Celebrated Benga artist Kennedy Ngunze, popularly known as Ken wa Maria, has finally revealed the origin of his iconic stage name, and it’s not what many fans thought.
In a recent interview, Ken shared that the name “wa Maria” came about in 1999 when he was living in Nairobi’s Huruma estate.
At the time, residents in the area commonly referred to one another using their children’s names.
Since his first-born daughter is called Maria, neighbors began calling him Ken wa Maria a nickname that stuck and later became his brand in the music industry.
“People have always assumed Maria is my mother, but it’s actually my daughter. I got the name in 1999 while staying in Huruma,” Ken clarified.
He proudly revealed that Maria has since graduated from Zetech University, though none of his children have followed in his musical footsteps.
With a music career spanning over two decades, Ken wa Maria expressed pride in his journey, crediting his longevity to staying consistent and understanding what his fans want.
“Consistency and knowing my audience, that is what has kept me going,” he said.
