Meet Leyla Mohamed who has given ‘Wimbo Wa Historia’ new life
Leyla Mohamed has been the talk of town after her rendition of “Wimbo wa Historia” was uploaded on YouTube. She will perform on Mashujaa Day. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Leyla Mohamed has been the talk of town after her rendition was uploaded on YouTube.
- And on Mashujaa Day, she will sing the song in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As the country prepares to commemorate Mashujaa Day on October 20, a 13-year-old student at St. Teresa’s Girls Primary School is preparing to sing before the President after having given the patriotic track “Wimbo wa Historia” a fresh rendition.
The original song written by Enock Ondego was praised for uniting Kenyans.
Leyla Mohamed has been the talk of town after her rendition was uploaded on YouTube. And on Mashujaa Day, she will sing the song in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Leyla comes from a humble background. She was born in Kabati, Naivasha, and lives in Nairobi’s Eastleigh Estate with her single mother and a male cousin. She is set to sit for her KCPE exams in November.
TALENT
According to Peter Chuani (commonly known as Dj Pinye), a veteran DJ, producer and talent scout, he was shooting a show in Eastleigh and told a colleague that he wanted a young Kenyan girl who can sing.
“She kept sending me children who were not Kenyans and I asked her why she was sending me foreigners. Sammy Dee, who was listening, said that he knew a girl who can sing,” said Pinye in a recent interview on "The Trend".
He adds that it was not easy as it took them four months to meet. Pinye first got in touch with her mother and eventually met Leyla.
A poster of Leyla Mohamed who will perform during the Mashujaa Day celebrations. PHOTO | COURTESY
Leyla says that she was not forced to sing the song and she could have said no but after hearing it for the first time she liked it.
“It took me an hour to master the lyrics and I send it back to Pinye, who was shocked,” she adds.
She describes herself as a sanguine; she is a talkative and jovial girl. Her greatest musical influence is the late Whitney Houston and when she grows up she wants to be a pilot.
PATRIOTISM
“Wimbo wa Historia” was written in the 1970s and detailed the trials of the black majority in the fight for independence from the British.
The song is particularly known for its emotive tone in expressing the tales of the Kapenguria Six, more so Kenya’s founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
The choir, led by Enock Ondego, sang the song for Jomo Kenyatta on his tour of Taita Taveta.
Leyla currently calls the Permanent Presidential Music Commission her second home, as it is where she is undertaking her vocal classes and also uses the various resources like the audio visual studios at the facility to improve her musical talent.
Apart from singing in front of the Nation she will also sing during the invite-only luncheon.
