Fatal love, scandal and heartbreak: Kalenjin female musicians' sad stories

Celebrated Kalenjin musicians the late Diana Chelele (Left), Vicky Brilliance and Faith Therui (Right). As the music industry celebrates their hits, the darker side of love, betrayal, and domestic strife paints a tragic picture for these artistes (Photo: Courtesy) The life of a musician often unfolds on a stage, but for some, the drama spills far beyond the spotlight. Among Kalenjin female singers, fame and fortune seem to come with an unwelcome companion-marital misfortune. Their songs of love and heartbreak are not merely poetic compositions; they are painful echoes of their personal lives. From financial betrayal to domestic violence and public humiliation, these women find themselves navigating not just the music charts, but also the rocky terrain of relationships gone awry. Since the tragic murder of celebrated Kalenjin secular musician Diana Chemutai, better known as Chelele, on January 7, 2016, the love lives of her successors have been strikingly troubled. Her brutal killing-her body was found dumped on the veranda of her home in Itembe, Chepalungu Constituency-sent shockwaves through the music industry. Though in 2020, Justice Richard Mwongo, sitting in the Naivasha High Courth acquitted her husband, former police officer Erick Musila, of her murder due to insufficient evidence, the mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved. While no other female Kalenjin music star has met such a violent end, many have seen their marriages crumble under the weight of fame, jealousy, and betrayal. The latest to join this unfortunate list is Vicky Brilliance. Vicky Brilliance and Baba Boys Vicky Brilliance, the celebrated Wababa and Omisenin hitmaker, recently laid bare the painful truth of her collapsing marriage to Silas Kiplangat, popularly known as Baba Boys. Her confession, shared in a social media post, sent shockwaves across her fanbase. A week ago, she took to social media to reveal what she termed as "baring the truth" about her marital woes, which she claimed she had concealed for the sake of her two children and her music career. "The truth is, I have been in hell. Whenever my husband gets drunk, he assaults me in front of my music fans. Unfortunately, he had an advisor who convinced him to kick me out after I completed the mansion I was building," she wrote. The 24-year-old singer, originally from Mengit village in Bomet County, addressed critics who accused her of letting fame cloud her judgment. She revealed that the entire Sh1.8 million she won at the Kalenjin Music Festival Awards had been handed over to her husband to construct their family home. Despite this sacrifice, she claimed her marriage had turned toxic, with Kiplangat's jealousy manifesting in physical violence, not just against her but also their four-year-old son. "I have struggled. The only way we have survived is through music," she said. Kiplangat, however, strongly refuted the allegations. In a TikTok live interview, he dismissed claims of domestic violence and instead pointed to Brilliance's latest music video, Omisenin, as the root of their marital discord. In the song, Brilliance nostalgically sings about an unforgettable love, lamenting the impossibility of turning back time, as it is difficult for her to move on. What made matters worse for Kiplangat was the fact that the music video starred none other than her ex-boyfriend, DJ Wesso, a well-known Kalenjin music producer. "I was upset by the video shoot of my wife with her ex-lover. I told her she risks ruining her reputation with such moves," he said. Kiplangat further alleged that Brilliance's connection with her ex had been a source of tension in their marriage, especially after he discovered that she had saved DJ Wesso's contact on her phone. However, he strongly denied ever attacking Brilliance with a knife or any other weapon. "I have never picked up a knife to threaten my wife. If I had been violent, these allegations would have surfaced earlier in our relationship-long before I raised concerns over her video with her ex. She left our matrimonial home long before what she is now claiming. I didn't chase her away," Kiplangat said. He added: "If I had even held up a knife against my wife, she would have injuries. Such claims are absurd." Despite the turmoil, Kiplangat insisted he had loved Brilliance unconditionally, even embracing her son from a previous relationship. "The fact that she was a single mother with a son was what made me love her even more," he said. However, he admitted that seeing his wife rekindle a professional relationship with her former lover was deeply painful. "Any man would be hurt by such a move," Kiplangat stated. Faith Therui: From stardom to ruin Vicky Brilliance is not alone in her struggles. Another rising Kalenjin music star, Faith Therui, has endured an eerily similar