Munachi Nwanknwo
Encyclopedia
Munachi Abii is a Nigeria
n rap / hip-hop artiste, songwriter, former beauty queen, television presenter and model who performs under the name Muna.
-native Muna was encouraged by her family to pursue her passion for music and arts. After obtaining her O'Level qualifications from Federal Government Girls College Abuloma, she studied International relations
and Diplomacy
at the Benson Idahosa University
. She has since graduated, and served as a youth corper in Rivers State
.
pageant. Her projects as reigning queen were polio and Sickle cell awareness, and she represented Nigeria
at Miss World
in China
later that year. In 2009, Muna worked with MBGN 2000 winner Matilda Kerry
on a project to raise awareness on cervical cancer
.
, she has written songs for artistes such as J Martins and Waje, and has also appeared in several music videos, most notably in P Square's "Ifunanya".
In June 2010, after years of collaborating with various artistes, Muna signed a multi-year management contract with Ayo Shonaiya
's RMG company and is currently recording songs in Nigeria
, Europe
and America
for the album The Goddess, The Hustler to be released in the spring of 2011, which will include the singles I Feel Real, and Killer Queen.. Muna continues to collaborate with other hip hop artistes; in early 2011, she wrote the lyrics and featured on Waje's hit single So Inspired and also appeared in rapper Suspect's video for I No Send You.
In 2011, Muna was chosen as one of the rappers (female) to feature and represent Nigeria on the globally televised BET
Cypher for the BET Awards
.
as a model for Lux
and currently features in commercials for the brand, following in the footsteps of Patti Boulaye
and Genevieve Nnaji
.
In April 2011, after shooting the video for her feature on Michael Word's Pop Sugar, she co-presented the television series Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n rap / hip-hop artiste, songwriter, former beauty queen, television presenter and model who performs under the name Muna.
Early Life
Born and raised in Port Harcourt, OwerriOwerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
-native Muna was encouraged by her family to pursue her passion for music and arts. After obtaining her O'Level qualifications from Federal Government Girls College Abuloma, she studied International relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
at the Benson Idahosa University
Benson Idahosa University
The Benson Idahosa University is a private, non-profit, Christian university in Benin City, Nigeria.Benson Idahosa University is named after Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a Charismatic Pentecostal minister from Benin City, Nigeria, and reflects his evangelical beliefs. The president of Benson Idahosa...
. She has since graduated, and served as a youth corper in Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
.
Pageants
During her second year at University in 2007, Muna won the Most Beautiful Girl in NigeriaMost Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant originally began as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983, and was created by Silverbird Group. It was later re-named Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1986. Winners represent Nigeria in Miss World and, until recently, Miss Universe – currently, only the...
pageant. Her projects as reigning queen were polio and Sickle cell awareness, and she represented Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
at Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
later that year. In 2009, Muna worked with MBGN 2000 winner Matilda Kerry
Matilda Kerry
Matilda Kerry, MD is a Nigerian doctor. Kerry attended Federal Girls College, Benin,and later the University of Lagos where she studied Medicine and Surgery. In 2000, she was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, making her Nigeria's Miss World 2000 representative. As MBGN, her project was...
on a project to raise awareness on cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
.
Music Career
Prior to winning MBGN, Muna had performed as part of Port Harcourt-based rap group The Specimen A, and collaborated with Terry da Rapman on the critically acclaimed My PH Girl. Contrary to popular believe, Muna did not start her music career with rap group Ijaw Boyz, although she did perform with them as a guest artiste. As a solo artist, she performed as Babyrella before changing her stage name to Muna. As a songwriterSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, she has written songs for artistes such as J Martins and Waje, and has also appeared in several music videos, most notably in P Square's "Ifunanya".
In June 2010, after years of collaborating with various artistes, Muna signed a multi-year management contract with Ayo Shonaiya
Ayo Shonaiya
Ayo Shonaiya is a producer of film, television and music projects. He is also a lawyer and an experienced talent agent who has managed and represented many of Nigeria's top artists, over time or on a one off basis...
's RMG company and is currently recording songs in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the album The Goddess, The Hustler to be released in the spring of 2011, which will include the singles I Feel Real, and Killer Queen.. Muna continues to collaborate with other hip hop artistes; in early 2011, she wrote the lyrics and featured on Waje's hit single So Inspired and also appeared in rapper Suspect's video for I No Send You.
In 2011, Muna was chosen as one of the rappers (female) to feature and represent Nigeria on the globally televised BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
Cypher for the BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
.
Other work
In 2011, Muna signed an endorsement deal with UnileverUnilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
as a model for Lux
Lux (soap)
Lux is a global brand developed by Unilever. The range of products includes beauty soaps, shower gels, bath additives, hair shampoos and conditioners. Lux started as “Sunlight Flakes” laundry soap in 1899....
and currently features in commercials for the brand, following in the footsteps of Patti Boulaye
Patti Boulaye
Patti Boulaye is a British singer, actress and artist who was among the leading black British entertainers in the seventies and eighties...
and Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress. In 2005 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. CNN states that she is referred to as the "Julia Roberts of Africa".- Early life :...
.
In April 2011, after shooting the video for her feature on Michael Word's Pop Sugar, she co-presented the television series Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa.