By Peter Otuoro
Hundreds of parents in Kenya have been killing the talents of their children, especially in music, seeing it as a ridiculous career that has no place in the professional world.
Ronald and Rose Wamalwa followed the same script, vainly discouraging their son Nickson Wanjala from pursuing his music talent. After several attempts they begrudgingly gave up this preoccupation.
But theirs was even more radical, beating the young boy up and denying him food to yield him to their demands to drop his music practice.
That was then when he was a toddler in primary school. He is now poised to join the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST), where he feels his love for music will finally flourish.
Born on August 20, 2001, he continues to nurture his singing, tracing back his craving for music to when he was in class six in 2015.
He narrates that he used to sing casually before he showcases his music talent during a music class presentation organized by his Kiswahili teachers.
After sitting his KCPE examinations in 2017, Wanjala joined Kambi ya Moto Secondary School in Rongai Sub-county of Nakuru County, where he continued to belt out music tunes to the amazement of his colleagues.
His Kiswahili teacher Mrs. Alice Lunyalu was quick to notice his talent and helped to nurture it despite her not being a natural singer.
But she was not to be put down by this handicap. Together with other teachers from neighbouring schools, she organized a youth/students talent show which brought together four secondary schools namely Kambi ya Moto, Kabarak High School, AIC Morop Girls Secondary School and one other from Mogotio.
As might have been expected, Nickson Wanjala emerged the best in the music performance category.
One of the teachers from Kabarak High School Mr.Francis Kimani, who attended that event, developed an interest to boost Wanjala’s gift and helped him to record a song ‘Leo ni Leo’ with one of the music studios in Nakuru City.
The song was an instant hit as Lunyalu connected him to various radio stations in Bungoma County, including West FM and Base Radio, where it gained airtime in both radio stations.
Wanjala explained that his debut song tried to highlight the importance of discipline, respect and hard work among students to enable them become responsible and accountable people in future.
Asked how he manages to juggle both music and studies, he says much of his practice is done during weekends and free time. With the help of well-wishers, most of whom are teachers, he has been able to record his second song called ‘Sorry’, which encourages children to learn to be positive when they are corrected by parents, teachers and elders.
When he joined Form 3, his parents transferred him from Kambi ya Moto Secondary School to St. Juliana in Tongaren Sub-county of Bungoma County.
Here, they revisited their old hobby of dissuading him, but fortunately, his father’s friend Ambrose Kalela took his time to explain to the Wamalwas how the boy’s passion might turn out to be a blessing.
Even luckier was the fact that Wamalwa himself had a change of heart, reluctantly conceding to his friend’s bidding.
It was a miracle that he began offering his fatherly support, and Wanjala was more motivated even in academics.
Still in Form 3, he got another opportunity to record yet another song ‘Shuka’, a gospel piece encouraging students to always be ready to approach God to solve their myriad problems as young people.
In 2021, Wanjala recorded another song ‘My Saviour’ as a candidate, also a gospel song with the running theme of encouraging people to submit to God.
Wanjala said he will pursue his Diploma in Building and Construction at RVIST come September and also continue to build his music career.
His role models are Tanzanian and Kenyan artistes Kayumba and Willy Paul.
Thanking his parents for their support and patience, Wanjala promises to give back by working hard academically and also excelling in his music.
He also thanked all his secondary and primary school teachers for their unwavering support despite all the ensuing challenges.
Commonly known by his stage name Nickboy, his songs can be accessed on YouTube account @ nick boy where he can be followed for moral and financial support, and nicksonwanjala20@gmail.com as his contact address.
