Biography Yunasi have just been named BBC 'Next Big Thing', winning through from over 2000 acts from 88 countries. For originality, songwriting and performance they were judged 'overwhemingly the best'. 'Wide open, beautiful exuberant vocals, a joy to listen to' William Orbit 'An amazing band' Tahita Bulmer In 2004, YUNASI developed a unique East African music style called SESUBE which is a combination of sega, isukuti and benga. It takes sounds and inspirations from local Kenyan communities, cultural styles and languages and fuses those sounds with a European component. The sound is achieved by playing a variety of instruments, both traditional and modern. In December 2007 Yunasi were voted 'overwhelming' winners of the BBC 'Next Big Thing' competition, From over 2000 acts from 88 countries Yunasi were voted outright winners by a panel of top music industry judges including Talvin Singh, William Orbit, Nile Rodgers and Tahita Bulman. In March 2006, YUNASI were announced the prize-winners at the prestigious US International Songwriting Contest for the song JI OPOGORE (The Difference of People) obtaining third-place in the World Music category out of 16,000 entries from all over the world. They also won the 2004 Kisima Award for best afro-fusion band in Kenya and were nominated for an all-African Kora award in South Africa in 2003. The band comprises 8 men from East Africa and a French woman and they sing in several languages including Swahili, English, French, Luo, Kisii and Luhya. 'Yunasi live is an experience not to be missed' 'Yunasi - the African Manu Chao?' 'Yunasi's live show is something magical' 'If you want to dance like you've never danced before, go and witness Yunasi live!' YUNASI have had several international tours: . 2003 - Kenya Cultural Week, Paris. . 2003 - 15th International Africa Festival, Germany. . 2003 - 6th Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zanzibar. . 2005 - The Inter-Cultural Festival, Mayotte. . 2006 - 13 concerts in Belgium. . 2006 - Djibouti, International Horn of Africa Festival (Fest Horn). Other major festivals include: . 2004 - Sarakasi Festival in Nairobi, at the Carnivore and Uhuru Park. . 2006 - North Sea Jazz Festival, Nairobi. The band has also performed at many prestigious events in Nairobi including; . Inter-Ministerial Governing Council meeting - UNEP. . Europe Day - European Commission. . South African Human Rights Commission meeting. . Operation Smile Fundraiser. These are in addition to concerts in other prestigious venues like the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi and Eldoret, Club Afrique, The Pavement Club, Carnivore Restaurant, Italian Cultural Institute, British Council, and major five-star hotels among numerous other venues. The band is based in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2008 YUNASI have been invited to appear as the top act at the world famous Sauti Za Busara Swahili music festival in Zanzibar and are the first ever Kenyan band to be invited to play at Bluesfest East Coast Blues and Roots festival in Byron Bay, Australia, the biggest music festival in the Southern hemisphere. YUNASI has managed to collaborate with international artists for recording and joint performances. The band collaborated with a Belgian Blues artiste, Roland van Campenhout, in the album, "Atomic Power" which won the best folk album in the 2006 Belgian ZAMU Awards. This was preceded by joint concerts in Nairobi and Belgium. The band also collaborated with a French singer, Nicoletta to perform concerts in Nairobi and Paris. The band members who are multilingual(all speak English and French) all sing and play instruments especially the traditional instruments like Nyatiti, percussions, calabash, and modern instruments like guitars, bass guitars ,accordion. The band has under its belt two albums, being, "Nang'i Amana, My Land My Life" released in 2002, and "Nairobi, The Sounds of Sesube" launched in 2007. Yunasi are currently organising 2008 European festival tour. Discography Singles - 'Shamaheri' 2006 & 'Ndi Ndi Ndi' 2007. Albums - Nangi Amana 2006 & Nairobi - Sounds of Sesube' 2007. Radio airplay on BBC World Service, BBC local radio stations. Kiss FM Kenya, Hot 96 FM Kenya, WRFG-FM Atlanta, Brussels FM Belgium and many more. TV documentaries by Reuters for BBC World Service and KTN. Tracks available on Last FM, video available on U Tube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=o1HHfPR605U Both albums and singles along with 4 track dvd available for download at www.yunasi.com