Jean-Pierre ‘Kidum kibido’ Nimbona, a Burundian-Kenya musician, has seven children, including a 30-year-old firstborn, and is not regretful about having multiple children.
Kidum has reflected on the life lessons he has gathered during his marriage life.
“I was very young when I had my first child. My firstborn, who now lives in Canada, is 30. I don’t regret having many children, it’s something I’m very proud of.
Even my current wife who is expectant, if she ends up blessed with ten children, I will be delighted.” Kidum avers.
“I would never blame anyone for my failed marriages. Marriage is about two people, each with their flaws, and that’s why they fall apart. But as you grow, you keep learning and getting wiser.” he says.
As his marriages crumbled, Kidum says that after separating from his ex-wives, he took all his children from their respective mothers and raised them single-handedly.
“I kept all my children and they are all grown up. After my first child, I had two more with my Burundian ex-wife. I am now married to a Kenyan and we have children too. I now have seven biological children and others I have adopted. adds Kidum, who is now in his third marriage.
The singer says he is now more settled and wiser in his current marriage.
“My current marriage is meant to last a lifetime. It’s the longest of my marriages. We have been together since 2010,” the Telenovela hitmaker adds
The trials of marriage
Kidum’s personal life has been marked by challenges, particularly in his relationships. Having been married three times, with two marriages failing, he now shares his life with his third wife, Christina.
He is also a father to seven biological children and has adopted an eighth child. Reflecting on his earlier relationships, Kidum jokingly noted, “Even now, I could still attract women, but I won’t because I’m committed to Christina.”
Kidum attributes some of his tumultuous experiences to the absence of a father figure in his life. “I lost my dad early, so I missed out on guidance. I was alone in a foreign land,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Kidum expressed no regrets about his past, advising others, “Don’t lie to people that you love them if you don’t. If you don’t love, don’t commit.”
Kidum on relocating to Kenya
Kidum’s path to Kenya was not initially driven by a desire to pursue music but rather by misinformation.
He was led to believe that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would relocate him to Europe.
“I came to Kenya because I was told in Kenya, UNHCR takes people to Europe. Based on what I saw on TV, I was eager to move to Europe,” Kidum revealed.
However, after arriving in Kenya, his life took a different turn as he began playing in bands, ultimately finding his calling in music.
