Beatrice Wangui (Jordan): From sleeping on the floor to excelling in Kikuyu Gospel Music

Early Life

In Kikuyu Music, Beatrice Wangui is nicknamed Jordan after the title of her 2002 debut hit album. Born in Kanyenyaini, Muranga County, the young Wangui had a natural talent in music as she grew up, in late 70s and early 80s. Then, she was the lead singer at youth camps organized by churches and at primary school festivals. What was evident at that young age was, Wangui had a natural talent to compose original songs that were sung at weddings, church events or music festivals. 

I’d just sit down and God would give me ideas on what to compose,” Wangui told Kikuyu Musicians. Later on she taught her peers to sing the songs she composed. She also credits her music teacher Mr. Gitau who gave her vocal training. A song like Jordan, which later got recorded in her debut album Wangui recalls she wrote it when young. “I never thought those songs could be produced,” Wangui said. 

Meeting Nebster Muhiko

After class 8 due to lack of fees and family problems Wangui’s formal education halted. With no further formal educational prospects, she joined her mother in picking tea as a casual laborer until 2000. She left home for her brother’s place in Nairobi. By then, songs that later were in the Jordan album, were being sung in Churches in Muranga before they were recorded. While at her brother’s place, she bumped on Nebster Muhiko a renowned gospel musician who was hawking his cassettes. 

Wangui longed to have her music produced and she be selling it. She approached Muhiko for advice on having her music produced. Less than a week later, Muhiko auditioned her to see if she could sing and was so impressed they did a duet on one of his songs “My Husband” after 3 days of rehearsal. Muhiko approached Joestar Productions and asked them to produce Wangui’s songs. Her mother gave her 20,000 to pay for the recording but the quality didn’t impress her. 

Debut Album Jordan

She re-recorded the whole Jordan album in 2002 and the VCD was released in 2005. The title song inspiration came from a preaching Wangui heard at a young age, on the story of Naman the leper king dipping himself on the Jordan River 7 times to be healed. The Jordan album was an instant debut hit and to date she has sold over 100,000 copies. That instant success from a first album made her realize it’s GOD who anoints one with favor and it’s not much about hard work.

“I know musicians who sing 5 albums and are it’s their 6^th that is recognized just wait on GOD,” noted Wangui. Her follow up album to the debut was a Kigooco (praise) album that added modernity to traditional Kikuyu spiritual gospel songs. Her third album Nikii Giki Wonire (what did you see) also hit. The title song, driven by a Keyboard riff from Njoroge Wa Keyboard sold and gave her lots of money. The title song, came about after she realized a friend she got saved with at a young age, and with whom they prayed together had backslid and gone to drinking and promiscuity. 

“It broke my heart to see her in that state, and in a way the song is directed to all backsliders though that lady life inspired the composition,” said Wangui. She recalls, her and the lady making promises to God when they were young at youth camps that if GOD blessed them, they would tithe and take care of the widows and orphans. The album garnered her money in millions of shillings and she bought her first car, a plot and built her home with 5 bedrooms. Until today, the album still sells at her music shop at Simba Centre River Road Nairobi. 

Composition through Experiences

To Wangui composing comes naturally, she gets the message or theme of the song first and the melody comes later automatically. “It’s a gift from GOD,” she adds. Most of her songs like ‘Niunumbuyagia Mwathani’ are on encouragement and draw inspiration from things she witnesses. In Jordan album, she sang a song ‘Ona Warumwo’ (even if taunted), after she visited a home where a mother in law publicly mocked her son’s wife, because she wanted him to marry another lady from a rich family unlike the one from a poor family she married. The song was directed to the lady to trust GOD amidst her tribulations.

Wangui’s own experiences have also served to inspire compositions. In her album Giki No Kiambiriria (This is a start) the title song and Tiga Niwe Mwathani (Were it not for You Lord) song are her story. After she began to be blessed she some friends start to gossip and get jealous of her. “Some friends I’d helped hated me not because I wronged them,” Wangui said. That inspired Wangui to compose Giki no KIambiriria, to illustrate this is just a beginning of God’s blessings with many more to come, and she won’t look back or stop praising because of jealousy.

