Family Dynasties That Rule The Showbiz Industry

By Mkala Mwaghesha 

The Kibukosyas

The reign of this family got intertwined with the history of the country when the patriarch Peter Kibukosya, alongside Graham Hyslop, George W Senoga-Zake, Thomas Kalume, and Washington Omondi, were involved in a commission that came up with our national anthem.

From this family, we have Gido Kibukosya, a celebrated music producer, who was once married to Suzzanne Gachukia, a pioneer songstress with the group Musically Speaking in the early 90s. She later helped her former husband manage Samawati Studios.  Their son is K-Cous, the rapper with Camp Mulla. Gido is also the uncle to music producer, Ulopa.

The MBAYAs

In May, the theatre fraternity and the country at large mourned as we laid to rest the late Beth Nyambura Mbaya to rest in Kiambu, while appreciating her acting prowess that had made ‘Wanade’ a household name. Unknown to many, she came from an extended family that boasts of having some of the best acting talent in Kenya.

The late Nyambura was the sister to the versatile Naomi Kamau, an accomplished actress, scriptwriter and producer who is the brains behind popular shows Mother-in-law, Machachari and Tahidi High.

Their brother is Joseph Kinuthia, popularly known as Omosh, on Tahidi High, the scrawny and conniving school grounds man.  Two of Nyambura’s sons— and, therefore, nephews to Naomi and Omosh— are Kamau Mbaya, known as Baha on Machachari and Mungai Mbaya, who appears on Know Zone and Makutano Junction.

The Kimanis

Bamboo has been in the game since his days with bad boy Abbas in rap group K-South, to giving Kenyans hits like Compe and Keroro. His brother Kimya Miyaki is an underground rapper famous for the classic Piga Bao done alongside Ibra da Hustler and Kama of K-Shaka.

Their younger sister, Victoria Kimani, who had been in the United States, where their family now lives with their former musician father, has taken the mantle, instantly becoming a force to reckon with after the lunch of Toto. The voluptuous singer’s sense of fashion makes her very photogenic at every social event she graces.

The Masandukus and Kaggias

The legendary Masanduku arap Simiti would have been proud of the versatility of his boy, JB Masanduku Jnr, had he lived to see him take to stage. Before he got to co-host a show with fiancée Tina Kaggia on One FM, JB was a stand-up comedian, making appearances on the Churchill Show before hosting Comedy Club at NTV.

His relationship with Tina will continue a dynasty. The radio host is a sister to DNA (Dennis Kaggia), the artiste behind Banjuka and Maswali ya Polisi and their brother, Andrew Kaggia, is a graphics and design genius that did the Wageuzi trailer. They are all cousins to the hype man and Kora award winner, DnG as well as DJ Izrael.

The Msalames

Tony Msalame was a legendary broadcaster famous for the Sheki Legi show on Metro FM, in the late 90s after cementing his status on KBC radio. He greatly contributed to the bustling radio industry that we now have. He would later start his own radio station, Sheki FM, in Mombasa.

His daughter Grace Msalame has taken over, juggling both TV and radio jobs since she started out as a19-year-old on KTN’s Str8uP and Art Scene, where she made a name as a composed and intelligent show host for two years.

After a small lull to become a mother, she came back to Capital FM, before moving to Kiss TV where she is a newscaster. She hosts the show Chama. The late broadcaster Tony, is well represented.

The Mahfudhs

This dynasty started with Malindi-born Princess Faridah becoming the Queen of Chakacha at the beginning of the 1990s, with sensual gyrations that made grown men ogle. She later formed a band with her sister and toured the world performing and dancing. Years later, she converted to Christianity and got married in November 2004. Her dancing days were smoothly transferred to younger brother Kanda King (Said Mahfudh).

Kanda King was a child prodigy, known as Kanda Kid, who in 1992 emerged fourth in a dancing competition. In 1996, he won an East African competition in Tanzania, where he changed his name from Kanda Kid to Kanda King. He has been ruling ever since, with his big belt buckle, shiny hair and tight-fitting clothes being his tools of trade.

Recently, he has been performing with Kanda Kid (Islam Said) his son. The young boy has gone ahead to do a song and video called Wana Dance.

The Oyandos

The daughter to Next Level Production’s Maurice Oyando, Talia Oyando, rose to fame with a 2001 Emmy Award winning song Say yes for the Children. Talma, a group she was in with Alma Tuju, the daughter to Raphael Tuju, did the inspirational song under Unicef. The fame catapulted her to a radio career that earned her the name ‘Night Nurse’ and a following for her reggae vibe.

On her dad’s influence, she says, “I was born into music and I don’t regret a single bit, because right now I’m doing what I love.” Now, she is married to a producer.