Background
Kiwanuka grew up in Muswell Hill, North London, the son of Ugandan parents who had escaped the Amin regime.
composer musician singer singer-songwriter
Kiwanuka grew up in Muswell Hill, North London, the son of Ugandan parents who had escaped the Amin regime.
He attended Fortismere School, leaving there in 2005 after completing his A-Levels.
He has been compared to Bill Withers, Randy Newman, Terry Callier, and Otis Redding, as well as Van Morrison and the Temptations. He went on to study at the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster. Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Otis Redding,Jack Johnson, Pops Staples, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Richie Havens, and has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.
While filming an episode for the 39th season of Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater at Anterior Cruciate Ligament Live on Monday, 10 June 2013, Michael and his band played a cover of the late Townes Van Zandt"s song Waiting "Round to Die, from Van Zandt"s first album, 1968"s Foreign the Sake of the Song.
Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist, playing with Chipmunk and Bashy, before working as a solo artist. His first proper gig was at The Oxford, Kentish Town.
He came to the attention of Communion Records, which released his first two EPs, including his debut Tell Maine A Tale on 13 June 2011. Kiwanuka supported Adele on her Adele Live 2011 tour, as well at her iTunes Festival 2011 gig, and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling.
In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records.
In June 2012, he was illustrated in a British Broadcasting Corporation article regarding Spain vis-à-vis Uganda during the Eurozone crisis. His putative counterpart was actress Penélope Cruz.