Otile Brown, whose real name is Jacob Obunga, is a celebrated R&B musician, songwriter, and actor. Despite his current fame and success, his journey has been marked by challenges, especially during his childhood and the years following his secondary education.
Jacob began singing and writing songs at the tender age of 13 while still in school. However, he rose to prominence in his twenties after releasing his debut single, Nishike Mkono, a hit that took the Kenyan music industry by storm and marked the beginning of his remarkable journey in music. Since then, Otile Brown has released numerous popular songs such as Chaguo la Moyo, Dushelele, Kistaarabu, Dusuma, and Baby Love, cementing his place as one of Kenya’s most successful musicians.
The success of this Swahili R&B sensation has earned him several awards and nominations, including the “Male Video of the Year” award at the 2018 Pulse Music Awards. His achievements are a testament to his talent and dedication, but his road to stardom was far from easy.
Before venturing into the music industry, Otile Brown lived in Mombasa and struggled to make ends meet. After completing high school, he resorted to selling mitumba (secondhand clothes) and even made his own soap to earn a living. During an interview with Wasafi TV, Otile shared that his determination to improve his circumstances drove him to explore various means of survival. With some savings from his soap business, he relocated to Nairobi, where he began hawking Maasai shoes door-to-door. This business sustained him financially until his breakthrough in music. As he once revealed, “I was looking for ways to make money because I did not come from a well-off family. I even ventured into making my own soap. After making some money, I moved to Nairobi and started hawking Maasai shoes house-to-house. Back then, Nairobi didn’t have the original ones, so I made good money.”
Today, Otile Brown is not only a successful musician but also a savvy entrepreneur. He has diversified his income streams by investing in businesses such as real estate and shoe selling in Mombasa. His story is one of resilience and determination, inspiring many to pursue their dreams regardless of the challenges they face.
