Gloria Muliro says things
were quite tough though she always
hoped that one time God would one
time sort her out.

Gloria Muliro, the 2013 Groove
Award winner in the category of
Best Female Artist has come a long
way.

Gloria Muliro, of the Sitolia
(Translated as 'I will not cry') fame
was born in Vihiga District, Western
Kenya about 30 years ago.
She is the fourth child in a family of
five.

“I attended Emanyinya Primary
School in Mumias Central then went
back to Emanyinya to complete my
class eight in 1995. In 1996, I joined
St Theresa Girls in Nairobi where I
completed my form four course in
2001,” says Gloria.

But unfortunately due to financial
problems the family was
experiencing she could not be given
her results as she owed the school a
lot of money in form of fees
balance.

She says things were quite tough
though she always hoped that one
time God would one time sort her
out.

“I got a job as a house help which I
did for two years in the Eastlands of
Nairobi. I worked with a lot of
commitment trusting in the Lord
and sure enough God blessed me. I
raised enough money, cleared my
debt in school and was issued with
my certificates that changed my
destiny altogether,” the humble
artist says with excitement.

She was able to join International
Teachers Training College (TTC),
Dagoretti for a two year teaching
course.

Gloria says, “I worked very hard
and passed all my exams and as
soon as I finished I was employed
by Maranatha Academy as a teacher
and was happy about.”

Asked how her music career started
she responds, “Way back in 1997,
when I was in Form Two at St
Theresa Girls I got saved and I used
to sing a lot in Praise and Worship.

I
never thought that it would bring
me this far. I joined several singing
groups and it was through them
that I gained more confidence in my
singing.”

Then she adds that one time as she
was singing Alipo Yesu Yote
Yawezekana (Where Jesus is
Everything is Possible) other singers
were so impressed by her singing.
This was in 2002.

Afterwards, a certain pastor
requested that they repeat the same
song “This was when it was
confirmed by the congregation that
I was actually talented in singing.

It
gave me a lot of confidence as
everybody urged me to go fully into
singing and I did not want to sit on
my talent.”

She sung and had a good collection
of songs and shortly after this,
produced her first album in Luhya,
Mwami Aletsa (God is Coming).

"Unfortunately, not many media
houses gave it any publicity
although many of my fans praised
me for my voice and the message
the songs contained. The song that
hit was Mwami Aletsa and it used to
be played all over especially in
Western Kenya

Like many other artists in the
developing world Gloria says piracy
is her major problem. She says
several times hawkers have wanted
to sell her own pirated music.

“The situation is that bad. Our music
is sold in Muthurwa Market and
many other parts of the country and
we have very little we can do to
stop it. It is very sad. The returns
are also very low and discouraging
despite the fact that we spend so
much to produce an album.”

She however says what keeps her
going is that she is able to spread
the Gospel to those who listen to
her music. She also keeps praying to
God to give her strength to soldier
on in pursuit of success in a near
future.

Her family; husband, children and
the in-laws have been very
supportive.
“Them together with my producers;
Dreamland, Bize Bees, Link and
Eagle have been the pillars of my
success,” says the songbird.
She has since produced other
albums like Ombi Langu (2010) and
Kibali (2011). The song Sitolia that
catapulted her to fame is in her
second album Ombi Langu.

Gloria says she has a lot of respect
for other Gospel Singers especially
Christina Shusho, Rebecca Malope,
Cece Winans and the late Angela
Chibalonza.
“Their music really inspires me, and
I pray that I sing my way to their
fame,” she asserts.

To upcoming gospel artist Gloria
advices, “They need to be patient,
work hard and their aim should be
to spread the Gospel and then other
things to follow. Once they get to
fame should not forget that it is
God’s work and thank him and
continue trusting in him. That way
the sky will be their limit.”

Gloria says since she stopped
teaching in 2010 she has been
involved in the running of a
children’s home in her church,
singing and preaching and hopes to
take Gospel Music to greater heights
of success.

“With God, nothing is impossible,”
she concludes.