Though he released his debut album in the year 2004, Kikuyu secular musician Kuruga Wa Wanjiku's breakthrough would come seven years later after he released the hit song ‘Niwanjiariire Kana’ (You bore me a child).
The song which got massive airplay on Kikuyu radio stations was basically in praise of his wife for bearing him a daughter named after his mother which came to resonate very well with many nursing mothers.
However, apart from this hit song, how else do you know Kuruga Wa Wanjiku who is in his early 40s?
Well, here are five things you may want to know about the Kiharu-born artiste.
1. Kuruga Wa Wanjiku started composing songs while still in class 3 drawing his inspirations from Gikuyu music veterans like the late John Ndichu and DK Wa Maria.
2. Kuruga's musical awakening finally came after listening to the late Sam Kinuthia whom he says spurred him to desire to venture into music fulltime.
"I used to hear him sing and go crazy.I consider Sam Kinuthia as my musical role model," Kuruga once said.
3. He was the late secular musician George Wa Njaro's backup singer. The latter who knew Kuruga from childhood took him from the village in 2002 to Nairobi where Kuruga did the backup vocals for Wa Njaro’s 2002 popular hit song 'Address'.
4. Besides music, Kuruga Wa Wanjiku does graphic design at his office, along Sheikh Karume Road Nairobi on weekdays. He also owns JohnMaks Music studios.
5. His biggest dream in music is to build a huge studio facility and a music college with boarding facilities and hotel.