This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
John De'Mathew, a musical icon from Central Kenya, left an indelible mark on the music industry with his impressive 375 songs and 50 albums.
De'Mathew was born in Gathiru-ini village, Mukurwe sub-location, Gatanga Constituency in Murang'a County, over 50 years ago.
He was the fourth-born in a family of eight children, and his early life was marked by humble beginnings. De'Mathew attended Mukurwe-ini Primary School, followed by Naaro Secondary in Kandara and Igikiro Secondary School.
Before venturing into music, De'Mathew worked as a vegetable hawker at Nairobi's Soko Mjinga market, later selling meat in Kariobangi and plastic shoes in Nakuru.
De'Mathew's music career took off in 1986, when he released his first single, 'Jenifer', followed by 'My Dear Nduku' in 1987, produced by Albert Gacheru. The latter song catapulted him to fame, and he went on to release many hit songs, including 'Njata Yakwa', which he performed with the current Murang'a Women Rep, Sabina Wanjiru Chege.
De'Mathew's music career was not without its challenges. Piracy began to affect his resources in 1992, and he faced trouble with the law in 2012, when he was arrested and charged with hate speech, along with two other Kikuyu musicians.
On August 18, 2019, De'Mathew's life was tragically cut short in a car accident near Blue Post Hotel in Thika. He was pronounced dead at Thika Nursing Home, leaving behind a legacy of music and memories.
