The inside story of Papa Dennis death: Revealing what led to it

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 8 Feb, 2020 13:53 | 5 mins read
Depression occasioned by sudden change of financial fortunes and forlorn hopelessness is what led to the death of gospel musician Papa Dennis. [PHOTO | FILE]
Depression occasioned by a sudden change in financial fortunes and forlorn hopelessness is what led to the death of gospel singer Papa Dennis. [PHOTO | FILE]
Depression occasioned by sudden change of financial fortunes and forlorn hopelessness is what led to the death of gospel musician Papa Dennis. [PHOTO | FILE]

Depression occasioned by a sudden change in financial fortunes and forlorn hopelessness is what led to the death of award-winning gospel musician Papa Dennis, his colleagues in the gospel circles have now revealed to K24 Digital.

Just over a year ago, everything looked so rosy for Papa Dennis, even going ahead to reveal to Pulse Magazine that he had at least Ksh50 million stashed in three bank accounts in the country.

A change in fortunes

Fast-forward to one year later, the musician was a pale shadow of his flashy and flamboyant former self -- his financial muscle had waned, and the good life was now a mirage. He relocated from his solid rented house in Lavington, and started life afresh in a room in the Pangani studio -- Nairobi Records -- where he allegedly jumped from on Friday, February 7.

By the time of his death, our informants say, Papa Dennis did not know where his next meal would come from.

“He only had a mattress in one of the rooms in the studio; that was the only thing he went back to after spending the day searching where his meal would come from. Occasionally, he would be assisted by the owner of Nairobi Records, Mash Mjukuu. Upon learning that Papa Dennis had nowhere to go after being evicted from his furnished Lavington home over unpaid rent, Mjukuu offered to house him in the studio, and gave him a mattress,” said our source -- a top Kenyan gospel musician -- whom we won’t identify, as doing so, would subject him to being blamed for not having helped Dennis.

Split from manager

K24 Digital was told that Papa Dennis’ former manager, Sadat Muhindi, was the one financing his luxurious lifestyle, but allegedly stopped after the two fell out over reasons yet to be known. We reached Sadat for comment.

“Yes, I have heard allegations that Dennis went broke after I left his life. I wouldn’t comment on that matter,” Sadat told K24 Digital on phone Saturday.

Another top gospel musician told K24 Digital that Papa Dennis was “constantly frustrated” due to the financial problems he was going through.

“He did not know how to handle the sudden change in fortunes. Just the other day, he was living life in the fast lane -- moving around in top-of-the-range cars, living in a covetable neighbourhood, enjoying nonpareil success in getting collabos with top international acts… name it! And, in a span of less than 12 months, all that vanished. Papa Dennis moved from enjoying endless abundance to struggling to afford even a meal a day. He did not know how to handle that transition, and he resigned to hopelessness,” said the top gospel act, who spoke in confidence.

“I wish I could help, but, Brian, let me tell you… artistes in Kenya are not making money from their music; it is extremely hard being successful as a musician in Kenya, few are, and it is because they diversified. Papa Dennis was yet to break even in music,” added the informant.

A report filed at Pangani Police Station by Papa Dennis’ brother, Simon Mwangi, at 1:30am Saturday, says he fell from Kirima Building near Jubilee Party headquarters, with authorities confirming Dennis’ cause of death as suicide.

The incident -- according to police -- happened at 11:30pm Friday.

Dennis had earlier spent the day, and the evening in the studio said to be on the third floor of Kirima Building.

The artiste is alleged to have climbed up to the fourth floor of the building and plunged to his death.

His body was taken to City Mortuary by police.

K24 Digital reached Pangani police boss Alice Kimeli for comment at 12:16pm Saturday. She said she would get back to us after five minutes, but she did not, and our subsequent calls to her, went unanswered.

Born and raised in Kakamega

Papa Dennis, whose real name is Dennis Mwangi, was born and raised in Matunda, Kakamega County. He has a twin brother whose name is Simon Mwangi.

In an October 2018 interview with The Sunday Nation, Papa Dennis said his mother died in 2006, leaving him and his four other siblings unable to fend for themselves.

“I started from humble beginnings, singing in church as a member of the praise and worship team. I wanted to pursue music from an early age but my dreams were hindered by the death of my mother, who was taking care of me and my twin brother. After her death, in 2006, our lives became miserable and I was forced to do odd jobs just to make a living while also trying to save for my music,” said Papa Dennis in an interview published in the Kenyan newspaper on October 28, 2018.

After his mother’s demise, Papa Dennis relocated to Kisumu where he started a second-hand clothes business.

“I relocated from Matunda in Kakamega, where I was born, to Kisumu and ventured into the clothes business; selling ladies’ undergarments ranging from underwear, bikers among others.

"However, after the 2007 post-election violence, I returned home. I still wanted to pursue music but I couldn’t raise much money to kick-start my career. I kept taking part in various talent competitions until I was spotted by Sadat Muhindi of Maliza Umaskini Foundation, who took me in and, as they say, the rest is history,” said Papa Dennis.

Flamboyance

The award-winning artiste was known for exhibiting flamboyance, on several occasions sporting expensive designer clothes, watches and shoes.

Papa Dennis, however, dismissed claims that he was a braggart.

“I don’t boast or brag, I just show appreciation to what God has blessed me with and, at the end of the day, all these riches are only earthly and not heavenly,” he told The Sunday Nation.

Papa Dennis unapologetically spent millions of shillings on producing music videos. In the interview with The Sunday Nation, the artiste said the monies used on the audio-visuals were not from his pocket, but his manager’s, Sadat Muhindi.

“I don’t decide what to spend on shooting a video, my manager Sadat and his team do. Besides, he is one person who believes in quality and will never settle for anything less” he said.

In 2019, Papa Dennis told Pulse Magazine that he had Ksh50 million in his three bank accounts. His source of wealth, however, remained unclear up to the time of his unfortunate demise.

“Why should money be such a big talk? I mean, money is just but a means to a cause. I don’t think Ksh50 million is cash we should be discussing as this could even be loose change to a 19-year-old footballer playing in the English Premier League. The cash I have is just like that of Davido and the rest of the musicians. No big deal,” Papa Dennis said in early 2019, adding that he was humble.

The singer who — at the time — was riding high with his then-new song Mayaya Remix featuring Nigeria’s Flavour, said it didn’t cost him much to have the celebrated West African crooner agree on working on a collabo with him.

“I work under a good and reputable management and the deal was well-negotiated between the two teams before we flew to South Africa where most of the video costs were incurred. We hired a chopper and other facilities that cost us some good amount,” he said without disclosing how much.

Challenges in speaking English

Due to his limited educational background, Papa Dennis said one of the biggest challenges he faced, was communicating in English.

“Speaking fluent English has been my major hindrance while communicating.  After the death of my mother I never got a chance to complete school. But I sacrificed, doing odd jobs, to pay for my twin brother’s (Simon Mwangi) education until he was done with his secondary studies,” said Papa Dennis, vowing — at the time — to further his education.

“I started private classes at home, in Lavington (Nairobi), this year (2018) and all is going on well,” he said.

Papa Dennis attended Mtoni Primary School in Kakamega, but did not manage to proceed to high school due to lack of school fees.

Awards and songs

The Late artiste, in his lifetime, won several awards, including a trophy in the 2015 Mwafaka Awards, 2016 and 2017 Pulse Music Video Awards, the 2018 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) and the 2019 Dear Awards.

Papa Dennis had several songs in his repertoire, including Tornado which he featured Tanzanian legendary singer Ray C. Other songs are: Nashukuru, Mayaya, Foundation (featuring Daddy Owen), Wabebe, among others.