "Guinness teams up with Azawi for new, jaw-dropping "Majje" video". Nile Post. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  31. ^ "Guinness and Azawi collaborate on a new, jaw-dropping "Majje" video". Bazzup.com | Get Connected. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  32. ^ Katungulu, Amon (2022-07-23). "Azawi throws unforgettable performance at maiden concert". Nile Post. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  33. ^ "Azawi 'Shines Brightest' on Billboards in London, New York". ChimpReports. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  34. ^ "Ugandan singer Azawi conquers New York, Los Angeles". Watchdog Uganda. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  35. ^ "Azawi on NY billboards". The East African. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
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