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

 

www.facebook.com/kikuyumusicians

www.twitter.com/kikuyumusicians

kikuyumusicians@gmail.com  

11:15 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Martin wa Janet: On musical journey anchored in perseverance amidst turmoil

Tough beginnings in life don’t necessarily mean the ends will be painful. That rings true for one Martin wa Janet 30 years, whose journey to the pinnacle of Kikuyu Gospel Music has been rife with challenges, self doubt, mocking and faith amidst hopelessness. All that has shaped Martin to fully depend and trust in GOD, at all times regardless of the pain through seasons of life.

Early Life

Known for inspiring hits like Nituririkanitwo and Nitumwinyihire with Obedi, life for this turbaned man (mkorino) began in Kihiu Mwiri, Muranga County. He attended PK primary and secondary school up to Form 3 where personal problems forced him to drop out. Hazy about what to do in life, he left Muranga for Kiambu and was housed by Mama Jane. He joined a local akorino church Africa Mission Holy Ghost headed by Bishop Ezra Njoroge where he played drums with vigour. 

In his teenage years, Martin, spent almost 4 years jobless in Kiambu but got a job in a hotel in downtown Nairobi around 2003, where he earned Sh100 daily. The hotel job proved a challenge for his slight frame, and one day the excessive heat in the kitchen caused him to vomit. The hotel owner reprimanded him and Martin begged him to give him one more month. He became a waiter but waiting hassles proved tiring he worked less than 3 months and quit. He also lost his beloved mom that year.

Trials as Matatu Conductor

A man who had a matatu noticed Martin jobless and loitering Kiambu town and offered him a job as a conductor for Kiambu town route 100, a job he did until 2008. As a conductor he desired to sing and after work composed songs but lacked recording money. “My heart was in music,” recalls Martin. He was influenced by fellow akorino gospel musicians like Sammy Nene and Hezeh Ndungu.

As a conductor, wearing the akorino white turban he experienced lots of trials. He recalls a time while hanging on Matatu door his turban accidentally fell off, and a passenger asked him sarcastically asked him what was that, that fell off his head. Also being a born again Christian donning a turban, traffic police loathed him, as he never due to his faith gave bribes. One police got so irritated at Martin’s refusal to bribe that he pulled a turban from his head and threw it to the vehicle. “It was hurtful and being a born again conductor I encountered many problems,” recalls Martin smiling. 

Working with Dennis Mutara

As fate would have it, as a conductor he met famous gospel artiste Dennis Mutara who sold oranges near a supermarket in Kiambu in 2006 while dabbling in his budding musical career. Then in 2008 Mutara released ‘Ngai angikiuga Niukugia’ album which he distributed around Central Kenya with a public address system. Martin joined his distribution entourage and they would go to crusades and open air market to sell them. Martin with funding from Mama Jane recorded his 7 track debut album ‘Ngai niwenjire Githima’ which was played intermittently on radio. 

Still to get the master CD from recording studio took him 3 months to raise sh15, 000. He followed it up with ‘Mwarie ciugo cia Ngai’ and ‘Ngai Tutumire Mundu’ both received limited airplay and acceptance. In 2009 he recorded ‘Mwathani Tuonerie haria tugutheremera.’ 

Breakthrough to Mainstream

Through his albums he got invited to lead akorino ‘kigooco live’ praise in 2010 every Sunday 5am to 6am at Inooro FM at Muturi wa Muiru’s show Kimuri Kia Inooro. For two years He pounded the akorino drums for an hour and sing. Eventually he got invited by Evangelist Lucy wa Ngunjiri to lead praise in crusades by her Beyond Boundaries Ministries. With 6 albums to date ^th album Jehovah ni Muthamaki both played prominently in Kikuyu FM radio stations. 

two songs that brought him prominence are Nituririkanitwo off his latest album and a collaboration with Obedi ‘Nitumwinyihirie’ off the 4

Challenges in Music

To get the recognition he has today Martin admits it’s been hard and he questioned his musical ability and God’s will in his life in the song (Ngai Niwe Niwanduire Mwariria) album 4. He recalls going to major events and selling only two CDs and getting arrested by the city council while hawking his music on a small radio. Potential customers also made false promises to buy his music. One moment that left him shattered, was when he accompanied Mutara to Nanyuki. Martin carried 300CDs for the event and by day 3 had sold 5 only for Sh500. Broke and worse off than he came, Mutara bailed him out by paying for his accommodation and food as his CDs were selling. 

Disappointed, on the last day Martin stood on stage and announced “I want to know if it’s my music you hate or don’t have money,” he decided to sell them at half price of Sh50 to get fare. Travelling back to Kiambu from Nanyuki he felt disappointed but realized maybe GOD’s time had not come. “If GOD has to lift you up, you will be tested by fire so that you are full of revelation,” observes Martin.

