Maurice Kirya is a singer, songwriter, actor and humanitarian from
Uganda, East Africa. He is a celebrated household name in East Africa with over
a decade-long wealth of experience in the music industry.
The 2010 RFI
(Radio France Internationale) Discoveries Award winner Maurice is
credited as the pioneer of Ugandan soul music – a style he’s aptly dubbed
‘’Mwooyo’’ A style and culture appreciated by his massive social media
followers, fans & music enthusiasts.
Kirya has
performed in over 35 Countries, and collaborated in performances with the likes
of American superstar, NE-YO, German superstar Mark Forster, and American actor
and idols winner Jordin Sparks.
Maurice has
also featured in Hollywood films like The Queen Of Katwe as 'Theo' (alongside
Lupita Nyongo & David Oyelowo, he has also acted in The Last King of
Scotland as himself (Not credited) starring Forest Whitaker, Kerry Washington
& David Oyelowo. Kirya is currently Starring in ‘The Girl In the Yellow
Jumper’’ an upcoming movie directed by Loukman Ali.
He is also
the C.E.O of Piz & Pots (a Marketing, Branding & events Agency). The
company that also runs the annual music festival KIRYALIVE FESTIVAL in Kampala
that hosts musicians from within the country and around the world.
Kirya has
Celebrated albums such as Free Dreams, Mwooyo,‘The Book Of Kirya’ &
Misubbaawa, Pre-orders for his highly anticipated album ‘Beyond Myself’ have
already begun.
Kirya is a
youth & health activist who is also collaborating with the
organisation Hijra, & UNHCR in Uganda in the efforts to protect the
lives and rights of refugees.
Due to his
passion for wild life conservation, Kirya was named as a WILD AID ambassador
alongside powerful names such as actor Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa & Li Bing
Bing. ]]n musician and actor. He won RFI’s 2010 Discoveries Music
Award He won prize money plus a grant worth 18,000 euros to develop his career.
He staged performances in Paris plus a year-long tour of Africa where he toured
over 35 countries. He was nominated for the most gifted afro pop video of
the year in the 2012 channel O video music awards. He was one of the three
Ugandan artists to perform at the inaugural annual Tribe One Festival, in South
Africa.
Maurice Kirya
comes from a musical family, his late mother used to sit them around the fire
every time there was a power black out, which was a common thing, she then
would teach them folk songs and rhymes, his love for singing was ignited in
these dark warm nights. He fuses his Uganda style, Mwooyo with rnb, soul &
jazz. He plays guitar, bass & piano and writes all his music. When asked
how he writes his music, he always responded ‘’I see the picture, i feel the
emotion,i relate and the song comes to me’’
He has toured
over 35 Countries and 40 Cities across Africa, Europe and America. His interesting
style of music and persona has landed him big interviews on BBC, CNN, Voice of
America and RFI. He has grown to be an inspiration and mentor to many young
Ugandan and African musicians, He also uses music and the knowledge he has to
support the youth and the refugees in UGANDA by teaching them how to use the
arts to empower their lives.
