Ex-street urchin turned musician sets sights on promoting Kamba culture

The budding music star from Ukambani, Timothy Mwania, aka Tumbo Usu is a young artiste on a mission. 

He has set his sights on preserving the fading Kamba culture and heritage through his music.

Tumbo Usu, in a recent interview with the Star, said he was concerned that majority of members of his Kamba community and especially the youth, have abandoned their culture and tradition in favour of the western culture.

“I am keen to use my Newskul Benga genre to highlight the Kamba culture and generally the African heritage in our lives. I want to bring out societal problem and trends,” he said.

Proving  his  commitment to promoting  the Kamba culture, Tumbo Usu said his first hit Kithio Kya Mulamba ( The Kamba Culture) is already in circulation.

The musician from a humble background dropped out of school in Form 2 in 2013 due to fees challenges and became a street urchin before he moved to Nairobi.

But with his life having taken a turn for the better he now intends to ride on his current popularity among fans to push the culture message.

Tumbo Usu did not divulge much about his background but simply said when he was young, family issues drove him to streets of Nairobi after things at the home became unbearable.

“I had a stint in the dehumanising street life. I used to rummage in garbage heaps to collect plastic bottles and containers which I sold for some little cash,” he said.  

The 27-year old musician said the turning point in his life came a few years ago when he decided to return to his Kavisuni rural home in Kitui county to retrace his life.

“While back at my roots, I went into meditation to rediscover myself. This is when I discovered that I was gifted in music and I fashioned a home made guitar and started singing,” he added.

Tumbo Usu said bit by bit, he learned the ropes and he is happy that he has become an accomplished Kamba and Swahili musician who commands a wide following of fans not only in Kenya but across the borders.

Among his trending songs are Kelitu weka nai (young girl, you have messed up) and Ni single (I am single), he said. Others of his popular songs are Nathi Ilovi (I have travelled to Nairobi) and Kiswahili’s Safari ya Texas (The trip to Texas).

“I have a big number of fans following Tumbo Usu channel on YouTube, Facebook and Tik Tok. My fan base has grown greatly to many parts of the world. I have fans in as far as Nigeria,” he said.

The young musician who prides himself in being a self-taught music artiste, songwriter, a culture champion and music producer adds that he can skilfully handle both a guitar and a piano.