How Kevin got his groove back

Kevin Mulei, Groove founder.

Last weekend’s 5th edition of all gospel Groove awards, was one of the best awards ceremonies in this land.

Save for the MTV Africa Music awards (MAMAs), which had over 70 percent international backing, Groove was 100 percent locally produced. The original plan was to create a set that would be much better than the one for MAMAs, according to Kevin Mulei, founder of Groove awards.

“We were to import experts from India to come and create a set for the awards. What you saw at the awards was not a ready made stage, but a set created specifically for this event. You will never find such a set anywhere in the world,” Kev says.

Since there was no time to import the expertise, Live Gigz, who created the  set, together with Kev’s event company, Mo Sound, worked day and night to achieve the final results.

“My team’s dedication was at its best. I had a team of about 60 people who spent sleepless nights just to make sure all goes well. Our sponsors - Safaricom’s Skiza Tunes - also did not just give us sponsorship money, but also their time.”

They held Groove tours in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi, before the main show last weekend.

“Actually, the first show was on New Year’s Eve, where we had the Groove party at KICC. That launched Groove awards 2010, those parties created hype and interest” says Kev.

How did they afford all that?

“Each concert had close to 30 artistes performing, it was expensive. But I must appreciate all of them for making the effort to join us in the tour. Without the artistes, there would be no Groove awards.”

That means, Kevin explains, that most of the artistes took a pay cut and instead settled for allowances.

But what exactly was the budget? Last years’ MAMAs, held at the Kasarani gymnasium, cost an estimated Sh50 million. Last year’s Groove awards cost about Sh10 million. How about last weekend’s?

“Generally, we are talking about Sh22 million. Most of it was from Safaricom, though I would not disclose exactly how much they gave,” says Kev.

Although everyone seems to be mum about this and last year’s event, Kev has been on the wrong side of the Press and showbiz stake holders previously, most of them accusing him of being dishonest.

“For one to grow, one must be criticised. I have had enough of that in the past. We all learn from our mistakes and make the future better.

"As far as the media is concerned, it’s been a case of picking one mistake and magnifying it, making the whole event look really bad. Groove Awards is not about a person, but celebrating the whole gospel music industry.”

But how have gospel artistes gained ever since the first Groove was held in 2004?

Kevin gives an example of artistes like Eko Dydda and Alan Aaron.

“If these two artistes came out in the year 2000, it would have taken them about four to five years to hit. Last year at a time like this, Eko was little known while Alan Aaron was selling clothes in downtown Nakuru.

"They both confessed that on stage as they picked up awards last weekend. Groove awards is all about giving the artistes a chance to be appreciated more, which eventually translates to monetary value.”

For Kevin to organise such event, he has learnt from the best.

“I’ve grown up as a hustler and I believe anybody can achieve whatever they want in life,” he says. He grew up in the rural side of Kisekini in Machakos while in primary school.

“I was raised by my grandparents since my parents were working in Uganda,” he recalls. As other children spent their childhood days playing, he spent his watering vegetables and looking after goats.

“That’s how I spent my free time after school. At age nine, I had my small sukumawiki farm and was making cash out of it,” says a very proud Kevin. He eventually relocated to Nairobi before he finished primary school.

“But it’s very funny because from Machakos, I came to a posh Gigiri area, where my parents still live up to date,” he says.

His elder brother is a guitarist, now playing in Netherlands, while his younger brother is a DJ.

“I stopped deejaying after I realised what I wanted to do in life. I just used it as a platform to launch my event management career,” says the former DJ.

And he has big plans for Groove awards.

“Eventually, I want to spread out Groove awards to East Africa; Uganda Tanzania and Rwanda, later I will involve the rest of Africa because I believe it can be achieved”.