Sofiya Wanjiku (born 13 July 2000[1]), known professionally as Sofiya Nzau, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter.
Sofiya Nzau | |
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| Birth name | Sofiya Wanjiku |
| Born | 13 July 2000 Miruri, Murang'a County, Kenya |
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Career
editSofiya Nzau worked as a street vendor and domestic helper in Thika from 2015 to 2020. After the COVID-19 pandemic reached Kenya, she quit her jobs in December 2020 and became a songwriter. Her husband, a music producer, supported her. She wrote several songs in the Kikuyu language, which she uploaded as sound and language packages on various platforms for music producers.[2]
In 2023, Brazilian DJ Zerb took her song Mwaki, meaning fire in English, and remixed the song as house. The song spread via TikTok and eventually became a viral hit.[2][3][4] When it turned out that the song would be an international hit, voices were raised accusing Zerb of exploitation. Nzau opposed this and said that she had chosen the distribution channel herself. In addition, she had made an agreement with Zerb from which she would benefit financially.[5] She subsequently received a credit for the song in the commercial evaluation and is listed on an equal footing in the charts. In December 2023, she also performed the song live in Nairobi.[5] In January 2024, the video for the song was shot in Hell's Gate National Park.[6]
Discography
editEPs
edit- 2023: Family (26 Records)
Singles
edit- 2022: Hurt No More
- 2022: Kúra
- 2022: Daci (with Tim Hox & East & Young)
- 2023: Baobá (with Ramiro Moreno)
- 2023: Kenya (with El Porto)
- 2023: Mwaki (with Zerb)
- 2023: Saufiya
- 2023: Just Another Woman
- 2023: Mwanake (with Yuri Haal)
- 2023: Ouria Deka (with Touzani)
- 2023: Slow Down (with Muisumena)
- 2023: Dikoima (with Backeer & Elline)
- 2024: Sondans (with Basti Grub)
- 2024: Batié (with AllBallonsPop)
- 2024: Karimu (with Irenee S & Don Dala)
- 2024: Mationaga (with Louis Bongo)
- 2024: Issara (with Sohno)
- 2024: Jamuke (with Harjex)
- 2024: Na Wose (with UPZ)
- 2024: Maneye (with Swanky Tunes)
References
edit- ^ Ayub, Simon (3 June 2024). "Meet Sofiya Nzau: All about the Kenyan singer who is a global hit". Tuko.co.ke. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b "'Mwaki' hit singer Sofiya Nzau narrates working as house help, hawker before fame : K24 TV". 2 December 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ WDR (1 December 2023). "Zerb & Sofiya Nzau - "Mwaki"" (in German). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Andrew Spada (8 December 2023). "Zerb's 'Mwaki' featuring Sofiya Nzau is an undeniable ear worm". Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Sofiya Nzau 'Mwaki Hitmaker': From Hawker to Global Icon". The Kenya Times. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Katie Bain (29 January 2024). "Zerb & Sofiya Nzau Star in Dazzling 'Mwaki' Video Shot in Kenya's Hells Gate National Park: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 3 April 2024.