Nviiri Sande (born 19 August 1991), professionally known as Nviiri the story teller is a Kenyan singer and songwriter. In 2019, he gained mainstream recognition following being signed to Sol Generation Records and the release of the song Extravaganza.
Nviiri the Storyteller | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nviiri Sande |
| Born | 19 August 1991 |
| Origin | Kenya |
| Genres | Afropop R&B |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Formerly of | Sol Generation Records |
Early life
editNviiri attended Dagoretti High School, Nairobi. He studied mechanical engineering in college and later worked at his father's workshop.[1]
Career
editPrior to being signed to Sol Generation Records, Nviiri worked as a behind the scenes videographer for Sauti Sol. The boy band did not know Nviiri could sing and only knew after Bien heard him play the guitar. Bien encouraged Nviiri to pursue music.[2] Nviiri was part of a gospel band and toured South Korea. Nviiri wrote melanin for Sauti sol featuring Patoranking.[3]
Nviiri broke into the mainstream scene in 2019, following the release of the song Extravaganza, which announced new Sol Generation signees.[4] He then released Pombe sigara.[5]
In 2021, he released a six-track EP, Kitenge.[6] It included the songs; Baridi featuring Sanaipei Tande, Mae Wendi, Kitenge, Niko Sawa featuring Bien, Bembeleza and Birthday Song featuring Khaligraph Jones, Sauti Sol and Bensoul.[7] Beverly Kaiga of Tangaza Magazine writes that the album "details the love story of a couple that is fated to fail, as predicted in the Tarot cards on the EP's album art".[8] In 2021, the song Niko Sawa, was the most streamed song in Kenya on Spotify.[9] In the same year, he also released the single Nikita.[10]
In 2023, he releases his album Inside Out which includes 15 tracks. The album included collaborations with artists like Bien, Bensoul, Chike and Bayanni.[11] The album has three phases Bwana Sherehe (party animal), Love & Heartbreak and Consciousness. The song Nikilewa, from the album was listed by Rolling Stone on the Top 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023 list.[12]
In 2024, he announced that he was leaving Sol Generation Records following the end of his five-year contract with the label.[13]
Artistry
editNviiri is described as a blend of Afropop, soul and R & B.[12]
Awards and recognition
editAwards
edit| Awards | Year | Recipient (S) and nominee (S) | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) | 2021 | Nviiri The Storyteller | Best Male Artist in Eastern Africa | Nominated | [14] |
| ‘Nairobi’ by Bensoul ft. Sauti Sol, Nviiri the Storyteller | Best African Video | Nominated | |||
| Sauti Sol ft Bensoul, Nviiri The Storyteller, Xeniah & NHP
|
Best Artist, Duo or Band | Nominated | |||
| Pulse Music Video Awards | 2021 | Nviiri The Storyteller ft Bien-Niko sawa | Best Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | [15] |
| Bensoul, Sauti Sol, Nviiri & Mejja- Nairobi | Best Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Pulse Music Video Awards | 2022 | Nviiri The Storyteller-Nikita | Male Video of the Year | Nominated | [16] |
Recognition
editIn 2021, Business Daily listed him in the Top 40 Under 40 list.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Odidi, Billy. "Nviiri Sande". Business Daily. Business Daily. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Oruta, Brian. "We didn't know he could sing – Sauti Sol's Bien and Polycarp explain how they signed Nviiri". Pulse. Pulse. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Watiri, Susan. "Nviiri the Storyteller: Meet the man who wrote Sauti Sol's 'Melanin'". PULSE. PULSE. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Ngigi, Elizabeth. "Sol Generation takes the music industry by storm". THE STAR. THE STAR. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Milimo, Dennis. "The 'Pombe Sigara' Tale as Told by Nviiri The Storyteller". PULSE. PULSE. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Nyingi, Loise Wairimu. "Kitenge: Nviiri reigns at the helm of Apple Music charts with EP". The Standard. The Standard. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Boombuzz Kenya. "EP Feature of the Week: Kitenge by Nviiri The Storyteller". Boomplay. Boomplay. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Wakiaga, Beverly. "Love Is Complicated on Nvirii the Storyteller's 'Kitenge'". TANGAZA. TANGAZA. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Mithika, Boniface. "Nviiri the Storyteller's 'Niko Sawa' becomes most streamed track on Spotify". The Standard. The Standard. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Lauryn. "Nviiri The Storyteller returns with the release of "Nikita"". NOTJUSTOK. NOTJUSTOK. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Choge, Peter. "Kenya: Nviiri The Storyteller releases Inside Out album". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b ROLLING STONE. "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth. "Nviiri The Storyteller Announces Departure From Sol Generation". Citizen Digital. Citizen Digital. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Milimo, Dennis. "List of Nominees for the 2021 AFRIMMA Awards (Full List)". Pulse. Pulse. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Ilado, Lucy. "Pulse Music Video Awards 2021 in Kenya: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Choge, Peter. "2022 Pulse Music Video Awards in Kenya: All the winners". Music in Africa. Music in Africa. Retrieved 9 July 2024.