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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Ngaruiya Junior: from a rebellious drug addict to King of Kigooco (praise)

In recent years, 30 year old, Ngaruiya Junior has established himself as Kikuyu Gospel music’s go to praise leader earning him the nickname King of Kigooco. He has revived traditional Kikuyu gospel praise songs by putting instruments on them and re-establishing their mainstream popularity. So popular are the songs, they have eclipsed his original compositions. His new album is Jehova Nitwaguthaitha will be launched at Dominion Chapel Ministries, Kiserian September 15^th 2013.

Early Life

Today in any event Ngaruiya leads praise; crowds are revived when he sings the Kigooco songs like Jehovah Mwathani, Mwathani Wakwa, Wi Mutheru Gocai Ngai Witu and Paul andikiire Kanitha. Though passionate about GOD today, Ngaruiya early life growing up in a Pastor’s home was laden with drug addictions, street life and rebellion that led him to quit school at class 6. Born in Kwambira, Limuru, Ngaruiya went to Kimiriru Primary School and at an early age got into bad company.

Wrong Company

They vandalized toilets, stole fruits from farms and even stole from churches including his father’s tithes and offerings. As a group of 4 boys’ money the stole was spent wastefully on eating mandazi’s. Later Ngaruiya was caught by his Dad and church members and spent two days in police cell. He was released on promising he would go back to school. Getting home, he threw his school uniform in a pit latrine and ran away from home to Nairobi to be a street boy. “I never lacked anything, my parents always provided every to my every need,” recalls Ngaruiya.

Street Boy and Addictions

That begun a downward spiral of addictions to bhang and glue and eating from garbage dumps. Life in Nairobi streets was hard, and Ngaruiya briefly returned to Limuru environs and begged food from people. Addictions also took their toll and Ngaruiya and the boys made Kikuyu Cemetery their home and slept there. For the 6 months he run from home, his parents reported him missing. “I’d hear on radio they were looking for me,” Ngaruiya told Kikuyu Musicians. The turning point came when he learned his aunt from Kimende had died and attended the funeral. At the funeral he was unrecognizable with his dirty street boy clothes, he saw his granny from Subukia he loved, and approached her.

Path to Redemption

The granny told his parents and through her, begged Ngaruiya to come back home. He promised only if he would be allowed to relocate to Subukia with his granny. The parents obliged and gave his granny money for clothes and provision. It was at Subukia, the urge to go back to church arose. He joined a Full Gospel Church, incidentally attended by a Kikuyu gospel duo called mother and son. He began singing with the church’s youth group after apologizing for his past misdeeds.

“People loved my singing,” Ngaruiya recalls and being mature he was asked one day to preach at a youth event. After preaching 40 people got born again, when he asked to be prayed for salvation 20 more people were born again. Life at his granny’s in Subukia consisted of Ngaruiya in casual labor of digging at other people’s farms. Later he got employed at Subukia Posho Mill which increased his visibility in the community, in addition to being active in Christian youth groups. “We used to sing in crusades, churches and funeral wakes,” Ngaruiya recalls.

Debut Album

Through those connections he got employed by a Pastor in Nyahururu to lead praise and worship in his church for Sh1000 a month. Though the pastor loved him, the wife hated Ngaruiya and even denied him food. “It was a hard life I used to go without food until the next salary,” he said. By close of 2000 he had saved some money to record his debut album ‘Jehovah wi Ngai Munene.’ He had also reconciled with his parents and his Dad, Harun Ngaruiya, who chipped in to help Ngaruiya record it in Nairobi.

He moved back to Nyahururu stayed a while but went back to Subukia at his granny’s. In those two places he managed to sell over 500 copies in 3 months. “I’d sell in crusades and in village funeral committees,” said Ngaruiya. Doors opened, and when popular gospel musicians like Hezeh Ndungu visited Subukia Ngaruiya performed with them. He later relocated back to his parents in Limuru.

Connecting With Anastasia Karanja

With Nairobi in proximity, Ngaruiya got connected to his musical mentor the late Anastasia Karanja of ‘Ino Ngoro’ fame. She mentored him spiritually and taught him to sing. Through her, he got invites to sing where she ministered like Keshas (overnight prayer vigils). To increase his reach, Ngaruiya also looked at newspaper obituaries to know who had died. Even without having known the deceased he would request presiding ministers to let him sing a song loved by the dead persons. Pastors obliged and he would sing and never charge anything. Several trips like those made Ngaruiya known.

Singing in Funerals

By the time Kikuyu radio stations knew him, he had already established himself in gospel music in Central Kenya. “Strange I got know from singing in maombolezi (funeral wakes),” said Ngaruiya. With Anastasia they founded an overnight prayer vigil called My Night with the King. Later on with KK a minister in Coro FM they started a church from the Keshas. Of his 10 albums so far he has 5 with Kigooco classic songs produced to capture the modern musical sound with guitars.

He also has done an original worship album ‘Jehovah ni Twaguthaitha.’’ He admits to love traditional Kigooco songs due to their longevity and their ministering influence never wanes. His advice to budding musicians is patience not expecting instant success. Mingling with people to increase talent exposure is vital according to Ngaruiya. Though piracy has hit him hard Ngaruiya sees it as a blessing in disguise as it increases his music’s reach. “If piracy hits You, know Your product is good don’t give up,” he observes.

Composing and Elevation to Prominence

When composing he gets a tune and message in tow. “It’s hard to explain, but it comes from GOD,” he said. His gifting has enabled him to sing for big shots in government like current President Uhuru Kenyatta he considers a friend. Internationally he has performed in Uganda and will perform in UK in December 2013. He aims to widen the reach of his music internationally in Africa and beyond. He is active in social media like Twitter, Linked In and Facebook and MCs events like weddings.

Importance of Prayers by Parents

Looking back, Ngaruiya admits he could not be where he is, were it not for his parents’ encouragement and persistent prayers when he was a delinquent. He advises young people to avoid drinking or drugs as they will ruin their futures. Having been a Pastor’s Kid (PK) Ngaruiya cautions church members to pray for their pastor’s families and homes, as the Devil targets them much, to destabilize Pastors from doing effective ministry to congregants. ‘Menyithia Mwathani Mathina Maku’ (tell Christ Your problems) is a song he wrote when he passed through troubles. In the song he prophesies to himself that he will be rich and out of those troubles. “I am doing well today,” he chimes in with a smile.

Mentoring Budding Musicians

Today he performs over 10 shows in a weekend and mentors over 10 budding musicians. Some he mentors include Uncle Ken wa Koimbi, CB Sir and Sammy Boy. Any budding musician he comes across Ngaruiya first establishes if he is forcing the musical talent or not. If he senses it’s there he takes him to the best studio. On recording he advises them before submitting the record to radio stations or an audience to listen first. “If it doesn’t make you happy, it won’t make a stranger happy,” he cautions.

Humility is also key to success “love GOD, walk humbly, pray and GOD will exalt you,” Ngaruiya said. For a man who wished to be a Kenya Power engineer he says now his heart is at home singing gospel music.
You can contact Ngaruiya on www.facebook.com/pages/Ngaruiya-Junior-Na-Mafans/243532435720466 or via email ngaruiyajunior@yahoo.com or juniorngaruiya@gmail.com 

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