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| Mirugi in action @Pawa Studios |
For Mirugi Dishon, popularly known within Kikuyu Music Scene
for his gospel hits ‘Matiribu’ and ‘Kuguru Kugondoku’ his start in music in
2003 was accidental. He had hoped his
athletic ability in sports like volleyball and football would lead him to a
career in the Kenya army. As fate would have it, it never happened.
His desire to come to Nairobi was borne out of hardships he
faced in his Ngano home village, Nyahururu where he was a casual labourer in
people’s farms after high school. In Dandora Nairobi, he started a small shop
with earnings he had saved in the village. From a capital of Sh18, 000 it grew
to a stock of Sh80, 000, life as a young businessman for Mirugi looked
promising even his peers complemented him.
The growth of that budding business stalled when the
landlord asked him to vacate since he wanted to start a butchery business. Since Mirugi’s shop was next to a bar, the
landlord figured he could make money selling roast meat to bar patrons if Mirugi
moved. Vacate he did, though the
landlord was begged by customers not to kick him, out he remained adamant. Where he moved his shop there was no
electricity, and customers were hard to come by.
Faced with dull business future Mirugi knew if nothing
changed, he would have to go back to the village to work as farmhand. That terrified him to the core, to avoid it
he sold all his stock uncertain of what to do next. Friends urged him to do driving but saw no
financial security in it.
Musical Start
Incidentally, while he had the shop, as a hobby he composed
songs but never took it seriously though it came natural. Two of his former customers, Muhiko and
Ezekiel Njagi of ‘Uhinga ni Design’ song were prominent Kikuyu musicians in
River Road Nairobi. He turned to them with the songs he had, sensing his raw
talent they encouraged and connected him to Wanjohi wa Keyboard a producer.
“I had faced lots of troubles by then and the prospect of
hawking music didn’t faze me,” said Mirugi as long as it got him his daily
bread. In 2004 he sang he released his
first CD ‘Ninguria Kanyamu’ (I’ll eat something). What amused him was his gift of song writing
never got exhausted he wrote more songs and began to see music as a career. He aggressively hawked the CD as far as
Isiolo, Nakuru and Mombasa. As he lacked
money for a portable CD player, he sung to prospective customers what was in
the CDs. For his efforts He sold 15,000
copies. Every little money, he earned he recorded.
Breakthrough
“Sometimes customers pitied me and bought and encouraged me,”
said Mirugi. The album didn’t receive any media airplay. Being a new musician;
Mirugi never knew how to get it to Coro, Inooro and Kameme FM the three Kikuyu
Media stations. From the savings he
released his second album ‘Kuguru Kugondoku’ (sprained leg) in 2007. The song,
‘Kuguru Kugondoku’ was first played at Inooro FM in 2009 after he had hawked
the album for two years. “That was just
GOD’s time and people loved the song,” said Mirugi. With time all the other two
stations played the song.
The song opened avenues for Mirugi to be invited in
churches, crusades and other events on regularly. With a steady income streams he recorded his
third album Matiribu (seasons). The title song ‘Matiribu’ driven by melodious
opening rock guitar riff in vein of Slash’s Sweet Child of Mine captured
fans. It’s also a permanent fixture
every Sunday 9:30pm at Inooro FM before the counseling show by Pastor JJ
Gitahi. Other hits from ‘Matiribu’ album include ‘Hau noho’ and ‘Uria Ngwika’ Currently Mirugi is finalizing his fourth
album.
Influences and
Composition
In his musical journey Mirugi’s influences are Muhiko,
Muigai wa Njoroge and Ezekiel Mwangi who helped him navigate music production. He estimates all his albums have sold around
20,000 copies but admits piracy has hit hard. To earn he relies on shows and
laments after all the media airplay he is yet to get a cent from Music
Copyright Society of Kenya. “It’s
impossible to live on CD sales,” said Mirugi. In one show he can earn from Sh10, 000
onwards.
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| Mirugi at his Pawa Studios |
To Young Musicians
He encourages young musicians to understand their gifts are
treasures they should dedicate to GOD. “Every musician is unique only GOD can
make your message connect with people,” said Mirugi. Having performed in most
parts of Kenya, he urges his Diaspora fans to invite him to perform. “We need
them and it will give us exposure,” he said. He can sing live or with CD but that depends
on how much is paid by event organizers. “I spread the gospel through music,” said
Mirugi.
When not at events, his days are spent at his Pawa
Productions at Simba Centre River Road, where he has recorded over 100 songs
for other musicains. He collaborates with musicians like Jimmy CB Sir, Mary
Wangeci and Muhiko. At 27 years he is a
father of one and invites musicians to record at his studio.
To get his music email apollojkm@yahoo.com
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