Celebrating E-Sir 20 years on

The nation lost a star that enchanted the whole music industry on March 16th, 2003. Tragically, Isah Mmari Wangui, also known as E-Sir, perished in a car accident.

It is an unequivocal fact that E-Sir is one of Kenya’s most universally loved musicians.

He died at a young age just when he was storming the Kenyan hip-hop scene with hit songs that saw him win four categories in the 2003 Kisima Music Awards.

Isah first stormed the music scene with his 2001 hit song, Jo, and 20 years later, E-Sir still lives on through his music.

David Mathenge aka Nameless survived the fatal accident, escaping with just a broken collarbone.

E-Sir died at 21 alongside a friend, Kevin Kiiru Karanja.

Key facts to know about E-sir on his 20th anniversary

1. He was a Kenyan hip hop artiste signed to Ogapa Deejays record label.
2. He was born on May 20, 1981, and passed away on March 16, 2003.
3. E-Sir was born in California Estate and raised in South C, estate Nairobi Kenya.
4. He first came to be known in 2001 with his song ‘Jo’ done in the same style as Black Rob’s ‘Whoa’.
5. E-Sir was born to a Kenyan mother, Damaris Wangui, and a Tanzania, father Amin Mmari, and was popular for his lyrical ability and command of the Swahili language.
6. The late E-sir was among the pioneering young musicians behind the emergence of the now-popular hip-hop music.
7. E-Sir’s younger brother Habib is also a rapper and has been in the game for a while.
8. The rapper’s collaboration with his brother “Fever” is a banger.
9. Nameless survived the fatal accident that claimed E-Sir’s life, escaping with a broken collarbone.
10. E-Sir passed on at 21 alongside a friend, Kevin Kiiru Karanja. His body was identified at the Morgue by Nameless’s big brother Bob after the accident.
11. His remains were interred at the Kariokor Muslim Cemetery.
12. His album Nimefika was released posthumously two months after his demise.
13. E-Sir’s mother Damaris Wangui stays in South C.
14. E-Sir dated Yvonne Nkatha, then an 18-year-old first-year law student at the University of Nairobi.
15. E-Sir attended St Anne’s Junior Academy and later Brookehouse Senior School in Nairobi where he honed his musical skills.
16. He made his debut on the music scene in 1999 with Jo Nimefika, which he released with Ogopa Deejays Productions.
17. E-Sir’s maiden performance came courtesy of one Evans Odhiambo Ombajo, a former councillor in Nairobi.
18. In early 1999, Ombajo was managing a musician who failed to show up for a scheduled performance in Mombasa. The promoter had agreed to carry E-Sir to the event after much pestering.
19. When his star attraction failed to show up, he ushered E-Sir to the stage. The crowd was ecstatic and a star was born!
20. Through his brief tenure, E-Sir won four Kisima Awards in 2003.