This guy, Nick Odhiambo aka Proffesor Bamba of Bamba Tv

You use your voice to earn a living. Is it how you wanted to spend your adulthood?

Maybe when I was about 19 or 20. That was when my friends used to tell me that I should give it a try. We used to play together and in-between rests I would be the entertainer.

What sport did you play?

I played basketball and I was also an athlete.

What dreams did you harbour then?

I wanted to be a radio presenter but also had ambitions in basketball and athletics. I also wanted to do animation but schools weren't offering it so I had to kill that dream. With basketball my chances of going to the NBA were very, very, very... very slim. As for running – I was advised that I would never make it. Then I started trying to get into radio: my chances there were higher there than breaking world records.

Just like that and you were a star on radio?

It took me six years from clearing high school to getting my first job. During that time ilikuwa ni kubahatisha tu kila siku (struggling through each day). I used to psych myself. I would wake up in the morning – around 9 or 10 – and ask myself: If God came now and knocked the door and said, "Hi, I am God, I have given you a nice voice and the ability to imitate people, what have you done with it?" Then I would call radio stations afterwards.

Do you remember the first time you made money using your voice?

First I went to radio. About two years later is when I got my first chance to go for a voice test for an advert. But, you fail quite a bit: having a nice voice and delivering the message are two different stories.

How many times did you fail?

Ayayayaya! Lots of times. The first ad that got me paid was may be three years later.

It is not easy as it seems?

In the beginning you start at the bottom. I used to get checks for 5K, 7K. But you know what, 7k is better than nothing.

In radio, your first pay check; how big was it?

Initially I worked for free – for like two months. Then I talked to my boss and they gave me my first salary. It was Sh50,000. Wee!

How did you use the money?

I left it in the account for quite a bit. I wanted to look at it – intact. I was like, 'If I do this for two more months then I would have Sh100,000.' (Laughter)

But then in your industry it gets to a point when you become a household name and the struggles end.

It doesn't happen overnight. You have to work your way up to the top. Remember there are others in the middle and you can't jump the line.

Of all the skits you have done which one do you feel you did best?

It is hard to tell which one because I perform to entertain others and not really for myself. However, I loved the Obama one: my promo just as I was joining Radio Maisha. I will say two: the Obama one and Keff Joinange.

Have you ever used your voice to woo a girl?

Girls love me for that. When I say the right things I always leave with the number. What I do is weigh through it; try and find out what will make her smile.

How did you celebrate mother's day?

(Laughs) Every day is mothers' day

I heard that you are a father. How do you spend father's day?

I love it. I spend father's day with my daughter. Her mother and I are not together. But, my daughter is the reason I work so hard. We bond; play; watch cartoons; I cook for her; treat her like a queen. Plus, I named her after my late mother.

Can you explain your hairstyle?

The name 'Nicholas Odhiambo' is very popular on Facebook. I needed to differentiate myself from all the other Nick Odhiambos. When you click on a Nick Odhiambo on Facebook you will find some girl flirting with him. Then you will hear some Nick Odhiambo in Buru Buru messing around with women over there. I am like, those are supposed to be my women. So, I grew the dreads so that it would be easy to tell the legit Nick Odhiambo. (Laughs)

It had nothing to do with your preference?

Well, even my friend had locks. And I had always told him that I will grow them some day.

You still play basketball?

No. Wewe huoni hii Kitambi? (Can't you see my grown belly) The dream died.

You would call yourself a celebrity or a famous person?

I am a famous celebrity: Famous because people know me and celebrity because you can list down the things I am celebrated for. Although the term celebrity may mean other things.

If you God gave you a chance to reincarnate after death would you come back as the Nick Odhiambo we know?

Yes. I wouldn't want to be someone else. I have had a few friends who were richer; were more influential; and so on. Some have died. Some are in jail. I look at myself today and I say, you know, my life is not that bad. Let me just live this life that I know and make the best out of it.

The future?

The last few months I have been trying to re-invent myself. That is why I started a new job, moved into a new house, and got a new girlfriend. In a few weeks I want to chop the dreadlocks. So, I will just be a new Nick since I can't be born again.

Any secrets you have been keeping?

