In the words of famous English poet William Shakespeare, it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
The proverbial words befit a London-based Kenyan artist who dared to dream and ultimately shattered the proverbial glass ceiling.
Speaking during an interview in KBC on Thursday, April 1, Samson Otieno alias Tymilyfe narrated his life from being a street kid in Kibera slums to performing on international stages.
Tymilyfe is an acronym for Thank You Mother I Love You Forever- a tribute to his mother and siblings who passed away while Otieno was at the age of 13.
According to the artiste, he was forced out of his home after facing rejection from his stepmother once his father remarried.
This led him to the busy streets of Kibera - one of Africa's largest slums which consists of over 170,000 inhabitants according to the 2019 Census report. Draped in sacks, Otieno noted that his source of a decent meal would be garbage bins and leftovers.
"Life was tough, I had no money and no one to care for me. I would hang around with boys of my own age. We would all sleep in the same areas for safety, usually around bus shelters," Otieno stated.
He noted that his love for music sprung up as a form of leisure where he along with his friends would perform in small gatherings. People within his circle encouraged him to take up the art seriously which he did.
Inspired by the likes of Bob Marley, Oliver Mtukudzi and Lucky Dube, he dreamt of using music as an art to reach people on a global scale.
After living in the streets for four years, he was rescued by a children's home which began shaping his life- avoiding a life of crime in the process.
Soon after, his performances caused a buzz at the camp which caught the attention of various British personnel. After years of working on his craft at the camp, Otieno met with Brenda, a British working for the Human rights organisation. The two soon fell in love and decided to start a family together.
The artiste narrated that he moved to the UK in 2017 with sheer hopes of reaching the brass ring of the music industry. He released a couple of songs and began brushing shoulders with top-notch producers in London, his music being played on the airwaves while also performing on multiple stages.
Otieno narrated that he had set up a record label in London that hosts a number of artists. His aim is to give back to the community. The artiste has also featured on international sites such as Guardian which highlighted his music. career,