Tiga Niwe song in Giki no Kiambiriria album also came through an experience. After she moved out of her brother’s home, she got reluctantly housed by her mom’s friend. But on the third week she was chased out subtly. Wangui recalls she used to sleep on the couch in the living room. One day the lady home owner woke her up at 5am, and told her there would be visitors who would sleepover. Wangui asked if she could come back in the evening, the lady home owner told her no, because the visitors would be there for days. That day, she went back to the village and joined her mother in picking tea there as she hawked some of her cassettes.

Sleeping on Cartons on the Floor and Power of Prayer

With the money she accumulated, Wangui came back to Nairobi, and rented a one room house in Huruma estate. On that house for 4 weeks, she slept on hard cartons spread on the floor and covered herself with a leso. She had borrowed the cartons from an Asian trader until she got money for a mattress. During the day she hawked cassettes. Still, she admits she loved life and was happy and content she had her own house and independence. Since earlier days a friend in earlier days had chased her out of a house they shared.

“Those who know me and my home today, don’t believe when I tell them I slept on cartons on the floor, GOD has blessed me,” said Wangui. That inspired her to compose Tiga Niwe song. Wangui says people should not despise themselves due to lack of education or coming from poor backgrounds. “I know GOD can mould Your life, educated or not if You have faith in HIM, this is me,” she adds. She also attributes her success to a prayer lifestyle as there are instances man may not be of help due to jealousy or biases. “Tell GOD what You desire,” she said.

Advice to Budding Musicians

To avoid frustrations of finding the right studio, Wangui advices budding musicians like from the village to connect with musicians whose music they like. With her she connected with Muhiko but with time got to know better quality recording studios. “I knew I could sing and my motive was for people to get God’s message through my songs,” said Wangui. Money according to Wangui, shouldn’t be motivate a gospel musician as ministering is what matters most. “Be patient and You will be rewarded by GOD even amidst piracy since GOD’s land never lacks harvests,” said Wangui.

She also urges one to go to gospel music only if it’s a calling from God not with aim of getting money like other established musicians. “Many have come with different motives and ended up disappointed,” said Wangui. Having been established as a gospel musician, she mentors and does backup vocals for other upcoming ones like Jane Mumenya, Milkah Irungu and Maggy Francis. She also sells their new music at her shop at Simba Centre which she has operated since 2004. And distributes the music through her car to reach more people and curtail the influence of pirates.

Her Future Aims

Her aim in coming years, it to start a music production studio to record other new musicians, currently she records at Dede records. However Wangui prefers to record at various studios to get different sounds. Niki Giki Wonire was recorded by John Chege of Strongpoint Media. To grow artistically in her music craft, she listens to other more established musicians to learn. She has also collaborated with Muigai Wa Njoroge and Muhiko in an album title Crisis 1 and 2 highlighting issues of IDPs in Kenya.

Elevation to Elite Platforms

Through music Wangui has gotten to perform for current Kenya’s President Uhuru. Every Friday to Sunday she sings at events like overnight prayer meetings, weddings and Sunday church services. Lately every Friday with Ngaruiya Junior, Njoroge wa Keyboard, Triza Wangui and Makumbi Pilot they do a praise show at Kameme FM hosted by Kamau wa Kamlesh. To Wangui, she considers that it’s GOD who chose them to be in that platform, since they were chosen from a big pool.

Besides music, she acts as ‘Wagacuma’ and produces Christian themed plays with the likes of veteran River Road actor, Wandahuhu, Githendu and Nyakirata. Even when young she used to act in school plays. Those plays centre on God giving victory in every situation one goes through. Wangui runs a group caring for orphans and widows and urges fans to join her in that ministry. “Its what I promises GOD I’d do if HE uplifted me, besides tithing and HE has,” she said.