I don't keep secrets. But if there are let them stay wherever they are.

You use your voice to earn a living. Is it how you wanted to spend your adulthood?

Maybe when I was about 19 or 20. That was when my friends used to tell me that I should give it a try. We used to play together and in-between rests I would be the entertainer.

What sport did you play?

I played basketball and I was also an athlete.

What dreams did you harbour then?

I wanted to be a radio presenter but also had ambitions in basketball and athletics. I also wanted to do animation but schools weren't offering it so I had to kill that dream. With basketball my chances of going to the NBA were very, very, very... very slim. As for running – I was advised that I would never make it. Then I started trying to get into radio: my chances there were higher there than breaking world records.

Just like that and you were a star on radio?

It took me six years from clearing high school to getting my first job. During that time ilikuwa ni kubahatisha tu kila siku (struggling through each day). I used to psych myself. I would wake up in the morning – around 9 or 10 – and ask myself: If God came now and knocked the door and said, "Hi, I am God, I have given you a nice voice and the ability to imitate people, what have you done with it?" Then I would call radio stations afterwards.

Do you remember the first time you made money using your voice?

First I went to radio. About two years later is when I got my first chance to go for a voice test for an advert. But, you fail quite a bit: having a nice voice and delivering the message are two different stories.

How many times did you fail?

Ayayayaya! Lots of times. The first ad that got me paid was may be three years later.

It is not easy as it seems?

In the beginning you start at the bottom. I used to get checks for 5K, 7K. But you know what, 7k is better than nothing.

In radio, your first pay check; how big was it?

Initially I worked for free – for like two months. Then I talked to my boss and they gave me my first salary. It was Sh50,000. Wee!

How did you use the money?

I left it in the account for quite a bit. I wanted to look at it – intact. I was like, 'If I do this for two more months then I would have Sh100,000.' (Laughter)

But then in your industry it gets to a point when you become a household name and the struggles end.

It doesn't happen overnight. You have to work your way up to the top. Remember there are others in the middle and you can't jump the line.

Of all the skits you have done which one do you feel you did best?

It is hard to tell which one because I perform to entertain others and not really for myself. However, I loved the Obama one: my promo just as I was joining Radio Maisha. I will say two: the Obama one and Keff Joinange.

Have you ever used your voice to woo a girl?

Girls love me for that. When I say the right things I always leave with the number. What I do is weigh through it; try and find out what will make her smile.

How did you celebrate mother's day?

(Laughs) Every day is mothers' day

I heard that you are a father. How do you spend father's day?

I love it. I spend father's day with my daughter. Her mother and I are not together. But, my daughter is the reason I work so hard. We bond; play; watch cartoons; I cook for her; treat her like a queen. Plus, I named her after my late mother.

Can you explain your hairstyle?

The name 'Nicholas Odhiambo' is very popular on Facebook. I needed to differentiate myself from all the other Nick Odhiambos. When you click on a Nick Odhiambo on Facebook you will find some girl flirting with him. Then you will hear some Nick Odhiambo in Buru Buru messing around with women over there. I am like, those are supposed to be my women. So, I grew the dreads so that it would be easy to tell the legit Nick Odhiambo. (Laughs)

It had nothing to do with your preference?

Well, even my friend had locks. And I had always told him that I will grow them some day.

You still play basketball?

No. Wewe huoni hii Kitambi? (Can't you see my grown belly) The dream died.

You would call yourself a celebrity or a famous person?

I am a famous celebrity: Famous because people know me and celebrity because you can list down the things I am celebrated for. Although the term celebrity may mean other things.

If you God gave you a chance to reincarnate after death would you come back as the Nick Odhiambo we know?

Yes. I wouldn't want to be someone else. I have had a few friends who were richer; were more influential; and so on. Some have died. Some are in jail. I look at myself today and I say, you know, my life is not that bad. Let me just live this life that I know and make the best out of it.

The future?

The last few months I have been trying to re-invent myself. That is why I started a new job, moved into a new house, and got a new girlfriend. In a few weeks I want to chop the dreadlocks. So, I will just be a new Nick since I can't be born again.

Any secrets you have been keeping?

I don't keep secrets. But if there are let them stay wherever they are.