By Tony Ndolo

It is a dusty Friday evening and all paths in Ikanga Division of Mutomo District, lead to the home of Mzee Kithome Matonga at Ithumula village.

People of all ages have braved the sweltering heat and are streaming into the compound in droves.

The huge crowd has jammed the entrance and unruly youths clearly drunk, are pushing and shoving in a rush to pay the Sh50 entry fee.

Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the benga queen of Ukambani — the 24-year-old woman who has put her village on the map and made a name in the local music charts.

Carol Muthini, aka ‘Smarter’, always wanted to be a musician. But poverty, being orphaned early and other misfortunes held her dreams back for nearly two decades.

The fourth born in a family of five girls hit the entertainment scene with a bang early this year. She formed her own band, Ikanga Sisters, and released her first CD barely two months into the launch of her music career, in April.

The ten-track CD contains popular tracks Ni band yiva? (Which is this band performing?) and Syana sya Ndiwa (Orphaned children) in which she implores the Government, relatives and well wishers to help orphans realise their potential.

To popularise her music and meet her fans, Muthini has held live performances at entertainment spots along Mombasa Road and in Nairobi, Mombasa, Matuu, Mwingi and Garissa towns. Her second CD Tujichunge na Laana (Let’s avoid curses) was released three weeks ago.

Muthini goes down in history as the first female artiste to venture into benga music in the larger Kitui District.

And with two CDs to her name and a fully fledged band, complete with equipment, all achieved in a record six months, Muthini is the star to watch.