Kenyan rapper Prezzo has urged parents to take their children’s talents seriously, saying skills in music and sport can develop into successful careers when properly supported.

Speaking on the Couch Connect podcast, Prezzo said parents should recognise what their children are naturally good at and give them the support needed to develop those abilities.
“If your child is good at something, be it football, basketball, cricket, rugby, music, support the child in that.”
Prezzo said Kenyan athletes who turned their sporting abilities into professional careers demonstrate what is possible when talent is given an opportunity.
Read Also
Embu Sevens preps on track as Tusker donates Sh1.5m Rugby
St. Joseph Starlets Murang’a Crowned New Champions as LYSA Defends Central Regional Title Sports
200 golfers set for NCBA Golf Series action at Kiambu Golf

From games to professional careers

He pointed to former Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech and former Kenya international McDonald Mariga as examples of Kenyans whose football abilities took them beyond the local playing fields.
Oliech represented Kenya between 2002 and 2016, earning 76 international caps and scoring 34 goals. His club career also included spells in France with Nantes, Auxerre and Ajaccio.
Mariga, meanwhile, made history after becoming the first Kenyan to play in the UEFA Champions League, featuring for Inter Milan during the club’s 2009–10 title-winning campaign.
For Prezzo, such careers show why parents should not automatically dismiss activities outside traditional academic or professional paths as mere hobbies.
Prezzo254 // Instagram

Music once faced misconceptions.

Prezzo also reflected on the attitude towards music when he was starting his career.
He recalled that musicians were sometimes viewed with suspicion, with some people associating involvement in music with drug use or other negative stereotypes.
“They would think this guy uses drugs, but in all reality, well, that wasn’t the case.”
According to Prezzo, pursuing music professionally had the opposite effect on him. He said entering the industry helped him become more disciplined and toned down some of his behaviour.
“When I started music professionally, it actually toned me down so many notches.”

Changing attitudes towards talent

Prezzo’s comments highlight a shift from the belief that children should only pursue conventional career paths. While education remains important, talent in areas such as sport, music and other creative fields can also provide professional opportunities.


Kenyans whose talent took them far

Kenya has produced several people who turned their talents into successful careers.

Eliud Kipchoge became a two-time Olympic marathon champion and made history by running a marathon in under two hours in 2019.

Faith Kipyegon has won multiple Olympic and World Championship titles, establishing herself as one of the world’s leading middle-distance runners.

In acting, Lupita Nyong’o took her talent to Hollywood and became the first Kenyan actress to win an Oscar for 12 Years a Slave.

Footballers Dennis Oliech and McDonald Mariga also built successful international careers, with Mariga becoming the first Kenyan to play in the UEFA Champions League.