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Born Max Nyatome in January 4th of 1982, Didge grew up listening his father’s soul records; Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Fadhili Williams and Miriam Makeba. His mum was in the choir so she taught him about harmonies and good music. He grew up around music but only started to take itseriously after school.

Career
The smooth soul star’s first release was the 2003 hit ‘Kitangoma’ that gave him undeniable entryinto the music business as a master of his won destiny. His style was so fresh in East Africa thathe was quickly put to work at Kenya’s biggest recording house; Blue Zebra studios, a perfectatmosphere for a musician to develop and build his career. After establishing this as his base, hestarted laying down tracks for his debut album. But ‘Kitangoma’ was getting extensive airplay onradio stations across the East African region. As that happened the name Didge traveled to a lotof places especially board rooms and TV stations.

Soon after the release of his first single, he was offered a major figure advertising endorsement by Coca Cola for the Coke Real campaign. With that endorsement he traveled across Kenya promoting his style and sound for a couple of months. As soon had he finished the Coca Cola Real tour, he released another hit ‘Tingisha’ and in 2004 he landed a TV job hosting one of Kenya’s hit TV show called VIPI on Kenya Television Network. Didge was a wanted man by the ladies but his music was did the talking because in that same yearhe won the Best R&B Artist at the Kisima Music Awards 2004. While recording his TV show, he was chosen to enter MNET’s music reality show; Project Fame. The live show that was shown to over five million viewers across Africa, gave Didge a chance to shine to a lot more fans than hedid back home.

The show gave him a chance to perform in a few African countries including SouthAfrica, Botswana and Tanzania. On the show he was one of the most popular ones and he cameonly three places short of winning a lucrative recording deal with Gallo Records. On his return home in 2005, Didge had had enough of life in the fast lane and just wanted to dowhat he loved the most - sing. He embarked on making soul music and after recording over 50tracks, he chose the best twelve songs for his debut album Vintage Swahili. Vintage Swahili is a blend of beautiful neo-soul music that encourages all to enjoy life and celebratethe culture of Swahili. Swahili being the 7th most spoken language in the world, Didge had foundan avenue well suited to spread his love music. Inspired by the spices of the coast, the history ofSwahili, doors of Zanzibar, the poetry of taarab and neo-soul, Didge has revolutionised Kenyanmusic in general. “With my music, I just want to bring love back into people’s lives, I want to tell them its okay to holdyour partner’s hand and it is okay to love your partner,” Didge elaborates.

The first single off Vintage Swahili is the hit ‘Saa Zingine’ which has won him accolades from all corners. He was been nominated four times for the Channel O Music Awards 2006 for Best Video, Best RnB Video, Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year. He has also been nominated for MTV’s Alert artist in November 2006. All that and he has not even released the second single off the album yet. In East Africa he has curved a niche for himself for being the first artist to sing neo-soul and has created a popular style now known as Urban Swahili Soul. Didge is about to embark on a series of performances and album promotion throughout the world. With a unique style and love for his music, Didge is truly a Kenyan urban music wonder and hewill be around for a long time to come.




Awards / Recognitions

Project Fame South Africa (2005) - Finalist

Channel O Music Awards 2006 - Best Video, Best RnB Video, Best Male Artist and Artist of the Year

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