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Onejiru

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Onejiru
Born30 October
Other namesOnejiro Schindler (stage name), Pielina Wanjiru Schindler (real name)
Occupation(s)singer, member of the Sisters
Known forLyrics in Kiswahili, supports gender equality

Onejiru is a contemporary Germany-based jazz singer. She was born in Kenya and moved to Germany when she was a teenager. Her real name is Pielina Wanjiru Schindler,[1] with stage names Onejiru and Onejiro Schindler.

Life as an artist

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Born in Kenya, Pielina Wanjiru Schindler grew up in Wanne-Eickel, Germany, where her musical experience started in a girls' choir and ballet lessons.[2] Early on in her career as a singer, and by the name of Onejiru, she became a member of Helge Schneider's band Fighters. Onejiro toured Germany and Austria, then also sang on the albums of Jan Delay, Sam Ragga Band (de) (Loktown Hi-Life, 2003)[3] and Matthias Arfmann (de).[4][5][6] The album "Prophets of Profit" was released in 2006.[7][8] She is a member of the Sisters (de), an all female band of singers, and they entered Gender Riots singing Unite, ranked 14th at the Bundesvision Song Contest 2008, North Rhine-Westphalia.[9][10]

On October 11, 2012, the Sisters were invited to the first United Nations International Day of the Girl, and they selected the song "Because I am a Girl". They have been ambassadors for the campaign since 2010, realizing UN World Girls Day is a campaign to have equal rights for girls and boys. The song "Because I am a Girl" was composed for the campaign. During their visit, the Sisters performed at the B. B. King Blues Club in NY.[11]

With the Sisters, she was invited to Cologne for the 14th Afrikan Film Festival in September 2016, since their activities fit the event's theme was “Sisters in African Cinema”.[12] The Sisters, then named Sister Keepers before 2005 for anti-racism,[13] expanded their focus and in 2010, visited schools in Hamburg, Germany in events hosted by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung “bpb”). The program included works to empower girls, with dance and singing classes in which girls and boys learnt to work together. Those programs offered a chance for students to reflect on life in multicultural settings, including the issue of "Afro-Germans – Foreign in your own country".[12][14] Collaboration with Plan International invited the Sisters to tour Brazil, Ghana, Togo, as well as cities in Germany for the project "Girls go for Goals" in 2011.[15]

Kenyan heritage

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Onejiro featured in the documentary film, Black Milk- Halbschwarz geht nicht (English: Black Milk- Half-black doesn’t work), which was created by director Britta Wandaogo,[16] a story about a Kenyan woman between "home and foreign" countries. When Onejiru visited Kenya at the age of 22,[17] it had been 10 years since she moved to Germany, and she realized that living in Germany made her grow accustomed to the cultural environment in Germany against her roots in Kikuyu culture. That notion lead her to a conflict of her heart against educated mind. The film followed her dealing with the struggle to finally find peace of mind and recognize that her identity is not split between being a Kenyan and living in Germany.[17]

I don’t have to cower myself – I’m already black!

The film "Black Milk- Halbschwarz geht nicht" was nominated for the 21st International Film Festival Emden-Norderney (de) in 2009 and entered for the DMG Award.[18]

In 2014, Onejiro went on a tour to Addis Abeba for a non-profit organization Viva con Agua for the cause of clean drinking water and performed as a guest singer at a concert by Gentleman with Tamika, Ivy Quainoo and Silly Walks.[17][19] At Addis Abeba, they sang the song "Ethiopia Calling".[20] That tour continued to Kenya, where she appeared on stage with Marteria and Maeckes (de), as well as Octopizzo.[21]

Discography

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  • 2003: Wasser (Sam Ragga Band, featuring Onejiru)[22] Produced by Silly Walks Discotheque
  • 2003: Loktown Hi-Life (Sam Ragga Band, with de:FlowinImmO (de) or arias ImmO, Samy Deluxe, Jan Delay and Onejiru)[23]
  • 2003: Heaven (Turtle Bay Country Club featuring Onejiru & Patrice) from album "Universal Monstershark"[24] Later covered by Onejiru in album "Prophets of Profit"[25]
  • 2005: From a New World – Recomposed (Deutsche Grammophon) Berliner Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan. "Dvorák: Symphony No.9 In E Minor, Op.95 "From The New World" (Remix)" (first edition (January 1st, 2005)). Matthias Arfmann, Onejiru (2009-03-07 ed.). Berlin: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  • 2006: Prophets of Profit (Golden Delicious Music)[25]
  • 2006: Motorcitysoul – INFRACom[26]
  • 2008: Gender Riots Sisters (de), Echo Beach (Indigo (de))[27]

