Nyamari Ongegu (born April 8, 1981) known professionally as Nyashinski is a

Kenyan ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

and

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

. He is a co-founding member of a hip hop trio

Kleptomaniax Kleptomaniax is a rap group from Nairobi, Kenya. The group consists of three members: Roba (Robert Manyasa), Collo (Collins Majale) and Nyashinski (Nyamari Ongegu). Kleptomaniax were formed in 1999, when they were still high school students at the ...

Biography

Nyashinski who was born as Nyamari Ogengu on April 8, 1981 in

Kisii Kisii may refer to: * Kisii, Kenya, the inaugural capital city of Kenya * Kisii County, one of the 47 counties of Kenya * Gucha District, in Kenya, also known as ''South Kisii District'' * Nyamira District, in Kenya, also known as ''North Kisii Di ...

, Kenya, attended at

Nairobi School The Nairobi School is a national secondary school in Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded in 1902 by the British settlers who had made Nairobi their home after the construction of the Uganda Railway. In 1925, Lord Delamere and Sir Edward Grigg, then ...

. On 10th April, 2019, Nyashinski whose full birth name was Inyatta Nyamari Ongegu, through a gazette notice announced legally abandoning the use of his first name, Inyatta, instead opted to use Nyamari Ongegu only as his official full name. Nyashinski lived in Kenya until 2006, when he, a 21 year old teenager and a member of a rap trio,

and his family relocated to

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

where he worked as a truck driver for 10 years until his return to

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

to continue his music career in 2016. In 2019, Nyashinski tied the knot, marrying his longtime girlfriend designer, Zia Jepkemei Bett. Nyashinski and Zia welcomed their first child in 2020.

Music career

Kleptomaniax

Nyashinski's music career started as a member of

when he was still a high school student at

, where he met Roba (Robert Manyasa) and Collo (Collins Majale) who formed a music trio,

back in 1999. Although both members were still the high school students, they released their debut track, ''Freak It'' in 2002 under

Ogopa DJs Ogopa Deejays are a Kenyan music production team and record label formed in the late 1990s who gained regional fame and popularity due to standards of their production work. Background The people behind Ogopa DJs are brothers Francis and Luc ...

music label, followed by ''Maniax Anthem'' and ''Haree'' which were major hits at a time. ''Tuendelee'' released in 2004 was one of the most popular song by the trio earning the trio a dozen of awards and nominations, The trio disbanded in 2009 as both members opted to pursue solo careers.

Solo career

Nyashinski had a 10 year break from music activity right after

disbandment, he made a come back in 2016 with a hit song ''Now you Know.'' His 2017 song ''Malaika'' scooped a Mdundo Award for Most Dowloaded Male Single in 2017.

Awards and nominations

Pulse Music Video Awards

, - , 2016 , Pulse Music Video Awards , Now you Know ,

MTV Africa Music Awards

, - ,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, Himself , Best African Act , , - ,

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

, Himself , Best African Act ,

All Africa Music Awards

, - ,

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

, Himself , Best Male artiste in Eastern Africa ,

East Africa Arts Entertainment Awards

, - , 2022 , Himself , Best Legendary artiste ,

Discography

2020 Album

Other Singles

2016 *Now You Know *Mungu Pekee 2017 *Malaika *Hayawani *Aminia 2018 *Bebi Bebi *Free *Hello *Finyo 2019 *Marathon Runner *Lift Me Up *Balance 2021 *Top Form *Goals *Whoopty

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nyashinski 1981 births Living people Kenyan rappers People from Kisii County Kenyan musicians