Award-winning Kenyan singer Nikita Kering has opened up about her difficult school years, revealing how her confidence and outgoing personality often drew negative reactions from her teachers.
Speaking in a candid sit-down interview with Parents Africa Magazine, the 24-year-old vocal powerhouse recalled feeling isolated during her early education because of her natural drive for artistic expression.
“I remember always volunteering for every performance, but it felt like my passion annoyed the people who were supposed to guide me.”
Growing up, Nikita was eager to take center stage, regularly putting her hand up for drama, choir, and creative school projects. However, instead of encouragement, she felt a distinct chill from several instructors who misread her enthusiasm as attention-seeking.
The persistent backlash took a heavy emotional toll on the young artist. Nikita admitted that the negative reinforcement made her question her self-worth throughout her formative years.
“It got to a point where I genuinely believed there was something wrong with me just for being visible.”
Nikita Kering//Instagram
The emotional toll of this early rejection forced the artist to retreat into her shell. To protect herself from further criticism, Nikita made a conscious decision to hide her talent and blend into the background throughout high school.
“That bullying made me hide what I was doing a lot. And after high school, I never wanted to post, never wanted to. In fact, even until today, the concept of content creation is just one thing that I’ve had to really force myself to get into and to get back into.”
The psychological impact of those early experiences proved long-lasting. Even after breaking into the music industry and gaining international acclaim, Nikita struggled with self-promotion.
Nikita Kering//Instagram
Despite these early hurdles, Nikita has built one of East Africa’s most successful music careers. Her resilience paid off on the global stage, earning her major industry accolades before the age of 25.
By sharing her journey, Nikita hopes to empower young creatives to navigate early misunderstanding and reclaim their space despite past criticism.
