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Nairobi barber who shaved IShowSpeed, Fally Ipupa shares his emotional story as an orphan
19th September, 2026 12:43 AM
Nairobi barber Rutebeza Djuma Joseph, popularly known as Joseph Cutz, has opened up about his remarkable journey from growing up as an orphan in Congo to establishing himself in Kenya and earning opportunities to shave some of the biggest names to visit the country.
The barber shared his story in an interview with BBC Swahili on Friday, September 18, 2026, reflecting on his childhood, his move to Kenya, the famous personalities he has worked with and the values he believes have helped him build his career.
Joseph revealed that his growing reputation has given him the opportunity to work with international stars, including American streamer IShowSpeed and Congolese music star Fally Ipupa during their visits to Africa and Kenya.
“I am the one who shaved IShowSpeed when he came to Africa. And I also had the chance to shave Fally Ipupa when he came here to Kenya for a concert,” Joseph said.
The barber’s list of high-profile encounters has also included a moment at State House, where he said he had the opportunity to be photographed during one of his assignments.
“And yes, there is a photo of me in State House. Yes, I had that chance,” he said.
For Joseph, however, the attention surrounding the prominent personalities he has shaved is only one part of a much bigger journey that began thousands of kilometres away in Congo.
The barber revealed that he is originally from Congo and described his rise in Kenya as something he does not consider a random stroke of luck.
“To be from Congo and be here in Kenya and thrive is not an easy thing. It is not a random thing,” he said.
Joseph also opened up about the difficult circumstances surrounding his childhood, revealing that he and his siblings grew up without their parents.
“You see, in our family we are orphans, and that journey I have had, I can say it is not something I just woke up and it happened. It is God,” he said.
The barber said his difficult beginnings have remained an important part of how he understands the success he has achieved, particularly as his work has taken him into spaces and brought him into contact with personalities that many people would only encounter from a distance.
He credited his faith for playing a central role in his journey, saying he believes God has been present throughout the different stages of his life.
Joseph also identified passion as one of the biggest forces behind his rise, explaining that his love for barbering has kept him committed even when money was not the primary motivation.
“And these big people I shave, I can say it is passion that has helped me. I am passionate about this,” he said.
The barber further singled out discipline as another important value that has shaped his career, alongside his belief in keeping God at the centre of everything he does.
“And another thing I believe in as well is discipline. And the third is to also have God in everything that you do,” Joseph said.
His approach to barbering, he explained, has therefore been driven by more than the financial rewards that come with working with prominent clients.
Joseph disclosed that the highest amount he has received from a single job was Ksh250,000, revealing the substantial earning potential attached to some of the high-profile assignments he has landed.
“In my life, shaving these prominent people, the money I ever got for one gig that I think was the most was Ksh250,000. And it was only one job,” he said.
Despite the sizeable payday, Joseph maintained that money is not what keeps him passionate about his work.
“What I do differently is that I love my job, and I shave not because of the money but more also because I love it all,” he said.
His passion has consequently seen him move from working on ordinary clients to handling the grooming needs of internationally recognised figures, with his encounters with IShowSpeed and Fally Ipupa becoming some of the most notable moments in his career.
Joseph, however, still has one major name on his wish list.
The Nairobi-based barber revealed that if given the opportunity to choose any person in the world to sit in his barber’s chair, he would pick former United States President Barack Obama.
“The dream person in the world I would like to do a shave on is Barack Obama,” Joseph said.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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