The 2022 International Songwriting Competition has announced its winners with J.S. Ondara taking home the grand prize of $25,000, plus other related awards.

Ondara is a Grammy-nominated artist from Nairobi, Kenya. He won this competition with “An Alien In Minneapolis,” a song from his third album “The Spanish Villager No. 3.” Ondara shares his real-life “experience of moving to America and being an outsider in a foreign place.” Along with the cash prize he also received a music promotion distribution package from Play MPE worth $4,000.

This year’s panel of judges included members of top artists in all 24 music categories, including Pop/Top 40, Rock, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Country, Jazz, and more.

The International Songwriting Competition Founder and Director Candace Avery said in a press release, “Ondara’s music is a true reflection of the diversity and richness of the human experience. His ability to convey authentic, complex emotions through his lyrics and music is truly remarkable. We are extremely excited about this artist, and it is such an honor to award the ISC Grand Prize to him.”