Willy Paul facts for kids

Willy Paul, whose real name is Wilson Abubakar Radido, is a talented singer and songwriter from Nairobi, Kenya. He is also the founder and CEO of his own music company, Saldido International Entertainment.

In 2013, Willy Paul won the Male Artist of the Year award at the Groove Awards. He shared the spotlight with his mentor, Gloria Muliro, who won the Female Artist of the Year award. Willy Paul is famous for many songs, including "I Do" with Alaine from Jamaica, "Njiwa" and "Hallelujah" with Nandy from Tanzania, "Sikireti" with Cecil from Jamaica, and "Nobody" with Yemi Alade from Nigeria. Other popular songs include "Mmmh" with Rayvanny, "Jigi Jigi", "Kanungo", "Malingo", and "You Never Know". His song "You Never Know" even led to a music tour in the United States!

Willy Paul first became known after releasing the song "Rabuka". Later, he released "Sitolia" with Gloria Muliro. This song caused some discussion because Willy Paul felt he wasn't earning enough from it. However, they worked things out and even recorded another hit song called "Kitanzi". In 2012, he was nominated for the Male Artist of the Year award at the Kisima Music Awards.

Early Life and Challenges

Wilson Abubakar Opondo Radido was born in September 1993 in the Mathare slums. His father was a carpenter, and his mother was a hairdresser. Sadly, in 2011, Willy Paul had to leave school because his family was facing money problems. To help his mother, he took on odd jobs to earn money.

Music Journey

Willy Paul's first successful song was "Rabuka". His big break in music came in 2010. He then worked with Gloria Muliro on "Sitolia", a song that shared his life story and struggles, showing how he found new hope through music.

His first music album, You Never Know, was released on December 5, 2013. The launch event was held at the KICC and featured many other famous musicians. The album included popular songs like "You Never Know", "Lala Salama", "Mpenzi", and "Kitanzi".

Touring the United States

In 2014, Willy Paul went on a music tour across the United States. He performed in churches in 12 different states. The tour started in Sacramento, California, on March 10. He performed with artist Polly Odotte at the House of Glory Church. He then visited Neema Gospel Church in Dallas, Texas, and performed in St. Louis, Missouri. Later, he performed at Neema Community Church in Overland Park, Kansas. The tour ended on April 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Awards and Collaborations

Willy Paul's song "Tam Tam", which featured Size 8, helped him win two Mdundo Awards. He was named the Most Downloaded Gospel Artist and also won for the Most Downloaded Male Single. "Tam Tam" also earned him four nominations for other awards, including Collabo of the Year, Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.

He has also worked with other artists, such as hip-hop artist Khaligraph Jones on the song "Bora Uhai" and Alaine on "I Do".

On April 30, 2024, Willy Paul released his third studio album, called "Beyond Gifted." This album has 14 songs and mixes different music styles like Afropop, Bongo Flava, and Dancehall.

Song Success

Willy Paul's song "Jigi Jigi" became very popular. It reached the number one spot on all the main music charts in Kenya. This included the Mdundo Weekly Top 100, the Top 40 Singles Chart, and the Local Top 20 Hits on Music Charts.

Helping Others

Willy Paul has also shown his caring side by setting up a foundation in Kenya. This foundation helps people in need, especially children, by giving them access to basic education and healthcare.

Music Releases

Willy Paul has released many songs over the years. Here are some of them: