This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Bensoul's Inspiring Story ¶
Bensoul, the talented songwriter from Sol Generation, has had a tough childhood. He was forced to grow up under the care of a single mother after his father abandoned them.
His mother, who took care of him and his older sister, made the difficult decision to leave their father after he demanded they convert to Islam or forget he existed.
As a result, Bensoul and his sister were born and bred in a small mud house in Dallas, Embu, a slum area that was their home for a better part of their younger years.
Bensoul's mother speaks of their humble beginnings, which were marked by hardship and struggle.
Music Breakthrough ¶
Bensoul discovered his passion for music at the tender age of 3 and pursued it despite the challenges he faced.
He enrolled in a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering but dropped out in his final year to focus on his music career.
Bensoul's talent was recognized by H_rt the Band, and he eventually joined them, but life was not any better.
However, things took a turn for the better when he wrote the song 'El Shaddai' in Rongai, which marked a significant milestone in his music career.
But Bensoul's journey was not without its challenges. He faced a life-threatening HIV scare and was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
'I think that was one of my lowest moments. We told him to come and stay with mum. He could not sit on a chair without a sponge because the bones were very weak,' his sister Lucy painfully recalled.
Bensoul's sister tells of a horrifying experience, where he was so weak that he could not sit on a chair without a sponge.
His mother immediately broke down in tears after spotting her skinny son and went to look for a doctor.
According to Bensoul, he might have been infected with HIV, but fortunately, he turned out to be HIV negative.
However, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which was a major setback for him.
'They discovered it was tuberculosis. Everyday I ate a portion for 5 people,' Bensoul revealed.
Despite the challenges he faced, Bensoul's talent and passion for music kept him going, and he eventually received treatment for TB.
His friend Bien believes that Bensoul is pretty talented and that his exceptional gift will see him cross boundaries.
