Gospel singer Zion Njeri is an award-winning singer.

She told her story of hope and resilience to YouTuber Ala C on Tuesday, July 11. Zion is a cousin to musician Pitson. He helped shape her career. 

"Pitson is family, he is my cousin so when I started singing I did my song 'Shukrani' I remember that was my breakthrough, by the way, tukaskiza and he told me what I did wrong and yet I thought I had done a perfect song."

She wasn't ready for criticism about her initial songs.

"Pitson told me hapana Zion, you need to work hard what made me happy is that he inspired me to work yani ananionyesha sijafika, keep pushing. I went and recorded another song he still criticized the song saying bado. I released a third song and he said I am almost there. He said I am proud of you."

Zion was so relieved at his praise they had a sit down to talk further about her musical journey.

"We talked I told him of the challenges I am going through you know it's good to speak up so that he can understand as a girl what I'm going through."

Pitson was also mentoring Zion.

What challenges are those she has experienced as a female gospel singer?

"One challenge is being beautiful. Being beautiful is a very big challenge. No one believes you, no one trusts you. Men are very insecure when they date you. He thinks there is no way I'm faithful, and he has this perception that beautiful Gospel artistes are like this and like that."

Zion was also discouraged from doing gospel music and told secular has more popularity and money to be made.

But Zion was not shaken by them.

Zion also revealed that radio presenters demanded something from her for her songs to get airplay.

"Nikupushie hii ngoma they demand for something else they want to sleep with you you know, they want to use you and yet won't help you. That's the greatest challenge na wana kuanga ni hit ama nilaale na huyu msee."

Zion opened up to her Bishop father about these challenges. He told her to resist even if she is desperate for her music to get played. Her father warned her that sleeping around for airplay could expose her to diseases like HIV.

Zions advising upcoming female artistes?

"Have your standards and be tough."

Zion pointed out that sex for music is the reason there are few Kenyan female gospel musicians.

"It's those things that discourage. You face those challenges and you wonder because it's your first song. You just give up. They ask how you can be beautiful and sing gospel. But I tell people kuokoka sio kuboeka."

Zion is a woman with tough skin. This helped her when a fiancé dumped her months to their wedding.

"He proposed to me na nika achwa. I cried like a baby it was character development. It hit me so deep. It was a while serious proposal complete with a ring. I was feeling so proud and good. We had dated for like almost 8 months. And it was getting better."

Her mum told her it would end in premium tears. "Aki mum told me and I thought she was bad. She told me that guy was not meant for me."

Why was she dumped?

"One thing he told me he needed a break and time to know who he is."

Zion added about his explanation, "I need time to work on myself I loved him so deeply, nilikuwa nimejitolea kupenda na roho moja, I even used to buy him gifts aki I was so nice I didn't deserve that."

 Zion told that wedding plans were in top gear.

"I was to finish campus in 2020, we get married. He proposed to me in 2019."

Recalling being dumped, she said, "I cried. But now its okay it's life. Actually I even went missing on social media I hit the gym. It was so painful. He told me I don't even know how to dress ati what I wear shows my bones Such things you go through to make you stronger. I used to encourage myself to get over it "

Did she consider dating again after being dumped?

"You move on regardless. I looked in the mirror and I was like Zion, you don't deserve him. You are way much better."

The man returned to her in 2021.

"He walked back into my life at the end of 2021. He wanted to work things out. But I told him time wasted is never recovered. "

Does she have a new man right now?

"When the time is right the Lord will make it perfect. I'm not ready for it. You know relationships are not a joke Kwanza if it's leading to marriage one thing I respect peoples feelings I don't like hurting people. So in future yes."

What is her ideal man?

"I need someone who can support me in my music ministry, who loves kids and someone who is understanding."

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