Sofiya Nzau lovingly celebrates supportive husband, reflects on tough past life as hawker

A rising star in the Kenyan EDM scene is Sofiya Nzau, the female artiste behind the smash hit "Mwaki" is currently one of East Africa’s most-streamed artists.

She has gained global recognition for her unique blend of Gikuyu lyrics and electronic dance music.  

On Valentine’s Day, she took to Instagram to celebrate the man who has been her biggest supporter, mentor, and love of her life—her husband. In a heartfelt tribute, she shared their remarkable love story, one that started in the streets of Thika and blossomed into a journey of faith, resilience, and success.

Sofiya reminisced about the first time they met. At the time, she was hawking in the streets, selling her goods with confidence and pride. Unlike others who saw it as a struggle, she embraced it with an energy that left an impression on him. “He had never seen a girl hawk with such pride. He was impressed, but he also thought I was crazy,” she wrote.

Their connection deepened when he heard one of her songs—raw, unpolished, but full of emotion. Wanting to impress her, he told her he had made a better version of it. Though she never got to hear it, he assured her it was amazing. Looking back, she now believes it was just his way of capturing her attention.

As Sofiya faced struggles in her church, he stepped in once again. He invited her to his home church, telling her she could even come in shorts—an invitation that turned into a life-changing moment. “That was the beginning of something beautiful,” she recalled. In that space, she found herself, grew spiritually, and even joined the worship team, where she truly discovered her voice.

He became her first collaborator, featuring her in his music and pushing her to embrace her Kikuyu roots in songwriting. Though she was hesitant, he patiently guided her through the process. At the time, they were just two dreamers, building something neither of them fully understood yet.

Then came COVID-19, and everything changed. With curfews in place, hawking became impossible, and Sofiya lost her job. In desperation, she decided to take up a house help job, much to his disappointment. Their relationship at the time was a "situationship"—complicated and undefined, yet deeply meaningful.

Even as she left, he never stopped believing in her talent. He encouraged her to try songwriting instead. While he was still struggling to make a name in music production, he kept pushing forward. She promised that if he ever figured it out, she would come back. Leaving him with all her belongings, she moved to her aunt’s place.

Then, a breakthrough happened. His songwriting career took off, and he unlocked Sofiya’s true potential with Kikuyu lyrics. That year, despite working as a househelp, became one of the most transformative times of her life. It was their lightbulb moment.

Since then, they have built a life together—celebrating victories, enduring hardships, and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. “We’ve been used, hurt, and disappointed, but we’ve also laughed, cried, and held each other through it all.”

Now, as a celebrated musician, Sofiya Nzau looks back with gratitude at the man who saw her beyond the girl selling goods in the streets. He saw who she was meant to be and never let her settle for less. “Together, we’ve written a love story that is as beautiful, messy, and unforgettable.”