SUZAN KERUNEN

Hailed as the “Alur queen”, Ugandan singer Suzan Kerunen has been enchanting audiences with her music done in her local Ugandan languages of Alur-Jonam, Kiswahili, English or even French and Arabic.

Kerunen’s music offers a bold cultural statement through which all of her ancestral influences from Nebbi-Junam and Zombo palwo come to life. You will also hear a blend of East African and West African ambience, through teasers of zouk, Congolese and afro-soul grooves emerging as a soulful expression of color and beauty of Ugandan rhythms which will surely over power your mind.

Her music clearly spells the desire to break all cultural boundaries used to keep people divided. Suzan Kerunen’s music is a universal message of peace, love, unity and culture.

Suzan Kerunen started her career as a young girl with her two sisters in an all-girl group called "Soul of Africa". She later went on to launch her solo career with her debut album Nimefika, a Kiswahili term meaning “I have arrived”.

Suzan has rapidly established herself as one of the new voices in African music. She has twice been nominated at the Kora all African music awards. She has also performed on internationally acclaimed stages and festivals such as Bayimba festival and Safaricom International Jazz festival.

Suzan Kerunen is an artist who has committed herself on numerous occasions to causes close to her heart (cancer, HIV, child soldiers, etc.), through her art.

She founded the Pearl Rhythm Foundation Limited (PRF) in 2012, a Ugandan music and creative organization, that organises every year in October the Pearl Rhythm Festival, aiming to showcase new fresh talent discovered. In 2023, Suzan used the foundation as a learning platform to educate her audience on climate change and how it has affected the Batwa community of Uganda.

In 2024, celebrated the 10 year anniversary of “Acher Achera,” that is now available in all digital platforms. This album is a celebration of Suzan’s late father who heavily influenced her life.

“The songs on this album talk about sisterhood, resilience, celebration and self-esteem, it defines a special season in my life. The memory of my loving dad and the celebration of new life,” Suzan says.

Selected Projects and Performances

2023 - Behind The Bridges Cultural Exchange Residency - Wichernhaus Altdorf, Germany

2023 - Sunday Bottomless Brunch - Kampala, Uganda

2022 - Afropalooza - Kampala, Uganda

2022- Sauti za Busara- Zanzibar

2019- “EBIKOKYO” Tour- Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia

2018 - Fête de la musique- Burundi

2019 - SAMA festival- Sudan

2018 - ACCESS- Kenya

2017 - Pearl Rhythm festival- Uganda

2017 - Blankets and wine- Uganda

2016 - ONGEA- Kenya