Firirinda Singer Njoroge D Munyonyi Dies, Leaves Fans Dejected

• Firirinda singer Dick Njoroge Munyonyi is dead, bringing to an end a music career that bloomed in his twilight years
• The popular Mugiithi artiste caught the nation's attention in 2021 when his song went viral 35 years after its release.
• Shortly after the release of Firirinda, Munyonyi was diagnosed with a throat infection that affected his vocal cords and forced him to stop singing

Famous Mugiithi artist Dick Njoroge Munyonyi, known for his viral song "Firirinda", is dead.

Philanthropist Karangu Wa Muraya broke the news on Facebook, sending the singer's fans into mourning.

Munyonyi was in and out of hospital

The crooner breathed his last after years of struggling with a throat infection that saw him in and out of different hospitals.

In January 2023, Munyonyi disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer but was undergoing chemotherapy and would beat it.

Firirinda is a celebratory Kikuyu song about a woman who wore a free-flowing dress (rinda) while dancing.

In the song, Munyonyi is heard welcoming guests to his home and says in one of the lines that those who do not drink should be given sugarless tea.

Efforts to restore vocal cords

When the song took the nation by storm, several stakeholders offered to help the singer revive his singing career.

One of them was Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua.

"Munyonyi is set to start physiotherapy to restore his voice and vocal cords to ensure he can sing again," read a post on Twitter.

A Paybill was set up through which well-wishers contributed funds towards the noble course.

Started singing in 1971

The Benga musician began his career in 1971 and had the golden chance to perform at President Uhuru Kenyatta's wedding in 1989.

Just as he was becoming a household name, he was forced to quit singing a few years after he released Firirinda because he contracted tuberculosis.

"As time went by, I could not sing because my voice became hoarse and I could not sing," he said in a past interview.

He was relegated to playing the guitar when his son, who took after him musically, had performances.

Munyonyi was late bloomer

Munyonyi became a nationwide phenomenon when Firirinda became a sensation across social media platforms, with youngsters having dance challenges on TikTok.

Interestingly, the song went viral in February 2021, 35 years after its release in 1986.

For over three decades, very few people took notice until journalist Jeff Kuria shared it on social media, and then it became a regular on everyone's lips.

As of the time he gained nationwide fame, he was still in ill health and used KSh 3,000 monthly on drugs while his wife, who also has diabetes, used KSh 2,000 on medications.