History

In 1982, what started as a family singing group made up of our Late Mom Lonica Mkubwa, Ebbie, Nick, Jane ”Alivitsa” Okola, Joy and Solomon was first known ”Anointing Singers”. Dad is the one who gave the name to the family singing group. Every time the Anointing Singers ministered, there was such an anointing that people would start to cry. Usually, the Anointing Singers would minister in song…s on most Sunday evening services at Bahati Social Hall just before Dad, Bishop Sam Mkubwa came to preach. After Mom went to be with the Lord in September of 1985, the Anointing Singers dwindled a bit from the loss of a key member and mom of the family. We didn’t sing as a group for almost six months. After that period of mourning, the group re- organized and invited other talents to come on board. After this time, Edward Oyieri, JT Owade and Eunice Wandia Kinyanjui came on board to join Ebbie, Nick and Jane Alivitsa.

The young members of the Anointing Singers started singing with ” Children’s Choir” or as was known at that time ” Choir ya Watoto” under the leadership of Brother Owade. In this group was Miriam Mkubwa, Benjamin, Purity, Eunice of mama Asha and Solomon Mkubwa. In 1986, the Anointing Singers adopted the name ” The Six” because of its six member group. They sang and ministered together not just at Assemblies of Christ Church but also in Colleges and Schools as the Lord opened the doors. In the Summer of 1987, ”The Six” once again lost a key member of its group when Eunice Wandia Kinyanjui went to be with the Lord. The group sang at her Funeral and after going through a healing time, started accepting other talented singers to join. At this time the younger Mkubwa singers were no longer little, and had demonstrated clearly that they could perform and sing and even play musical instruments at a high level. It was about this time in 1987 that Joy Mkubwa Thomas and Solomon Mkubwa came on board full time and so there was a need to change the name from ”Six” since the group was no longer limited to #6. In 1988 after a lot of brainstorming with all the members at the time, Nixon’s suggestion to call the group ”SOLACE ”was adopted which means ”to bring comfort, consolation, support or relief ” to hurting people. All along, the Anointing Singers ,The Six and now Solace Singers were known for ministering to people to the point of tears. The people have always been touched by our music and singing and that’s why the group always strives to seek young talented singers who love and enjoy contemporary gospel music and are not ashamed to express themselves in song.

The group always strives for Excellence in music, not just in performing but in ministering. On or about this time late 1988, Florence Amuguni Obimbo, a very talented singer also joined the group and we had the opportunity to do the ”Easter Cantata” together in Easter of 1989. Miriam Mkubwa, Emmanuel Mkubwa, Susan Maitha, Morris Mkubwa, Joshua Maith, Nancy Maith, Priscillah Mkubwa, Tabitha Njenga and Pauline Njenga who used to sing in the Children’s choir got on board in 1993. This made the group effective and stable. In January of 1994 Joy Mkubwa Thomas, one of the key members left Kenya for U.S for further studies. In the summer of the same year, the leader and current director of the group, Minister Solomon Mkubwa also left for U.S as he passed on the mantle to Emmanuel Mkubwa after taking Solace Singers to greater heights. Since then Emmanuel has been leading the group as many more members as George Marsha, Charles Otieno, Fred Kaloki, Philip Muthusi, Damaris, Jerusha, Ann and many other young people joined the group. Through it all, God has been faithful as He’s been opening doors for Solace to minister in schools, Colleges, International Conferences, Crusades and different Churches.

By the grace of God, Solace has stepped and ministered to different Nations of Africa like Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and S. Africa, Netherlands and Germany in Europe and USA. From these Missions, God has raised up different ministers from within us as Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers of the Word, Prophets and Intercessors. We believe God even as the Solace Ministries International is launched this 20th day of March, the year of our Lord 2005, God is going to open more doors to the Nations for his glory. This far the Lord has brought us, to Him be praise and glory, blessing and honor, dominion and power forever and ever. Amen!