Besides lack of money for recording, Martin says getting his music recognized was hard. Having realized there are hundreds of thousands of Kikuyu musicians he knew for his music to reach masses, GOD would have to intervene. “If you are unknown musician you get ignored at events but work hard on your craft and leave the rest to GOD to uplift you,” says Martin. 

First Radio Airplay

Getting airplay in Kikuyu Radio stations wasn’t easy and he savors the moment in 2008 when his song ‘Niwe wenjire Githima’ got played first time on air at Kameme FM. “I felt reborn, reinvigorated and thanked GOD for it,” said Martin. According to Martin one can spend lots of money on recording but what matters is GOD’s favor and prayers. “You can write a song it gets lots of airplay but if GOD doesn’t open the ears of listeners to love your music, it won’t be accepted or bought,” he said. 

Composing Process

When composing Martin reads the Bible for revelation and connects the message to everyday life people go through. It takes him a day or over a month to perfect one song depending on subject matter he focuses on. For the Nitumwinyihirie with Obedi he wrote the chorus, and Obedi wrote most verses, a process that took 6 months to complete the collaborated album. The tune according to Martin comes naturally as he gets the lyrics. Besides the Bible he values listening to sermons as they provide him with songwriting ideas. To produce 1 album costs him around Sh100, 000 with Video shooting included.

Advice to Budding Musicians

His advice to budding gospel artistes is to go into it if one is sure it’s the call of GOD so incase an album flops you soldier on. Otherwise an artiste driven to gospel music for money gets disappointed if his first album flops. He also advises one not to enter music because of a wave. Personally Martin has observed people who sold a cow to record because they saw a neighbor record and be successful. He observes such end selling the CD”s to family or close friends and go back to the village broke and disillusioned. Though piracy has hit him he estimates to have sold almost 100, 000 of his albums VCDs included. 

Notable Shows

Martin has sung in notable shows for Kameme FM thanksgiving at Kirigiti stadium Kiambu, Inooro FM road shows and at book launch in KICC attended by Kalonzo Musyoka. But for a visa denial he was to perform in California accompanying Evangelist Lucy Wa Ngunjiri. The father of one says the key to being lifted up by GOD is by singing from revelation to give hope to the listeners and humility before GOD.

www.facebook.com/kikuyumusicians
www.twitter.com/kikuyumusicians

Kikuyu Musicians Publishing Copyrights

9:46 AM | 2 comments | Read More

Mary Teacher: ‘Njira Niuguka’ Songstress shares on her music and philosophy

Hailing from Gitige in Muranga, Mary Njeri Mwangi, popularly known within Kikuyu Music as Mary Teacher, represents a rare crop of Kikuyu artistes whose debut albums are hits. Yet, the journey to be considered the next great, among Kikuyu lady musicians has been laden with challenges and many life lessons that today inspire her lyrical composition.

As a young girl growing up in Gitige, she was in demand to sing in churches, competitions and countless school music festivals. “People always wanted me to sing,” she remembers. She loved listening to the song ‘Njambi’ by the Kikuyu music veteran John Ndemethiu as well as Queen Jane from a neighbor’s radio cassette. But after high school, her music dream dimmed when she got employed as a teacher in Dandora for the underprivileged children. It was a welcome relief as she had lived with her brother in Kibera after coming to Nairobi. . “Still I wrote songs for the children to perform” she remembers.

Teaching wasn’t her choice profession, she had hoped to be a nurse but lack of fees hindered her admission to college. For the next 10 years, she taught at various primary schools but quit, due to low pay to work at Njogu ini Restaurant. Teaching gave her the performing name Mary Teacher. Working at Njogu Ini, she was able to save money gradually for recording as her musical passion had reignited. To meet artistes she admired their music, she attended Mugithi to see them perform. On one such performance, she met Karis wa Kinyozi Poa in 2011.

After listening to Karis’ music, Mary loved the production quality of his first album. Come 2012, after saving enough money Karis guided her to studio Sawa. Studio producers, played for her records of famous musicians they have produced like Kariuki wa Kiarutara, Ndemethiu and others. She recorded her debut album, ‘Njira Niuguka’ which has hits like Whispers, Nganiria Baba and Mwanake Hikania. Among the songs Whispers, has received the most airplay on Kameme, Coro and Inooro FM. Afterwards, she learned of Interco Studios owned by Musaimo, which shot her videos.

Recording was a gradual process. “I would save a little then when enough record a song,” said Mary. In total the album plus shooting the videos cost her Sh200,000. She has no regrets for spending that amount, as she values investing in quality. She advices new artistes to care of quality if they want their songs to be played in various Kikuyu radio stations. “Use money to get money, don’t cut corners in a bid to save and have low quality albums produced at a cheap studio,” she said.