Compilation contributions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pielina Schindler". Warner/Chappell Music. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  2. ^ "The formation of the circle of friends – Friends of Umoja" (in German). Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  3. ^ Sam Ragga Band (2003-01-13). "Loktown Hi-Life". Wea International (Warner). ASIN B004VCN9ZQ. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  4. ^ "Hi Life". laut.de (de). 2003-01-13. Retrieved 2016-10-20.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Matthias Arfmann Presents Ballet Jeunesse (Limited Edition)". M. Arfmann (Artist and composer), Dforb, Onejiru, Krs One, Kele, André Tschaikowsky (composer), Georges Bizet (composer), Igor Strawinsky (composer), Bernd Ruf (conductor). Universal Music Classics (Universal Music). 2016-09-09. ASIN B01HQWP3LA. Retrieved 2016-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ "Matthias Arfmann Presents Ballet Jeunesse". Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg, Matthias Arfmann, Onejiru Schindler. Berlin: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH. 2016-09-09. ASIN B01H7X9DOG. Retrieved 2016-10-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ Vina Yun (2006-04-19). "Onejiru Prophets of Profit: Record Critics to Their Album" (in German). Cologne, Germany: Intro GmbH & Co. KG. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  8. ^ "Die Tageszeitung – Interdeutschland". Musik-Sammler.de. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  9. ^ "Unite- 424397". Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  10. ^ "Stars and Info". Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  11. ^ "Sisters bei der UN in NEW YORK" [Sisters at the UN in New York] (in German). October 8, 2012. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  12. ^ a b Mkenyaujerumani (2016-09-13). "Kenya at the 14th Afrika Film Festival in Cologne". Mkenya Ujerumani. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  13. ^ "Sisters (5) Profile". Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  14. ^ "Afrodeutsch – Fremd im eigenen Land" [Afro-Germans – Foreign in your own country] (in German). Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  15. ^ "Sisters—Unsere Bisherigen Projekte und Erfolge" [Our projects and successes] (in German). ©Onejiru. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  16. ^ "Black Milk nominated for the DGB-Film Award 200: International Filmfestival Emden-Norderney". Wandaogo. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  17. ^ a b c Mkenyaujerumani (2014-06-08). "Kenyan Artist Features in Gentleman's New Song". Mkenya Ujerumani. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  18. ^ "DGB vergibt Preis für sozialkritischen Film: Fünf Filme beim 20. Internationalen Filmfest Emden-Norderney nominiert" [DGB awards prize for socially critical film: Five films nominated at 20th International Filmfest Emden-Norderney] (in German). 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  19. ^ "Onejiru von Viva con Agua "Uganda ist Wunderschon"" [Onejiru and Viva con Agua; "Uganda is a Miracle"] (in German). Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  20. ^ Mädchenfilm. "ETHIOPIA CALLING – TRAILER". vimeo. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  21. ^ Yontar, Samira (2014-10-07). "Viva con Agua – #Waterwater-Projektreise: Gemeinsamer Song von Marteria, Maeckes, Onejiru und Octopizzo [News]" [Viva con agua – #Waterwater project trip, joint song by Marteria, Maeckes, Onejiru and Octopizzo] (in German). JUICE MAGAZIN – HipHop & Rap. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  22. ^ "Wasser (From the Album Loktown Hi-Life)". Eimsbush Entertainment. 2003-01-13. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  23. ^ Sam Ragga Band (2003-01-13). "Loktown Hi-Life". Eimsbush Entertainment. ASIN B004VD2CHQ. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  24. ^ Turtle Bay Country Club. "Heaven [feat. Onejiru]". Motor / Universal Music Domestic Division. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  25. ^ a b Onejiru (2006-04-21). "Prophets of Profit". Golden Delicious Music / Gdm (Soulfood). ASIN B000F6ZGR6. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  26. ^ (Potelea) Mbali (2006-06-30). "Motorcitysoul" (EP). Onejiru. INFRACom. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  27. ^ "Gender Riots" (CD). Echo Beach. 2008-08-26. ASIN B001BP2Z5Q. Retrieved 2016-10-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |people= ignored (help)
  28. ^ Onejiru (2008-11-18). "Prophets of Profit". Golden Delicious Music. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  29. ^ Frost & Wagner (2008-05-02). "Remixes" (Audio CD). Various artists. Best Seven (rough trade). ASIN B0014R9EKA. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
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