 this is Pius, mi deka aka Sadizi for those who doesn't know me I work in NYC as scene investment banking analyst but I was born and raised here in Kenya in a very small village in Etua continuum itu Mero and today I'm here to talk about this amazing book k ما venisumia kya neko. Kwa kama kuef38un ninii na mخayahiko, which is in some dreams, which we smoke very wild, and some of them seem impossible to achieve. KSha kutukusama, sitting in a bhejanapatumattu to Yofutsutu, kwa kama kia mkhayahiko kwa mkhayahiko, and trying to show people that nothing is impossible. 7-year-old boy who is struggling to find a way to cover his own path to success, get make it, then this book is proved that nobody, nobody is cut not make it. So, it's a very inspirational book, you can find it on Amazon, we have it here in Kenya, distributed countrywide by Nuriya, and I really, really, really look forward to hearing your feedback about this amazing book. So, I'm going to open it to my friends here for any questions. Okay, hi. I really love to know what really inspired you to write this book and possibly how long did it take you to come up with this book? Yeah, thank you, thank you Ali. So, I'll start with the how long this book took. I think it took longer, shorter than I expected. That is because I took a break from work to pursue my master's during that process in Aparatem Mobi Akumalizia. The inspiration behind it is, I'm a very, very ident champion for mentorship. Anapenda sana kwa nyeshawa say, nothing is impossible. And I looked at my story because me names Anapenda Kupiana, talk sana, every time you go give a talk, people are like, why don't you leave us something that we can look at every time that someone needs to be inspired. So, this book is for anyone that has barriers to break or someone that has dreams that seem impossible because it's a book about breaking the barriers of impossibilities. Many people will really be interested to just know one thing. Moving at the life that you lived in America, because it's not the same as the life that most of us lived in Kenya, the opportunities are some are different. Does the book also talk about that stuff because basically the life that you, that America gave you, maybe it cannot give someone who is still in Kenya? Yeah, that's a good question again. Technically this book actually, if you read the first chapter, it starts in New York, a very bright morning in my apartment in Manhattan, and then it takes you back to a very small village in Kenya called Kahelo, and along the way I take you back again to New York City where I try to give you a glimpse of my life, leaving my place, going to work and all those things that I encounter along the way. We have also a chapter called The American Dream. Again, I try to highlight a few things about the American life, but I think you're right when it comes to opportunities. I've tried my best to show people to highlight that because that's actually what shaped my story, the opportunities that America gives, and I believe Kenya also has opportunities, but we have a long way to go because we're still a growing country. The other one was basically a very small book. It was, I think, 50 pages. I'm there in high school, you know, powered up and giving talks at that time, aspiring to be a motivational speaker. I was also that time I'd actually met people like T.G. Moore, had shaped my career in music, started doing a number of songs, so I felt like I've achieved something and that book was kind of a story trying to show people again the same story, but a little bit that Kijana metoka hapa, sofa hako hapa and these are the things that he has achieved and it was really meant for students, mostly between Form 1 and Form 4. So we don't have that book anymore. I think it was a moment here to generate cash because I think it was 150 books. So we're trying to make ends meet and let me take advantage of that. I said looking at the boy who believed how is the reception so far and how will you compare it to what you expected and what are also some of the comments that people are giving you in terms of people? The reception has been amazing to say the least, both in Kenya and the U.S. Actually, Kenya, U.S., Canada and U.K. I think so far those are the only countries I can trace myself. In Kenya, when I was writing this book honestly I didn't have a lot of expectations because some people know my story and I was like, this is home. So my main target was the U.S. and Canada because those are the countries closer to I.M. but I'm surprised because sales here have been almost surpassing what we have in the U.S. So my people at home walao cha nase vanga sujuina bia na sifa kwao this book has proven them wrong because people here have been so receptive and a good example is the launch that some of you witnessed when you are putting up this launch we didn't have many expectations since we got to Naikatu launch and then call a few people, friends and all that then all of a sudden it becomes a big event having people like PLO, Ezekiel and all those amazing chief guests we had so I think we have been surprised and I can't say my thanks enough to my amazing amazing people here in Kenya and express how much I really appreciate and love them. Okay, my question is during the launch, so people like Ezekiel more who are coming to your launch what has been played in your life and in the book as well? Thank you. So Mo and I have a history so Tumeto Kambali and actually he is mentioned in the book I think in one of the chapters Apomonzo Monzo our story is briefly highlighted there and they showed up not really because they are in the book but because we have come from far and they came to support and show me that we are together actually for some of you that saw Saizet was one of the pastors that was praying actually she was the one doing the opening prayer so basically they were not there as celebrities I can say but as friends that were coming to support our brother so for those of you that have already read or read the book you will see my story with Tji Mo and how we met and the lessons that I learned even comparing the way he approached me as a boy with nothing because honestly I had nothing I was in high school from 3 with dreams of being the next Bahaati Uli Paul and this guy we meet and share with him he gives me his number I called the next day and he answers and that's how the relationship started Plo I met Plo recently I didn't know him and then we approached him and you know kindly asked him we have this event and he was like who else is coming I told him Ezekiel will be there Wahi Gamora was one of the chief guests who got a last minute something to attend to so I send him those list of guests and was like I'll be there and unfortunately he had to travel to Rwanda to meet the president of Rwanda last minute on the day of the event but he attended virtually and his speech was there so the same with Ezekiel Ezekiel actually we reached out on WhatsApp we talked and fun enough became a