Her investment paid off well, after releasing the album early 2013, and took it to the three Kikuyu radio stations in a week, Whispers was getting vibrant airplay. “Radio producers only load quality music in their databases,” said Mary. She adds contrary to the view that getting your song on radio is hard, and radio producers aloof, if the song is good it’s played. She also advises new artistes to be patient “You can’t take a song to radio today and expect it on air tomorrow, don’t hurry the producers,” said Mary. Friends have also helped as they request her songs regularly from radio presenters.

Inspiration for her songs comes in many ways. Taking a walk can lead her to humming a tune randomly from nowhere. When it happens, she records it on her phone. She also listens to people in discussions or reads newspapers and if something interests her she composes. The mournful son ‘Nganiria Baba’ came as a result of something she observed as a teacher. Her young pupils, who mostly came from dysfunctional slum families ripped apart by illicit brews, had tragic stories.

Some of them, especially young girls served Changaa an illicit brew with their mothers to men, who in turn would sexually harass them. The parents also cared less on the wellbeing of their young daughters due to hopelessness. She recalls a case where a mother’s lover seduced the daughter, yet her mom was indifferent. As a result Mary wrote ‘Nganiria Baba’ a song about a daughter begging her mother to stop the father from making sexual advances to her. After getting the tunes, she looks for the message that best fits the mood of the tune she has saved.

“If the message is sorrowful, the tune has to carry the sorrow,” said Mary. She says Whispers a love song is slow and soothing to match the feel of love. In her laid back songs, she likes to spice them with humor depending on the songs theme. Composing is a gradual process for her and may take days to get the stanzas, phrases and ideas to be coherent in her songs.

Mary classifies her music as stage music that can’t be performed by CD playback but instruments. Live music, she says makes it possible for a musician, to put cheeky embellishments in the song, when performing in clubs to match the celebratory mood and engage revelers. It also helps a musician to be flexible depending on the region. “If in Mombasa I may spice my music with some Taarab,” she says. For live performances, she goes with 3 guitarists, drummer and one vocal back up. She charges, from Sh35, 000 to Sh50, 000 depending on the event.

Though content with her start in music, she says marketing herself as a performer and music is not easy. “I have to be aggressive in looking for club gigs,” she says. Money is also a factor in promotion, distribution and reproducing more CDs which are slow moving. So far, she has sold 500 CDs and VCDs hence preferring club gigs to CD sales. Societal perception is also negative to ladies like her in secular music. In clubs, when attempting to sell her CDs men are reluctant to buy, as when they take it home wives are suspicious of interactions with female secular musician.

“For us it’s a job I use to pass messages, there is no malice,” Mary says. Still when starting out, Mary tried to compose gospel songs which she admits was challenging compared to secular. “Gospel music is a calling I lacked words and inspiration,” she said. To date she has performed in over 10 venues, the most memorable being in Red Nova along Kiambu Road. Of the 10 reputable artists invited, fans kept asking for her to go back on stage. She attributes such good performances to being backed by skilled instrumentalists. So thrilling was it, she landed an invite to Meru County.

“I hope to get more of such invites even outside Kenya,” Mary said. She urges her fans in the Diaspora to invite her to perform and they won’t be disappointed and God will bless them for the support. She also thanks local fans for requesting her songs on radio.

Her family is very supportive of her career and she hopes in future to fully concentrate in it without having to hold another job. She finds juggling the two careers hard, since she requires time to be creative, practice, study and polish her musical ideas for her second album. To be a better and unique musician Mary, studies songwriting crafts of other established musicians like Ndemethiu to learn the skills to their success. “Don’t just write music study, research, listen and learn,” said Mary.

Besides the fans, she is grateful to Njogu Ini Hotel Management who assisted her financially and allowed her to shoot videos in their premises. She aims in 5 years to support and produce budding artistes in her studio. She urges established musicians to nurture upcoming ones and not rip them of their hard earned cash by sending them, to sub-standard studios to pocket extra cash. “I’ve heard of such cases It destroys their morale and sadly sets them back far,” Mary the mother of two said.

Kikuyu Musicians Media Rights

10:09 AM | 0 comments | Read More

The journey of ‘Matiribu’ Hit Maker- Mirugi Dishon

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. 

Mirugi at his Pawa Studios

Regardless, his experiences have served as catalysts for music compositions. His songs are inspired out of life experiences, troubles or what he sees.  “God has anointed me to write that way,” said Mirugi he also reads the Bible and what he gets, contextualizes it to lives of people to be encouraged.  ‘Matiribu’ came out of his own experiences, at the bottom line the song concludes GOD is the only one who never leaves you in seasons of trouble.   

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

 

K Media Copyrights

2:25 AM | 0 comments | Read More