Anyiko Owoko is East Africa’s leading Entertainment and Music Publicist, with over ten years of experience in the media and music industry. Her knack for promoting artists, coupled with a broad network and diverse work experience, has elevated her to become one of Africa’s most influential women in the music business. Her journey, however, began in the small town of Molo, located in Nakuru County, where she was born and raised by parents who both worked as teachers and farmers. Living in a household that was into adventure, music and culture fueled her dreams of making it big in the city. She eventually relocated to Nairobi for studies, undertaking the French language at Alliance Française and a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Nairobi. Her career took off during her second year at university when she started juggling jobs in between The BBC Nairobi Bureau as a radio broadcast assistant and at KBC (Kenya’s national broadcaster) as a TV host and scriptwriter. Her induction into the PR world was through her ten years spent working as Publicist of Sauti Sol, where she played a crucial role in building their brand, from an unknown quartet to Kenya’s biggest music export and Africa’s biggest music group. In 2017, she branched out to set up Anyiko Public Relations(Anyiko PR)—an avant-garde PR agency, with a mission to represent African stars and connect audiences in unique ways. In 2018, the all-rounded journalist and award-winning Blogger launched her self-produced YouTube show: VIP ACCESS, dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent. She also creates strictly African music playlists: https://linktr.ee/anyikowoko Her recognition includes the 2020 Kotex ‘She Can Award’, acknowledging Kenyan women who have demonstrated passion, motivation and inspired many while breaking barriers to achieve their own victory and success. In 2018, she was added onto OkayAfrica’s list of 100women honorees, for her dedicated work and being a promising talent within the genre of media. The same year, she won the ‘Service Industry Award’ at the Young Entrepreneur Awards (Kenya), designed to identify upcoming and industrious entrepreneurs with great business acumen.
PR Projects
Anyiko has worked as a Publicist on various projects for countless stars including from Kenya: Fena, MDQ, Mumbi, Suzanna Owiyo, Fully Focus, Silas Miami, Prisca Ojwang’, Mandela and King Kaka; from Tanzania: Jux, Vanessa Mdee, Diamond Platnumz, Alikiba, Lady Jaydee, Barakah The Prince and Ommy Dimpoz; from Uganda: Irene Ntale, Maurice Kirya and Navio; from Nigeria: WurlD, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Shiikane, Adekunle Gold, Ice Prince, Okiemute, Patoranking, Moelogo, Gospel On De Beatz, Yung L and Lynxxx; from Ghana: Becca and Stonebwoy, South Africa’s K.O and Nasty C, Berita (Zimbabwe), Sat-B (Burundi), Tay Grin (Malawi), Stanley Enow (Cameroon) and American-based acts: Major Lazer, KuteBlackson, Xpect and Luxland.
Anyiko Public Relations has, to date, worked with renowned record labels and talent agencies including Effyzzie Music Group, BMG, Universal Music Group (Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria divisions), Mdee Music, Nav Corp, Sol GeneraƟon Records, Sound set Africa Creative, Empawa Africa, Africa Creative Agency, Decimal Records, Rockstar Africa, Flux Factory and KV Online Talent.
Anyiko’s PR & Branding workshop for artists:https://bit.ly/2LeiRFE
Worked as a communication and PR strategist, alongside Scope Impact, on Form Ni Gani (FNG)—a platform for young Kenyans to explore and discuss the crucial issues and decisions surrounding contraception and the future of Kenya. She has developed strategies, curated events and tapped into her media networks to successfully create awareness on the project. Her key achievements on FNG include being Editor of it’s creative Future Newspaper, leading collaborations and partnerships with universities and students for the Ideathon contest and PR support for the release of 2019 report: Kenya in 2030 – Young Voices on Future Scenarios and Contraception.
Anyiko hosting a Form Ni Gani event: https://bit.ly/2WKdWS2
2015 – 2019
Worked as the Entertainment and Music Publicist of Coke Studio Africa, Coca-Cola’s African flagship music show, for 4 seasons in a row. She played a strategic role in creating valuable media relations across Africa, on the show that promotes cross-cultural music exchange between the best local and international, music and production talent. Alongside Coke Studio team, she spearheaded high profile press conferences, launch events and parties, that hosted various artists, drawn from over 10 African countries and beyond, including the show’s international guests: NE-YO, Trey Songz and Jason Derulo. Daily responsibilities for a pan-African audience and target included creating unique stories and content for various media, running media tours, drafting and distributing press releases. One of her key achievements at Coke Studio Africa was being part of the team that set up and ran the show’s blog: www.cokestudioafrica.com and working as a contributor and editor of the blog. Launch of Coke Studio Africa 2019 edition: https://bit.ly/35MqFbi
2019
Anyiko PR set up Artist Talk Back event, the agency’s first self-produced industry event, tackling different issues while engaging artists. Other notable projects included production and PR for YemiAlade’s ‘Woman of Steel’ album launch in Kenya, co-production and PR for Boomplay Kenya’s first ediƟon of the Boomplay Artistes Forum and PR for Madaraka Festival (Kisumu).
