Teacher Wanjiku,outright breakout star of 2013:Churchill Show may have launched Carol Tharau’s comedy career but you’ve got to give it to the career thespian for making her make-believe character Teacher Wanjiku the outright breakout star of 2013.
From thrilling fans through her hilarious television skits to serving as the face of some of the most memorable advertising campaigns of the year, Teacher Wanjiku came, saw and conquered 2013 in enviable fashion.
The talented comic now ranks as one of the top entertainers in the country and with a bank balance that reportedly backs up this noteworthy claim, it’s easy to see why she is 2013’s showbiz valedictorian.
LUPITA NYONG’O
From her feature role on MTV’s Shuga mini-series in 2009, Lupita Nyong’o has undergone a seemingly radical transformation from an obscure talent to Hollywood’s next potential megastar.
While this Yale graduate’s journey to the top has been courtesy of hard work and relentless passion, 2013 will undoubtedly stand out as the year of her emancipation. Her big screen debut on the Steve McQueen directed 12 Years A Slave has earned her numerous Hollywood awards and nominations including New Hollywood Award, Screen Actor’s Guild and Golden Globe.
And if her magazine cover appearances won’t suffice, the fact that her soon to be released follow-up movie project, Non-Stop, features none other than Liam Neeson should signal greater things ahead for this Kenyan beauty.
VICTORIA RUBADIRI
When NTV’s screen siren Victoria Rubadiri made her prime time debut on the eve of this year’s general election, it was clear from the resultant social media flare-up that she was one to watch.
Ten months later, Rubadiri’s enviable combination of beauty, brains and an unfaultable accent has assured her a loyal following of fans. So much that she would probably feel much safer without some of the loud debes on her band wagon.
VICTOR WANYAMA
Move over Oliech, Mariga and co., there’s a new “baller” in town. Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama inadvertently claimed the “golden boy” status following his £12.5 million signing to English Premier League club Southampton FC making him the most expensive player not only in Kenya but all of East and Central Africa.
His rumoured relationship with Chocolate City signed songstress Victoria Kimani seemed to fuel his celebrity status until the alleged fling came to an abrupt end, but even that did little to rattle his position as one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Kaching!
SARABI
With the unfolding renaissance of Kenya’s live afro music scene, Sarabi has emerged as the band to watch thanks to the combination of their unique style of afro-fusion and captivating stage performances.
The 2013 release of their debut album officially launched them as the new kids on the block and from the passion in their work, there’s a lot more where that came from.
VERA SIDIKA
Hate her or love her, Vera Sidika has consistently superceded the Kenyan bloggers’ set expectations of what a “socialite” entails. Following her thunderous entry via P Unit’s You Guy video in the final moments of 2012, Vera went on to take 2013 by storm splashing her jaw dropping symmetry on chart topping music videos from Nairobi to Lagos (literally).
After Channel O ranked her number four among Africa’s top video vixens, she featured on Nigerian superstar Davido’s soon to be released music video, a role which in Vera’s words, “paid good”.
Coming from a lady well known for her taste in designer clothes and lavish living, that doesn’t really leave much to imagination. Vera’s latest undertaking is a movie project, which just wrapped in Nigeria with a release set for January 2014. Hello Nollywood!
MUTHONI THE DRUMMER QUEEN
When it comes to putting the biz in showbiz, few Kenyan entertainers can match Muthoni DQ’s acumen. Forget the fact that she owns and runs the biggest monthly live music festival in the region in the form of Blankets & Wine, Muthoni’s innovative release of her 2013 album MDQ marked an unprecedented first in the Kenyan market.
Distributed through weekly single releases via mobile phone and backed by an intense media marketing campaign, the mechanism could potentially be the key to song and album distribution in a market where music sales are yet to register any meaningful incomes for artistes.
MALONZA CHEGE
After his controversy ridden stint as one-third of Kenya’s three-man contingent to the 2012 Big Brother House, Malonza returned to find a ready fan base, which he sought to capitalise on with instant success.
As the main host of Tujuane, Malonza played a key role in creating one of the most successful TV shows of 2013 placing him on the apex of Kenyan entertainment television.
While it’s not possible to determine how much longer the show can sustain its own hype, Malonza’s charm and personality might just be all he needs to spur his sprouting on-screen career.
SAGE
As far as Kenya’s 2013’s hit songs go, Sage undeniably puts the ‘song’ in enough of the year’s hits to merit her as the singular most consistently outstanding vocalist in the period. From So Alive with Octopizzo to Dumbala with Jay A, Sage’s vocal delivery has proved the Midas touch that nudged her collaborations to the top of the charts.
MERCY MYRA
This has been a year of many comebacks, most of which resulted in little post the media hullabaloo surrounding them. Not so for Mercy Myra.
This pioneering queen of Kenyan afro-soul returned from her long hiatus in the USA with a clear mission to pick up right from where she left off.
From her thrilling performances around the country, one could hardly say she’s been away for close to a decade. Of course the fact that her midriff is still intact also helps. Now, a modern day hit song perhaps Mercy?
