³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Eric Wainaina is a Kenyan singer-songwriter, recently named by the Guardian newspaper as a Kenyan cultural icon.

Wainaina's music is a blend of Kenyan Benga rhythm and East African guitars, with rich vocal harmonies. His two solo albums, Sawa Sawa (2001) and Twende Twende (2006), remain the highest-selling solo albums in Kenya and his eagerly awaited third album Love And Protest will be released in March 2010.

Wainaina's music has won many international awards, including the MNET (South Africa) award for favourite male vocalist in February 2001, and Best East African Artist at the pan-African 7th Annual KORA All-Africa Music Awards.

In 2002, he played at the launch of the International Criminal Court at the UN Headquarters in New York, presided over by Kofi Annan. Eric is a committed peace campaigner using his music and profile to spread positive messages about human rights, AIDS awareness, good governance, education and opportunity for all. In 2008, he was named messenger for peace and non-violence by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

2009 saw Wainaina's musical (the first of its kind in Kenya), Mo Faya, a ghetto story, performed at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

His infectious and happy Tinga Tinga music will reach an even wider audience in 2010.