2018
Anyiko PR projects included the launch of Victor Wanyama’s ‘Under 16 Wanyama Roya Charity Cup’, Vanessa Mdee’s ‘Money Mondays’ album launch in Kenya, Kute Blackson’s first speaking event in Kenya and proving PR for Boomplay’s news on reaching 10 Million installations on Google Play
2006–2017
Worked as Sauti Sol’s Publicist. During her tenure, the group won various awards including Best African Group at MTV Africa Music Awards (2016) and MTV EMA (2014). She created all of Sauti Sol’s social media pages and played a key role in seƫng the band’s tone and amassing their following. A highlight was her recording and posting of the 2015 viral video of Sauti Sol dancing with American President Barack Obama. In 2016 she solely managed PR, communication and media partnerships for Sauti Sol’s highly successful nationwide ‘Live and Die in Afrika’ tour. In earlier years, she served as their occasional tour manager and label manager, under Penya Africa, the group’s first management. She continues to work with the group on various projects, under Sauti Sol Entertainment and
2017
Anyiko partnered with Tosin Ajibade (Olori Super Gal), leading Nigerian influencer marketing guru, to launch her renowned digital conference, New Media Conference in Kenya, attracting key industry players in the African digital space. Other 2017 projects included providing PR for Gidi Cultural Festival, the inaugural Africa City Challenge Basketball tournament, Africa Nouveau Festival and Diani Beach Festival.
2016
Notable projects included PR for The NEST’s TUKO MACHO project selection for a world premiere Toronto International Film, Sweden at Kenya Project by the Embassy of Sweden and Kenya’s Ministry of Sports & Culture, Hillpark Tiwi Resort weekend getaway for media and influencers and Tinga Tinga Tales Musical. 2015 projects included This is Africa launch in Nairobi, The Last Fight documentary launch, SportPesa Festival, Industry Nite Kenya and The Fashion Party FAFA x Maybelline Fashion Show, under What’s Good Networks.
2015
Worked as Publicist of Nairobi Rapsodyevent, that hosted Owuor Arunga, Yassin Bey and Young Guru, among other acts.
2013
Worked as Publicist for the Kenyan book launch of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” and “Dust” by Yvonne Adhiambo Awuor, under Kwani Trust
2012
Label Manager at Penya Africa and Sauti Academy
Managed relations and correspondence between the label and media. Duties included drafting and distributing press releases, organizing press conferences and events for artists, negotiating deals and contracts, managing social media for Penya Africa and digital marketing for album sales. The same year, she gave PR support for ‘Pure Art’ exhibition by Seattle Painter and Muralist, Eric Salisbury, held at Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre
2010
PR Manager and Events coordinator for BBC’s World Service Trust – Africa Talks Climate concert
featuring Senegalese world star Baaba Maal (Kenya).
2006 to date.
Established anyiko.blog The Black Roses Arts and Culture blog was added by Travel Start Kenya among Top 25 Great Kenyan blogs to follow in 2014
2016 – 2019
Head of content and contributor at www.notjustok.com/eastafrica
2014
Published in the anthology “7 Shades of Love” by a London writer Daniella Blechner: http://ow.ly/J9CKY
From 2012
Written for various publications including YUMMY Magazine https://bit.ly/2Mo77n5, dstv.com, Nakumatt’s Smartlife
Magazine, UP Magazine (also worked as Associate Editor), Goethe-Institut (Nairobi), ARISE and Daily Nation. Anyiko’s Arts
and culture articles and op-eds for Daily Nation include:
“A triumphant return: D’Angelo’s second coming a big success” http://bit.ly/1JJu1uk
“Why Play Kenyan Music Drive is Going Nowhere” http://bit.ly/2kF3cWl
“Coke Studio could be the future of African Music” http://bit.ly/2peh8Dh
“Is Kenyan music really poorly composed” http://bit.ly/2Gf4pJ8
“Why Kenyan music misses the cut” http://ow.ly/J9DDG
“Vernacular plays rule the stage” http://ow.ly/JaBcq
“Project Takes African Film to the World” http://ow.ly/JaAYR
“Winners of Slum Film FesƟval headed for big screens” http://ow.ly/JaB24
“First Local play on Westgate horror staged” http://ow.ly/J9Fwe
2019
Produced “Shekere” music video by YemiAlade and Angélique Kidjo: https://bit.ly/2xK6yO6
2018 to date
Launched VIP ACCESS YouTube show on Travel, Music and Culture, also spotlighting Anyiko’s work behind the scenes. Some interviews include:
2009 – 2016
Working as a co-host and co-producer of Grapevine on KBC—Kenya’s longest-running
entertainment magazine show. The experience of working as an entertainment journalist,
scriptwriter and field reporter, made Anyiko fall in love with documenting arts and culture.
Her interactions and interviews with Kenyan and international acts (including Nameless, Akon, Joe Thomas, Donell Jones and Fally Ipupa) while at the show, matched with her dream to work more closely with artists, prompted her to start designing her own career path towards becoming a professional Music Publicist. Some Grapevine interviews include:
2009 – 2011
Worked as a radio program assistant and reporter for KIMASOMASO (Speaking Out Boldly), a program on sexual and reproductive health, under BBC WORLD SERVICE TRUST: http://ow.ly/JaArO
Anyiko moderated ONGEA Music Summit’s panel on “How to get rich and famous” while using music markeƟng and branding in the digital age as your weapon(2018) and Jalada Literary and Arts FesƟval’s panel on “Tracing Nairobi’s Benga Beats” (2017). She is also an event MC and has hosted several events including the launch of Shuga Down South in Nairobi (2017) and the Hennessy My GraffiƟ Event (2016).
2019
Anyiko hosting Art of Fashion event: https://bit.ly/2YMjLBh
2018 to date
Launched VIP ACCESS YouTube show on Travel, Music and Culture, also spotlighting Anyiko’s work behind the scenes. Some interviews include:
To work in a busy, responsible and a well-rounded position, combining public relations, journalism, creativity, intellect and competence to enhance communication design, content creation and strategy for projects
Anyiko Owoko
P.O BOX 66445-00800 Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 707342210
Email: anyiko@anyiko-pr.com