Biography Of Sanaipei Tande “Sana” [Age, Net Worth, Husband, Family, Children, Parents & Siblings]

Natasha Sanaipei Tande (born 22 March 1985) popularly known as Sana, is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, actress, karaoke host, radio personality and entertainer known for her sultry voice and Swahili lyricism.

Sanaipei’s musical style is versatile, incorporating elements of R&B, Afropop, Zouk, Reggae, and Neo-Taarab. Her voice is light and sultry with a smooth timbre. She has received sole writing credits for most of her songs and praise for her lyrical style of writing and mastery of Swahili.

Sanaipei has been described as having “undeniable sex appeal”. While her onstage persona is lively and seductive, she tends to keep a low profile and avoid questions about her personal life.

Early Life and Career

For primary school, Sanaipei attended Loreto Convent Mombasa. Thereafter, she joined Mama Ngina High School and later transferred to Aga Khan High School Mombasa. She describes herself as an excellent swimmer, who remembers sneaking out of school once to attend a swimming gala. When she was 16 years old, Sanaipei’s family relocated to Matasia, Ngong. She completed her high school education at St Lucie Kiriri Girls, Nairobi, where she led the school choir. In 2004, she joined the Kenya Medical Training College to study Pharmacy.

In 2004, at 19 years of age, Sanaipei joined the Coca-Cola Popstars (East Africa) Talent Search after coaxing from her family. After successfully auditioning for the show, she deferred her college studies. She won the competition alongside two fellow contestants, Kevin Waweru and Pam Waithaka. Together, they formed the band Sema and won a record deal with Homeboyz Records. In 2005, the trio released a seventeen track debut album Mwewe, with hit singles Leta Wimbo, Sakalakata, and the eponymous Mwewe, thrusting them into the limelight. Later in the same year, the band split, citing “irreconcilable differences” and “external forces”.

Following the disbandment of Sema, Sanaipei embarked on a solo music career, featuring in Kenyan rapper Jua Cali’s critically acclaimed hit single Kwaheri and collaborations with Madtraxx and Big Pin. Hot on the heels of Kwaheri, she released Najuta. She also ventured into karaoke and radio, joining Capital FM Kenya as a co-presenter on Eve D’Souza’s Hits Not Homework drive show in 2006. She later joined Kiss 100 FM in 2007 to host the mid-morning show. She also hosted Keeping It Kenyan, a weekend segment that featured underground Kenyan music and artists.

Upon her departure from Kiss 100, she joined Easy FM (now known as Nation FM) in 2013, as co-presenter of the drive show alongside Edward Kwach. In 2014, she released her hit single Mfalme wa Mapenzi as part of producer Wawesh’s Mahaba project, a showcase of Swahili love songs. The song achieved widespread critical acclaim for its well-crafted lyrics and tasteful visuals. Later, she began to host the mid-morning show alongside Obinna Ike Igwe. When Obinna was tranfered to the evening show, Sanaipei became the sole host of the mid-morning show and garnered the station’s largest listenership. In September 2015, Sanaipei and fellow presenters Ciru Muriuki and Anto Neo Soul were laid off. Her termination and that of her colleagues was met with much uproar on Twitter, with many listeners and fans demanding their reinstatement.

After leaving Easy FM, Sanaipei turned her focus toward her music career, releasing singles such as Rasta Man, Simama Imara, and Ankula Huu. Her hit single, Amina, broadened her regional appeal and caught the attention of Tanzanian pop star and musician Chege Chigunda, who flew her to Dar es Salaam and featured her in his Najiuliza single alongside Tanzanian singer Ray C.

After a cameo on NTV’s Auntie Boss! and a recurring role on Maisha Magic’s Varshita, both produced by Eve D’Souza’s Moon Beam Productions, Sanaipei landed a starring role as the eponymous character in Rashid Abdalla’s Aziza, a Swahili soap opera set in Mombasa. She continued her music career with a feature in Mombasa crooner Otile Brown’s Chaguo La Moyo, which holds the record of most-watched Kenyan video on YouTube with over 24.5 million views. In 2020, they released their second collaboration, the hit single Aiyana.

On 5 March 2020, Sanaipei hosted her final karaoke at The Grove on Riverside and hung up her karaoke boots. She went on to release Mdaka Mdakiwa, Kunitema, and her latest single Yako. She also featured in Nadia Mukami’s Wangu single off her African Popstar EP. The music video garnered 4 million views in its first week on YouTube and was dubbed the biggest Kenyan collaboration of the year. Sanaipei currently stars as Nana Tandala on Kina, a Kenyan adaptation of the South African television series The River, which airs on Maisha Magic Plus.

Parents and family

Sanaipei Tande’s parents are Mr and Mrs Tande.

She has siblings , but no much information about them at the moment.

Husband

Sanaipei Tande is currently single and not in any serious relationship for now. Sanaipei Tande is also not yet married. She also a mother of one.

Relationship and children Rumours

Actress and singer Sanaipei Tande opened up in details on claims that radio Presenter Maina Kageni offered her Sh500K to have his baby back in 2007.

Appearing on Churchill show, Sanaipei confirmed the allegations, with an explanation that Maina approached her when she had just joined Kiss 100.

“I had just joined Kiss 100. I had not secured my own show yet. He told me at that time that if I ever wanted to work another day in my life I had to give him a child. I was only 21 or 22 years of age, just about begin my career,” said Sanaipei Tande.

During the conversation, Ms Tande advised young girls who are yet to built their career not to involve themselves in relationships that will lead them to other responsibilities.

“I had not built myself and that is something I tell young girls until now, if you have not built yourself don’t involve yourself in relationships that will lead you to other responsibilities and you start depending on that man entirely,” she noted.

The former radio presenter went on to state Maina’s request has always landed her in trouble with Netizens.

“Every time I post anything on social media, netizens have to tag Maina Kageni in my comment section while constantly pressuring me to give him a baby ooh, give Maina Kageni a baby. In people’s mind because I don’t a lot about my love life they think that I’m available,” she said.

Sanaipei also mentioned that Maina brought up the topic in January 2021 when she went for an interview on Classic 105.

“Mara ya kwanza hakusema kuna Sh500K, na sasa wasichana wananiambia wewe wacha kuwa mjinga but unfortunately for me money doesn’t not control me,” said Ms Tande.

Maina’s confession

In January 2021, Maina said that he was willing to give the singer Sh500, 000 monthly as child upkeep back in 2007 but Ms Tande turned down his offer of having a baby for him.

“She is glowing, so voluptuous anakaa poa, why did you refuse to have my baby? I gave you a proposition in 2007. I was ready to be giving you half a million shillings a month, a house kwanza in Lavington, and anything you wanted. Do you even know my mum had told me that if I get a child she will give me that house of hers in Lavington?,” posed Maina Kageni.

In September 2021, Maina said that he has always had a crush on Ms Tande and given a chance he is ready to start a family with her.

“Who would you Kiss, date and Marry between; Nadia Mukami, Sanaipei Tande and Tanasha Donna?

With no hesitation Maina replied; “I will marry Sanaipei. I have always crushed on her, I have asked her to have my baby she has refused from kitambo. I will marry her at the drop of a heart anyday. She is my all-time crush and forever”.

Children

Sanaipei Tande currently has no kids for now.

Net Worth

Sanaipei Tande’s net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million – $20 million making her one of the richest female musician in Kenya.