The Challenges of a Music Manager and Wife: Chiki Kuruka's Story

Being a wife is one thing. Being a manager is another. But for Chiki Kuruka, those two worlds collide in her relationship with Sauti Sol star Bien—and she admits the journey is as beautiful as it is challenging.

In an exclusive conversation, Chiki opened up about how she navigates her dual roles, the toll it sometimes takes, and the lessons she has learned from being both partner and professional.

Wearing Two Hats

Managing Bien’s international tours means long days and high pressure. But doing it as his wife introduces an even more delicate dynamic. (Laughing) “Girl, a fake smile goes a long way,” she said.

“I think what I’m good at is separating personal life from stage life. There’s not only us—there’s the band, the dancers, and we represent Africa on a global stage. So when we’re in public, we keep what’s private, private.

If we’ve just come from a successful tour, it’s not about arguing over shoes left lying around. It’s about being present in the moment.”

The Strain Behind the Scenes

Chiki admitted that while traveling the world together has strengthened their bond, the workload can become overwhelming. “I can’t wait for a time, maybe in a year, when someone else will manage him.

Touring is beautiful, but it’s straining when I’m the manager, the tour planner, the PR person all at once. After a show abroad, when everyone else is resting, I’m already planning the homecoming concert in Kenya.

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Sometimes I don’t even get space to breathe or to tell him, ‘Well done.’” She confessed that the lack of downtime has at times made it hard to be emotionally present as a partner.

Holding On to Herself

Despite the demands of managing Bien, Chiki is clear about safeguarding her own identity. “I haven’t abandoned my dance career. I have a strong team running my company back home.

If you create a business that can’t function without you, you’ve created a job. So even if Bien woke up tomorrow and wanted another manager, I still have my brand.” For Chiki, love and work are intertwined, but she knows when to step back, when to smile through the pressure, and when to let her individuality shine.

Balancing marriage and management isn’t easy—but it’s a rhythm she’s learning to dance to.