Price of fame: Kenyan stars open up on mental health, burnout and pressure

Nowhere is the toll of mental health more public than in showbiz. 

“…the price is high. Boundaries cost friendships, saying no when your head isn’t right costs opportunities, or say, going quiet when everyone expects you to be on costs just as much or more,” admits Sawa Sawa rapper Raj (Rajville).

Interestingly, the song is all about mental health, with positive lyrics about enjoying life, gratitude, and success.

“People think being a celeb - I genuinely think I’m not since I’m retired from active music - means you’re always available but the real work is knowing when to disappear. Mental sobriety is expensive, it costs you a lot of yesses,” he adds.

Gospel artiste Weezdom saw the walls of a rehabilitation centre after a battle with addiction, while hugely revered MC and Kalamashaka member Johnny Vigeti, who has been off drugs for years now, arguably holds the record for the most admission into rehabilitation centres, in and outside the country. And as far as Gambia.

Musician Akothee shared her experiences where at some point she struggled to trust people, feeling that many only wanted access to her status, money, or influence.

She described constant pressure, loss of privacy, and even anxiety about everyday activities because of public scrutiny and fear of becoming a headline.

Ultimately, she concluded that fame is not an achievement in itself, but something that can be draining, invasive, and emotionally exhausting if not handled carefully.
“Fame is not an achievement. No one pays you for being famous. They either want to sleep with you, take from you or mess you up. It’s actually the most useless thing,” she said. 

One of Ogopa’s finest, Kenzo, agrees on the high cost of mental health, explaining that it takes a very strong mental constitution to overcome the high and sometimes, unrealistic expectations.

“When you are famous, people expect you to live and carry yourself in a certain way, which is sometimes super expensive to maintain... Plus everything you do is put under the microscope!” They have to think of what to dress up in, what to say, who to be seen with, and in the era of social media, what to post!

To Susumila, one of Kenya’s most consistent singer/rapper, everyone pays the price, but with time, the cost becomes easier to manage.

“I used to feel the pressure from fans and the industry, but not anymore because fans will always ask for more so it’s up to you to decide what to give them.”

Eventually, the pressure becomes too much for most. Some disappear from fame, some seek the comforts of substances, while some, the brave ones, seek help, like Dan Sonko.

The late talented journalist Kimani Mbugua, who ironically passed on while in a rehabilitation centre, battled depression for years.

Many celebrities have devised their own ways of staying sane and coping with the pressure.

MC Nafsi Huru, like gurus before him, is big in meditation, choosing time away to remind himself of his greatness.

“Personally, mi hu-take time ku-reflect na meditation. When you go silent and rest your brain, you get all the answers. Of course, music is also my escape because it lifts my spirits, and my mantra is, ‘if you are not your situation, always remember your greatness’.”

To blogger and journalist Cheptoek Boyo, boundaries are important in her line of work. They are the difference between sanity and depression.

“As a blogger, my mental state depends heavily on setting hard boundaries with my online community and managing the constant pressure to create. I protect my peace by turning off notifications after work hours, refusing to read negative comment sections, and ignoring the pressure to post every single day,” she said.

She also celebrates every small win she gets, because not every piece of content she posts on her blog and socials will go viral.

“You have to have your eyes on the prize to stay sane,” says Susumila, who is toying with the idea of running for an elective post in next years’ general elections. “People will always talk. Kila nikiamka naangalia kile nimepanga kuachieve next in life, in my music career and my personal life.”

Sauti za Mabinti founder, writer, curator and hip hop enabler and enthusiast Nimo Futuristic, looks at the community around her to find enough purpose not to be mentally idle.

“For me, looking after my mental health means protecting my peace through creativity and community. That’s why I started Sauti za Mabinti, to create a safe space for women in arts and music, to connect, grow and support each other,” she said.

Part of staying busy means creating, and she has published adult colouring books for women as part of Sauti Za Mabinti. The three books, A Love That…, Miss Me With That, and Ink Her Essence, are all available on Amazon under her legal name, Wairimu Giathi.

“For me, colouring, affirmations and creativity are forms of mindfulness and self-expression that help me slow down, breathe and reconnect with myself.”

Interestingly colouring books have gained traction as a sweet distraction, with American actress Angelina Jolie admitting to being a fan, quoted saying, “...sitting on the floor with the kids colouring for an hour, or going on the trampoline.”

Hopeless Guru believes that mental wellness and sustainability go hand in hand.

“For me, as a curator and creative, looking after my mental self means intentionally creating space to decompress, re-center, and reconnect with myself,” she explains. “But beyond that, it also means consistently figuring out sustainability, because I believe mental wellness and sustainability belong together.”

Kenzo, whom the writer has played football against under the Ngong Road floodlights, is big on sports, protecting the goal not just his speciality, but a way to destress and live normally, away from the lights, camera and action. “I always exercise and always avoid being alone… Plus, I avoid overthinking,” the Mama Milka singer said.

Just like Justin Timberlake, who sweats to beat moments of feeling low. He said, “I use everything as therapy. I play golf, write songs, (or) punch pillows.”

On May 23, The Beer District at Delta Towers in Nairobi will host a very important discussion, mental health. 

Organised and hosted by culture curator Hopeless Guru, the event is a mish mash of hip hop music, tech and mental health discussions, in an event dubbed Artporium Unplugged Grooves: Soulful Hip-Hop Edition 2.0.

“Creation without sustainability leads to burnout. Sustainability without healing leads to emptiness. And healing without expression has nowhere to go,” explains Hopeless Guru, as we mark the month.

“These are not separate things. They are all part of the same cycle, and I think we need to start looking at creatives more holistically, not just as people who produce, but as human beings who also need rest, healing, stability, and space to feel.” Deep words.

According to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI,) May marks Mental Health Awareness Month; “a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues.”

Mental illness is characterised by a “clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour, and this can range from mild to severe.”

Just like in any other facets of life, mental health is also paramount in showbiz, with more examples of celebrities losing their minds than those who successfully stay sober throughout their careers.

From Ye to Lil Nas, Britney Spears to our very own Mombasa-based actor Dan Sonko, who confirmed he was battling mental illness and was seeking help after photos emerged of him walking semi-naked in the port city.

While celebrityhood comes with the glitz and glamour, the less talked or thought about aspect of it is the high price most pay to make appearances and act all normal.

So, what is the high price celebrities have to pay for fame, in the currency of mental health?

A World Health Organization (WHO) report reads grimly on mental health, stating that roughly 1 in 7 people globally live with a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression being the most common.

The two reports, World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024 concluded that conditions such as anxiety and depression inflict immense human and economic tolls, with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stating, “Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies – an investment no country can afford to neglect.”

Boyo, who has tasted the experience of being on both ends of the showbiz spectrum, as a journalist and a celebrity, has a whole program set to keeping her sane.

“To prevent creative burnout, I clear my mind by taking regular digital detoxes and stepping away from screens to touch grass. I stay grounded by focusing on the joy of sharing helpful knowledge rather than chasing views, likes, or algorithm trends,” she said.

“Ultimately, connecting with my audience through calm, meaningful interactions and sticking to a sustainable writing schedule keeps me sane in a noisy online world.”