Osogo Winyo: How Ohangla star turned faith, patience into shining career

Breaking into Ohangla music was never easy for Osogo Winyo. As a newcomer, he was up against seasoned musicians with years of experience, strong industry connections and loyal fan bases.

But Winyo stayed the course. With patience, discipline and a passion for learning the trade, he gradually found his footing and eventually caught up with the old guard.

Once he mastered the genre, Winyo stamped his authority on Ohangla, overcoming some of its most established names.

Today, he is determined to protect what he has built. For Winyo, the journey has demanded humility, discipline and prayer; values he credits to his Christian upbringing.

"My parents were devoted Christians of the Legio Maria sect, where tight biblical ethics and rules were the order of the day. And that's what made all the difference in my career," he intimates.

He says his upbringing instilled humility in him and his siblings.

"I only needed prayers and patience and to be diligent to come out as an accomplished musician," he says.

"Humility and discipline are the key factors for upcoming artistes to win or attract lots of revellers when on duty. It leads to landing invitations to key functions," Winyo tells Sunday Standard.

Born John Okinyi Ng'onge in 1979, Osogo Winyo says his music journey is only beginning. His stage name came from his father's Mombasa business, Osogo Winyo Ltd.

An established Ohangla musician, he has also embraced Nyatiti, another traditional Luo genre popular in Kenya's Western tourism circuit.

"We have just started but are aiming at the moon to reach the stars. However, it comes with lots of sacrifice, dedication and due diligence that's inculcated in me by my Christian parents in childhood," he says.

"I only needed prayers and patience and to be diligent to come out as an accomplished musician"

His hit song Ageng'o remains a fan favourite.

"No doubt Ageng'o carries the day in most of my shows. All my fans demand it at any show within and outside the country," he reveals.

Winyo is not an artiste of collaborations. He hates it.

"It can give an artiste an uphill task when fans demand such a number and your collabo counterpart is away from me. That's why I don't subscribe to the world of collabos. I just do my music and nothing more," he says.

As opposed to some artistes who take music as a hobby, to Winyo, it is a profession.

He loves and adores it.

"While others go to offices and farms, I take my drums and other musical accessories to the rehearsal halls in readiness for the next shows," states the artiste.

On the chances of any of his children following in his footsteps, he said an emphatic no.

"They are in school to study other professions because music is tough business. They could take it as a second profession," said the artiste.

The band consists of seven members led by Osogo Winyo.

Winyo says poor royalty payments, low event turnout and demanding schedules remain key challenges for musicians.

"The biggest problem in our work is payment of proceeds. It's not easy to get your full royalty. Just like in other professions, we have good and bad clients," he points out.