Sauti Sol added another award to their growing collection after bagging the most downloaded Afro pop artist during the 3rd Mdundo 2017 Awards held at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi on February 16, 2017.
The group beat a strong field in the category which included Amos and Josh, Avril, Gilad, Hart the band, Jaguar, Victoria Kimani and Zikki.
Perhaps the major surprise at the awards was Timmy Tdat who won the Most Downloaded HipHop Artist 2016 beating E-Sir, Frasha, Khaligraph Jones, King Kaka and Kristoff.
Mercy Masika big winner
It was a good night for Mercy Masika who scooped three awards. She the Most Downloaded Gospel Artist award. The other nominees in the category were previous winner Bahati, Alice Kamande, Daddy Owen, Evelyn Wanjiru, Gloria Muliro, Piston, Size 8 and Willy Paul.
The gospel musician also won the Most Downloaded Single 2016 and Best Female Single for her popular song ‘Nikupendeze’. Other nominees in this category included Atemi-Oh You, Dela- Unifunze Adabu, Femi One-Pilau Njeri and Sosun-Kufunikiwa.
Willy Paul however won the Best Male Single category for his hit song Fanya. The highly competitive category included popular songs Bahati - Story Yangu, Collo – Bazokizo, Gilad – Unajua, Ziki -Take It Slow, Khaligraph Jones -Micasa Sucasa, King Kaka -Pesa Shigana and Sudi Boy –Bado.
Kymo and Stigah won the Best Group Song 2016 for their hit song Thitimaa.
ONGEA 2017
The Award Ceremony took place at the Official Opening of ONGEA! 2017 - The 2nd Eastern African Music Summit, at Sarit Centre Expo Hall in Westlands.
Mdundo partnered with the biggest Music Summit in Eastern Africa - ONGEA! 2017, to reward the most downloaded Kenyan music of 2016.
The awards were selected based on the number of Downloads on the Mdundo Platform.
According to Shyqo Koinange the Head of Music at Mdundo, “The philosophy behind our Awards is to acknowledge Musicians based on the real Consumption of their Music, instead of a panel or a voting process, which is often practiced.”
List of Mdundo Awards winners
Most Downloaded Single 2016 - Mercy Masika (Nikupendeze)
Most Downloaded Female Single 2016 - Mercy Masika (Nikupendeze)
Most Downloaded Male Single 2016 - Willy Paul (Fanya)
Most Downloaded Group Single 2016 - Kymo and Stigah (Thitimaa)
Most Downloaded Gospel Artist 2016 - Mercy Masika
Most Downloaded Hip-Hop Artist 2016 - Timmy Tdat
Most Downloaded Afro-pop Artist 2016 - Sauti Sol