Dena Mwana’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story
Rachel Hickman
Published Jan 04, 2026
| Intro | Congolese singer | |
| Is | Singer | |
| From | Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Type | Music | |
| Gender | female | |
| Birth | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Genre: |
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| Instruments: |
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Dena Mwana is a gospel singer and composer originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Biography
Mwana was born on December 27, 1986 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; her name at birth was Denise Mwanakitata Muwayi. She is the sixth child, from a family of eight children. Mwana began singing in public as part of a church choir, “Notre dame de Grâce”, in Kinshasa at the age of 13 and she was their music director by the age of 18. In 1998, the choir rose to prominence over a patriotic hymn, which was copied by schools across the DRC, making her vocal style well-known across the country.
Career
Early career
In 2003, the Professor of Music at the National Institute of the Arts, Rigobert Mbila, suggested that Mwana set up her own singing group. By 2004, her first band, Acapella Thematic Musical Group, was born.
In 2006, Mwana emigrated to the United States to pursue a career in gospel music, settling in Virginia. From 2008, Mwana decided to split her time between the US and the DRC, joining the Philadelphia Mission Choir in Kinshasa as cantor. Her Christian faith is central to her singing, compositions and performance.
Discography
Mwana has released two albums :
- Hosanna (2011)
- Monene (2016)
And several singles, which include:
- “Se-Yo” (2014)
- “Saint Esprit” (2018)
- “Souffle” (2019)
In 2013, she became the first artist of the Happy People label, and in 2019 she was signed by Motown Gospel Africa a record label of the major Universal Music Group. She sings in French, English and Lingala.
Performances
Mwana’s voice has led her to perform in more than sixteen countries around the world. Some of those places include:
- Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco (2019)
- Hotel La Falaise in Yaoundé, Cameroon (2019)
- Fragrance of Worship in Bujumbura, Burundi (2018)
- Grand Théâtre in Dakar, Senegal (2017)
Awards
Mwana has been a winner and nominee at the African Gospel Music Awards.
- 2013 – AGMA winner – Central African Artiste of Excellence
- 2016 – Etando Award: Art & Culture (2016)
- 2019 – AGMA Winner – Central African Artiste of Excellence
Family
Dena Mwana is married to her manager and founder of HappyPeople record label, Mr Michel Mutahali and they have three children: two boys and a girl.
