Michael Kiwanuka

Early life

Michael Samuel Kiwanuka was born in the Muswell Hill area of London on 3 May 1987, the son of Deborah and Michael Kiwanuka. His parents were Ugandan immigrants who had escaped Idi Amin's regime. He graduated from Fortismere School in 2005, then studied at the University of Westminster's School of Media, Arts, and Design.

Career

Early years

Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist, playing with Chipmunk and Bashy before working as a solo artist. His first proper gig was at The Oxford in Kentish Town at age 22. He came to the attention of Communion Records, which released his first two EPs, including his debut, Tell Me A Tale, on 13 June 2011.

2011–2016: ''Home Again'' and ''Love & Hate''

Kiwanuka supported Adele on her Adele Live 2011 tour, as well as at her iTunes Festival 2011 gig, and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling. In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records. He was included in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and was named as the winner on 6 January 2012.

Kiwanuka released his debut studio album, Home Again, in 2012 to positive reviews from critics. The album peaked at number 4 in the UK and, as of 2012, has sold over 70,000 copies in the UK.

After scrapping an entire second album (due to be called Night Songs) after he was discouraged by an A&R man, in 2016, Kiwanuka released his follow-up to Home Again, Love & Hate. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 1 on the UK albums chart. The album was produced by Danger Mouse and spawned several singles. The song "Cold Little Heart" was the theme of the HBO series Big Little Lies.

2018–2019: Collaborations and ''Kiwanuka''

Kiwanuka recorded a track called "On My Knees" with UNKLE for the 2018 soundtrack to the film Roma. In 2019 he collaborated with Tom Misch on the single "Money". His own song "You Ain't the Problem" preceded his third album Kiwanuka, which was released in November 2019, again to critical and commercial success. The album placed at number 2 in the UK charts, has been gold certified for over 100,000 sales, and won the UK Mercury Music Prize for 2020, his first win after his first two albums were nominated. Danger Mouse was involved with the album, along with producer Inflo. Kiwanuka said that the choice of album name reflected his increasing confidence in being himself.

2020s

In 2024, Kiwanuka announced a co-headlining tour with American rock singer-songwriter Brittany Howard. In June 2024, Kiwanuka played a set on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival. In July 2024, Kiwanuka released the single "Floating Parade", his first new music in three years. That song appeared on his fourth studio album, Small Changes, which was released on 22 November 2024.

Having completed a headlining tour of the UK and Europe in February, in July 2025, Kiwanuka cancelled European festival dates, including at Sziget Festival, due to "continued illness", as reported by his management team. He also was forced to pull out of a support slot for Mumford & Sons through North America later that year.

Musical style

Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Jack Johnson, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, Pops Staples, The Band, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Dobie Gray, Wham!, Richie Havens, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Rod Stewart, Jim Croce, Bobby Womack, Sly and the Family Stone, and Funkadelic. He has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.

Among others, Kiwanuka’s musical style has been compared to Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and Terry Callier.

Personal life

Kiwanuka and his wife Charlotte, a Christian musician, married in 2016. They have lived in Southampton since 2019. Kiwanuka has openly discussed his struggles with anxiety and other mental health issues. He is a practising Christian and a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Discography

Main article: Michael Kiwanuka discography

• Home Again (2012)
• Love & Hate (2016)
• Kiwanuka (2019)
• Small Changes (2024)

Awards and nominations

References

Notes

References

1. Bassett, Jordan. (4 November 2019). "Michael Kiwanuka interview - "Young black men can easily get into quite dangerous circles – black people know what it's like" - NME.com".
2. (14 July 2016). "Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate review – soul-searching with the tang of authenticity".
3. (12 February 2018). "Artists – Polydor Records". Polydor Records.
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5. "Michael Kiwanuka | British Music Collection".
6. Doyle, Tom (2012) "The Soul Man", ''[[Mojo (magazine). Mojo]]'', February 2012, p. 68-9
7. Charlotte Richardson Andrews. (5 May 2011). "First sight: Michael Kiwanuka".
8. "Alumnus tops BBC Sound of 2012 poll".
9. (7 November 2016). "Michael Kiwanuka – My Community – #SupportMusic – Sponsored By Levi's® Music Project". [[YouTube]].
10. (29 April 2014). "Ich Bin Kentishtowner: Michael Kiwanuka, singer-songwriter".
11. (18 April 2011). "Introducing: Michael Kiwanuka".
12. (29 May 2011). "Agenda: Kat Maconie; Michael Kiwanuka; Limanation; Pan Am; Transform festival". The Independent.
13. (3 June 2011). "Frankie And The Heartstrings, Michael Kiwanuka and Lissie added to Hard Rock Calling bill". IPC Media.
14. (22 November 2011). "Sound of – 2012 – Michael Kiwanuka". BBC Music.
15. (17 May 2012). "Charts EU Airplay Week 18 (p.32)". [[Music Week]].
16. (2019-10-06). "Michael Kiwanuka: 'I'm living my dream. And I was wasting it with thoughts of inferiority'".
17. "Michael Kiwanuka wins the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize".
18. (2020-09-24). "Mercury Prize-winner Michael Kiwanuka: 'I am not an imposter'". BBC News.
19. Pearis, Bill. (2024-04-23). "Brittany Howard & Michael Kiwanuka announce fall co-headline tour (BrooklynVegan presale for Central Park show)".
20. (29 June 2024). "Glastonbury 2024: Michael Kiwanuka Shines On Pyramid Stage | Live".
21. (12 July 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka returns with new single 'Floating Parade'".
22. Garratt-Stanley, Fred. (2024-11-22). "Michael Kiwanuka – 'Small Changes' review: a homely, life-affirming listen".
23. Wilkes, Emma. (28 July 2025). "Michael Kiwanuka cancels all forthcoming shows due to "continued illness"".
24. (30 November 2016). "Beyond Soul: Michael Kiwanuka Grapples with Being a Black Man in a White World".
25. (30 October 2019). "Michael Kiwanuka is Listening to Nirvana, Isaac Hayes, and Hey Arnold!". Interview Magazine.
26. (15 July 2016). "Soundtrack: Michael Kiwanuka".
27. (16 June 2011). "Michael Kiwanuka: Singing with his soul on his sleeve". BBC News.
28. (6 October 2019). "Michael Kiwanuka: 'I'm living my dream. And I was wasting it with thoughts of inferiority'".
29. (12 May 2022). "New Single from Manor Collective 'Shelter'".
30. (7 January 2020). "Michael Kiwanuka: The British Ugandan with an album "among the decade's best"".
31. (30 October 2020). "Michael Kiwanuka on N17 Live on Sunday".
32. Guardian Staff. (12 January 2012). "Brit awards 2012: nominations in full".
33. Amy Phillips and Evan Minsker.. (12 September 2012). "Mercury Prize Nominees Announced".
34. Hardie, Beth. (17 September 2012). "A total sex pot (Rihanna) and a sweet innocent lass (Taylor Swift) are going to have a fight".
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36. "StubHub Q Awards 2016 shortlist announced! Vote now to decide this year's winners".
37. "2016 MOBO AWARDS NOMINATIONS: GET THE FULL LIST NOW | MOBO Awards".
38. (25 November 2016). "BBC Music – BBC Music Awards 2016 – The Nominees".
39. "WWA 2017 // Album of the Year Shortlist // Vote Now | Gilles Peterson".
40. "Albums of the Year – 2019".
41. "6 Music Recommends Albums Of The Year 2019".
42. "The 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year'". Mercury Prize.
43. (2020-11-24). "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners List".