Ali
Mukhwana
Ali “The Amplifier” Mukhwana is an award winning gospel singer, songwriter and a worship leader from Nairobi, Kenya. Born in Western Kenya in the mid 80’s, Ali is more known for his win in the Exodus to Stardom singing competition which was organized by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation in the year 2011. As the winner in the competition, he walked away with a brand new Xtrail car worth Kshs 1.8 Million, a one year recording deal at Lampstand Records and a TV show co-host position on Angaza Show at KBC TV (2012 to 2015).
EARLY LIFE
Ali Mukhwana was born into a polygamous Muslim family and his childhood was of struggle since his father rejected him and his mother when he was young. The reason for rejection was that they were born twins and during those days in their clan, twins were believed to be a bad omen and the possibility of one of them dying was often high. True to this superstition, Ali’s twin died under unclear circumstances which led to his parents getting separated and him growing up with his maternal relatives. Later on in his adulthood, he got to reconcile with his father and they are in good terms now. Ali studied in eight different primary schools and but never got to join high school due to financial constraints as his father said he was not in a position to educate him (which wasn’t true). In 2006, he got a job as a casual laborer in Kakamega town before being transferred by the same contractor to Mombasa.
SALVATION AND CHURCH LIFE
It is in the year 2007 in Mombasa that Ali got saved in a crusade at Changamwe. He was among 20 Muslims who got saved in a crusade that had been organized by Bishop Elisha Juma of the Kenya Assemblies of God Church – Tudor. He resolved not to change his Muslim name as part of his testimony. After salvation, Ali served under Bishop Elisha Juma as a member of the praise and worship team. After two years, the contract for the construction company ended and instead of going back home to Mumias, Ali juggled two jobs; one as a security guard and the other as a loader in a salt company. He worked in both jobs until 2010 when he applied for the Exodus to Stardom Singing Competition.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
Out of the 3500 people who auditioned in Mombasa, Ali Mukhwana was among the 4 who got selected to represent the coast region in the nationals in Nairobi. After several stages in the competition, he was voted the overall winner. This win thrust him into the national limelight and his professional music career kicked off when he recorded and released his first song Usinipite in the year 2012. Some of his other popular songs include Utukufu, Mwenye Enzi and Manukato Ya Sifa.
MUSICAL INFLUENCES
Ali Mukhwana has cited the late Angela Chibalonza, Solomon Mkubwa (Kenya), Eunice Njeri (Kenya), Joel Lwaga (Tanzania), Walter Chilambo (Tanzania), Jimmy D Psalmist (Nigeria), Steve Crown (Nigeria), Benjamin Dube from South Africa as some of his musical inspirations.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Ali Mukhwana has been nominated twice and won in Groove Award editions of 2013 and 2015. He is also got nominated in the 2019 and 2020 editions of Maranatha Gospel Music Worship Awards.
PERSONAL LIFE
Ali Mukhwana has a family. He is married to Anne Samuel Mukhwana and the couple wed on 26th November 2016. We are Now Blessed with two daughters Desire Belle Mukhwana & Lissa Zoe Mukhwana