AGAINST ALL ODDS, WAKABURA JOSEPH STILL MADE IT IN LIFE

Wakabura Joseph has come a long way from a humble farm worker to a celebrated musician. He was the fifth born in a family of seven children. Raised by a single mother who was forced to do manual job in order to feed them.
Wakabura was forced to drop out of school after clearing his class eight exams and started doing farm work in order to support her mother.

He started composing music when he was still in class six and later a friend introduced him to a recording label where he recorded his first album ‘ndigacoka kurira’ (I will never cry again) but he was forced to redo the recording in a different studio as it was of low quality. Gospel sensation singer Elijah Miller took him to the new studio where his album was re-done. The recording was of a higher quality and the media stations started playing his songs.
He’s biggest break thru was when he released the album `githuke ni githunduku’ (the tree stump has burden).He says that he sells 500 copies of this album a day. It‘s among the most downloaded gospel skiza tune.
Wakabura is not satisfied with music alone as he has ventured into other businesses. He owns a music store and a recording studio. He distributes his own music in order to prevent piracy which is what eats our local artistes.
Wakabura agrees that music made him who he is as he has bought land for his mother and employed two of his brothers.
From a farm worker to a celebrated musician, this man has defied all odds.