By Mike Ssegawa
Alicios may not be a big name on Uganda’s music billboards for now, but I bet, she is East Africa’s next big star if she does not drop the baton.
In Nairobi, her music is making rounds on televisions and radio stations, and her video Mpita Njia which she recorded with Juliana Kanyomozi has already attracted more than a million views on youtube – not an easy feat for a new comer on the music scene.
Born Alice Zeeluji Niyonsaba in Kivu, the Congolese musician found herself a refuge at only eight years of age in Kenya. She had moved to Kinshasha with her mother at three years – her mother wanted to make a career in music when war broke out. It is her daughter who she personally gave a stage name – Alicios – who is now representing her on the big stage.
While in Kenya, Alicios fell deeply in love with singing– singing in school and doing rounds in church choirs.
She first attended a refuge school in Kibilia and later St Mary’s in Donholm in Nairobi – where she says she was always the only student who never missed her music classes.
Now a university student studying Marketing in Sweden, Alicios can’t wait to get her degree and return to Kenya to add more valour to her music career – which has received massive reception.
With an eight song album already made, Alicios is buoyed by her looks: A pretty face, great body, shining small eyes, and short hair. Alicios’ looks cast a spell on men who watch her perform on stage or in her videos. And she is envy to the girls who only see her kind of figure in fashion magazines.
She has recorded her songs in Kenya including Niko Poa, Posa ya Bolingo and Mobimba.
Unlike musicians who turn their backs on formal education, Alicios describes herself as addicted to books and does music as a hobby. “I can’t imagine being paid to sing,” she says revealing a little naivety. Surely, she has a long way to go if people don’t exploit her rich talent.
Nairobi is a city that launched many big non Kenyan stars including Jose Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Kidum and Richard Kaweesa. They made it big. Alicios could be headed there if she remains focused.
Born in 1987, the musician says she is now at peace with herself being a child who has grown up in several countries and several cultures.
“Not feeling Congolese enough or Kenyan enough is a struggle I went through while growing up but now I’ve accepted the fact that I do not have to choose and my music is a beautiful mixture of the two,” she told Bigeye.com.
Alicios launched her career when she sang her composition Mpita Njia with Uganda’s diva Juliana. Mpita Njia is a runaway success. It is about a boy who plays girls. It is like every woman he sleeps with is part of his journey.
Alicios prices in Mpita Njia which she wrote overnight. The song captured Juliana’s attention. It was a dream comes true for Alicios who could not imagine herself standing beside her role model Juliana.
Juliana came to Nairobi to record the Mpita Njia, and Alicios travelled to Kampala to shoot the video in Munyonyo. Today, the song is her gate pass into East Africa’s music fraternity and her biggest claim to fame.
For now – the self-confessed shy Alicios – has the world in her voice. She is a superstar in making. She has recorded songs with some of the best producers in Nairobi, such Musyoka (Mobimba PUNIT ft.Alicios) and Dr Eddie among many others.
Nairobi and other East African capitals are only waiting for this diva to stamp her foot on the region’s music scene.
