Jennifer Atieno Sanna aka Atisanna is making ripples on the Kenyan musical scene. For five years now, Atisanna has been wooing audiences with her mastery at playing the nyatiti, a traditional musical instrument from the Luo community. Atisanna who is in her thirties is a single mother of three daughters and one son.
Born and bred in a musical family, Atisanna played the guitar from a young age and was a backup singer in her father’s Sanaa Jazz band. Her grand-mother and her brother also played a big part in her career. Keeping with the family tradition, today Atisanna is mentoring her daughters and nieces in the art.
She told Mkazi Magazine about her journey in the business of music.
Passion and drive inspired me to start on this journey.
My late grandmother Jennifer Aoko Kai who was mostly known as Atai, was a renowned Dodo singer (a traditional Luo style). I sang with her from when I was about five until her demise three years ago in her 90’s. Atai used her music and fame to address many issues such as tree planting and as a way of protesting if she wanted to make a point. Many people including chiefs travelled from far and wide to seek her advice. I compare her to Mekatilili wa Menza the female Giriama freedom fighter.
My eldest brother Joseph Kay bought me my first nyatiti. He then helped me register a company and market my product. When demand for my solo album went high I decided to start my career as a solo artist.My father introduced me to Joseph Nyamungu, a music teacher and nyatiti player; and later took me to be trained by four traditional nyatiti masters in Alego, Western Kenya.
When I started I only had my partners and family to bank on.
I won’t expand on my partners for the time being. I will talk about them in due course. I can however mention that I used their platforms and expertise to engage with clients and run the business.
Social media and live shows have been the most effective ways of raising awareness of my business and getting new customers.
My biggest challenge so far lies in balancing my role as a parent and work. My children have to be helped with school work and sometimes I’m not available as I could be running errands. I manage by delegating work.
My team is made of my producer, personal assistant and mentors. They work from behind the scenes. They are skilled and enjoy their jobs. They are team players and that makes things work. I hope to add more people to the team as I grow.
I look at how far I’ve come with gratitude; therefore I treat my clients with respect and dignity. Image is important for business.
To keep motivated through difficult times, I pray and read inspirational books.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that nothing comes easy. Be patient as results of your input don’t show immediately. It takes some time.
Entrepreneurship has taught me to make the right choices in life. It’s either do or die. With more eyes and focus on me has come responsibility.
If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change anything.
I hate the expression “would have”. God’s timing is the best.
I keep a good work/life balance with discipline. I make sure my day to day plans go as scheduled. I also repay lost time even if it means working extra hours.
Five years from now I would like to put Kenya on the map musically and own businesses that can employ many people. Five years is good time to know if you are in the right business or not. Do what you love to do and take charge. What you are not good at let someone else do for you. Remember your customers are your source of income so they have to be given good services. Have a suggestion box for them to tell you what they like or do not like. Maximise the use of social media too.
Contact or follow Atisanna
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | GOOGLE+
