Legendary Tanzanian singer Lucas Nice Mukenda, 48, has come out to address persistent claims of ‘broke’ and ‘sick’ allegations, insisting he is living an affluent life.
The ‘Fagilia’ star reveals he earned up to Ksh32 million per album in the early 2000s and invested it to avoid becoming a ‘slave’ to the industry.
Speaking from his home in Kenya—a country he says “treasured him when his own didn’t”—the 48-year-old icon has revealed that far from being “ruined,” he is living a life of leisure that most modern Bongo stars could only dream of.
“I did not stop doing music; I took a break,” Mr Nice stated firmly.
“I wasn’t doing music to become a slave to it. Even if it’s something you love, don’t allow yourself to be a slave.”
Mr Nice revealed the “crazy figures” behind his peak years, claiming his albums would sell over 300,000 copies in the era of cassette tapes.’
Depending on the exchange rate at the time, he was pulling in between Ksh13 million and Ksh32 million per release.
He credits his business acumen to his late mother, a Zanzibar curio shop owner who taught him how to handle wealth long before he became a household name.
“I never went broke. I can still afford a comfortable, affluent lifestyle,” he insisted, citing a 2000s tour in Comoros where he earned Ksh1.2 million for eight shows—a fortune at the time.
“I even hired a private jet to do a show in the US because the timing was tight. The media called it wasting money, but today they celebrate stars for doing the same thing.”
Perhaps most surprising is the star’s domestic bliss. For years, Nice has kept his family “underwater,” but he has now confirmed he is married to a Kenyan doctor.
The couple has three children—aged 24, 20, and 16—who are currently based in Melbourne, Australia. While he visits them frequently, Nice admits he prefers the warmth of East Africa to the European lifestyle.
“My wife and children prefer their privacy. They say they are not the celebrity,” he explained, adding that his relocation to Kenya was motivated by the “flowers” and respect he receives from Kenyan fans.
Addressing the “downward spiral” stories that plagued his middle years, Nice attributed his survival to “discipline.”
He notes that while Tanzanian media often focuses on “vulgar content and stunts,” he is content taking a back seat, much like Kenyan veteran Nameless.
“You can have money and still live a miserable life,” he mused.
“What really matters is the discipline of life. I am content.”
As he moves through 2026, Mr Nice isn’t looking for a comeback tour or a viral hit. Instead, he’s focused on the “fruits of his labour”—living quietly and proving that in the end, the “Nice” guy really did finish first.
