Eric Wainaina's Biography, Age, Spouse, Tribe, Real Name, Networth , Songs and Lifestyle Wikidata | Claim this profile

Eric Wainaina's Biography in Summary

As difficult as it is to break into Kenya's tumultuous music industry, it is even more difficult to stick with it and stay relevant for years. Some people are famous for a few years and then fade away as if they never existed. This is why the few musicians who keep the flame alive for years or decades deserve to be recognized, and Eric Wainaina is one of them.

Eric has worked in the music industry for nearly three decades. Because of his music, he has released positive songs, won awards, and even received international acclaim. 

George and Margaret Gitau Wainaina gave birth to 53 in Nairobi. Simon is his brother's name. A piano was once intended for Simon but ended up in his hands. This is what sparked his interest in music at a young age. He reluctantly took piano lessons and sang in the choir throughout his primary and secondary school years.

Wainaina received his primary and secondary education at St. Mary's School in Nairobi. 

Eric Wainaina Career

The musician made his big-stage debut in 1992 and has never looked back since. He entered the world of professional music as a member of the acappella group Five Alive. 
 

Kenyans welcomed the group when it first formed in early 1992. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Take 6 were musical inspirations for the group. It featured five rising stars: Eric Wainaina, Bob Kioko, David Mageria (who was replaced by Joe Kiragu), Victor Seii, and Chris Kamau.

This experience cemented Eric's musical career. He was certain that he wanted to make music.

Five Alive released their debut album Five Alive in 1996, which was a commercial success and opened many doors for them, including the opportunity to tour Europe. Eric was featured in a video commissioned by the United Nations Drug Control Program the same year. 

The band called it quits in 1997. Eric went on to attend in Boston, USA, after deciding that music was the career path he wanted to take. He received honors after majoring in songwriting at Berklee College of Music and record engineering. 

During his time at Berklee, he would visit Kenya and record a song. He performed at the Kenya Beats of the Season concert in 2000. So many people adored him that 15,000 people tuned in to watch him on television. 

 Eric Wainaina Kenya Only

Kenya Only was the title of a song released by the then-young musician. This was an excellent piece of music. The lyrics were so powerful that it became a national anthem following the 1998 bombing of the Kenya United States Embassy, which killed many people and injured many more. It also gained popularity during and after the 2007-2008 post-election violence. 

Eric Wainaina nchi ya kitu Kidogo

His popularity skyrocketed after he released the song Nchi ya kitu kidogo (a corrupt country). This was a song about Kenyan corruption. Kitu kidogo refers to the money that a Kenyan citizen must spend on bribes every other day. The song was well received in Kenya and elsewhere. 
 

Government officials were outraged and refused to allow it to be broadcast on the national broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). He was also intimidated during public performances, as he would later recount on Jeff Koinange Live on Citizen TV years later. He described how, during a public ceremony attended by the late Vice President George Saitoti, they were told to stop performing that song. They could only perform because the audience had already started singing. Given that this song was released during the regime of the late President Moi, it was a tremendous act of bravery. A regime that silenced those who spoke out against the government.

The song was praised by Transparency International (Kenya), who appointed him as an ambassador. In addition, he was appointed as an ambassador for the MS Kenya NGO, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Africa Almac.com named him one of the top 100 Africans of the year 2000 in 2001. Other notables on the list included Nelson Mandela, Baaba Maal, Joseph Kabila, and Yash Pal.

In December 2004, he premiered Lwanda, Man of Stone, a musical theater piece. The piece included 21 songs based on the legend of Lwanda Magere, a man who led his people to unfathomable victory before being betrayed and killed. 

The musical premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009. He wrote the musical for the film from a whisper the same year. At the African Film Awards in 2009, the film won best director, best picture, best screenplay, best original soundtrack, and AMAA achievement in editing.

He composed the UN-MDG anthem, which was performed at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony in South Africa in 2010. 

UNEP appointed him as the national UN Goodwill Ambassador in 2013.The musical premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009. He wrote the musical for the film from a whisper the same year. 

Eric Wainaina Marriage

In February of 2008, the famous musician married Sheba Hirst. He once recalled meeting her in 1994 when he returned to St. Mary's School for his documents. They had been engaged for five years prior to their marriage. He cheated on her at one point, which was devastating to their marriage. Another child was born as a result of the extramarital affair. This was a difficult time for them, and Sheba abandoned him for a while, but they were able to reconcile. The pain he caused his wife made him vow never to do it again, which was exacerbated by the fact that it was so public. 
He and Sheba have two daughters, Seven and Neo. He also has a son from a previous relationship.