Unravelling the mother, musician wife

Although she studied Mathematics at university, WAHU KAGWI’S musical career has earned her more success than she ever imagined, writes  GARDY CHACHA

Like a chirping bird, Wahu Kagwi, she of the musical fame, has been heard in low tones as well as in high decibels. The young, sassy and melodious mother of one and wife to David Mathenge (Nameless) has graced the spotlight for as long as her voice has been travelling through a microphone’s wire.

Wahu

The woman who releases hits, the one who gyrates in a music video — sometimes ‘running low’ under the thin surface of water only to reemerge — yes, and the one who sashays in a TV ad, exuding oomph and the spirit of a modern independent woman, is the one many know.

Underneath the beautiful voice and her supple skin is a woman who parents a daughter, is married, co-runs a business and shakes people’s hands along the streets or in public places.

“I’m just a human being; humble, social, respectful, arduous, striving to survive, eating the same food and living like any other Kenyan. When I’m performing, I’m ‘Wahu’, but off the stage I’m just human, with insecurities and prone to life’s hassles,” she says.

Maths student

Wahu began singing professionally in the late 1990s. In 2000, she released her first three singles Niangalie, Esha and Liar.

Niangalie caught the attention of CBN presenter Victor Oladokun, for the show Turning Point International.

“It wasn’t exactly gospel, but a song with positive information that also appealed to God,” says Wahu.

Her career in music began as a professional model while she was still at the University of Nairobi, where she was a Maths student.

“I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to pursue and many interests mingled in my mind,” she remembers.

What she was certain about at this time was that she loved numbers — tools of critical analysis.

“I was curious, always questioning why, how and when. I needed tangible facts and Maths would show me how to arrive at conclusions. At the same time, I had a mixture of feelings, but I prayed to God and told him to lead me where he wanted me to be,” she says, recalling how her passion for performing arts nudged.

Her music has won numerous international accolades and is regarded as versatile, considering the different genres.

Campus love

Her husband is also equally revered for his entertainment skills and a cool laid back stature. A family of talent is what they are and as much as they try to avoid the spotlight, their voices are sharp enough to keep it hovering around.

Wahu met her husband in her first year at the university. He was then a nondescript guy trying on his singing talent and rapping abilities.

“A friend introduced us at an arts function, ‘This is Monski’, and that’s how I knew him,” she says.

“When he was called on stage to perform and did a rap song, I was surprised: ‘So, dude can rap! OK’. Later, our attraction to each other grew and love blossomed,” she warmly recalls.

She knew he liked her and she felt the same. While her hall of residence was at Chiromo Campus and his at the main campus, their love made the distance short.

In 2005, after dating for seven years, their union was solemnised in a highly publicised and romantic ceremony in the lush grounds of Naivasha Country Lodge. Now, seven years after the wedding, their marriage is still intact and strong.

“He is the one and only man I’ve ever truly loved,” she says.

However, she relays that marriages will never be perfect and that all couples experience the usual ups and downs. Their celebrity status makes it even more challenging, she admits, but she underscores the importance of communication and solving any misunderstandings.

“Not that our marriage is perfect, but we make it work for the benefit of all of us,” she says. “At times we have parallel shows, but we agree on how our daughter will be taken care of and all the other dynamics,” she says.

The singer is mother to six-year-old Tumiso Nyakwea, who is in Top Class. Being a mother is one of the many hats she wears.

She says that her daughter forms a core part of her life and at times she gets petrified at the possible negative effects their fame and career portend.

“I want her to turn out right; live a normal life like any other child and so I explain to her why many people know her. I teach her what a mistake is and why I would punish her if she commits one. I teach her to be be kind and considerate to her friends and agemates,” she says.

She finds time in her busy schedule to be with her daughter and has apportioned between 3pm and 8.30pm of everyday to spend time and bond with her.

“We talk, read books, catch a movie, learn and do her homework and many other things together. Her father is the one who usually wakes up early and prepares her for school. I take care of her in the evening until I tuck her into bed,” she says.

Having graduated from the university with a degree in Mathematics, Wahu is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Communication. She also runs an audio-visual company with her husband as an equal partner and her plate is, therefore, full.

On a typical working day, she wakes up at 7am by which time her husband has prepped their daughter for school.

“Most times, her father takes her to school, so I prepare, go to the office, do meetings then get involved with either writing a song, doing shoots on location or discussing business issues.”

Humble beginning

At 3pm, she picks her daughter and heads home to do chores as they spend time together teaching her and moulding her character in the process. She tucks in her daughter for sleep after reading her a night story then hops onto either extra office work or contributes something into her Masters degree proposal till 2pm when she goes to bed. Beyond 8.30pm, she can meet with her girlfriends or do any other rendezvous.

In 2010, when the country was grappling with famine and starvation, while at a function to launch the Kenya for Kenyans funds-drive for hunger victims, she shed tears.

“I couldn’t picture myself or my daughter undergoing such kind of starvation. I thought... it’s not because I’m a better human being or I’ve done much good to deserve better.”

In her own way, she connects with God and talks to him when she needs answers.

This far, she is by any definition successful. She lives by the principle that success is in everyone’s hand and that we should use it to unlock the door to our destiny.

“I lived in a house like any other. Our roof leaked, windows broke and we would even use objects to block the holes. The first TV we had was a tiny black and white one. It never deterred me from pursuing my goal,” she says.

Her music might be famous with many and she might be the ‘Mama’ with a MAMA (MTV Africa Music Awards), but to her, she is just a normal human being striving to live her life, take care of her family and grow old together with her husband, happy and contented.

Even when Hatishiki, sweetly loving her daughter, exposing men who are still liars or low in her well that’s running low, at the back of her mind, she is just Wahu — simple and human.