Prince Indah is a bona fide Kenyan musician who despite coming from a humble background, has risen to become one of the greatest in the industry, at least in the music industry and maintained his stardom stature throughout the years he’s been active on mainstream music scene.
Evans Ochieng’, popularly known as Prince Indah is a Luo vernacular musician from the region of Nyanza dominating both the Ohangla and Rhumba music in the country as we know it today. He was born in 1994 in Ugenya.
The ‘Bruce Otieno’ hitmaker is the third child among five siblings who was raised by his mother after his father passed on in 2003 when Ochieng’ was barely in class three.
Though the singer initially lived in Nairobi, Indah’s father’s demise led his family into poverty, thereafter his family left their Nairobi house and headed straight to their village, his native upcountry home in Siaya County.
Fast-forward to 2014, Indah was faced by another tragedy that caught him unawares as his loving, caring, and supportive mother died, he was devastated by losing his only surviving parent.
In the same year that his mother died, he was set back to ground zero leaving him emotionally, and financially drained forcing him to start to fend for himself and his sibling whichever way he could.
Just to reiterate on his struggle that deserves to have a book written about in his honor, the Ohangla maestro Prince Indah attended his secondary school but dropped out to cater for his ill mother in 2014 hence could not pursue university.
With his failed academic endeavors, Indah became a mjengo guy (construction worker) in Mathare, Nairobi. Between 2013 and 2014, Indah courageously requested to become a drummer in Jalamo’s “Ramogi Ohangla Rhumba band”.
Prince Indah’s Uncle, Emma Jalamo, facilitated Indah’s full transition into music gradually helping him become a star that he is today after linking him up with Eng. Wuod Fibi of Barikiwa Studios that has launched successfully the careers of the new wave of Ohangla, and Rhumba artistes today who are dominating the charts with every record they put out.
Clearly, Indah has demonstrated that it is possible to nurture self into attaining greatness despite one’s unfavorable circumstances.
Prince Indah’s success is an embodiment of strategizing and breaking barriers when nobody else believed in you, he sure is an inspiration to many because when he reached a cul de sac situation, he found a way out of that situation.
Indah subsequently requested to be permitted to sing at one of the band’s functions, an opportunity which he effectively exploited to woo the crowd with his great musical prowess. This earned Indah better salary and position in the band.
Unlike other musicians, Indah only “pose for photos with brands that he is into partnership with,” a strategy that ensures that he grows his brand with any association he makes with corporations.
The superstar has amassed musical success due to creativity and diversification throughout his career since he went commercial.
It is corroborated that Indah made history when he became the first Ohangla musician to receive “YouTube Silver Creator button” when his YouTube channel attained 100,000 subscriptions.
Due to his intentional nature, Indah mixes Luo, Swahili and subtle English words in his catchy, rhythmic lyrics that he captures his fanbase with every other song that he puts out.
The ‘Adhiambo’ singer also collaborated with Hip Hop rappers and one of the best in the game now, he’s also worked with Mugithi and Genge tone singers alike. His most definitely diversifying his portfolio which will make him has one of the best impressive catalog in the music industry, all genres considered.
Established, celebrated and sought-after artistes like Khaligraph Jones, Samidoh and Bahati, respectively have worked the Ohangla maestro.
Some of Indah’s most successful songs and albums include, some of his hit records are; ‘Chike Hera’, ‘Nyar Joluo’, ‘Weche Hera’, ‘Kwach Ogolo Koke’, and many others that are somewhat timeless to an extent.
These demonstrate that indeed, creativity, strategizing and diversification are essential success factors in music and Prince Indah is a living attest to this being a fact.
