Girl interrupted

By CAROLINE NYANGA

Singer Maureen Nkhenya Milanai Sironka (formerly Maurysha) has been through slime but has come out smelling like a rose. She spoke to CAROLINE NYANGA about her music, romance, teenage and future plans

They say life is what you make it. And for the fast rising musician Sironka, it is about making it big as she heals from her emotional wounds.

Dressed in a short designer dress with matching shoes, beautiful Sironka opens up and confronts the ghosts that have been haunting her, including the rape ghost. The bubbling musician says she went through the rape ordeal when she was a teenager.

"I was abused by a close family member when I was 15," she says, slowly. "I came home from school and went straight to the refrigerator to get a soda. Unknown to me, someone had adulterated it. As I took the soda, the relative, who was the only person in the house, gave me a wide smile. Little did I know that he was up to something." She pauses as tears fill her eyes. She doesn’t wipe them as they roll down her cheeks. After a while, she continues.

Sironka passed out and upon waking up two hours later, she found herself in great pain and blood oozing from her private parts.

"It was pain, discomfort and blood. At that moment, it dawned on me that I had lost my virginity — to a close relative."

Sironka says she was too scared to confront the relative, neither could she tell her mother what happened. For seven years, she managed to keep the dark secret to herself and only informed her mother a few weeks ago — long after the rapist left.

"The only two people I confided in were my grandmother (now deceased) and my first boyfriend when I turned 18," she adds. Although Sironka managed to rise above the trauma, she despised men for a long time, especially during her teenage.

Relationship with Kenzo

In July 2008, Sironka met Kenzo. She was 19 and known as Maurysha while he was 26.

A few weeks down the line Kenzo introduced her to Ogopa Deejays where she recorded five songs which are yet to be released.

"I had just completed high school and looking forward to recording music."

But with time, what started out as friendship slowly culminated into a relationship that attracted media attention.

Sironka on stage

The celebrity couple soon made headlines with their public show of love that left many pointing accusing fingers at Maurysha.

One article published in the press insinuated that Maurysha had a one-night stand with Kenzo’s friend-cum-label mate Trapee which saw the two separate for sometime.

But Sironka denies the rumours. "I never slept with Trapee. We were just close friends. At the time my affair with Kenzo was over although he did not admit it. Truth is, for the past many months we had nothing going on between us except putting up a show for the media."

"One of my aunties called me early one morning morning accusing me of embarrassing the whole family. For months, I felt hopeless."

But Sironka does not stop at that. She also apportions blame on Ogopa Deejays for not following up on the matter.

Life as Kenzo’s girlfriend

Sironka says that her relationship with Kenzo was full of ups and downs. Initially, she says, Kenzo could do everything for her. But he soon became possessive.

"He neither wanted me to walk alone nor socialise with fellow musicians. It was at that point that I realised I may have confused infatuation for love."

Sironka reveals that at some point Kenzo ended up punching her oblivious of her health condition — she claims to be both asthmatic and epileptic. The beating resulted into me losing a three-week pregnancy at a local hospital. A gynaecologist confirmed it through an ultrasound."

His words were: " You must have hit yourself hard on the head and stomach which made you lose the foetus."

Performing semi nude

The Ni Wewe singer once again found herself surrounded with controversy after a section of fans and critics present at her concert accused her of performing in a semi nude outfit.

Sironka had a short dress with only transparent black stockings underneath.

"I had worn black gipsy and stockings but the problem was a section of paparazzi who opted to concentrated on taking pictures of my body, more so from underneath focusing on my goodies as I danced on stage."

Latest project

Apart from changing her name to Sironka – which she describes as a true African identity — she is currently working on a 12-track debut album The Black Rose. "I believe, despite all that I have been through, I have always been and will remain a rose."

She has worked with Ogopa and R Kay.

Humble background

Sironka hailed from a humble family background where her mother Christina Katua, a teacher at IGCC was the sole breadwinner.

Sironka says although her real father is alive she doesn’t consider him her father.

Sironka who is also concentrating on her campaign against female circumcision says she hopes to be an inspiration to the girl-child.