This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
From Humble Beginnings to Stardom ¶
Many celebrities have risen to fame, but few know about their humble beginnings. In this article, we delve into the lives of some of Kenya's most celebrated artists and personalities, exploring the struggles they faced before achieving success.
Take Otile Brown, for instance. Before becoming a celebrated artist, he used to help his mother sell changaa. His mother's passing left a significant impact on his life, and he has spoken publicly about the emotional toll it took on him.
As Otile Brown shared in a past social media post, 'Appreciate and love your mama…feeling kinda emotional tonight. Wish she could be here so I can spoil her, My mom died when I was about to turn 13. I don’t like talking about it but I don’t shy away from speaking about it because I know it could motivate someone.'
Willy Paul, the 'Jigi Jigi' hitmaker, also had a humble beginning. He used to work as a house help before fame came knocking. Now, he is the one who pays people to work for him.
Another prominent figure, Maina Kageni, was a truck driver in the United States before becoming a renowned MC and radio host with Classic 105. He has shared his experiences of facing racism and being called a derogatory term by his boss.
As Maina Kageni said, 'I was called a ngga so many times and the sad thing is that there is nothing you can do about it because you need the job.'
Other celebrities, like Mwalimu Churchill, Jalango, Akothee, and Diamond Platnumz, have also spoken about their humble beginnings. Churchill used to wash bottles in the Industrial Area, Jalango packed fish in Homabay, Akothee was a taxi driver, and Diamond Platnumz worked at a Shell petrol station.
These stories serve as a reminder that success is not always easy to achieve and that many celebrities have had to work hard to get to where they are today.
