Meet Ila Nia, born Sheila Ligeyo, a Kenyan artiste known for her soulful voice and seamless fusion of Afro-fusion, R&B, and contemporary African rhythms.
She presents herself as a passionate performer, a devoted mother, and a vocalist driven by ambition to make the world a better place.
Her personal narrative traces a path from humble beginnings to a professional career marked by persistence in a demanding industry.
The songbird began her musical journey early, learning to sing from her mother at the age of three. However, her formal education in music during high school presented her first significant challenge.
Despite studying music as a subject and continually auditioning for the choir’s main performances, she was consistently among the students who were cut.
Her breakthrough came in her fourth year when she performed a solo set piece, translating it herself and ultimately winning the top spot in the whole of Nairobi County.
This tenacity paved the way for a professional career, starting with training as a background vocalist under renowned voice coach and former Tusker Project Fame principal Helen Mtawali.
She has established herself professionally, providing background vocals both in studios and during live performances for artistes like including Nameless, Wahu, Size 8, and Nadia Mukami.
With a degree in Chemical Engineering, her first job opportunity in Dubai was, unexpectedly, a music job. Recognizing this as ‘alignment’ and destiny, she committed fully to music, a choice that led her to leave her academic pursuits behind.
After rebranding from Sheila to Ila Nia in August of the previous year, she pursued a collaboration with Nameless for her second single, an opportunity she described as an immense honour.
Looking at the broader industry, Ila Nia expressed deep admiration for the unity and vocal power displayed by male groups like the Kodong clan.
This admiration fuels her vision for the future, where she hopes to inspire a similar collective spirit among female artists.
She strongly believes that “when women come together great things happen” and is determined to be the one to start this movement of collaboration over competition.
Despite her success, the ‘Pon Me’ singer was candid about the challenges she faces.
The primary hurdle is financial, noting that music is “very expensive,” particularly when securing high-quality audio, video, production, marketing, and promotion, especially as an independent artist.
Furthermore, she highlighted the industry’s heavily male-dominated nature, saying female artistes must work “twice or 10 times as hard” to gain recognition.
Beyond professional challenges, she navigates the complexities of motherhood and career. She took a two-year break from music to focus on her lovely daughter.
The ‘Harmony’ singer urges fans not to give up, even when struggling with overwhelming feelings, citing her own example of taking breaks but continuously working “behind the scenes”.
She stressed the importance of preparedness, stating that success must find one ready so that fame does not “break you”.
She advises artistes to utilize their network, reminding them that “your network might just be your net worth”, and encouraged them to be fearless in asking for help.
The ‘Haya’ hit maker concluded by describing her music as a mirror for all experiences. Her songs offered something for the heartbroken, the deeply in love, and, specifically for women, a reminder to “own your power”.
She encouraged fearlessness and boldness, stating, “you have to believe in yourself first before other people believe in you”.
With aspirations for global stardom, Ila Nia eyes future collaborations with Kenyan artistes like Njerae and We Are Nubia, and internationally with Grammy award winner Tyla and renowned Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.