“My dreams were shattered” Tanzanian-Kenyan based singer sadly recalls how conmen left him for the dark streets of Nairobi
Top rising bongo star, Ten Ballz, who resides in Kenya though Tanzanian-born, has opened up about days he got conned and left to the dark streets.
Kiboma K Chibupa aka Ten Ballz, narrates how he was brought into the country by a conman, who soon after, left him for the wild.
Tanzanian-Kenyan based singer, Ten Ballz
Fraud
Up and close with ‘Word Is’, the musician shared:
My family couldn’t afford to get me to college because I wanted to be a doctor. I met a Kenyan guy who told me there are opportunities here. I sold my land back home, came to Nairobi only to find out that he was a conman. I didn’t have a place to stay, so I opted for the streets. I have lived near Afya Centre as a street kid for a very long time. Life was really bad, we used to call Nairobi ‘Shamba La mawe’ because it wasn’t easy.
Life lessons
Fortunately, the streets came along with life lessons that he has learnt to observe since then; treat close people like your brothers regardless.
A human will only laugh with you when you have money. If you don’t, then you will have no friends. A brother is the one you have chosen to be a brother.
Sadly recalling:
There is a time I called my brothers and I received no aid, I was helped by complete strangers. I met an American who was my good Samaritan. He took me in and later put me in school at Alliance Française. My dream of becoming a doctor was already shattered. That’s where I started singing again and met Njuguna, who linked me up with the management of Mombasa InterContinental.
Kiboma K Chibupa aka Ten Ballz
Speaking in regard to the initiation of his stage name ‘Ten Ballz’ he discloses:
I was a rapper, I did street cyphers and a friend of mine told me that I have the ability of ten heads. After that, I created this name Ten Ballz.
Despite the hurdles in life, the ‘Inuka’ hitmaker’s closing statement is:
Yes, I have regrets, but my regrets make me work harder.
