Rwandese gospel artist Israel Mbonyi was recently in Kenya.
His performance was highly attended.
The laid-back ‘Nina Siri’ singer has in an interview revealed growing up in fame made him uncomfortable.
Sharing his experience with Lynn Ngugi, he shared
“I was just worshipping God.When people started to know me I started knowing me I got uncomfortable. it was weird but I had to learn to live with it. I was 19 at the time.”
Mbonyi also revealed unknown to many he is a qualified Pharmacist.
“I wanted to go to America and study music.
But God sent me to India to study pharmacy, I hated it.
I found other people like me, who had a passion for God and that is how I grew in faith.
I was full of church but not full of God.”
He says testimonies from people whose lives have been changed by his songs keep him going.
Mbonyi has revealed that his mega-hit song -Nina Siri which introduced him to the whole of East Africa was a dream.
Speaking at a presser after landing in Nairobi, Mbonyi narrated that the song came to him through a dream before he wrote it down.
He also mentioned that he writes all his Swahili songs with the help of his team.
Israel added that the dream for the song came to him twice before he decided to compose it.
“On April 18th I had a dream of someone singing ‘Nina siri, the voice also said ‘Waambie wanao lia’ and that is when I knew it was a lyric song for me and would make a good song. My team helps me write Swahili songs. I speak Congolese Swahili which is not fluent .” he revealed
Mbonyi gave a reason for his success as being available to God and accepting His calling which makes it easy for Him to use you.
The gospel minister also opened up on a possible collaboration with Kenyan gospel artists – even though he has never interacted with any of them before.
By Mpasho