Kogo Basilisa: 79-Year-Old Teacher Goes Viral for Her Flexibility During Mashujaa Day

A 79-year-old granny just reminded Kenya that age truly is nothing but a number.

Kogo Basilisa goes viral after Mashujaa Day performance. Photo: Kogo Basilisa. Source: Facebook

Kogo Basilisa, whose full name is Basilisa Singoei, became the unlikely highlight of this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations after her electrifying traditional dance performance left the crowd at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret absolutely stunned.

Dressed and ready to move, the retired music teacher captivated President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto and visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with her remarkably flexible Kalenjin traditional dance — a display that quickly spread across social media and turned her into a nationwide sensation overnight.

Rachel Ruto’s rarely-seen father Samuel Kimeto spotted at Mashujaa Day celebrations

Basilisa taught music for 34 years before hanging up her teaching hat in 2002 at the age of 55. During her career, she earned numerous certificates and accolades for her school through music.

After retirement, she did not simply walk away from the art form that defined her working life. She began performing publicly in 2016, eventually joining the Sisto Cultural Dancers, a cultural group that was handpicked by the Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) to represent Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and Uasin Gishu at this year's celebrations. The three counties co-hosted Mashujaa Day for the first time at the 15,000-seater venue in Eldoret.

She credited President Ruto's decision to bring the national celebrations to Uasin Gishu with creating the opportunity that thrust her into the spotlight.

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The exposure has been extraordinary for Basilisa. Since the celebrations, calls have reportedly poured in from as far afield as Canada and the United States, a development she attributes to the PPMC platform.

She shared the stage with a strong lineup of performers, including gospel artist Pastor Joel Kimetto, popular Kalenjin musician Emmy Kosgei and Marakwet Daughter.

For Basilisa, the performance carried a deeper purpose beyond entertainment. Having taught music her entire professional life, she sees herself as a custodian of cultural heritage, passing down traditions to a generation that might otherwise lose touch with them.

Her story is a powerful reminder that passion, when it runs deep enough, does not retire when the work does.

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We also highlighted facts about Rachel’s rarely-seen father, Samuel Kirwa Kimeto, and his appearance at Kenya’s 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret.

His arrival in a Toyota Land Cruiser TXL, dressed in a black cowboy hat and carrying a walking stick, drew attention as he was escorted to his seat at the stadium.

Patricia Tonui (Entertainment editor) Patricia Tonui is a journalist and an entertainment editor at TUKO.co.ke. She was a Broadcast Journalism student at the University of Nairobi, class of 2022, and has a five-year experience working in digital media, having previously worked at mpasho.co.ke. Patricia joined Tuko.co.ke in 2022. Reach out to patricia.tunoi@tuko.co.ke if you have entertaining and informative news to share.