Nakuru, Home of One-Man Guitar: The Legacy of Salim Junior

Nakuru has long been known for nurturing Mugithi artists whose voices and guitars have shaped the sound of Kenya’s modern Kikuyu music.

Among the county’s celebrated stars, the Salim family stands out as a true musical dynasty. At the head of this talented family was Joe Salim Mwangi, a respected musician who inspired his children to pick up instruments and carry the tradition forward.

Over the years, the Salim family would produce performers whose names became familiar in homes, matatus, and dance halls across the country.

Perhaps the most influential of them all was Salim Junior. Born Paul Mwangi and raised in Subukia, Nakuru County, he grew up in an environment where music was part of daily life.

His father’s guitar playing and the songs of older musicians sparked his curiosity from an early age. As a boy, he would sit and watch closely, eager to learn every chord and lyric.

By the time he was a young man, Salim Junior had developed his own style—a fresh take on the one-man guitar performance. He blended traditional Kikuyu melodies with modern arrangements and a smooth, captivating voice that resonated with audiences of all ages.

His breakthrough came in the late 1990s and early 2000s when he began recording remixes of well-loved Kikuyu classics. His versions were upbeat and danceable, breathing new life into songs that had been passed down for generations. Before long, his performances were drawing crowds far beyond Nakuru.

Whether he was on stage at a festival, entertaining a packed club, or playing at a wedding, Salim Junior brought an energy that people never forgot. His albums and live shows became part of everyday life—blaring from matatu speakers, filling up dance floors, and anchoring family celebrations. It was this ability to connect so widely that earned him the nickname “The King of Mugithi Remix.”

In January 2016, Kenya lost Salim Junior after a short illness. His death was met with an outpouring of grief. Fellow musicians, fans, and leaders alike shared tributes to a man who had not only modernized Kikuyu music but had also opened doors for many young artists.

Today, his legacy lives on through his family—especially his siblings Mighty Salim, Sarafina Salim, and Salim Young—and in the countless musicians he inspired to pick up a guitar and tell their own stories.

In every Mugithi show and every song played on the radio, echoes of Salim Junior’s influence can still be heard, reminding everyone that great music never really fades away.