Rose Mhando

Rose Muhando (born 1976) is a Tanzanian gospel singer, songwriter and choreographer. She is regarded as one of the best gospel singers of her generation with popular songs like "Mteule Uwe Macho", "Yesu Nakupenda", and "Secret Agenda", among other songs. She has been crowned by media as the queen of gospel music in East and Central Africa.

Life and career

Mihando was born and raised in Kilosa, Morogoro, Tanzania. Muhando began her music career as a solo artist in 2004 with her debut album, Uwe Macho, which sold more than one million copies in the East Africa region. This was followed by Kitimutimu (2005), and her monumental third studio album Jipange Sawa Sawa in 2008 that opened her pathways to becoming the best selling gospel singer of all time in the region. In 2012 she released her fourth studio album Utamu wa Yesu which made her sign a deal with Sony Music as the first gospel singer in East and Central Africa.

Muhando is well known for her hit singles such as Nipe Uvumilivu, Mteule Uwe Macho, Yesu Nakupenda, Utamu Wa Yesu, Ndivyo Ulivyo, Nibebe, Amina, Secret Agenda and many others.

Background

Mhando, a former devout Muslim and mother of three, claims to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ while indisposed on her sick bed at the age of nine, having suffered for three years, after which she was healed and later converted to Christianity.

Mhando started her music career as a choir teacher in Dodoma's Saint Mary's Choir for the Chimuli Anglican Church. On 31 January 2005, she won best composer, best singer, and best album of the year at the Tanzania Gospel Music Award Concert. In December 2005, she participated in a gospel concert to help raise funds for a Dar es Salaam orphanage.

In February 2011, she signed a multi-album recording deal with Sony Music. The signing was announced at a press conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 9 February and was the first deal of its kind for East Africa. After a hiatus of about five years, she returned in people's scene with her new Hit Gospel album Secret Agenda in December 2022. The album had biggest hits like "Secret Agenda", a title track, and "Kama Mbaya Mbaya".

Discography

• Uwe Macho (2004)
• Kitimutimu (2005)
• Jipange Sawasawa (2008)
• Nyota ya Ajabu (2011)
• Utamu Wa Yesu (2012)
• Mungu Anacheka (2015)
• Nampenda Yesu (2017)
• Jitenge Na Lutu (2017)
• Kamata Pindo La Yesu (2018)
• Secret Agenda (2022)

Awards

• 2005 Tanzania Music Awards: Best Female Vocalist & Best Religious Song ("Mteule uwe macho")
• 2009 The Best Tanzanian Gospel Singer Awards: Rose Mhando; The Best Singer in Tanzania, awarded Tsh 200,000 by Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation TBC under the umbrella of her song "Nibebe"
• 2008 Kenya Groove Awards - Best Female Gospel Artist in Africa