Known for his ‘chike hera’ (asiyekupenda wachana na yeye) hit, Prince Indah is a man who weathered a tough upbringing and other storms before ultimately carving a niche for himself in the Ohangla music scene.
The soft-spoken hitmaker is known to leave his adoring fans revved up whenever he is on stage. Inside any night club graced by Prince Indah, not even the blend of rainbow lights can shine more than his energetic, sweet Luo music.
Prince Indah real name
His real name is Evans Ochieng Opiyo. He is popularly known by another nickname ‘Janabii’ (prophet) a tag given to him because vernacular Luo musicians were known to foretell upcoming sociocultural events through music.
Family
Opiyo is a third born in his family. He was born on 9th August, 1994 meaning he is 27 years old. The artiste’s early life took an unexpected turn when his father passed on when he was still in class 3. Being a widow, the mother could not afford the city life and the family had to vacate to their rural home in Murumba village, Siaya County.
Opiyo became orphaned in September, 2014 when his mother succumbed after a long term illness.
The ‘mama watoto’ hitmaker was introduced to music, and mentored by his paternal uncle Emma Jalamo.
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Education
Indah began his studies in Daima Primary School in Huruma, Nairobi until class 3 where he transferred to Oloma Murumba Primary School in Siaya. He was a sharp student and scored 360 marks in KCPE.
He then joined Mission of Hope High School in Machakos where he used to be part of the praise and worship team. He however dropped out in form 3 because his sick mother could no longer afford to pay the school fees.
“I didn’t do my KCSE because my mom was very sick. I was to join form 4 in 2014,” the musician told Bonga na jalas.
Music Career
After his education dreams were shattered, the musician had to take care of his mother’s needs. This forced him to resort to menial works such as mixing ballast in various construction sites in Mathare.
Opiyo would attend to his uncle’s (Emma Jalamo) performances in various clubs and in 2013 decided to approach him, asking for a chance to join his band.
At first, Jalamo thought the music industry associated with all kinds of booze and women would corrupt his manners. Jalamo reached out to Indah’s mother who gave her son the greenlight to join the Ramogi Ohangla Rhumba band.
Indah began by playing drums for the band, until one day he asked Jalamo to grant him a chance as a back-up singer.
“The first day I held a microphone and sang my heart out, the crowd felt it and Jalamo immediately increased my salary from 3000 to 10000 weekly,” Indah revealed to Jalang’o TV.
As goes the adage ‘a candle loses nothing by lighting another one’ Jalamo supported his nephew in releasing his first album, Cinderella in 2015.
In 23rd December, 2016, Indah felt he had all it took to chart his way and told Emma Jalamo in what can be considered as a friendly blood yet non-bloody rebellion.
“I told him: I know you’ve helped me, and you have changed my life, and I cannot take that for granted. I need to start my own things, and if I don’t succeed I will return back,” Indah revealed.
Opiyo launched his Malaika Ohangla Rhumba band as his music star began to rise immediately. In 2017, he released his Nyakisumo (daughter of Kisumu) album and 2019 dropped Kwach ogolo koke (meaning the leopard’s claws are out ) album. The latter raised controversy as it was deemed as a message to belittle his mentor Emma Jalamo. However, Prince Indah has set records straight over the allegations, saying is unimaginable for him to diss his uncle.
Prince Indah songs/albums:-
- Chike Hera
- Nyar Migori
- Nyar Joluo
- Weche Hera
- Mama Watoto
- Kwach ogolo koke
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