Ugandan musician and actor
Maurice Kirya |
|---|
 Maurice Kirya.jpg |
|
| Born | (1984-11-04) 4 November 1984 (age 39)
Uganda |
|---|
| Occupation(s) | Founder /Director of Piz and Pots,Out in Uganda Tours,The sound Cup. |
|---|
| Years active | 2002–present |
|---|
| Labels | Indie |
|---|
|
| Website | www.mauricekirya.com |
|---|
Musical artist
Maurice Kirya born (4 November 1984) in Jinja and raised in Najjanakumbi[1] to Tonny Munobbi and Sophie Baguma (Sophie passed on the 9 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’’[1][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.[2]Queen of Katwe
He acted in "The Last king of scotland"[3] as himself starring Forest whittaker ,Kerry washington and David Oyelowo.There after starring in "The Girl in the Yellow Jumper"[4] a movie directed by Louqman Ali.
He also collaborated with international stars like Neyo,German singer Mark forster and American idol winner Jordin sparks.[5]
He is predominantly known for his soul music culture called "Mwooyo"[6] by ugandan youth and his performances revered in over 35 countries.[7]
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.[8]
