In 2003, she won two Kisima awards for Best Female Artiste and Best Contemporary Gospel Artiste. She was also nominated for a Kora Award again in 2003.
After releasing her first album Simama that featured collaborations with industry greats such as Roughtone and RK, the 35-year-old musician disappeared from the music scene for ten years.
Her fans yearned for her presence and she became more famous for her disappearance than her music until last month when she released her new single Langu.
Where has she been for the last ten years? There were all manner of rumours on social media.
Henrie says she took a step back after she felt that the gospel music was too commercialised.
“I wanted to take some time just to reflect, soul search and focus on God. I felt that there was too much going on in the gospel industry,” she says.
She says her initial plan was to take a break and write an album but her break soon became permanent.
“When I first got into music I just wanted to make music to guide people during praise and worship. However, with time I felt that gospel was turning into a showbiz industry and having done my job I had to step back,” says the soft-spoken star.
What cult?
Henrie, who started out steadily as a background vocal artiste for other gospel musicians such as Pete Odera, says she would never charge a church if requested to perform.
How then is she planning to make ends meet taking into account the expenses incurred during production of her songs?
“I will deal with every situation as it comes. I know I have a purpose in this world. I must spread his word without focusing on the monetary value,” she says.
Interestingly, she even dismisses awards ceremonies despite being a beneficiary 12 years ago.
“I’m not saying that they are bad as I personally don’t know what will happen if I’m nominated. However, I don’t find any value apart from glorifying the individual rather than God himself,” says the laid-back musician.
Henrie, who looked like a shadow of her former self during the interview, talked of her experience with cerebral malaria.
She says she was only sick for six weeks at some point last year. “It is ridiculous how people can just talk about you without consulting you. I suffered from typhoid and malaria and later a condition that saw me lose myself for only a few weeks. I’m managing the condition,” she says with firmness.
She also rubbishes gossip that she had joined a cult that pulled her away from her calling.
“I have never been a member of any cult. My family is my witness. That is just a rumour created by people who don’t know me well,” says the gospel artiste who was a pioneer in the industry.
Away from the music scene, the musician has been surviving through side hustles and support from her family.
“My parents are supportive as I still live with them. Apart from managing my inheritance, I have also been doing some research for established companies,” says the University of Nairobi, Bachelor of Arts Sociology graduate.
About her relationship with former gospel musician Rufftone, Henri says it was strictly professional.
“Rufftone and I hit it off as good friends in 2002 because we shared the same studio and came from the same neighbourhood. Our relationship was professional,” she says squashing any possibility of recording another collabo.
Marriage plans
“I don’t think there is room for us to work together since I’m past that ragamuffin phase. I’m now more into the classical style, which I don’t think most people want to venture into. I want to create more praise and worship songs to be sung in churches.”
Away from the serious business, Henrie is a laidback girl who when not writing and recording music prefers to cook, garden or even read a book.
Henri plans to tie the knot very soon to a man she describes ‘perfect gentleman’. She was not willing to dish out on any details of how they met, but she intimates that she wants a big family.
“I have always admired big families and I hope that when that time comes, God will bless me with one,” she says.
Photo: facebook/ Henrie Mutuku