By CAROLINE NYANGA

Mombasa-based gospel artiste Rosemary Wairimu Githu, popularly known as Lady Hekima, has something to smile about. After more than a decade of struggle, she has completed her debut album, Huu Mwaka (This Year).

"I’m glad that I have come up with a good product despite endless challenges. For me, music is a journey and hence my decision to take time and come up with something appealing at both local and international level," she says.

The 12-track album was recorded at Blessed Muzik Factory. The songs have been done in rhythm and blues and hip-hop styles.

"Although most Mombasa artistes use bongo style, I chose to be different."

Her songs, including Huu Mwaka, Maswali, Mapambano, Mapinduzi, Milele and Unanikwaza, are already doing well.

Mapambano, particularly, enjoys immense airplay on television and is loved by many a gospel music lovers.

Lady Hekima explains that music has been a big part of her since she was a pupil at Airport View Academy, Mombasa, and Changamwe Secondary.

"I began singing at the age of seven with Generation Sound band in Mombasa. We used to entertain at Serena Hotel. I stayed with the band for a year."

In 1998, she moved to Susan and James Band, where she stayed for six months.

American rappers Missy Elliot, Tupac Amaru Shakur and Kalamashaka inspire the musician.

Asked why she thinks Mombasa-based artistes get limited or no airplay within Nairobi FM stations, she said the artistes have themselves to blame.

"Although there has been intense debate in the media on the subject and several reasons given, the truth of the matter is that the artistes have themselves to blame. It is obvious that most of them are reluctant when it comes to pushing their music beyond the region," she says.

Lady Hekima encountered numerous challenges before scaling heights. "It was not easy finding the right producer… one who understands your music and the kind of product you want. I moved from one studio to the another before finding the right one," she says.

She says some producers extort money from artistes and keep their songs without their consent while others give them bad contracts that ruin their careers.

The musician, who once performed in Kitengela, cites lack of adequate airplay as one of the setbacks to her career.

But she says patience, determination and hard work are some of the things that have kept her going until she released her album.

Born to Mrs Sarah Wambui and the late Ousman Githu, Lady Hekima is the fourth born in a family of five. While in primary school at Airport View Academy, she participated in music and drama festivals. She joined Generation Band, where she was one of the lead singers.

In 2004, she felt it was time to go solo. It was then that she recorded her first single, Hekima Nipo.

The following year she recorded several tracks with Homeboyz Production. She also performed with various bands within Coast.

In 2008, she released Maswali with Mandugu Digital followed by Huu Mwaka and Mapambano, both recorded at Blessed Muzik Factory in Mombasa.

Besides singing, Hekima is an actress and once acted in the Kiswahili soap opera Majaliwa, which was aired on Citizen TV. She is also a scriptwriter and initiated a drug awareness campaign known as Battle of da hood, involving the youth.