Kenyan musician and actress Sanaipei Tande will represent the country at the upcoming International Music Contest “Intervision” in Moscow, Russia, this Saturday, September 20.
The event, set to take place at the Live Arena, will bring together contestants from 21 countries across BRICS, CIS, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the United States. Each participant will present music that reflects themes of love, understanding, and their homeland.
Sanaipei, popularly known as Sanaa, first rose to fame in 2004 after winning the East Africa Coca-Cola Popstars Talent Search, which led to the formation of the group Sema. Their debut album, Mwewe, produced several hits and introduced her to audiences in Kenya and beyond.
Since going solo, she has released songs including “Najuta,” “Kwaheri,” “Mtoto wa Geti Kali,” and collaborations with Otile Brown (“Aiyana,” “Chaguo la Moyo”) and Jua Cali (“Kwaheri,” “Geti Kali”). She has also worked as a radio and TV host and served as a jury member for the pan-African show Amazing Voices in 2019.
Her 2021 debut EP NABO (“Number One” in the Maa language) featured the track “Flavour,” which became her most-watched video online. More recently, she released “Kunitema,” a song exploring shifting roles in modern relationships.
Unlike many artists, Sanaipei tends to release music less frequently, often only once or twice a year. “Whenever I release a song, people say I’m making a comeback, but that has always been my rhythm,” she explained in an earlier interview.
Organizers of Intervision state that the competition is designed to highlight not just performances but also cultural traditions. According to Russian producer Igor Matvienko, a member of the international jury, the contest will encourage collaboration across borders: “Our goal is to create strong connections and new musical traditions,” he noted.
The jury, comprising music professionals from each participating country, will judge contestants based on vocals, stage presence, and cultural expression. To ensure fairness, jury members cannot vote for artists from their own countries.
For Sanaipei, participation in Intervision marks another chapter in a career that has spanned two decades, balancing music with roles in acting and broadcasting. As she prepares to perform in Moscow, she joins other international artists in using music as a bridge between cultures.
