The mention of the name Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu may not elicit any reactions from the millions of fans who like and dance to his tunes that continue to dominate Kikuyu music charts since he shot to the limelight two years ago.
But mention his stage name 'Samidoh' and all over sudden you will notice a renewed interest among your audience because that is how the artist is known in many Kikuyu households, clubs and hangout joints.
As renowned blogger Ndung'u Nyoro notes, the soft-spoken Samidoh has risen from the trenches to become one of the most formidable Kikuyu Benga music maestro of our age.
This has, however, not come on a silver platter. Samidoh has had to break several barriers in life to command the massive loyal following he prides himself in currently.
The artist was born and brought up in a poor family in Subukia and Nyandarua and, while still a child, lost his father.
His mother and five brothers would soon after the dad's death be kicked away from their Subukia home by his father’s brothers after which they settled in Nyandarua County.
A few months after joining Form One, Samidoh would lose his mother and Samidoh's life took a nosedive that saw him sink deeper and deeper into despair and despondency, Nyoro notes.
After Form Four, Samidoh would leave the village for Nairobi where he joined his elder brother, a drummer in Kamande wa Kioi’s music band and settled as one of the band members for the legendary Kikuyu artist.
It is during this period, he joined Kenya Polytechnic to pursue a Diploma in Business and Information Technology after which he would tarmack for a job after losing stint with Kamande wa Kioi.
When everything seemed not to work for him in the big city, Samidoh decided 'kaba kuinuka' (it's better to return home) and headed for the village where he would find a job in a flower farm.
Later, Samidoh joined the Kenya Administration Police, got posted to Daadab and it’s from there that he launched his music career that has now blown up like a "supernova", Nyoro adds.
His first song 'Ndiri na Mutwe Mwega' has of now amassed a mind-boggling 1.6 million views on YouTube, a rare feat for a Kikuyu Benga singer and an exclusive club inhabited by the likes of Willy Paul, Sauti Sol and Nyashisnki, states Nyoro.
The arist who is barely 30 has continued to release other popular songs like Niwe Ndarathimiirwo, 'Kairitu Gakwa', 'Tuhii Twitu', 'Ihoya Ria Samidoh' among others and his musical star continues to shine even brighter.
His latest release 'Wendo Wi Cama' has already pulled in an impressive 400,000 plus views on Youtube just a week after the song hit the airwaves.
The song which is already enjoying massive airplay on Kikuyu media promises to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest release of 2019.