Sheila Mwanyigha is a renowned musician, radio and television personality with an illustrious career spanning decades.
She is the host and producer of Sheila Lives Out Loud and an editor of a directory and magazine for hair products.
Her rise to national prominence can also be attributed to her debut in the reality TV show Tusker Project Fame and hosting morning shows on NTV.
For many years, Sheila struggled like all budding artists until she joined the University of Nairobi (UoN).
On campus, Sheila's voice aligned consistently with her musical goals—particularly of university fans who hurled admiration and praises at her for being pragmatic and a coiner.
“I started working while I was on campus, and that’s where my music career began to pay,” Sheila narrated.
Lyric by lyric Sheila nodded her head and read her lips out of struggles that upcoming musicians face daily, that is, up until her biggest breakthrough as a student.
“I started with voice-over work for radio then print and finally I was on TV adverts," she recalled.
Her sustaining principle was ‘do the best you can until you know better,’ and better she did when she got the biggest breakthrough as a student.
“The opportunity that changed my life came when I advertised Cadbury’s chocolate éclair while I was still studying in the university,” she recalled.
Sheila could then pay her university fee, finance her musical career and take care of her little-expensive life.
In the wake of the high unemployment rate in the country, she resorted to allowing her followers to pitch job opportunities on her social media pages.
“I am a firm believer in advocating individuals to use their skills. Look at what is in your hands and how it can work for you,” she advised.
“I get so many requests from people who are entering the job market and many leaving formal employment with useful skills but no connections to showcase their skillset. So, I decided to share my platform to help them sell their skills,” she explained.
The hitmaker admitted that she was also affected by the plight of close friends and relatives seeking jobs.
"It’s not been a very easy patch transitioning from a pandemic to an election season with many companies downsizing.
“A harsh economic climate affects us all. You are demoralised when you realise that you can’t provide for everyone,” she added.
