Chumba

BIOGRAPHY

Stage Name: Chumba
Real Name: Doris Chepchumba
Genre: World / Afro beat / secular / spiritual

Career
Chumba is definitely one of Kenya’s budding stars in the making. With two albums to her name (and the third in production stages), this enchanting former soldier is determined to stamp her authority on the music scene.

Chumba was born Doris Chepchumba Tanui in 1983 and was first noticed as a thrilling new talent in primary school where she performed up to National Drama Festivals as a soloist and dancer. On completing her secondary school in 2002, she joined Kitale Baptist Church choir where she learned to play the guitar. In the same year she joined Kenya Air Force but kept her dream alive, performing during her free time with the four-piece Country Breeze Band she co-founded.

In 2006, she entered the Ibiza Talent Search and won the Best Female Vocalist that earned her a hefty cash prize. That opened her eyes to a career in music. She went into studio and recorded her first single, Mwaito, but which was never released.

Her next point of fame was as a finalist in the third edition of the Spotlight on Kenyan Music star search organised by Alliance Française de Nairobi. Her Kipla hit made it to the final 12-song CD compilation.

Her talent became apparent when she joined Maroon Commandos to perform at the Head of State’s New Year’s Eve Dinner dance in 2006, where her talent became evident. She was immediately redeployed from the Air Force to the Kenya Army to join the legendary Maroon Commandos Band. Her prowess as a vocalist and songwriter shone through the band’s releases, including the title song of their 2008 peace album, “Kenya Unite”. Other compositions included 'Binadamu tuko sawa', 'Jeshi tuko imara', 'Mzozano ni wa nini' and 'Tuwachane na vita', wake-up calls from Kenya's 2008 post-election violence.

The Music
Chumba’s music is diverse both musically and linguistically. Kipla her first album released by Soundafrica in 2009 is an electric afro-fusion sung in 8 different African languages, English and French. Her deep and entrancing voice delivers a captivating mix of soulful, socially conscious lyrics backed by fine instrumentation. Her second album, Ame milamila met, released in 2010 is an eclectic pot of spiritual, didactic and inspiring fusion of contemporary acoustic, benga and zouk dance anthems.

Chumba is an impressive performer who effortlessly draws fans to the dance floor. Her lyrical vitality and modulated vocal power has an invigorating dynamism that is typical of the African dance party.

Career Highlights
Besides performing at many official/state events since joining Maroon Commandos band in 2007, she has also performed many concerts as a solo artiste at corporate and social events around the country, with the sensational Soundafrique Band.

In 2011, she was a nominee for Best Female Afro fusion Artiste at the East African Music Awards.

Besides her career as a musician, Chumba is an accomplished fashion designer of tasteful and elegant African outfits for her Emerald Green clothesline.

Discography (albums)
Kipla – 2008 (Soundafrica)
Ame milamila met – 2010 (Soundafrica)