Ever since I was a little girl growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, I knew that I was going to be a singer. I would make up my own songs and try to imitate the singers I heard on the radio, especially Michael Jackson. Even then I believed in my God-given talent to write and sing songs.
My first real experience was singing in the Saint Stephens Choir, a well-known church group in Kenya. After graduating from college, I joined a local band, "The Waves", and we performed in Nairobi for a year. Then, the band moved to Mombasa and we played for African Safari Club Hotels. Singing Top 40 hits almost every night for three years built up my endurance and gave me strength and confidence in my voice!
In the early 1990s, I move to Germany with some of my bandmates, and it was there that I was noticed and signed to an exclusive contract with the Beverly Entertainment Agency. I toured all over Europe as Jedida (my stage name), singing at corporate events sponsored by such companies as Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, Nokia and Sony. I recorded my songs, "You Are My Hero" for Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, and "Yuwaja", under the name "Gate To Africa" for Sony.
Living with my husband in Cologne, I decided to take a break from the music industry and in 1996, gave birth to a sweet baby boy. But, life is not a fairy tale, and things don't always work our as we plan. My beloved husband became ill a passed away in 2000, and I am slowly healing from the catastrophe in my life. After ten years and much success in Germany, I decided to move to the U.S.A. with my son and try to restart my singing career.
I came to America with a collection of original songs that I recorded with musicians in Germany. After settling in the Bay Area, I went to Los Angeles and recorded some new songs. I now have my own CD, "Cornerstone", with most of the songs from those two sessions. I am very proud of these songs and grateful to the many wonderful musicians along the way who helped me realize my dream. My new band brings me much joy, and I am inspired to return to my African roots by adding more percussive beats to my sound.
Writing songs and singing them is easy for me because I know it is my calling. Everyone's life is a story, and I write mine in my songs. Surely, the obstacles I have faced in my life have made me the mature and professional artist I am today, and I still wonder, "why am I here in this world, and how can I make it a better place for others and myself?" I know that I must do what I do best: SING!
