From Struggle to Stardom: The Inspiring Journey of Marakwet Daughter
In a remarkable turn of events, Millicent Jerotich, widely known as Marakwet Daughter, has captured the hearts of music enthusiasts with her viral hit song “Mali Safi Chito.”
While her path to success has been riddled with hardships and challenges, Jerotich’s determination and unwavering faith have propelled her to unexpected stardom.
Jerotich’s journey begins in Marakwet County, where she was raised by her stepmother amidst economic struggles.
Despite facing adversity, her talent as a singer shone through from a young age.
As a Sunday schooler, she would often be invited to lead praise and worship at church.
She recalls, “As a Sunday schooler, I would be invited to lead our church in praise and worship. I also led the school choir and performed in other events such as weddings.”
Transitioning from secular to gospel music in 2018, Jerotich faced numerous setbacks in her career.
Despite singing numerous songs, she struggled to make significant progress, causing her fellow artists and fans to lose faith in her.
“Fellow artists and fans had lost faith in me because it did not seem like I was heading anywhere. They had started despising me because I had mark-timed for a very long time,”Millicent recalls.
However, she refused to give up and remained steadfast in her pursuit of success.
Jerotich’s recent hit song, “Mali Safi Chito,” is a heartfelt expression of admiration towards someone, with “Chito” symbolizing a beloved individual in the Kalenjin language.
She explains, “Couples can sing the song to each other. Parents can also sing the song to their children.”
The song, written between January and February 2021, was initially planned for release in November to coincide with the festive season.
However, financial constraints posed a significant hurdle.
Fortune smiled upon Jerotich when she received an unexpected gift of Ksh 2,500 at a friend’s burial.
With this small sum, she approached her producer, who graciously agreed to record the song at half the usual cost.
“In a stroke of luck, a generous well-wisher gifted me sh 2,500 at a friend’s burial. With this unexpected sum, I approached my producer, who agreed to record the song for half the usual cost,”She raccounts.
Jerotich then shared the song as an audio on YouTube and with her Whatsapp contacts.
Little did she know that this would be the turning point in her career.
One of her friends was so captivated by “Mali Safi Chito” that she decided to create a TikTok challenge with the song.
Within hours, the song went viral, with views on TikTok skyrocketing.
Jerotich describes the experience as nothing short of a miracle, stating,
“It was a miracle. When I woke up the next morning, the song was all over social media.”
The overwhelming popularity of “Mali Safi Chito” demanded a music video, even though financial constraints posed a significant challenge.
However, Jerotich’s unwavering determination led her to find a videographer who believed in her talent.
Unable to afford the fees charged by hotels for shooting locations, they decided to film the video in the enchanting Kamarein Forest.
She explains, “We had approached hotels, but they demanded we pay between sh 7,000 and 10,000. Because we did not have the money, we decided to go to a forest.”
This gamble paid off in ways they could never have imagined.
