Iyanii reveals how Willy Paul influenced his music career
By Valerian Khakayi, December 14, 2025Kenya’s award-winning musician and songwriter Ian Okwemba Oure, widely known as Iyanii, has opened up about how poverty and seeing others succeed became his biggest motivation.
Speaking during an interview with the Mic Cheque podcast in an episode aired on Sunday, December 14, 2025, Iyanii revealed how multitalented musician Willy Paul played a key role in shaping his music journey.
He says growing up in Mathare exposed him to tough living conditions, but it also fuelled his desire to change his life. He explained that watching the lives of people around him made him hungry for success.
“Poverty was my biggest motivation, nilikuwa naangalia the life I grew up in, and I used to check other people,” Iyanii said.
Willy Paul’s influence
He further revealed that his brother was close friends with Willy Paul, which gave him a front-row seat to the singer’s rise.
Iyanii went on and narrated how Willy Paul frequently visited the neighbourhood, and over time, he watched his transformation from a high school student to a successful artist.
“At that time, my brother used to be a good friend with Willy Paul, so Willy Paul used to come back in the hood, and nilikuwa naona Willy Paul ever since akuwe high school mbaka hii point naona vile ametransition in a very big way,” he narrated.
“Anarudi kwa mtaa amenunua gari ako na pesa nikakuwa like hii kitu huyu anafanya kama inaweza change life yake why not me?“
Famous musicians from Mathare
The singer also highlighted the strong sense of community among artists who grew up in Mathare. According to him, the area has produced several successful musicians who all knew each other before fame.
“One funny thing about Mathare hakuna msanii amemake it from Mathare mwenye hakuwa anajua the other artist,” he revealed.
“We all grew up together, from Willy Paul, Bahati, Mr Seed, Vijana Barubaru, and Eko Dyda, it is a very tiny place yenye mtu akiwa msanii mtajua tuu hati kwao.“