Besides GOD, Wangui appreciates her fans even in Diaspora buying her music and are blessed by it. She urges those outside Kenya, to invite her to minister in crusades or churches, and prays that GOD gives them their hearts desires. She is also a mother to a son who is a hardware trader in Ruiru town, and a daughter who works closely with her in gospel music ministry. Wangui is highly appreciative of her mom who always encouraged her and gave her money to record her first album. “I love her so much she is my second god,” she said smiling. Contact Wangui at nikiiwonire@gmail.com

 

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John Chege: From humble beginnings to producing Kikuyu Gospel Music heavyweights

Strongpoint Studios

Since 2004, John Chege of Strongpoint Digital Media in Rwaka, has distinguished himself as the go to, music producer among established and upcoming Kikuyu Gospel Musicians. To date by his estimation he has produced around 3000 gospel musicians. His production credits, has the who is who in Kikuyu Gospel Music like PJ Kongo, Jane Muthoni, Ann Kariuki, Carol Wanjiru, ND Githuka, Hezeh Ndungu, Dennis Mutara, Jeremy Damaris, Beatrice Wangui (Jordan), Solomon Nganga, Shiru wa GP and others. 

Early Starts and Musical Exposure

Yet for this soft spoken man, his early beginnings in life, music and eventually production were humble and required faith. Born in Kangema, Muranga, he relocated with his mom to Banana, Kiambu when he was 7 years. The relocation in 1985, exposed him to a church with instruments unlike ones he attended earlier in Rwathia village, Kangema. By 1992 on completing class 8, he began dabbling with musical instruments and gadgets like mixers at Restoration Victory Ministries Banana, where he attended. 

“Anything musical had a pull on me and fascinated me,” Chege recalls. That exposure enabled him to learn how to control solo and choir voices in a mixer. Also, as a self taught bass and keyboard player, he could detect when songs were sang on or off key. “God had placed me there for a reason, I realized later” Chege told Kikuyu Musicians. Controlling the instruments on mixers gave him an early idea on what a studio requires, to be fully functional. 

Early production forays

At one of the Church’s youth retreat Chege met Paul Mbugua, of Ndakinyite Beshrani fame, who informed him, on use of computers to record music. That realization, bugged his conscience and he thought of buying a computer and trying it, but could not afford one. Early 2004 with Mbugua tutelage in a small house he could barely afford rent of Shs800, in Banana, they borrowed basic recording machines. There, Chege recorded his debut album “Nikwari Mundu” on Job’s tribulations. He followed it up with a quick launch in April 2004, which netted him Shs37, 000. 

After paying all debts he owed like rent, he was left with Shs26, 000 and bought a desktop computer he uses to record to date. His foray to mainstream production and recognition began after meeting PJ Kongo who added to Chege’s musical knowledge. Chege had never studied computers formally, but learned to operate it by using his’ Bishop Michael Chege’s computer. Kongo introduced him to Fruity Loops music programming software. For 6 months he produced Kongo’s “Raha Ciathi” album in his home makeshift studio, using a church microphone plugged to an old cassette deck to capture vocals. 

Production Breakthrough

The song became a hit after Joe Rugano then of Kameme FM, played it after being impressed by its digital quality production. “Then it was rare for Kikuyu Gospel Music to digitally produced, most studios produced with live instruments,” recalls Chege. People who heard Kongo’s song, begun enquiring where it was recorded. “Musicians begun flocking to us, and always got shocked since they expected to find a huge recording studio, with pricy equipments,” said Chege. Since there was no recording booth they would start near the computer and sing. “If there was an interruption we recorded again,” Chege recalls.

Importance of Focus and Single Mindedness

Solomon Nganga followed and recorded his debut album ‘Ngai atua itua niegukurathima.’ Today Chege acknowledges Strongpoint Media is where it is, because of those humble beginnings. In growing his studio Chege admits its taken faith, focus and single mindedness. When he decided to be a producer, he closed a milk kiosk that guaranteed him some basic income, to focus all his strengths in the then, fledgling Strongpoint Media. “My mother thought I’d gone mad, since the studio didn’t earn me anything then,” Chege recalls he had unpaid rent arrears and ate food, at his mom's place. 

