A guitar and a promise have coloured his life

On the night of August 18, 2004, Patrick Mwangi was called to the death bed of his father, Sammy Muraya, to receive his share of inheritance. 

Sadly, Mwangi then in Form Two, leaned over to his weak father to receive his blessings. 

“My son, I leave you no riches, but I will leave you a major asset I own — my guitar. Use it to power yourself to fortune,” he recalls his father’s dying words. 

His father was one of the icons of Agikuyu benga music and was known for major hits like Mama Kiwinya.

Now 23, Mr Mwangi says his father had taught him to play the guitar since childhood, but he had not anticipated that it would be his inheritance.

After his Form Four in 2008, he started using it to earn a living and joined up with veteran musicians who helped him cut a niche in the industry, owing to their respect for his father. 

“The guitar was worth Sh10,000 but I have raked in 100 times that value through live shows and recordings,” he says. To market his name and brand his music he took up his father’s name to become Sammy Muraya Junior. 

“Penetrating media houses to play my music was hard. Convincing clients that I was an asset in their marketing drives was also a major issue, but consistence and a strong desire to excel worked the magic,” he says. 

His fortunes started when he gave his late father’s music a modern twist packaged in re-mixed versions. 

His debut release was Ngita ya baba (My father’s guitar). “My father made me commit to his last wish that his guitar accumulate no moss or rust. He made me promise to work hard to become rich and famous.”

Mr Mwangi has now entered into corporate marketing deals where he entertains crowds in road shows and struck agreements with entertainment joints for weekend jigs.

“I have since 2008 featured in about 80 live shows, 10 corporate road shows and released my debut album,” he says. 

“We charge between Sh20,000 and Sh30,000 for a live show and corporate road shows. Add the Sh250 I sell each of my albums for and the figures tell it all. That is why I am not complaining,” he says. 

“Music is a major avenue for personal finance. You only need to plan well, he adds.