friendship out of our WhatsApp texts and he was like a more than happy to attend the book crunch and they really really devoted themselves and were grateful Okay, my name is Shiko and maybe to someone who works in Plo so of course we are sending a cover of the book tell us a little bit about the tattoo the boy who believes to know that the belief is in red tell me a little bit about it Wow, that's the first time actually someone is noticing the red part so yeah, the believed is in red and the sun is in red and this is trying to show the hardships the boy had to go through I mean, you can imagine at that age having to carve your own path to success because that's the time everyone needs a parent and that's the time you don't have a parent so urem dohukwamia sijui unafakufanya iwi 2, 1, 2, 3 the things that parents will tell you at that age and we put this in red to depict that it was not an easy journey for this boy and even believing sometimes if it was in green someone would be like oh the color of hope but then when believed the word believed itself is in red and it shows you that even believing itself was not easy because how can you believe this is something I like asking people how can you believe you can fly when all you've ever done in your life is work it becomes very hard we've talked about the tough journey just so that we don't prevent the content of the book maybe you can tell us your lowest moment talking about the journey my lowest moment was after high school when I had to pack everything and leave come in Nairobi trying to find a way to make a life in music and then having to quit after living in a hostel in Dika for some time and then having to quit and go back to the village and I felt like that was the end I mean I was done here you've gotten your A in KCSE you've got a jumbo you've got a chance to record two songs and then all of a sudden even a place to stay you don't have and you pack everything and leave the city that's it for me, I'm done and that was the lowest moment of my life and of course times are high and we've seen the situation for example young people don't have jobs I would say most opt in for short cuts kunao anasemo anasekawa mama mama bani main tiawata na opt lakda for you what kept you moving and maybe did you get your point bani you feel like I can be for short cuts so many times I mean we all love short cuts even when you're going somewhere there are two roads and you will always ask the driver which one is the shorter one but the problem is that we can't you know reflect the same in life because I always believe nothing comes easy and if it comes easy it will go easily as well and I honestly don't blame them because I mean all of us have seen the kind of role models we have in the society we have turned to glorifying the things that we never thought we can glorify as a society and I think people are watching even these other young people and that's why some of us have to come up and tell our stories like you and the team come and show these other younger generations that you guys didn't come here because it was easy you're not here today because someone came and just so you guys have worked your way up and this is why we're telling these children to show people that hey no, it's not that easy as some people try to show you because if you read this the boy believed everything has been a journey you know you achieve this you make this you discover this and this yeah and I've heard you talk about role models here for example Vakia at home your role model to most of us and most of the students that you've been talking to so I will have a question you say that the first page I've actually gone through your book and the first page is in New York City so I believe that in New York we have different what should I call them writers, we have a brilliant union we have different books that are coming up Neno who among those might have influenced you most or who is your role model who influences you in that sector wow when it comes to writing I don't think I've ever picked someone to be my exact role model, I have many but I will tell you I love everything about Obama every time you read his book he makes it seem that nothing he has came easy he worked his way up and I love his books but when it comes to general life if you've read the back of the book you've seen Dr. James Simone he's one of the people that I've given the comments he is one guy I've freely admired both at a personal level and in terms of the professional life and I can say those are my two greatest problem models when it comes to writing and the professional life okay as we wind up would like you to tell the people watching this video maybe when they can get the book maybe you have a contract that they can do throughout yeah so for those in Kenya the book is being distributed by Nuriakanya.com so if you go to Nuriakanya.com search the boy you believed you'll find the book there for those and it's being actually delivered countrywide those outside the country U.S., Canada, UK you can get the book on Amazon.com because actually the book is published through Amazon you can just go to Amazon search the same the boy you believed and the book will be delivered to you wherever you are alright just to ask this I know it's weird to make you everything I don't know if there are plants maybe you, maybe you've mentored maybe you have adopted maybe a young boy and then are there any plants maybe in your schools after where you are maybe a small course we give you back to the society yeah that's a great question and actually we have been running them say this empowerment initiative it's a non-profit registered here in Kenya tu mefanya witu mingi especially up on Nairobi tu mefanya tournaments nai kodida tu mepe anama sports futbu jazis maviatu mipira and all those things we're playing areas mentorship because we believe if someone came and gave me food then all those things but because someone mentored me I'm able to stand here and mentor someone else so when it comes to what you're planning to do God willing once I go back to New York I'm planning that we're going to be robust have more mentorship programs and actually before even go back we have a talk in a college here and then after that I'm expecting to go to a few high schools to give talks that's part of the things we do I'm planning to go back to my school where it all starts for our school uniforms drive what else we have a number of things on the pipeline and God willing we'll be able to accomplish them and also call you to participate thank you so I just wanted to say thank you again for everyone that showed up for a book launch at KICC and even those that didn't show up and still bought the books and many of you that are going to buy these books please give your reviews, give your feedback and also thank you, thank this amazing team for coming to share the story of the boy who believed kipatana Nairobi just say hi kuna za pata mimi do nikona ticketia kwa kanda New York thank you so much