Leyla Mohammed, a little-known girl from Eastleigh, Nairobi, had a rare opportunity of entertaining President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County.
The 13-year-old stole the show and got the nation talking with her impressive vocals when she sang ‘Wimbo wa Historia’, a historical song describing how Kenya’s founding fathers fearlessly fought for independence.
After making her presentation, Leyla was invited to have a one-on-one chat with President Kenyatta.
Leyla first came to the limelight after breathing life to the 1970s classic; Wimbo wa Historia which went viral after it was uploaded on YouTube by veteran DJ Peter Chuani alias DJ Pinye a few days to Mashujaa Day.
After many months of searching for a Kenyan girl to engage in his projects, DJ Pinye says he got in touch with Leyla’s mother who introduced him to Leyla.
The-13-year-old girl hails from Naivasha but is currently living in Nairobi with her mother whom she says struggles to make ends meet.
Leyla is set to sit this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam at St. Teresa’s Girls Primary in Eastleigh.
The bubbly girl hopes to keep her music spirit alive with her new found break-through.
Wimbo wa Historia describes how Kenya’s founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and other freedom fighters were detained and tortured by the colonial government.
It serves the purpose of appreciating freedom fighters for their selfless fight for freedom and building the independent Kenya.
The song was originally written by Enock Ondego and has been sang before by a historical group from Mombasa.