Kidum’s Biography

Jean-Pierre Nimbona, known professionally as Kidum is a Burundian songwriter and drummer residing in Kenya who performs in Rundi and Swahili.

Kidum, whose mother gave him the nickname that literally means a 20-liter jug, acknowledges he was a very large infant.

Kidum’s Height and Weight

There is currently no information on Kidum’s weight and height.

Kidum’s Career

“Yaramenje,” his first album, was released in 2001. The album portrayed him as the Great Lakes region’s voice of calm.

This was followed by the release of “Shamba” in 2003, and “lshano” in 2006. These works demonstrated his abilities as a composer, vocalist, percussionist, and arranger.

A recipient of the KORA Award, he has traversed Canada, the United States, Europe, and Africa. He has performed alongside artists like Alpha Blondie and the late Lucky Dube. Among others, he has collaborated with Kenyan performers such as Nameless and Ugandan Juliana Kanyomozi.

He has performed at Sauti Za Busara (2018) and Malaria Day concert in Tanzania, Kenya’s Koroga Festival (2017), Sondeka (2015), Blankets and Wine, kigali up (Rwanda), Bujumbura Summer Fest (Burundi), (Tanzania), Afro Latino festival (Holland and Belgium), Kenya Expo (Burundi), and Peace concert (Burundi), among others.

He was appointed an Ambassador for Peace, a position that promotes optimism and reconciliation in East Africa. When he began playing drums at the age of 10, his musical inspirations developed. In the years that followed, Kidum formed a band and performed all over Burundi.

It took Kidum four years in Kenya to begin composing his own songs and eventually penetrating into mainstream entertainment in Kenya. “Yaramenje” was the first single that Kidum recorded in 1999.

Canadians have invited Kidum to perform year after year due to his positive reception. In August of 2014, he was asked to perform at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Kidum performs with his current BodaBoda Band (translated as Crossing Borders) throughout Africa, the Middle East, Canada, and shortly Europe, the United States, and many other regions.

Kidum’s Marital Status

The Nairobi-based Burundian met her wife, Josephine Mugure, in 2010 after a concert at a popular city joint. They wedded in 2012 and welcomed their first child, daughter Nicole, in 2015 and Kidum Junior in 2019.

The talented singer, while speaking to Standard Media last year, explained his marriage journey, which included having three wives and seven children. “I met my first wife when I was still a refugee. We stayed together for five years, after which we separated. When I went back home to Burundi, I met my second wife, with whom I stayed for 10 years before we separated.“

Kidum’s Family & Siblings

He disclosed that when the war broke out in Burundi, his father (now deceased) beseeched him to flee for dear life and handed him 60 dollars.

Why is Kidum famous?

“Yaramenje,” his first singlewas recorded in 1999. The melody caught the attention of Former President of Kenya Daniel arap Moi, who saw its potential to unite Burundi.

Kidum’s Children

Kidum has seven children. Two with his current wife, he disclosed in an interview saying:

“Sometimes I laugh when I read news about me! This Kidum junior aka Kajiado is not her firstborn jamani! I have a daughter with her called Nicole. It is true I have now seven children in total but two with this now my wife. Hahahahaha na bado!!!!!”

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