Evelyn Wanjiru

Evelyn Wanjiru Agundabweni, professionally known as Evelyn Wanjiru, is a Kenyan gospel singer, songwriter, worship leader, music director, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born on May 6, 1990, in Nairobi, Kenya, she grew up in Nakuru and began singing in church and school music festivals at the age of nine. She is known for her worship-centered music, powerful live performances, and songs that have become popular across Kenya and other parts of Africa.

Wanjiru is particularly recognized for songs such as “Mungu Mkuu,” “Waweza,” “Celebrate,” “Jehovah Elohim,” “Tulia,” “Nikufahamu,” “Asante,” and “Na Iwe Maombi.” Her career has also extended beyond recording, with the annual Praise Atmosphere worship gathering, music mentorship initiatives, and her work through Bwenieve Production. Her music combines contemporary gospel and worship with a distinctly East African sound and a strong emphasis on faith and congregational worship.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Evelyn Wanjiru was born in Nairobi and raised in Nakuru’s Kenya Freehold Estate. She was the fourth child in a family of five and developed an interest in music at an early age. By the age of nine, she was already singing in church and participating in school music festivals.

During her school years, Wanjiru was involved in drama and choir activities. She later joined Tears Group in Nakuru for further music training before receiving an opportunity to participate in the 2010 Talent Academy at Kabarak University through a Kenyan government program.

Her early experiences in church and school helped establish the foundation for the worship ministry that would later become the center of her professional career.

Beginning of Her Recording Career

Wanjiru’s professional career began around 2010, when music producer Agundabweni Akweyu recognized her talent. The two later founded Bwenieve Productions, which became the platform for much of her recording and creative work.

Her first major project was originally titled Mazingira. The project was later rebranded as Waweza. The song “Mazingira” attracted particular attention after it was selected as the theme song for a Kenyan government campaign focused on the conservation and reforestation of the Mau Forest. Wanjiru subsequently served as a music ambassador for the initiative.

The success of her early work earned her nominations at the Groove Awards in 2012, including recognition in the Worship Song and New Artist categories. The project also helped establish her as a promising new voice within Kenya’s gospel music scene.

Breakthrough with Mungu Mkuu

Wanjiru’s second major album, Mungu Mkuu, was released in 2015 and became an important milestone in her career. The title track, “Mungu Mkuu,” became one of her signature worship songs and helped introduce her music to a wider audience beyond Kenya.

The album won Album of the Year at the 2015 Groove Awards, giving Wanjiru one of the major early achievements of her career. The success of Mungu Mkuu also established her reputation as a worship leader capable of combining accessible contemporary gospel with deeply devotional lyrics.

She followed the album with further recordings and collaborations, continuing to build an audience across East Africa.

Matendo, Celebrate and Mwanga

Wanjiru released Matendo in the late 2010s, with the project producing several recognized songs, including “Nikufahamu” and “Tulia.” Her collaboration with Vicky Kitonga on “Tulia” received the Collaboration of the Year award at the 2016 Groove Awards. “Nikufahamu” also received an AFRIMA nomination in 2016.

In 2019, she released Celebrate, a studio/live project produced by Agundabweni Akweyu through Bwenieve Productions. The eight-track project included “Celebrate,” “Bless the Lord,” “Jehovah Elohim,” “Holy,” “It Is Amazing,” “Nanyenyekea,” “Sitaogopa,” and “I Surrender.” The project further demonstrated her interest in combining congregational worship with contemporary gospel production.

Her next major album, Mwanga, arrived in 2021. The Swahili word “Mwanga” means “light,” and the album was recorded live at the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi. The 12-track worship project became another important part of her catalog and reflected the live worship atmosphere that has become central to her ministry.

Her recorded catalog also includes later singles and live releases such as “Na Iwe Maombi,” “You Are Yahweh,” “Viumbe Vyote,” “Inuka,” “Have Your Way,” and “Roho Wa Bwana.”

Praise Atmosphere and Ministry

One of Wanjiru’s most significant contributions outside her recorded music is Praise Atmosphere, an annual worship gathering she launched in 2018. The event has grown into a major worship gathering in Kenya, bringing together thousands of worshippers and musicians.

The 2022 edition attracted more than 11,000 attendees, while the 2024 gathering drew approximately 20,000 people. Wanjiru has also developed Praise Atmosphere Academy as a platform for mentoring and nurturing emerging musicians.

Through Bwenieve Productions and related initiatives, she has continued to combine music production, worship ministry, mentorship, and creative entrepreneurship. She has performed in several African countries as well as the United States, Australia, and India, and has shared stages with international Christian artists including Michael W. Smith, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Sinach, Mary Mary, Chandler Moore, and Nathaniel Bassey.

Authorship and Other Work

Wanjiru expanded her creative work into publishing with the release of her first book, The Wait, in 2024. The book documents her and her husband’s decade-long journey of faith and their experience of waiting to have a child.

Her work outside music also includes entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Through Bwenieve and the Evelyn Wanjiru Foundation, she has supported initiatives connected with maternal health, childcare, and community support. Her earlier involvement in the Mau Forest campaign also contributed to her continuing interest in environmental conservation.

Personal Life and Continuing Career

Evelyn Wanjiru married music producer Agundabweni Akweyu on April 7, 2012. The couple have worked together professionally through Bwenieve Productions, with Akweyu contributing to the production of several of her projects.

They welcomed their son, Mshindi Akweyu Agundabweni, in April 2022. Her personal experience of waiting for a child became one of the central themes of The Wait and has also informed her public ministry around faith, perseverance, and hope.

Wanjiru continues to record and perform, with her music remaining centered on worship and Christian faith. Her continuing releases, live worship projects, Praise Atmosphere gatherings, mentorship programs, and philanthropic activities have established her as a significant figure in Kenya’s contemporary gospel and worship music scene.