Kisima Awards have been re-launched into Kisima Music & Film Awards to culminate in an annual awards ceremony to be held on Sunday, December 13th 2020. This year’s Kisima Music & Film Awards is a Pan African event dedicated to promoting culture, music, stories, creativity, and skills in Africa, by Africans, for Africans unto the world. For the very first time, the Kisima Music & Film Awards is open to the WHOLE of Africa. The Kisima Music & Film Awards – a Pan-African melting pot of authentic talent-driven by an unrelenting zeal to show-case the rich diversity of African Music and film. It is not because the Kisima Music & Film Awards 2020 have answers to all questions on music and film across Africa, No. It is only because these awards have a song with no ending…the song of Africa’s Vibrancy and beauty in the arts. We as Kisima want to dance to these songs and glory in the light of these creative stories as told in film. For the very first time and going forward, this celebration of Africa’s rich vibrancy from the core has fused with Africa’s rise; positioning herself in the contemporary world, the Kisima Music & Films Awards will be a celebration of African talent, a strenghening of African solidarity and a point convergence for show-casing African talent, dreams and aspirations. This time round, the KISIMA MUSIC & FILM AWARDS is pro-active towards championing the course for Africa’s Emancipation Economically, Socially & Politically.
This time around, 2020 Kisima Music & Film Awards is audacious, deep and progressive. Focus will be use of digital nomination platforms and with a focus on Social Good to lead from the front in the wake of the global Corona Virus Pandemic. The use of digital nomination portal allows all of Africa’s bilingual diversities; Anglophones, Francophone and Lusophones to nominate their champions and heroes before the team of eminent, experienced panel of industry players, music scholars, veteran musicians and film artists picking the finalists.
Kisima Music & Film AWARDS 2020 will lead from the front by encouraging Artists to take their position as influencers of positivity and of key messages that encourage Africa resilience to the pandemic and renaissance.
The predecessor of Kisima Music & Film Awards was an annual awards program that recognized musical talent in East Africa. Kisima is the Swahili word for “well” franchise is owned 100% by 
Dr. Fred Simiyu, Chairman of IQ Marketing, Nairobi, Kenya. The scheme recognized outstanding achievement in the performing arts and associated spheres such as education and business, and was held locally at Nairobi’s Braeburn Theatre with clay trophies being awarded. This process continued annually with the awards being held at the Carnivore Restaurant however, in 1997 the scheme was discontinued.
The awards were revitalized in 2003, with organizers arranging to coincide its events with the Fête de la Musique. With increased funding and support from both government and sponsors, the new scheme featured updated nomination and voting processes; larger award ceremonies held at a customized Kisima Dome tent and targeted artists from across the nation. However rather than all performing arts the awards then recognized only musical talent. In 2004 the scheme was expanded to incorporate artists from all of East Africa, no longer restricting the talent to Kenya, and subsequently recognized musicians from Uganda and Tanzania.
The awards have since continued to expand, attracting international entrants and personalities, and have come to be an integral part of both Kenyan Music and Culture.
However, the 2008 event was repeatedly delayed and eventually held a year later. In 2013, Kisima Music & Film Awards predecessor was held for the last time before being rested to be reawakened in 2020.