Rachel Kiwanuka, better known by her stage name Rachel K or Rachel Kay, is a Ugandan
musician. Rachel K was born November 1, 1986 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The daughter
of Ugandan singer Halima Namakula, Kiwanuka has
recorded several successful albums, toured widely throughout the region and
collaborated with Ugandan and other regional artists.
She has
also worked as a comedian and television presenter, making appearances on such
mainstream broadcasts as Jam Agenda and Tusker Project Fame.
Rachel Kay was a TV presenter on Top 8 Video Television show based
in Los Angeles, California and later moved to Uganda and continued to
present on the popular television show Jam Agenda on
Wavah BroadCasting Company.
Rachel K was part of the Tusker Project Fame season
3 judges, alongside Sanyu FM Presenter Crystal Newman, musician Mathew Nabwiso,
a lead vocalist with the Misty Jazz Band and Soul Beat Africa Band. Rachel
Kay hosted MultiChoice standup comedy Stand Up
Uganda in 2009.
Rachel
was discovered by her own mother, popular Ugandan singer Halima Namakula, who
also signed her to her first record deal under her record label No-End Studios.
There she recorded her first single "Every Time", produced by Henry
Kiwuwa and Deno. In 2006 Rachel K performed with fellow musician Iryn Namubiru during her
Unplugged performance at Club Silk Lounge.
Rachel K
collaborated with Rwanda's famous R&B artist Tom Close and she also
had hits that had major air play on MTV Base 'Every Time'
and 'I Love the way'. In 2010 Rachel K was part of the group that
recorded Pepsi's World Cup theme song "Oh Africa" featuring Akon, Keri Hilson and the Soweto Gospel Choir, written by the Hip hop duo Rocky City and produced by
Prettiboifresh.
In
the same year 2010, Pepsi launched
"Oh Africa", at club F1 in Uganda. In 2011 Rachel Kay gave a farewell concert when
she decided to go back to college in the United States and continue
her studies in Fine Arts. In 2012
Rachel K tried out for American Idol and made it past the first round.
Awards
Won:
·
2010
Diva Awards - Rachel K won Diva Awards International Female Artist of the year
for the collaboration song with Akon and Keri Hilson "Oh Africa"
·
2010
Diva Awards - Video of The year
·
2007 Buzz Teeniez Awards -
Teeniez fresh/breakout Artist of the year
·
2007 Buzz Teeniez Awards -
Teeniez Best TV Personality Of the year
·
2008 Buzz Teeniez Awards -
Teeniez Best TV Personality of the year
Nominated:
·
2011
Museke Online Africa Music Awards (MOAMA) - Voters Choice for 'Feel Me'
·
2012
EWorld Music Awards - Rock/Heavy Mental/Punk "Feel Me
