Daddy Owen has opened up about an incident where former Starehe MP and preacher Bishop Margaret Wanjiru once stopped him from performing in church during his early days as a gospel musician.
Speaking during an interview aired on a popular YouTube channel on July 6, Owen recalled how Bishop Wanjiru grabbed the microphone from him just as he was about to perform. He added that, although they later became friends, she has since forgotten the incident despite his efforts to remind her.
“My first time kuperfom kwa church, nilinyang’anywa mic, na Margaret Wanjiru, tulikuwa mabeste eventually, but the first time hadi namkumbushanga hakumbuki,” Owen said.
According to Owen, the confrontation was triggered by his appearance at the time. Despite being a gospel musician, he was dressed in saggy jeans, which were considered inappropriate for the pulpit. During that period, gospel performers were expected to wear suits while on stage in church settings.
He further explained that the church environment then did not welcome solo performances. Artists were required to perform in groups, and anyone appearing solo was seen as selfish. This strict environment shaped how gospel music was received in churches during the early 2000s.
“Those days tukiingia stage tulikuwa tumesag jeans na huukuwa unapanda pulpit kama hujavaa suti. Those days hatukuanga na solo artists; you must be in a choir,” he added.
Challenges
During the same interview, he reflected on the challenges he faced at the beginning of his journey.
Before making his first-ever paycheck, which took him 7 years, he sustained himself by selling second-hand clothes in Nairobi. During that time, he and other musicians were driven purely by passion, focusing on performing without any financial expectations.
“Let me tell the truth: it took me like 7 years before Nipate Pesa ya kwanza kwa muziki nakuambia mimi nilikaa sana. I wasn’t making any money; nilikuwa nauza nguo mtindwa, nafanya tu biashara Zangu,” Owen says.
He shared that he performed in many shows without pay, and most musicians of that era had little to no expectations when it came to being compensated. As a result, there was minimal disappointment since there were no promises or assumptions of payment.
“Because for us, before you think of making money, passion Ishakupeleka overdrive; before you think of making money, nilikuwa nafanya show mingi,” he added.
Current generation musicians
Owen also took a swipe at the current generation of musicians who, unlike his peers, entered the industry expecting financial returns. He noted that while he understands their frustrations when they say music doesn’t pay, it is largely because they came in with high expectations.
“In the first place, haukuwa unaweza kuwa disappointed coz haikuwa expected; it’s only a disappointment when it is expected,” he added.
He further explained that gospel musicians in his time were offered platforms and audiences by churches, not money. He contrasted that with the present day, where churches now pay gospel artists for performances, highlighting how much the industry has changed over time.
