ACADEMICS AND CREATIVE ARTS WORK TOGETHER; REFLECTIONS FROM KENYA.

Did/do you know that Nameless started off as a full-time singer. As he hit 30, he concentrated on architecture and maintained music as a lucrative side hustle; he has heavily invested in the real estate and tech industry.

Frasha of P-unit used music as a launching pad into politics, he was working as a Physiotherapist with a specialization in pain management at Aga Khan University Hospital- the man has a diploma in orthopaedic Technology from KMTC and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the prestigious University of Lahore in Pakistan.

Mong'are, KJ, and Chipukeezy started off as goofy comedians but now are in top corporate jobs and into politics.

I recall the shock on Kenyans when they realised that the ashy-looking MCA Tricky was graduating from Kenyatta University with a second class upper division degree in Mechanical Engineering.

⅔ of Elani are advocates of the High Court and actually practising.

B'Reign is a Medical doctor at Nairobi Hospital and a registrar studying for a master's degree in Medicine (Paediatrics). His wife, Dela, is a University of Nairobi trained Architect and a seasoned talented musician signed by Taurus Music.

Julie Gichuru is a lawyer with a master's degree in law and another in communications, she global renown as a communications consultant

The late Benga artiste Albert Gicheru put himself through law school in his 40s and even got admitted to the bar as an advocate of the high court.

Lilian Muli has two Master's degrees on top of an undergraduate degree in Arts. Few know Lilian has heavily invested in real estate, the lucrative global beauty and cosmetic industry.

The graceful and knowledgeable Yvonne Okwara Matolé has an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from JKUAT. When she is not on your TV, she is isolating bacteria and identifying fungus at her husband's Veterinary hospital.

I think pursuing education and knowledge is beautiful; it opens one's mind and equips one with social networking skills, analytical skills, critical and creative thinking skills to enable one to shape-shift into anything they want to.

The notion that creatives are brainless idiots must stop, we shouldn't discourage our kids from exploring their creative sides, we should guide them and not kill their dreams. We as parents need to realise that talents in sports, music, drama, theatre etc are lifting Millions of people from poverty around the world.

With YouTube and now Tiktok, guys are earning millions while doing what they love in the comfort of their homes e.g. Dr Mike on YouTube is A physician who is earning millions of dollars from YouTube, for presenting medical stuff in a palatable way to millions of people around the world.

Education and creativity go hand in hand, let's open our minds and find that balance in our lives, I have a Kiswahili/Fasihi teacher friend of mine who prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was earning thrice what TSC was depositing into his Sacco account, the man quietly enrolled himself into a programming class, he also got into the corporate MC business, educational consultancy and landed himself a part-time radio gig at a top radio station in Kenya.

#mwobobiasroundup

* The photo attached is of Dr Brian Mwendwa- proudly displaying his Doctor of Medicine degree from the prestigious University of St Petersburg, Russia, he is to one of the best rappers in Africa; he goes by the stage name B'Reign, one of Europe's biggest record label signed him; he did collaborations with top international rappers like Busta Rhymes, Guru of Gangsta and Onyx. He is double fluent in Russian, KiSwahili, English which he uses in his music. He is a Paediatrics registrar, i.e. a medical doctor studying for a master’s degree in a branch of medicine; he is a medical doctor at Nairobi Hospital, before enrolling for his master's degree in Paediatrics, he hosted a medical show on EBRU TV. *