Rose Mhando
Rose Muhando is a Tanzanian gospel singer, songwriter, and choreographer. She is among the prominent gospel artists in East and Central Africa. Some of her best known songs include: Mteule Uwe Macho, Yesu Nakupenda, Nipishe Nipite, Nibebe, Utamu Wa Yesu, Ndivyo Ulivyo, Hatumo, Wololo, Secret Agenda, Nipe Number, among others. She has been described by the public and media as the queen of gospel music in East and Central Africa.
Life and career
Muhando was born and grew up in Kilosa, Morogoro, Tanzania. Her career started in 2005 when she won several awards. She got a Sony Music deal in 2011. In the mid-2010s, she faced controversies and struggles that led her to move to Kenya, but has made a comeback, releasing music and receiving accolades. In 2012, she released her fourth studio album Utamu wa Yesu, after signing a record deal with Sony Music Africa, the first gospel singer in East and Central Africa to do so. With her fourth studio album, Muhando sold both physical and digital copies of the album and singles, making the album the most played in all of East and Central Africa.With this album she toured in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Senegal, DR Congo, Congo, South Africa, Malawi, and other African countries.
After suffering from mental health due to violence by her former management, she received treatment in Nairobi, Kenya and after a break came back with another hit, Yesu Karibu Kwangu. In 2020 she released another album, Miamba Imepasuka.
Muhando released another album in 2022, Secret Agenda, breaking records of streams, views and sales in East and Central Africa's gospel music industry with the title track one of the most played songs in radios and television in the region in 2022 and 2023.
In 2024 she released an EP, Amefanya, with six songs. In 2025 following gaining popularity in TikTok, she released another version of her hit "Amina", a single from her 2008 album Jipange Sawa Sawa.
In 2025, Muhando was given an honorary award in the Tanzania Gospel Music Awards. In the 2025 East Africa Gospel Music Awards, Muhando won four awards including Best Praise Artist of The Year in East Africa, and was given the honorary award of Best Legendary Female Gospel Artist of East Africa.
Muhando is considered the best-selling gospel singer of all time in East and Central Africa with over 25 million units of records in the region. Muhando is also considered the best-selling female artist of all time in Tanzania. She is the best-selling artist of all time in Tanzania based on overall sales.
Personal life
Muhando, a former Muslim and mother of three, claims to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ while indisposed on her sick bed at the age of nine, having suffered for three years, after which she was healed and later converted to Christianity.Discography
Uwe Macho Kitimutimu Jipange Sawasawa Nyota ya Ajabu - EP Utamu Wa Yesu Yesu Kung'uta Kamata Pindo La Yesu Mungu Anacheka Nampenda Yesu - EP Jitenge Na Lutu - EP Miamba Imepasuka Secret Agenda- ''Amefanya - EP''
Awards
- 2005 Tanzania Music Awards: Best Female Vocalist & Best Religious Song
- 2009 The Best Tanzanian Gospel Singer Awards: Rose Mhando; The Best Singer in Tanzania, awarded Tsh 200,000 by Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation TBC under the umbrella of her song "Nibebe"
- 2008 Kenya Groove Awards - Best Female Gospel Artist in Africa.
- ICON AWARD at the 2025 Tanzania Gospel Music Awards for her legendary service in music and career.
- Rose Muhando has more than 50 Awards and Certificates for her service in Music.