This archive report was first published on 7 November 2021.
Meet Sidney Sheldon, a 12-year-old art prodigy from Kenya who has made headlines for her incredible talent and encounters with high-profile politicians.
Sheldon's journey began when her mother, Vivianne Adhiambo, a security officer, noticed her talent at the age of five. Despite not being able to afford art materials, Sheldon's mother supported her, and her talent eventually caught the eye of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 during a State House visit.
President Kenyatta offered Sheldon and her sibling a full scholarship, which changed their fate. Sheldon's paintings also impressed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who invited her to his home in Rwakitura in 2019.
Sheldon's talent has earned her numerous awards, including the 2021 Artistic Excellence Award in Art & Design at the Young, Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial Awards and the Global Child Prodigy Award in New Delhi, India, in January 2021.
She is set to represent Kenya and the African continent in the World Painting competition in Kosovo on November 15, 2021.
