Evelyn Wanjiru

Evelyne Wanjiru (born 6 May 1990) is a Kenyan gospel singer, worship leader, songwriter, and music director. She is also an entrepreneur, the host of the annual worship event Praise Atmosphere, and co-founder of Bwenieve Production. Wanjirū's song “Mazingira,” which was adopted as the theme for a Kenyan government environmental conservation campaign, leading to her appointment as a music ambassador for the Mau Forest initiative. Her album Mungu Mkuu won Album of the Year at the Groove Awards in 2015, and her collaboration “Tulia” (featuring Vicky Kitonga) won Collaboration of the Year at the same awards in 2016. She has also received nominations at the All Africa Music Awards and the Sauti Awards. She is known for songs such as “Mungu Mkuu,” “Celebrate,” “Na Iwe Maombi,” “Jehovah Elohim,” “Waweza,” “Utukufu,” “Nikufahamu,” and “Asante.” In 2024, Wanjirū published her first book, The Wait, documenting her personal experience of waiting for a child alongside her husband, Agundabweni Akweyu.

She is the fourth-born of Helen Muhonja and Crispin Kinyūa in a family of five.^{[1] [2]} Born in Nairobi in 1989, she was raised in Nakuru's Freehold Estate, where she attended Saint Mary's Girls Primary and Langalanga Secondary School.^[1] Wanjirū started her music career at the age of nine, singing in a local church and participating in school music festivals.^[1][2]

Early on, she was actively involved in drama and the school choir. She later joined Tears Group, Nakuru, for a course in music before further benefiting from the Permanent Presidential Music Commission (P.P.M.C) at the 2010 Talent Academy at Kabarak University.^[1][2] After early successes in church and school festivals, she was discovered by music producer Agundabweni Akweyu. Together they started Bwenieve Productions, a music recording studio. She recorded her first album "Mazingira," which was later re-branded as "Waweza.^[3] This album received accolades, most notably for her songs "Waweza" and "Hossana.^[3] “Waweza” was nominated as Worship Song and Wanjiru as New Artist of the Year for the 2012 Groove Awards.^[3]

The song "Mazingira" was also selected as the theme song of the Kenyan government's campaign to reclaim Mau Forest in 2010 ^[4][3] During the launch of this reforestation project in eastern Mau, the incumbent Prime Minister of Kenya was impressed by the song, appointing Wanjiru as the official music ambassador for Mau Forest.^{[1] [2]} Under the auspices of this appointment, she began the “Mazingira Bora Afya Bora" campaign for the promotion of good health and a healthy environment.^[1][2][4]

The title song of her second album "Mungu Mkuu", won the 2015 Groove Awards Album of the Year.^[5][2]

From her third album titled "Matendo", the song "Tulia" a collaboration with Vick Kitonga Won 2016 groove awards collaboration of the year, "Nikufahamu" from the same album was nominated for Afrima in the category 'inspiration African female artist of the year 2016''.^[6] She won the 2016 Xtreem awards worship song of the year. The Sauti Awards U.S.A 2016 nominated her for East Africa female artist of the year.^[7]

In 2017, Evelyn had two groove awards nominations; female artist and "Matendo" as album of the year, she was also nominated for Sauti Awards U.S.A. 2017 female artist of the year and Video of the year (Matendo).^[8]

In 2021, Evelyn released her fifth album, Mwanga, which is Swahili for "Light." The Mwanga Album was recorded live before an audience by her own record label, Bwenieve, on August 30, 2021, at The C.U.E.A L.R.C Auditorium. It consists of 12 audio - visual songs. Mwanga Album was released on 24 November exclusively on Boomplay app.^[3][1]

In 2024, Wanjirū published her debut book, The Wait, where she shares her journey of hope, faith, and God’s timing.^[1] For a decade, she and her husband, Agundabweni Akweyu, wished for a child. ^[9] Through seasons of doubt, steadfast faith, and persistent prayer, they learned to trust in God’s promises. Just when hope seemed out of reach, a miraculous blessing changed their lives forever.^[1]

Evelyn has toured different countries like the United States where she has performed in over ten different states, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda.^{[3] [10]}She has shared the same platforms in ministry alongside renowned singers like Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Michael W. Smith,Nathaniel Bassey Chandler Moore, Sinach, Mary Mary, and more.^[10] She did a collaboration titled "Sawa" with Zimbabwean gospel musician Tembalami and the song received a lot of airplay. She also collaborated with Mkhululi Bhebhe on his live recording that was done in Johannesburg, South Africa, the medley "Hakuna Mungu kama wewe" and in Ghana collaborated with gospel singer Celestine Donkor. ^[10][11]

On April 7, 2012, Wanjirū married producer Agundabweni Akweyu at Buruburu Baptist Church Nairobi, where her late father-in-law, Rev. Kenneth Akweyu, had served as a senior pastor.^[9] In their tenth year of marriage, they had their first son, Mshindi Akweyu Agundabweni, born on 6 April 2022.^[1] Wanjirū runs a fashion house named Bwenieve Clothesline, and oversees a mentorship program for aspiring musicians.^[12]Together with her husband, they run Bwenieve Production and other businesses.^[13]

Complete Albums by Evelyn Wanjirū

Songs:

Waweza Album (2012)

1. Waweza
2. Unatosha
3. Hossana
4. Anthem
5. Namlauduon
6. Mazingira

Mungu Mkuu Album (2015)

1. Mungu Mkuu
2. Utukufu
3. Yaweh
4. Tunakuabudu
5. Ila damu yake yesu
6. Karibu Yesu
7. Nimwamini
8. Damu
9. All Glory
10. Neno Moja
11. Damu Medley

Matendo Album (2017)'

1. Nikufahamu
2. Baba Inuka
3. Tulia tf Vicky
4. Matendo
5. Halleluya
6. Sema Nami
7. Sawa ft Tembalami
8. Nilingoze
9. Subiri ft Mercy Masika & Emmy Kosgei

Celebrate Album (2019)'

1. Celebrate
2. Bless the Lord
3. Jehovah Elohim
4. Holy
5. It is Amazing
6. Nanyenyekea
7. Sitaogopa
8. I surrender

Mwanga Album (2021)'

1.   Mwanga Album Intro 2.   You're Worthy 3.   Utukufu ( Live) 4.   Mwanga 5.   Nanyenyekea(Live) 6.   Everlasting(Live) 7.   Naringa na Yesu 8.   Baba Inuka(Live) 9.   Mungu Mkuu (Live) 10. Sifa Zitande 11. Umwema 12. Jehovah Elohim (Live) 13. Wonderful

1. Jehova Elohim^[14]
2. Its Amazing
3. Celebrate
4. holy
5. Everlasting
6. No One Like You
7. Sitagopa
8. Worthy ft Eunice Njeri
9. Favour ft Celestine Donkor
10. Hakuna Mungu kama wewe ft Mkhululi Bhebhe

1. Evelyn Wanjiru's Wedding anniversary
2. Wowan to Woman-Daily nation retrieved 24 April
3. 2012 Groove awards new artist nominee
4. Evelyn Wanjiru Album launch Buzz Daily nation. Retrieved 24 April 2016

• evelynwanjiru.com
• YouTube channel