Still, his passion kept him going. A vital lesson he learned is the importance of avoiding distractions when pursuing one’s passion. “I feel we Africans, dabble in so many things at once, than focus on a single goal, and give it 100 percent,” he said. Even when initial outcomes of a venture may not be promising, Chege urges people not to quit. “I never gave up though I knew Capital required to start a studio is much,” he recalls. The story of Moses encouraged Chege, when Moses was asked by GOD what he had in his hand, when he had a rod. Chege is still attached to that computer he uses to date. “It’s only the screen I’ve changed and rather than lose it, I upgrade it,” said Chege sentimentally.

Chege attributes his success to prayer, honesty and GOD. “If I ever walk away from GOD that will be my downfall, God started this,” he said. Before an album project commences, they pray for it with the musician, and every morning before he starts producing. Also he listens to aspirations the musicians have for how their albums will sound like. “As a producer, I can’t stifle his creativity my role is to make suggestions, and correct errors if I interfere, I could stop the album being a hit,” said Chege. 

Producing Shiru wa GP’s Agiginyani

This is the way they worked on Shiru wa GP monster guitar driven hit album “Agiginyani.” Shiru came up with ideas for guitar; Chege sourced the session guitarist best fitting the album in Utukufu. He also ensured they were recorded to improve the song, not take anything away. His belief is, if he engages a musician in the creative process, they will all be satisfied in the final project. He remembers once, Jane Muthoni came with a song that had been recorded 4 times without her satisfaction. He listened to what she wanted, and recorded it once and she was happy with it. 

Production Philosophy

Each day in his studio he books one musician daily, so that he perfects the production and delivers on time. “If I do one great job today it guarantees me a future as a producer,” emphasized Chege. He is also a firm believer in peer consulting not being a know it all producer. Where he feels cooperation with a producer or an instrumentalist will improve the album, he engages them. That ensures every album produced is unique and doesn’t sound like another out in market. “At the end the musician is satisfied and listeners love what came out,” said Chege. To finish an album takes him 1.5 weeks, and he charges from Shs5000 onwards for each song produced. 

For the last 3 years, Chege has been working with students interested in learning music production from him. He also has enrolled to study music production at a college, having never studied it formally. He urges budding producers to learn to play instruments, as that way, they can easily spot errors in instrumentation and understand their coordination with vocals. This father of a boy and a girl also urges producers not to be driven by money. But focus more on moulding, even a least talented musician, to be a success and leave the uplifting matters to GOD. 

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John Muchira: Githaa kia Ngai Hitmaker on music made from Kirinyaga

Ever Jovial

Among all 5 counties making up Central Province in Kenya, Kirinyaga County has for years, had the lowest number of recorded Kikuyu Musicians. However John Muchira, of GithaaKia Ngai, fame is among the indigenous Kirinyaga musicians, reversing that trend by singing and being good at it. 

Early Beginnings

Born in Kiandae Village in Gichugu, the 33 year old musician loved singing from a young age, and had to be forcibly removed from Kiandae Catholic church choir, as he was eager to sing with them. At times the choirmaster allowed a young Muchira to sing with them on noticing his musical passion. By class 6, he was a percussionist for Githage Primary School band. “I played the shaker,” recalls Muchira and loved listening to songs by Elizabeth Nyambere and Joseph Kamaru. 

High School

After primary school, he joined Kangaru High School in Embu and Muchira’s talent blossomed. He led as soloist, folk and traditional Kikuyu songs in music festivals, and took up instructor roles when their teacher was unavailable. In Form 3, he was made senior choirmaster, and one poignant moment from then, was quickly assembling a choir to sing for former President Moi, who was passing by. He missed two Geography lessons as they hastily rehearsed. “Then, Moi used to dish out money if made happy,” Muchira remembers laughing. 

Unfortunately, His zeal for music and arts was not shared by his parents, as they saw no hope of making a living from it in future. In fact Muchira had a backup plan to be an electrician after high school as he loved staring at electrical transformers. “My parents wanted me to struggle with difficult sciences so I could end up in a “respectable career” like a doctor or engineer.” Muchira told Kikuyu Musicians. 

