By Ogova Ondego
Published March 5, 2019
She is said to have started responding to music as a baby who, by the age of three years, started picking up the microphone during functions to just sing. Now, 17 years later, she is pursuing a Business in Technology course with specialisation in Music Performance, Business, Marketing and Production. The girl whose motto is ‘Work Hard, Pray Harder’ may have picked up a couple of awards already, but she says she has her eyes trained not only on studying at some of the best music schools in United States of America from 2020 but also on winning a couple of Grammy Awards as she moves up to join the stars and become one of them. Could Nikita Chepchumba Kering , whose latest single, Happy With You, won her New Artist of The Year and Best New Artist award barely two months after its release in 2018,
be the Elexir that turns the fortunes of Kenya’s showbiz around? OGOVA ONDEGO speaks to the budding musician.
When were you born?
I was born on 26th February 2002 in Nairobi. I am the 4th born in a family of 5 children.
Who/what are your parents?
My parents are Anne and Joseph Kering’. My mum works in the Insurance sector and my dad is an Energy Consultant.
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What is this BTec course that you are studying at Brookhouse International School in Nairobi?
Business in Technology. It’s a 2 year Diploma course. I’m specializing in Music Performance, business, marketing and production.
What does PMVA award that you won at the age of 16 in 2018 stand for?
Pulse Music Video Awards by The Standard Media Group.
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How about the Café Ngoma whose Artist of The Year award you also won in 2018?
It’s a media entertainment company established in April, 2016 to promote and provide alternative content from Africa.
How did you start singing?
My parents say that I started responding to music as a little baby. By age 3, I would pick microphones in functions and just start singing. In kindergarten and Sunday school, I participated and led most of the kids singing events.
What prompted you into doing this? Which songs did you sing?
Sunday school was a big influence. My stage performance developed during many of the elaborate concert days at Riara Springs Academy. I also sang many of Emmy Kosgei’s Gospel songs, which my parents played in the car.
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Say something more about this #Empawa100 that selected you as one of the Top 10 up-and-coming Artist in Africa.
EmPawa Africa is an initiative by internationally renowned Nigerian artist,MrEazi with sponsorship from betPawa. The aim is to find Africa’s most talented artist and boost their success internationally.
Who invited you to join 9 other artist for a specialized training in Cape Town in February 2019?
EmPawa Africa asked upcoming artists from Africa to submit raw videos via the Instagram page. I submitted mine and was picked among the Top 100 African artists to receive $3,000 to produce their videos. Later on, 10 of the best were picked by MrEazi to join the emPawa Masterclass in Cape Town. I was the 1st of the 10 to be picked. I however didn’t attend the masterclass because they felt that I was under age. They promised to support me in other ways.
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Which other schools did you attend before going to Brookhouse?
Riara Springs Academy, Kilimani Junior Academy and Nairobi Academy
What subjects did you study prior to joining Brookhouse?
Before beginning my diploma (B’tec) I completed IGCSE (O’Level)
Are you a ‘normal’ child, i.e do you study, play and do the chores done by most average children and youth?
Very normal. I have to do the house chores just like my other siblings, who by the way are very talented in their different fields. Obviously, my music performance means that I have to put a lot of extra hours unlike many people my age. I spend a lot of time in music studios, T.V and radio interviews, events, voice lessons, etc. I have learnt the delicate art of finding a balance. Of course I don’t get as much time as I would like to socialize with my peers. But I really enjoy what I do.
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You said you are an actress …
Yes, I acted in a short docudrama shot in Kibera. I have also acted in our school’s productions. As ‘Annie’ in Annie the Musical, (Nairobi Academy), Lead soloist in ‘Umoja’ (Nairobi Academy) and recently as Deena Jones, played by Beyonce in ‘Dream girls’ (Brookhouse)
What sort of support do you receive from your parents and siblings?
My whole family has been the major support and pillar of my success. They attend all my shows, accompany me for interviews, share my work on social media and cheer me on. My parents have paid for my videos, voice lessons, and all costs related to my performances. I’m blessed to have such support.
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Do you feel studying the arts can make one a better artist or is itan in-born talent?
Talent alone is not enough. There is so much I have learnt beyond voice and instruments. You get to understand the business of music from a local and international perspective, music labels, music production, etc. you become an all rounded artist
Eric Wainaina, he of the Kenya Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo and Kenya Only fame, studied at Berklee; would you say Berklee made him a better musician?
Of course it did. He is my teacher, and he has so much knowledge to share about the industry beyond just singing and song writing
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What do you think of the ‘play Kenyan music’ campaign that has been running since 2015?
It’s a fantastic initiative which will make Kenyans appreciate their own music. It also challenges Kenyan artists to focus more on content driven music
Are Kenyan musicians getting a raw deal from thelocal mass media?
I think so. It is an uphill task getting your songs to be played on radio or TV if you have no ‘name’.
Do local TV/Radio have the obligation to promote local music?
They do. In Nigeria for instance, most of the music played on their radio and TV is local. This has helped grow the industry there
Do you see Kenya’s school curriculum as being friendly to the arts?
I don’t find it very friendly. There’s a lot more than can be done to make it less exams oriented to more practical learning.
