By Prudence Minayo
Diana Mayonde Nduba is a popular Kenyan secular musician and songwriter. Her powerful soothing vocals have propelled her to fame and opportunity to perform in Blankets and Wines Festival among other big stages.
Diana Mayonde was also a featured artist in the Peace International Concert Amsterdam in 2014 and was part of the musical theatre show ‘Out of Africa- Magic Kenya’ that toured Europe in 2012.
Education
Mayonde attended Statehouse Girls High School where she was an active member in drama, choir and swimming clubs. She also lost a bit of weight in high school and became confident in herself.
She pursued a degree in Communication at Daystar University.
Background
The singing sensation was born on 28th April 1988 in Nairobi and grew up in Ngumo. She is the last born in a family of four children, a brother and two sisters. Her father is Kenyan while her mother is Rwandese.
Growing up, she was a shy chubby kid who was often made fun of due to her weight.
Music Career
As a kid, she enjoyed singing and was part of the church choir. In high school, she was part of a group called The Jesus Freaks.
She began her music career immediately after high school. Mayonde used to be a backup singer for other artists such as Atemi and Sarah Mitaro.
In high school, she even composed a song named I am a sinner, which she believes was a total disaster. Her classmate who was a rapper asked her to sing the hook to a song she was working on.
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While in university, she was introduced to a producer of Kijiji records called Blackman who became a great mentor to her. The mission of Kijiji records was to influence pop culture for Jesus. The band used to perform in various churches and schools.
In 2015, she released an album called Magic in the Air, which did not do very well. It was the single Kama Kawaida that brought attention to her music. The song featured popular artists, such as, Muthoni the Drummer Queen , Kagwe Mungai, Blinky Bill and Fena Gitu. This was the second song the group had worked on. They then worked on the song Party Nation before going their separate ways to work on individual projects.
In 2019, she dropped two singles, the first was a femme fatale collaboration with Trina Mungai and another one named Shika.
Marriage
The artist is married to Mbithi Masya whom she met while she was still a teenager. She says marrying her first love is the best decision for her.
“The best thing about marrying my first love is growing with someone and seeing them growing into themselves.
understanding how money and intimacy grow together,” she said.
“I was born in Nairobi and grew up in Ngumo for 25 years before I got married.
Being half Rwandese I grew up with lots of Rwandan relatives who had come due to the genocide.
But after peace prevailed most of them went back.
I go to Rwanda maybe once a year, sometimes I go for functions and performances.’
I really miss my Rwandese relatives”, added the artist.
