Suzan Kerunen (born 1979) is a Ugandan world music singer and songwriter who performs African contemporary music in the local Ugandan language of Alur-Jonam (her mother tongue) as well as in English, Swahili and other world languages.[1] She is a double Kora Award nominee who competed against Ethiopia's Michaih Behaylu,[2] Astar and Bluz and Kenyan Wahu[3] and a PAM Award winner. She was appointed Uganda National Tourism Ambassador to promote Cultural Tourism.[4] Kerunen has shared stages with Africa's best artists and musicians including Kenya's Suzanna Owíyo, South Africa's Yvonne Chaka Chaka, ASA and other Diaspora artists at the KORA ALL AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS in Benin, Mama Africa Miriam Makeba, Oliver Mutukudzi, Third World, Kinobe Herbert backed up by Soul Beat Africa at The International Jazz Festival.[5]
Suzan Kerunen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Suzan Kerunen 12 September 1979 |
| Other names | Susan Kerunen, Alur Princess,Alur Queen |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, Tourism Ambassador in Uganda |
| Spouse |
Jude Mugerwa
(m. 2009) |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Zombo, Nebbi, Uganda |
| Genres | World, Folk |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| ||||||||||||||
| Totals[a] | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Nominations | 3 | |||||||||||||
Note
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Career history
editKerunen started her career as a young girl with her two sisters in an all girl group Soul of Africa. She later went on to launch her solo career with her debut Album NIMEFIKA[6] a Kiswahili term meaning "I have arrived".
Kerunen has also performed at major festivals including -The International Bayimba Festival in Uganda,[7] Tusker Experience" at Silk liquid in Bugolobi. She is one of the organizers of the Pearl Rhythm Festival and World Music Day celebrations in Uganda. In 2009, Kerunen performed at The CHOGM celebrations in the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago, Blankets and Wine alongside Eric Wainaina, Radio and Weasel and Janziband.[8][9]
Pimar Crossing Cultures Concert, 2017
editIn November 2017, Suzan held a concert titled Pimar Crossing Cultures which was held at Sheraton Kampala Hotel. She performed some of her new and old songs including Umbikulumbi, Faithfull, Echuli chuli, Minkulu, Tuk tuk and Tegiri, Olobo, Lek, Anyira, Hakuna, Pimar, Ugorunan, Acher Achera among others. The Concert was to celebrate her tenth anniversary in the music industry and to preserve cultural totems, proverbs, riddles and music. Other musicians such as Afrie, Ssewa Ssewa, Amaru and Giovanni Kiyingi also performed.[10][11][12]
Discography
edit| Year | Album | Tracking |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Nimefika" | Ngom |
| 2008 | "Lek" | |
| 2011[13] | "Acher achera" | Acha Achera, Anyira |
| 2019 | "Pimar" | |
| 2022 | "From Ashes we Rise"[14][15] | From Ashes We Rise, Earthly Speaking, Ginya, Esclave, Crimson, Remnants, Kuku, Dek Malakwang, Pirepe, Judong, Aradu, Phoenix (Sourced from Spotify) |
Awards
edit| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2010 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Folk Pop Artiste | Won |
| 2009 | Kora All Africa Music Awards | Best East African and African Artist | Nominated |
| 2008 | Kora All Africa Music Awards | Best East African and African Artist | Nominated |
Tours and concerts
editOngea music week
editSuzan performed at, ONGEA! – The Eastern Africa Music Summit in Nairobi on 28 January 2016 alongside Likizo, Sauti Academy, Wanny Angerer, Parking Lot Grass, Mswazzi, H_Art the Band and Jay A[16]
Charity
editKnow Your Culture Foundation
editKerunene registered KNOW YOUR CULTURE FOUNDATION with an aim and vision of branding Uganda, A foundation that dedicates its effort to research, train and groom a culturally aware Ugandans and also promote cultural tourism as a development tool for Uganda .
Power of Hope Camp 2006, Kampala
editSuzan used music in form of therapy and meditation to facilitate a retreat during the Power of Hope Camp; Kampala 2006 with the major theme "Building Community to Living Healthy and Powerful Lives" which was conducted in order to address some of the challenges faced by adolescents at the PIDC, Mulago Hospital.[17]
Heart sounds in Uganda "Enkuba Yomutima"2008
editDone in the United Kingdom with a replica visit clinic in Hackney London visiting Uganda in September 2008 to highlight Mental Health in Uganda, the project raised awareness of mental health issues in the community, reduced community stigma and discrimination, and empowered sufferers of mental illness by promoting and improving mental health services in both countries.[18]
Fight against Cancer
editIn 2012, Kerunen collaborated with Rotary of Uganda on her third album launch, whose proceeds went to the cancer ward of St Raphael of St Francis, Nsambya Mission Hospital which needed completion where she invited other Kora Award winners like Jackie Chandiru and Benon to perform. “It is important for us to pool our resources and efforts to improve the care given to victims of cancer all over Uganda because it affects our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends."[19]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Unravelling Susan Kerunen's music". Edgar R. Batte. Monitor Uganda. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Michaih nominated for Kora". Arefe. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen started out as rapper". Andrew Kaggwa. The Observer. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen - Kampala International Theatre Festival".
- ^ "SUZAN KERUNEN (ALUR QUEEN)". SPLA Uganda. Cultures-Uganda.
- ^ "Kenya: Ugandan Vocalist Suzan Kerunen Gets Nairobi Singing". AllAfrica.
- ^ "Profile Suzan Kerunen". Bayimba. Admin. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ^ "New High-End Social Gathering Blankets And Wine Around The Corner". Chano8. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Kenya's Wainaina Lights Up Blankets And Wine". Ugonews. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen celebrates 10 years in music". The East African. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen set for her tenth anniversary concert". The Observer. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen celebrates 10 years in music". The Kenya Today. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Uganda's finest poets celebrate Black history month with poetry evening". Daily Monitor Online. Dennis Muhumuza. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ Musinguzi, Bamuturaki. "Suzan Kerunen: On her album and music industry". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Wangeci, Tela. "LISTEN TO UGANDAN SINGER SUZAN KERUNEN'S NEW ALBUM, 'FROM ASHES WE RISE'". The Native Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "ONGEA! Eastern Africa Music Summit set for launch in Nairobi". Capital Fm, Kenya. Capital Lifestyle. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Ugandan vocalist Suzan Kerunen gets Nairobi singing : PHOTOS". Daily Nation Kenya. THOMAS RAJULA.
- ^ "Meet Suzan Kerunen". Music Uganda.
- ^ "Suzan Kerunen in Cancer Benefit concert". Daily Monitor. Edgar R. Batte. Retrieved 21 May 2012.