Using one’s God-given talent to attain fame and fortune in adulthood is a very remarkable thing. But to rise to fame and fortune for using one’s God-given talent when still a little child is a prerogative of the extra-ordinarily gifted. Given that the Ugandan music scene is presently suffering tremors occasioned by the sudden emergence of a 7-year-old hip-hop prodigy called Fresh Kid, we present to you a few of the showbiz world’s contemporary child prodigies –those in whose company Fresh Kid might soon be.
Ghetto Kids
Until Fresh Kid’s arrival, the Ghetto Kids have more or less been the only child stars in Uganda’s music industry. Their forte is dancing, and it is what has taken them places far and wide across the world, let alone meeting their bills and making their futures very bright. From featuring in videos of local titan Eddy Kenzo, they have also appeared in videos of international artistes like French Montana, they have also performed on world stages like BET Awards, and we hear soon they’ll be dancing in a video of Chris Brown
Baby Gloria
She is now becoming an adult, and has personally indicated that she is dropping the ‘Baby’ from her name. But let’s include her since she’s in the last of her days as a child star. If not, at least because for a long time she has been Uganda’s biggest ‘child music star’ – even arguably the country’s biggest ‘child music star’ ever. Gloria Mulungi Senyonjo (daughter of gospel musician Betty Nakibuuka) started singing in her early childhood at the incredible age of 2 years and 8months, and by six was a national celebrity. Her education was secured by prominent businessman Gordon Wavamuno who vowed to pay Gloria’s school fees till University, and she’s had an extraordinary child singing on the biggest stages around as well as being brand ambassador of such brands as Movit.
Emmanuella Samuel (Nigeria)
The 9-year-old comedy princess rose to fame after her comedy skit ‘This is not my face Oh’ went viral. The young comedian has won various accolades for her performance including NEA award, City People Award, Niger Delta special Talent Award and international wards Princess of Comedy, Prominent Kid Comedienne. In November 2016 she was hosted by CNN, and according to AustineMedia.com Emmanuella’s net-worth is estimated to be N25million ( Ush256 million).
Joey Alexander (Indonesian/American jazz star)
At 13 years of age the American jazz prodigy already has the world at his feet. His playing partners and musical mentors are some of the biggest names in jazz, and he recently relocated from his native Bali in Indonesia to an apartment in downtown Manhattan courtesy of his extraordinary talent. His big break came at the age of eight when he was asked to perform for pianist Herbie Hancock at a Unesco event in Jakarta back in 2014, where he blowed the audience away with his raw ability.
Grace Avery VanderWaal (American singer)
15-year-old Vanderwaal began her musical career by posting videos of her original songs and covers on YouTube and performing at open micnights near her hometown of Suffern, New York. In September 2016, at age 12, she won the eleventh season of the NBC TV competition show America’s Got Talent (AGT), singing her original songs. In December 2016, she released her first EP, Perfectly Imperfect, on the Columbia Records label. She has performed at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden, the opening and closing of the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, various benefit concerts, the Austin City Limits Music Festival and on several television talk shows. She won the 2017 Radio Disney Music Award for Best New Artist and a Teen Choice Award, has been named to Billboard magazine’s 21 Under 21 list of fast-rising young music stars in three consecutive years (2016–2018), received the 2017 Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award, and is the youngest person ever included in Forbes‘ 30 Under 30 Music List In November 2017, VanderWaal released a full-length album, Just the Beginning, and then she conducted her first concert tour.
Iain Armitage (Hollywood actor)
Born as recently as July 2008, this American child-actor and theater critic is already one of the most powerful stars in Hollywood today. The child of Hollywood star Euan Morton and theater producer Lee Armitage, he already ahs a number of starring roles to his credit, such as Ziggy Chapman in Big Little Lies and Sheldon Cooper in Young Sheldon.
Demilade Sax
It is said that when Oluwademilade Adepegba was a baby, the sound of music was enough to pacify his cries. At age four, he was already playing the flute and keyboard perfectly. But a year into learning the keyboard, he requested for a saxophone. Since then, he has never stopped playing the instrument.
At age 10, Adepegba has played at different occasions including the Child-Friendly Award, school competitions, concerts, church programmes, birthdays and weddings. He also played at the Beejay Sax Live concert in Lagos where he was the star of the night after sharing the stage with other gospel musicians.
Darci Lynne Farmer (American ventriloquist)
The 15-year-old American ventriloquist was the winner of season twelve of the competition show America’s Got Talent when aged 13 in 2017, and emerged the runner-up of America’s Got Talent: The Champions at the beginning of this year. She’s already a big star in American showbiz, starring in Hollywood, going on tours, earning big money, name it.
Daniel Petersen ‘Danno’ (South African Drummer)
The South African drumming prodigy is coming of age, now 16 years old, but he has been a true example of child genius for the betetr half of the past decade. Known to his fans as Danno, he has seen it all already, from playing at all sorts of big local and international stages, winning awards (including
the prestigious Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award), to becoming a national treasure. Last year, at age 15, he was invited to perform at the 2018 Grammy Awards After Party in Hollywood, Los Angeles, a premier opportunity for any musician and a singular honour for a 15-year-old prodigy.
Lydian Nadhaswaram (Indian pianist)
12-year-old Lydian can effortlessly tap away at the piano at mind-boggling speed, and at the same time deliver soulful pieces as his fingers gently pitter-patter across his prized Steinway, a gift from across the world (USA). He is already a national celebrity and treasure in India, performing at the highest-rated events in the country. Recently, he took to the world stage and stunned the judges on CBS show The World’s Best. From Golden Globe Award winner Drew Barrymore, to Emmy Award winner RuPaul Charles, and Grammy Award winner Faith Hill, everyone was left amazed at Lydian’s talent,