fate. At the height of her career, she sacrificed everything for love-only to walk away with nothing but bitter regrets. After investing her soul and money, her marriage collapsed just as she was on the verge of a musical breakthrough, fame, and fortune. Therui, who has not released any major hits in recent years, attributes her career stagnation to the collapse of her marriage. She revealed in a social media interview that she left her husband, Addison Cheruiyot, with nothing but a single pair of shoes and a dress. She recounted how she sold her house in Kapkwen, Bomet County, to start a new life with Cheruiyot following their high-profile wedding in 2021. Therui alleged that she was left to shoulder the family's financial responsibilities, including paying school fees for their child and covering her husband's university tuition. "For two years, I would pay up to Sh135,000 per semester for my husband's university course instead of the actual Sh75,000. I later discovered I was being exploited after stumbling upon fake receipts. Upon discovering my husband's scheme, I felt like committing a violent crime against him, but I decided against it for the sake of my son," said Therui Therui apologized to her music fans, saying she regretted not heeding their advice to remain a single mother. "Even after the father of my first child failed to marry me, I still dreamt of falling in love and getting married like many other women who enjoy stable marriages," she said. Her breaking point, however, came after a violent confrontation in Kapkatet, Kericho County. She alleged that after receiving Sh10,000 from a fan-who happened to be a Member of the County Assembly (MCA)-her husband flew into a jealous rage and attacked her with a whiskey bottle. As if that wasn't enough, Therui claimed her husband hacked into her WhatsApp, impersonating her in conversations and responding to messages on her behalf. She stated that her marriage was irreparably damaged and that all she now seeks is a divorce from her estranged husband. "I don't even care about material things. All I want now is peace of mind. I no longer believe in everlasting love or getting married ever again," said Therui. She declared her determination to put her marital woes aside and reignite her music career. "I am ready to sing until my clothes fall off," she said. In response, Cheruiyot dismissed her allegations as slanderous. "Ninety-nine per cent of what Faith has said about me is meant to tarnish my name. I was deeply hurt when I heard the lies," he said. Cheruiyot attributed their marital problems to Therui's alleged irrational reactions and preference for addressing issues through social media rather than dialogue. "We have never sat down to discuss anything. She once shouted at me in front of my mother, leaving me humiliated. She doesn't like being questioned about anything," he said. With his marriage to Therui as good as over, Cheruiyot stated that he plans to remarry in the future-hopefully, for good. The bigger picture The struggles of these songstresses point to a broader issue: the intersection of fame, love, and gender expectations. Kalenjin music star Winrose Chepkorir, famous for her hit song Kalyet (Peace), believes that celebrity status comes with unique challenges. She urged her fellow musicians to maintain a small circle of genuine friends to minimise the risk of betrayal. "Having too many friends increases the chances of attracting the wrong ones, who will only bring trouble," she warned. Marriage counsellor Rev Joyce Tonui, a senior pastor at Kericho Emmanuel Africa Gospel Church, offered a deeper analysis of why these marriages are failing. She argued that many marriages fail because they lack a solid foundation of love. "Many couples rush into marriage without truly knowing each other. Love alone is not enough; they must determine whether they are actually compatible," she said. Rev Tonui particularly advised married celebrities, including Kalenjin female musicians, to set clear boundaries in their personal and professional lives. "They should establish limits to avoid compromising situations. For instance, they must decide in advance what kind of videos they will not participate in and which performances they will decline. The key is to set clear boundaries and uphold them," she said Rev Tonui also advised spouses of celebrities to guard against jealousy. "Female celebrities naturally attract male attention, and an insecure husband may become jealous, even when his wife is not encouraging it. This attention comes with the nature of her work," she said. Rev. Tonui further urged couples in the limelight to maintain their privacy and avoid external interference in their relationships. "They should be accountable to each other and prevent outsiders from meddling in their private affairs," she said.

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