A story is told of the life of Kikuyu benga star John De Mathew who died in a crash on Thika Road on Sunday night, and his early life before he shot to fame in 1987.
According to his friend George Waweru, De Mathew whose real name is John Ng'ang'a began his musical career in Gathiruini village, in Mukurweini, Muranga County.
He says that the first song the deceased released was dubbed 'Rekerieria Wendo' (release love), a song he composed for a girl he loved in the village sometime in 1987.
Waweru says that De Mathew even proceeded to shoot a video for the song at a small well which is downhill from his home, as he pursued the girl, who as it appears, was not interested in him.
He says, the family of De Mathew later managed to dissuade him from pursuing the girl who ended up marrying his own cousin.
"I was his age mate, a friend and a classmate. His first song was released in 1987. I remember it because we had a fight some metres from his home. If you listen to the song he mentions me saying ”George we were beaten”. This was a song dedicated to a girl who married a relative,” he told the Standard on Monday.
John then proceeded to release 'My Dear Nduku', a fictitious woman he claims gave him the last kiss before dying, purportedly after they were involved in an accident.
He says that he was taking the girl, Peris Nduku, to his parents in Limuru before the accident, before she died at the Aga Khan Hospital.
De Mathew died after his Nissan Navara vehicle rammed into a trailer on Thika Road on Sunday night while coming from a fundraiser for the child of fellow musician Peter Kigia in Gatanga.