By Geoffrey Otieno
A story of late salvation, redeemed music, and unwavering faith nurtured through TWR and SIFA FM.
At 84 years, he still rides his bicycle for nearly 16 kilometers every Sunday, not to chase fame, fortune, or pleasure, but to worship the God who rescued his life when all hope seemed lost.
Mzee Hezron Mzerah, popularly known as Aboo Wa Ikanga, is a staunch listener of SIFA FM Voi and a living testimony of God’s redeeming power, the impact of gospel media, and how God can use a surrendered talent at any stage of life.
A Life Shaped by Humble Beginnings and Music
Born in 1940, in Ikanga Taita Taveta County, Aboo grew up in a very humble family. He was born at a time when more value was placed on livestock, so grazing replaced classrooms. Thus he was denied the opportunity to ever step into a classroom to read or write but life taught him responsibility early. He later on married Zurah Mzerah, and together they are blessed with seven children.
Despite his own lack of formal education, Aboo made a firm decision that his children would not miss school as he did. Through hard work and sacrifice, all his seven children have gone through school some have completed and are now seeking employment.
As a young man, Aboo discovered a deep love for music. Fascinated by people who played the guitar, he improvised one for himself a simple box guitar. With no teacher, no lessons, and no resources, he taught himself how to play. By the age of 18, he had mastered the art so well that he began playing in nightclubs, performing other people’s music. His prowess caught the attention some tourists who gifted him an electric guitar.
But as his music journey grew, so did his love for partying and alcohol. There were times he would disappear from home for days, leaving his wife with the heavy burden of caring for the family alone. Looking back, he reflects with pain:
“I was a youth and I saw myself as ‘the man’. Nothing scared me. I watched my peers waste away. Some ended up in prison, others died because of addiction. Still, God preserved me for a reason.”
Pain, Healing, and a Life-Changing Encounter with Christ
In 2017, at the age of 77, Aboo’s life took a dramatic turn. He developed severe pain in his shoulders. He sought medical help, but no doctor and no medication could relieve the pain. In desperation, he turned to witchdoctors, but they too failed completely. Many told him that his sickness was a spiritual attack fueled by envy from people who did not like his success in music. His condition worsened until one day he made a decision that would change his life forever. He went to church. There, he met a pastor who prayed for him. Instantly, the pain left his body.
“I walked into church a sick man,” he says, “but I walked out healed and a believer.”
After a season of inner struggle, he surrendered his life to Christ. Later, But God had used the pain to draw him to salvation.
Redeeming the Gift and Walking the Journey of Faith
After his healing, Aboo joined the church choir. His guitar skills became a blessing; he began teaching others how to play. But even in church, challenges arose. Some people felt he was receiving too much favors, and disagreements followed. Eventually, he left that church but not Christ.
“I lost the church that led me to Christ but God led me to another one, where the congregation is one big family.” He reflects.
Today, he continues to use the same musical gift once used in nightclubs to serve God. Through his songs, he warns young people not to waste their lives in alcohol and regret. Though he sometimes wishes he had served God earlier in life, he has chosen not to live in regret, grateful that God has still given him strength and purpose.
He remains active in ministry. Every Sunday, he rides his bicycle for about 16 kilometers to church and back, attends SIFA FM overnight prayers, and serves faithfully in praise and worship. A living testimony that when God calls, He also sustains.
Faith Nourished Through SIFA FM
Aboo is a proud member of the SIFA Taita Taveta Fans Club and a devoted listener of SIFA FM. He shares that the station has become a major pillar in his spiritual growth. Through its programs, he is continually spiritually nourished, encouraged, and strengthened in faith.
Hearing his music played on air, listeners requesting his songs, and being invited to perform during SIFA Nights brings him great joy and renewed purpose. So deep is his love for the station that he has even composed a song specifically for SIFA FM and custom branded his t shirt with SIFA’s Identity. A song and a brand of gratitude, testimony, and hope.
Aboo Wa Ikanga’s life reminds us that God can meet us at any age, redeem every gift surrendered to Him. At 84, riding his bicycle with a guitar and a grateful heart, he stands as living proof that it is never too late to serve God and never too late for God to use you mightily.
It is a living reminder of the power of gospel media. Through Trans World Radio Kenya and SIFA FM, the message of hope reaches ordinary people, nurtures faith, and redeems God-given talents. This testimony affirms why supporting TWR Kenya matters because every broadcast made possible by faithful partners helps transform lives and carry hope where it is needed most.
Watch the video Testimony (Swahili) below
