I'm in love with Lenana - Kenya's Taylor Swift, Annah Kalahi

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned; they say. Heartbreak can be a big pain to the hopeless romantics but one can choose to deal with it in positive way.

Meet Annah Kalahi who has been labelled Kenya’s Taylor Swift. We were first introduced to this music gem at the recently held Nairobi Jamhuri Festival, where she launched her debut single Kitunguu produced by Sauti Sol’s Polycarp.

“The fear of the unknown always makes us stick on when we want to leave a bad relationship.

When I finally realised that I can walk out and move on with life without my boyfriend, that was a major breakthrough.

I put my feelings into a song and share my experience with other ladies,” says Kalahi whose new track is laced with male-diss lyrics.

Annah Kalahi’s love for harmonies started way back in high school where she was part of an acapella group called Gifted 5 (G5).

“After high school, I stumbled upon the Sauti Academy on YouTube. I always wanted to pursue music professionally but I did not know where to start and Sauti Academy was a very good platform for me.

I learnt so much, met new people, met musicians that I have always looked up to and this raised my hopes of making it in the music industry,” says Kalahi, a rather laid back and jovial beauty.

Sauti Sol’s Polycarp (Fancy Fingers), the producer behind the new hit, did not think twice about working with her in the production of Kitunguu.

She was talented and ambitious and her music potential could just turn her into Kenya’s new music best thing.

“I heard her sing during her band practice and I instantly liked it. I offered to work on it with her. I found the Kitunguu concept very interesting and out of the box and I knew people would definitely like it.

This is how upcoming artistes cut their own niche. Kalahi has a bright future and it’s only a matter of time before she blows up,” Polycarp testifies of the fast-rising singer.

Given the opportunity, Kalahi would like to work with celebrated stars among them JuaCali, Sage, Yemi Alade, Mdee, Eddy Kenzo and Tiwa Savage. She however has the hots for Lenana Kariba and would like to elope with him.

“I always act so cool around him but I am crazy about everything Lenana, the secret is out now and I am sure he is not a Kitunguu. I am kukus about him,” says Kalahi. If she wasn’t in the music industry, Kalahi would rather be a doctor. “I would either be a nurse or doctor, mostly because my mother is a nurse and my father a doctor. They met in hospital and fell in love,” she tells Pulse.

Annah Kalahi believes that music is a life changing art. As a strong believer in love, she tries to share lessons learnt from her personal experiences through her music.

Her goal is to make her music touch people’s lives and hearts and make them relate to it on a personal level. She would like to make Kalahi a household name and working with Polycarp is a step in the right direction.