On his final year at high school he got a C Minus grade. Muchira’s father gave up on him as he deemed the grade too low to get him into any respectable tertiary college then. He had to fend for himself and that included, picking coffee as a casual laborer for a year.

Joining Kayamba Africa

That time he survived on musical tutoring jobs he got from his home catholic church as an assistant choir trainer. “I’d now train people who sang when I was a young boy,” he remembers. Time to time Muchira was sponsored to attend musical training seminars conducted by “Mitarakwa Ya Lebanon” composer where he mastered sheet music. 

Coming to Nairobi, he joined a music centre led by a Kenyatta University lecturer Mr Ogola and got further training at Kenya Conservatoire of Music. He ended up with a Diploma in Music and in 2000, joined the famed Kayamba Africa. There he got experience under training of Mr. Keya. “Kayamba had not splintered then,” recalls Muchira. 

Through the 1500shs Muchira got from Kayamba Africa, singing at ceremonies like weddings, he could pay rent at Mathare North. Since he had sufficient musical experience, he formed the 20 member, Tarumbeta Africa Choir. Through it, they rearranged traditional Kikuyu songs and sang them at ceremonies as he continued training church choirs. One of the first paychecks they got as members was at a wedding in Kariobangi South, where as six members earned 500shs each in 2003. 

Birthing Githaa Kia Ngai

That confirmed to him that they were not badly off as Tarumbeta Africa. As songs they sang they didn’t have copyrights, he opted to compose his own. That birthed his debut album Githaa Kia Ngai (God’s Timing) which took years to mature until recording in 2009. At Dede records where the album was cut, it took 6 months to complete it as he recorded when money was available. It cost him around Shs180,000 plus shooting the accompanying videos. 

The title song ‘Githaa Kia Ngai’ he wrote it as a personal encouragement due to hardships he went through with his friends. “It’s a song urging people to trust GOD,” said Muchira. He recalls he got the message first then the melody later, though it took months to fine tune the song. The album has other songs addressing handling of marriage conflicts and importance of communication. “See if the family is sorted, the society will be okay,” advises Muchira. 

Composition Motivation and Advice

His motivation to those who listen to his music is to give them hope and urge them, to thank GOD for life, regardless of what they go through. Currently (2014) Muchira is working on follow up album as the first one approach nearly 3000 copies in sales. His advice to budding gospel musicians is being resilient and have right motives when in gospel music, even if they don’t get instant breakthrough.

Singing Githaa

“If the album flops, don’t stop singing if GOD, gave You the message,” he adds. Still he adds the album needs to be produced in a good studio and be of quality. Muchira also advises budding musicians to allow songs they compose to be critiqued by established luminaries. “Ben Githae does that to my songs and even music tutors to ensure they are fine,” said Muchira. He also cautions on fame and money getting into ones head, after being successful as that leads to a quick downfall. 

Notable Performances

Some notable performances he has done were at Kariobangi PCEA Church, Kimunye ACK Church at Martha Karua’s thanksgiving, and PCEA Memorial Church Thika at a wedding. Still he yearns to minister in US or UK where his mentors like Ben Githae, Loise Kim and Charles Kingori have gone. His aim in coming years, is to be releasing 2 albums yearly not only in Kikuyu language but Swahili and English. 

Besides music, Muchira has been a Master of Ceremonies (MC) since 2006 which he ventured on noticing gaps existing in that sector, after attending many occasions. He also believes Kirinyaga musicians can sing as well as others from Central Kenya. His immediate aim is to release one album in the near future, purely sang in Kirinyaga dialect. 

To get to where he is, Muchira is grateful to DJ Macjoj who put his videos on Youtube, and presenters Jeff Kuria of Inooro FM, Evans Wanyoike of Kameme FM and KK of Coro FM who got his music on air. In addition he is grateful to his encouraging mum and his wife and skeptical Dad gradually appreciating his music. 

Reach Muchira on kikuyumusicians@gmail.com 

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