Chiki Kuruka, the prominent talent manager and wife of Sauti Sol’s lead singer Bien-Aimé Baraza, has shared a deeply personal milestone with her followers.
In a moving tribute posted to Instagram, she detailed her recent return to her grandmother’s home in Worthing, England. This visit marked the first time she had returned since her grandmother’s passing ten years ago.
The media personality and fitness enthusiast described the trip as one she had long avoided. For a decade, the weight of grief kept her away from the places that defined her upbringing.
Facing the silence
During the emotional weekend, Chiki visited the landmarks of her childhood. These included her grandmother’s house, her church, the local pier, and a familiar club. These locations were the backdrop of her growth, all tied to the woman she called her favourite lady.
She admitted to feeling a sense of dread before the journey. The reality of knocking on the door of her house, and not seeing her face was a moment she thought she could never face.
"It’s odd, anyone who has lost someone will understand the feeling of life moving on, even if we don’t want it to. But it must,” she added.
A bell-like laugh and floral scents
Despite her physical absence, Chiki noted that her grandmother’s spirit felt present throughout the weekend. She shared sensory memories that have stayed with her for ten years. She recalled a laugh that sounded "like a bell" and a constant "floral smell."
She described her grandmother as a woman of firm but soft presence. Even as a teenager, Chiki found an ally in her. She recalled a time her grandmother praised her for being "strong" after overheard a phone conversation.
In another light-hearted memory, Chiki revealed that while her grandmother "HATED" her tongue ring, she once playfully suggested a nose piercing instead.
It was a testament to a woman who, despite being raised in a different era, worked hard to keep up with a changing world.
“That was her, a woman raised in a world completely changing around her, still keen to keep up. SHE was strong.”
Legacy in Worthing
The visit also highlighted the cultural shifts in the town of Worthing. When Chiki’s grandmother first arrived in the area with Chiki’s father, there was very little diversity.
Wishes for the future
The narration turned sombre as Chiki reflected on the things her grandmother missed. She expressed a deep wish that her grandmother could have met her husband, Bien.
"10 years still feels like yesterday. I wish you had met Bien. You would have LOVED him, I know that for sure," she wrote.
Although the house is now occupied by a new family, Chiki has found peace. She promised not to let another decade pass before returning again.
