Maurice Kirya
Maurice Kirya.jpg
Background information
Born (1984-11-04) 4 November 1984
Uganda
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • Actor
  • Businessman
Founder /Director of Piz and Pots,Out in Uganda Tours,The sound Cup.
Years active2002–present
LabelsIndie
Websitewww.mauricekirya.com

Maurice Kirya born (4 November 1984) in Jinja and raised in Najjanakumbi[1] to Tonny Munobbi and Sophie Baguma (Sophie passed on the 9th August 2015).[2]

He is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, actor, and humanitarian.[3][4]

He is the founder and Director of 'The Sound Cup Coffee' A Coffee Brand that started as a restaurant in 2013. He is also C.E.O/Founder of 'Piz & Pots', a Ugandan based Branding Agency. Piz & Pots is the company that also runs the annual music festival Kiryalive festival in Kampala.[1][5]

Background and education

Maurice went to six different primary schools due to his parents moving a lot, namely, Kabojja Preparatory School Mugwanya, Shimoni Educational School, DK primary school Masajja, Najjanankumbi Seventh Day Adventist Church Primary School, Mirembe Primary School, and completed his primary school at Nakivubo Blue Primary School in 1997.[6][1]

In 1999 He joined St Josephs Secondary School Ndeeba, where he stayed for his ‘’O Level’’ Education before switching to Kampala Citizens College for his ‘’A level.[6] and later Joined Maisha Film School.[7]

Career

His family was going through hard times, and Maurice asked his parents if he could be allowed to pursue his music career if he promised to stay in school and also if he could pay for half of his tuition, to which they agreed to.[1][6]

In the year 2000 Maurice recorded an album with a friend called Gil Martin (Martin Galiwango) unfortunately the radios could not play the music since he had recorded his vocal compositions to beats that he did not own, an honest amateur mistake.

He joined the street performances as a singer, a rapper and a break dancer. It was during this time that he found a half burnt guitar which he decided to fix with his friend Cosmas, he used car clutch cables as guitar strings.His big brother Elvis Kirya ‘’Vampino’’ would take Maurice to clubs and they would perform as a duo, performing dancehall songs by Buju Banton & Red Rat.[6]

And his eldest eldest brother ‘’Alex Kirya’’ (alias Saba saba)[8][9] one of Uganda’s Hip Hop pioneers in the group Bataka Underground(Bataka squad)[10] would invite him to tag a long as a dancer or to learn how things are done.In the year 2002 he doubled as a singer in a gospel group called ‘’EVOLUTION’’[11] and also as a secular artist touring schools to perform for teenage fans.

It was outside the DV8 bar where he met Steve Jean, a music producer in Kampala who the recorded Maurice Kirya’s first hit song ‘’STOP’’[5]

In 2003 he released a song ‘’Beera Naabo’’ produced by Andrew Kiwanuka at VR studios.

In 2003 he joined Uganda musician Richard Kawesa[12] as his guitarist and vocal sidekick, together they traveled to Rwanda and played at many cooperate events in Uganda, giving Maurice Kirya the experience he needed to scale up.

In 2005 His music was appreciated by the Tanzanian Hip Hop legend ‘’AY’’ Ambwene Yesaya, with help of Hemdee Kiwanuka, a collabo ‘’BINADAMU’’[13] was recorded at ‘’No End Studio’’

Maurice took his first ever flight to perform and tour with AY, gaining him an East African Fan base. ‘Binadamu’(Human Beings) was a hit in East Africa and got nominated for a Kora Award.[14] In 2005 Kirya held his first solo Concert at Steak Out in Kampala, marking it as the beginning of a loyal fan base.[15]

In 2005 still he was nominated for a KISIMA Award in Kenya.[16]

He Joined the Maisha Film School workshops in Uganda to develop his film skills in acting.[7]

In 2008 He  got his first lead Role as ‘’Joseph’’ in ‘’Live Joseph’’ A short film by the Ghetto Film School Of New York. Still in 2008 he began The Maurice Kirya Experience[17] a night that happened every last Tuesday of the month, hosting artists, poets and painters at Club Rouge a well known night club in Uganda.[17]

In December 2009 he released his debut album ‘’Misubbaawa’’ to much acclaim. The album featured songs like ‘’BodaBoda, Wooye, Malika and Misubbaawa.

