Nairobi-born songstress, actress, wife and mother, Habida, appears to live a charmed life.
Despite having lived on three continents, filming a TV series, and causing a stir on local and international playlists, Habida knows that success does not shield one from life’s trials.
The singer moved to Johannesburg with her husband and daughter, signed an exclusive publishing deal with Gallo Music Publishers, and released a new seven-track EP featuring the singles I Love You and Lights Up.
Habida spoke to this journalist about how she stays smiling, and shed some light on the story behind Lights Up.
“Shortly after I moved to Joburg with my husband and daughter, my father was diagnosed with cancer,” she said.
“My daughter and I went back to Kenya to be with my father. We returned to South Africa in September last year, after he passed away.”
Habida said she wrote the song in memory of her father.
“Writing it didn’t bring me peace, but it helped with the process of coming to terms with his death. It’s a process I’m still going through,” she said.
“We need to find the positive things in life, because if we focus on the negatives, we’ll end up on drugs. He lived 80 years, and I had him for 30, and that’s something special. He was my best friend.”
The singer credited her father for her introduction to music. “He loved music. I was raised on Doris Day, Aretha Franklin and the classics,” she said.
“He never wanted me to do this. He wanted me to study law… Even when I got my degree, all he said was, ‘I like this’… But he did like my music – although he once asked me if I’d rather do jazz.”
Habida said that being positive was a daily choice people need to make.
“Life can get you down, so you have to choose to be positive and to see beauty,” she said.
“I write down between three and five things I’m grateful for every night. I believe in expressing gratitude.”
Habida’s new EP is available on iTunes.
Details: www.facebook.com/habidasworld
WATCH: Habida – Lights Up:
