Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka was born on May 3, 1988, in Muswell Hill, London, to Ugandan immigrant parents who had escaped Idi Amin’s regime. He attended Fortismere School, graduating in 2005, and later studied at the University of Westminster’s School of Media, Arts, and Design. Prior to embarking on a solo career, Kiwanuka gained experience as a session guitarist, working with artists such as Chipmunk and Bashy. His career as a solo artist began with a gig at The Oxford in Kentish Town at the age of 22, attracting the attention of Communion Records, which subsequently released his first two EPs, including ‘Tell Me A Tale’ on June 13, 2011.

In 2011, Kiwanuka signed with Polydor Records and gained significant recognition when he supported Adele on her ‘Adele Live’ 2011 tour and performed at the iTunes Festival 2011. His rising profile led to his inclusion in the BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll, which he won on January 6, 2012. His debut studio album, ‘Home Again,’ released in 2012, garnered positive reviews and sold over 70,000 copies in the UK, peaking at number 4 on the charts. Following this success, he released his second album, ‘Love & Hate,’ in 2016, which debuted at number 1 on the UK albums chart and featured the song “Cold Little Heart,” later used as the theme for the HBO series ‘Big Little Lies’.

Kiwanuka’s third album, ‘Kiwanuka,’ released in November 2019, continued his critical and commercial achievements, reaching number 2 on the UK charts and earning a gold certification for over 100,000 sales. This album also secured him the UK Mercury Music Prize in 2020. He has collaborated with notable artists like UNKLE for the ‘Roma’ film soundtrack in 2018 and Tom Misch in 2019. In 2024, he co-headlined a tour with Brittany Howard and released his fourth studio album, ‘Small Changes,’ in November 2024. He has been nominated for numerous honors, including Brit Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, BBC Music Awards, and Grammy Awards.