Kirya was named as a Wild Aid ambassador due to his passion for wildlife conservation.[18][19] As a musician and actor.[20] he won RFI’s(Radio France International) 2010 Discoveries Music Award.[21][22] He staged performances in Paris plus a year-long tour of Africa where he toured over 35 countries.[23] He was nominated for the most gifted afro pop video of the year in the 2012 channel O video music awards.[24] He was one of the three Ugandan artists to perform at the inaugural annual Tribe One Festival, in South Africa.[25] He has featured in Hollywood films like Queen of katwe as "Theo"-alongside lupita Nyongo and David Oyelowo.Queen of Katwe

He acted in "The Last king of scotland" as himself starring Forest whittaker ,Kerry washington and David Oyelowo.There after starring in "The Girl in the Yellow Jumper" a movie directed by Louqman Ali.

He also collaborated with international stars like Neyo,German singer Mark forster and American idol winner Jordin sparks.

He is predominantly known for his soul music culture called "Mwooyo" by ugandan youth and his performances revered in over 35 countries.

As a health and youth activist he is currently collaborating with organisations such as Hijra,UNHCR in uganda in the bid to protect the rights and lives of refugees.

Discography

Albums

  • Misubbaawa, 2009
  • The book of Kirya, 2012
  • Mwooyo, 2015
  • Free Dreams, 2017
  • Beyond Myself,2019
  • The Road To Kirya,2022

Singles

  • To Love You
  • Munonde
  • Gimme Light
  • So Cold
  • Busaabala
  • Never Been Loved
  • Njagala gwe
  • Njagala gwe Rmx
  • Beera Naabo
  • Beera Naabo Rmx
  • Binadamu featuring AY
  • Let’s go!
  • Stop
  • Stop RMX
  • Boda Boda
  • Tell Me
  • Village girl featuring Valerie Kimani
  • Locals and native feat Indigenous
  • Revolution
  • Revolution Rmx feat Navio & Da myth
  • Silent Night
  • Work it out
  • Bemoola
  • Money
  • Hold on[26][27] and holy ghost ft Ruyonga

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nantaba, Agnes (2016-06-17). "Maurice Kirya: I share traits with Bob Marley". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  2. ↑ "Singer Maurice Kirya mourns mother". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. ↑ Kaggwa, Andrew (2016-08-23). "Shades of dull grey in entertainment awards". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  4. ↑ Kirezi, Precious (2023-10-28). "Singer Maurice Kirya talks Rwanda trip, conservation, new album, mental health". The New Times. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  5. 1 2 "Maurice Kirya: A star returns to stage". Monitor. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  6. 1 2 3 4 SEMWEZI, SAMWIRI (2013-08-01). "Maurice Kirya: The Mwoyo visionary". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  7. 1 2 Katusiime, Ian (2016-10-10). "Queen of Katwe' shows power of dreams". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  8. ↑ "A fusion of two music worlds". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  9. ↑ "Music fraternity mourns mother to Maurice Kirya, Vampino". Monitor. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  10. ↑ "Bataka Underground: Taking Ugandan rap to the next level". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  11. ↑ Team, Observer (2010-11-17). "Star Trail: Navio on R. Kelly song". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  12. ↑ "Kirya, Kawesa rock Rwenzori ballroom". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  13. ↑ "Maurice Kirya steps out". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  14. ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Maurice Kirya brings "fusion soul" to BBC Swahili grand final". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  15. ↑ "I got sh300,000 at my first concert – Kampala Sun". 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  16. ↑ "Ugandan artistes for Kenya music awards". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  17. 1 2 "Backstage: Maurice Kirya". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  18. ↑ "Maurice Kirya". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "I would never cheat on my wife - Maurice Kirya". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Maurice Kirya, bridging cultures". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "Maurice Kirya winner of the 2010 RFI Discovery Music Award". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Uganda's Maurice Kirya scoops RFI Music prize". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Maurice Kirya under Malabo's charm". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "Spotlight on Maurice Kirya". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  25. ↑ "Maurice Kirya Unveiled As the Third Ugandan Artiste For Tribe One Festival – Joins Keko & Naava Grey". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  26. ↑ JIM RESLEY (2015-08-06), Hold On - Maurice Kirya 'Dir: Jim Resley', retrieved 2016-10-16
  27. ↑ Akan, Joey. "Maurice Kirya: Singer battles poverty and lack in 'Hold on' video - Music Videos - Pulse". Retrieved 2016-10-16.
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