Who is Cindy Sanyu? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Jackie Chandiru, Lilian Mbabazi, Steve Jean, Sheebah Karungi, Ykee Benda, Band Cindy and the early life and education of the current President of the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA).
Cindy Sanyu (Cinderella Sanyu) is a Ugandan musician, songwriter, entertainer and actress.
Her music is influenced by the genres of Dancehall, Pop, R&B, and Afrobeat. She is also known as the ‘Dancehall Queen’ or Cindy Sanyu the King herself.
Cindy Sanyu is also the current President of the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA).
Early Life and Education
Cindy Sanyu was born on August 28, 1985, in Kampala, Uganda, however, she is originally from the Mbale district. Cinderella Sanyu Muyonjo is her given name at birth.
Cindy is the fifth child in a family of eight. She belongs to the Munyoro/Itesot tribe.
She grew up in Ntinda barracks because her father was in the military.
She began her education at Wenale Primary School in Mbale District before moving on to Ngora High School for her senior one and two years.
Sanyu then transferred to Mbale’s Wenale View Secondary School for her senior three and four years.
She went on to Mbale Progressive High School for her A-levels.
Cindy did not further her education after finishing high school. She instead moved right into the music industry.
Music Career and Professional Work Experience
Cindy began singing at the age of six in her local church in Ntinda, which her mother took her to since she was too young to join the school choir.
She participated in the “Capital Radio All-Stars talent search” when she was 16 years old. She finished third and was the top girl in that event.
She worked together with producer Steve Jean, who ensured her participation in the “Coca-Cola Pop Stars” competition, which resulted in the establishment of Blu3 in 2005 after they won.
She was a founding member of Blu3 (3 Black Ladies from Uganda), which also included Lilliane Lee Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru.
Hitaji, Blu3’s debut single, was a hit in Uganda. Cindy and Blu3 went on a national tour and performed at numerous venues across Africa.
Burn, Blu3’s second album was released in 2007 and was again a huge hit.
Cindy was fired from the group in 2008 due to a misunderstanding, and she left to pursue other interests. Mbikooye, her first song as a solo artist, was released later that year.
Her debut solo album ‘Ayokyayokya’ (2009) topped East African charts with hits like “Mbikooye” and “Nawewe”, “Ayokyayokya”, and “One and Only”. Nonetheless, she has had more hit songs, such as “Selekta” and “Boom Party”.
Cindy is now the Acting President of the Uganda Musicians’ Association (UMA). Following the resignation of Ykee Benda, as his deputy Cindy stepped forward to fill the president’s shoes.
Acting Career
Cindy made her film playing debut in the Ugandan musical drama film Bella, in which she played the lead character Bella.
In 2018, she was nominated for Best Young Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa Lead Role In Film (Non-Nigerian) at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and Best Actress at the Uganda Film Festival Awards for her performance.
She then went on to work on November Tear, which was released in 2019.
Albums
- Ayokyayokya, 2009
- The King Herself, 2019
Songs
- Mbikoye
- Nkooye Amaateka Go
- One and only
- Party
- Total satisfaction
- Nawewe
- Selekta
- Tempo remix
- Ndi mukodo
- Sample DAT
- Yes Man
- Mungu bwasalawo
- Dat dat
- Run this city
- Onnina
- Boom party
- Too much
- Local Man
- Copicat
- Pull Up On Mi Bumpa
- Kiki (Faded)
- Sun Set
- Run this City
- Samo Dat
- Tick
- Hot Like That
- Still Standing
- Bintabula
- Zalawo
- Mundeke Nyimbe
Collaborations
- Twakikuba – Austine Zhoush & Cindy Sanyu
- Gahunda – Kid Gaju and Cindy
- Am Lovin – Cindy X Don MC X Apass
- Blazing – Fidempa ft. Cindy Sanyu
- Dilema – Bobi Wine & Mr G
- Boss – Cindy & Mudra
- Side yeno – All Star
- One by one ft Skales
- Dancehall ft Eddy Kenzo
- Boss – Cindy & Mudra
- Mwoto – Cindy Sanyu ft Karole Kasita
- Tebimala – Cindy Sanyu & Vyper Ranking
- One by One – Cindy & Skales
- Push Back – ft Dj Rocky, Ketchup & Peter Miles
- Man Of The Hour – Ft Kao Denero
- Up In The Air – Cindy ft. DJ Slick Stuart, Kemishan & DJ Roja
- You & Me – Cindy Sanyu ft. P Square
- Locomotive – Cindy, Radio and Weasel, Rabadaba, Mr X, Navio & GNL
- Samo Dat (Remix) – ft Oteya
- Yeye – Wahu & Cindy
- Hot Hot – Cindy Ft Nutty Neithan
- Tempo – Cindy And Dufla
- Bukolomoni – CINDY & BYAXY
- Ndi Mukodo – Cindy ft. Navio
- Byantadde – Yanki ft. Cindy Sanyu
Achievements and Awards
Cindy achieved musical success with Blu*3, receiving Best Artist/Group from Uganda and Best Music Video from Uganda at the 2005 Kisima Music Awards.
They won Video of the Year (“Hitaji”) at the 2005 Pearl of Africa Music Awards, and Video of the Year (“Burrn”) at the 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards.
They were also nominated for Best East African Group at the 2005 Kora Awards, Best East African Album (Hitaji) at the 2005 Tanzania Music Awards and Best East African Video (“Frisky”) at the 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards.
They won Best Group & Best Performer at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards and Best East African Song (‘Where You Are’ with Radio & Weasel) at the 2010 Tanzania Music Awards.
As a solo artist, Cindy was named one of the PAM Awards’ 2008 Talents to Watch. She won Female Artiste of the Year at the DIVA Awards in 2009 and Teenies’ Dancehall Artiste at the Buzz Teenies Awards in 2010.
She was named Best Female Artiste of the Year at the same Buzz Teenies Awards in 2010, Best Female Artiste (East Africa) in 2016, and Best Artiste from Uganda in 2016.
She was nominated for Best Dancehall Song at the Zzina Awards, in 2020 and she also won Best Female Artist at the Zzina Awards, in 2020.
Cindy also has her own band, Band Cindy.
Relationships
Cindy Sanyu was in a relationship with a white man named Mario Brunetti, whom she married in September 2007. She had her first child, a daughter called Amani Brunetti with him.
They later divorced in March 2016 and fought for custody of the child.
Cindy was also in a relationship with Ken Muyiisa, who was married to Phina Masanyalaze, but the relationship did not work out.
Prynce Okuyo Joel Atiku, an actor, producer, and film director, proposed to her in March 2020 in Kampala, and they got married on December 11, 2021, at St Stephen’s Church Kisugu in Kampala.
She gave birth to their first child, a girl, in January 2020, and their second child, a boy, on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
Her husband Atiku, also has a child from his past relationship.
Controversies
After Cindy departed Blue 3, members of the group, including Jackie Chandiru and Lilian Mbabazi, attacked her claiming she was misbehaving.
A few months later, her naked images surfaced, and Cindy blamed her former boss, Steve Jean.
Cindy Sanyu was dating Ken Muyisa, Fina Masanyalaze’s husband which caused conflict between the two ladies.
She organised a Kukyala, but Muyiisa did not show up at Cindy’s parents’ house. That was the final straw, and they split up.
Cindy and Sheeba Karungi have as of late clashed, and Cindy requested for a fight but Sheeba’s management refused. They both wrote songs that were complimentary to one another.
Editor’s Note: Please contact flashugnews@gmail.com if you find any of the content to be inaccurate or outdated.
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