ONGEA! 2017: The 2nd Eastern Africa Music Summit, Presents Mdundo Awards 2017

Nairobi, February 2017: Africa’s leading music service - Mdundo, has partnered with the biggest Music Summit in Eastern Africa - ONGEA! 2017, to reward the most downloaded Kenyan music of 2016.

The Award Ceremony will take place at the Official Opening of ONGEA! 2017 - The 2^nd Eastern African Music Summit, at Sarit Centre Expo Hall in Westlands - Nairobi, on this Thursday 16^th February.

ONGEA! 2017 runs 12.00pm-10.00pm Daily, from Thursday 16^th to Sunday 19^th February, at the same Venue, where Entry is Free.

This will be the 3^rd Mdundo Award in history. The Awards are selected based on the number of Downloads on the Mdundo Platform, Shyqo Koinange - Head of Music at Mdundo, explains, “The philosophy behind our Awards is to acknowledge Musicians based on the real Consumption of their Music, instead of a panel or a voting process, which is often practiced. We are very happy to be Hosted by ONGEA! this year”.

This year’s Mdundo Awards will have 7 Categories and the Nominees are set to be Announced before Saturday 11^th February:

• Most Downloaded Single 2016.
• Most Downloaded Female Single 2016.
• Most Downloaded Male Single 2016.
• Most Downloaded Group Single 2016.
• Most Downloaded Gospel Artist 2016.
• Most Downloaded Hip-Hop Artist 2016.
• Most Downloaded Afro-pop Artist 2016.

Mike Strano, the Founding Director of the Event’s owner - PHAT! Music & Entertainment, says, “The Mission of ONGEA! is to help Develop a Music Industry in Eastern Africa that is Professional, Transparent and Profitable for All; so the Mdundo Awards resonate well with that Objective. We are very excited to Acknowledge the hard working Musicians who have been Nominated for these Awards”.

Previous award Winners include Bahati, King Kaka, Sauti Sol, Victoria Kimani and Willy Paul.

ONGEA! 2017 – The 2^nd Eastern Africa Music Summit is proudly Supported by HBR103.5FM, 98.4 Capital FM, Vision TV, Protel Studios, MOB Entertainment, Artville Music, Extra Dimensions, PHAT! Productions, Safaricom, EnM Group, Mdundo, Bloggers Association of Kenya, Music in Africa, Plive, PHAT!buzz, Radar Security, Efficaxx, Sarit Centre and Zehneria Portico.

About ONGEA!

ONGEA! was born out of KENYA MUSIC WEEK, which ran every December for 10 Years, from 2004 to 2013. Since KENYA MUSIC WEEK had achieved its Objectives for the Kenya Music Industry, the Scope was Broadened to the Eastern Africa region, however, the three Pillars still remain: Trade, Learn and Showcase. The successful Debut of ONGEA! - The Eastern Africa Music Summit was in January 2016.

ONGEA! 2017 – The 2^nd Eastern Africa Music Summit is this Thursday 16^th to Sunday 19^th February, from 12pm to 10pm, at Sarit Centre Expo Hall in Westlands – Nairobi, KENYA.

It shall feature fifty-seven (57) Trade Exhibitions stands (12.00pm-10.00pm), eight (8) Industry Panels (2.30pm-5.30pm) and twenty-nine (29) Showcase Performances (6.00pm-10.00pm), with Participants from Cameroon, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda,

There is also daily Open Mic (12.00pm-2.00pm) with a two (2) Scholarships to Sauti Academy up for Grabs; as well as a Recording Studio where Visitors can Record a Demo for Free.