Feature of a female artist Atis Sanna from Kenya

Atis Sanna

Jenifer Sanna popularly known as ``Atis Sanna `` is a Kenyan female musician who  started off her music at a very tender age. 

She was born in a family of musicians where  her brothers, sisters and father who is a veteran Jazz musician  inspired her and still continue to do so from what she says in a chat with a Peace Forum Journal writer recently.

Sanna was at  the age of eight years old, already moving audiences in Church through music and was part of the church adult choir at the Central Church of the Nazarene Ngong Road, Nairobi. There she was directed by choirmasters such as the veteran  Hellen Mtawali, Ken Wakia and Dorington. She remembers vividly singing in the same choir with Gabriel Omondi in the joint church choir concerts.

All her life from primary to high school ATIsanna was involved in drama and music, in 1997 she won a national award in a solo own composition verse. During this period, she carried a guitar to school though it was not taught in her school.

She taught her fellow students and teachers and instructed at Music Land, Methodist Guest House when she was in form two. Her Feature in the Daily Nation newspaper made her teachers realize that she was a great performer but the teachers thought that she was not taking her school work seriously forcing her to change schools after she differed with the school administration.

She still holds that picture dearly reminding her of her passion for music. The mother of three  who plays a Luo instrument Nyatiti ,is inspiring parents to tap into their children’s talents at a tender age. She is happy to be doing what she loves doing most -entertaining, sensitizing positive issues affecting the society through music.

For years she sang with various bands including her father’s band Sanna Jazz Band. Earning her a very good experience. Many refer to her as a prolific artist.

Two years ago she got more interested in Nyatiti and took a course. Nyatiti is an instrument dominated by men but ATIsanna believes what a man can do a woman can do. She has put up many astounding shows in places like  Galleria, Tamambo Tapas, The Junction, Maasai Market.

Her first platform was at Goethe Institute on May 17, 2011 with the legendary Ayub Ogada who met her on the Nairobi roads as she was basking and this marked the beginning of her music career thereafter earning her first professional gig at the    National Maktaba Awards event on September 16,2011 where PLO Lumumba was the Chief Guest. From that time on ATIsanna has never looked back.

In December last year, ATIsanna entered the Kenya Music and Cultural Festival competition organized by the Ministry of State for Heritage and Culture where she scored the highest points in the traditional string instrument category winning a National Award.

She was awarded a Certificate for that achievement. She featured in the first Kenyan Opera produced by Baraka Opera Production Company Limited, where she played in a small section to bring in the Kenyan touch with her Nyatiti.

She has performed during the Poland Constitution day on May 03,2012 and at the opening of the launch of the Standing Eastern, Central and South Africa Library Associations.

She hopes that in five years time she will become a world-class entertainer and make a difference in Africa in terms of socio-economic development and entertainment.

You can follow her on twitter: @ATIsanna                                Reverbnation: www.atis sanna.com

Add her on google+: +atis                                                    Email: atis.sanna@gmail.com