Timam Evans: Bio And Journey Into Gospel Music

We’re used to Sheng blasting on Drill, Gengetone, and Hiphop, but to imagine a worship song in cold Sheng fusion is almost revolutionary, and Timam Evans is making it happen. Timam Evans is a Kenyan gospel artist out on a mission to win the souls of a young audience through gospel worship music with a touch of Sheng.

He’s an enthusiast of Sheng, but one who doubles as a worship minister. His songs, though fitting as worship, often feature a blend of Sheng and Swahili. But why feature slang in a worship song? It’s uncharacteristic of the worship music we’re used to. Here’s Timam’s take:

God anaskia every kind of language. Me huona kama unaongea Sheng sana sana, but ukifika ni prayer unaongea Kizungu, naonanga hio ni cliché kidogo. God ni baba yetu, you approach Him venye tu uko.

Timam Evans while on an interview with Lily Kamau of Family TV. Sourced from YouTube

What’s more, Sheng represents a distinct identity for millions of young Kenyans. It’s their primary language, and a lifeblood for a unique lifestyle, embroiled in music, film, food, and fashion. There’s no better way to get the message across to a young, cultural audience than in their relatable language.

This is what Timam calls Street Worship, or Ibada Kitaa. The artist is best known for the hit tracks Washa Nare, Kamagera, Kasonge Kakisonga and Nafsi Moja–which he says is central to his purpose in music – winning souls.

Bio

Let’s dive into a quick factsheet on Timam Evans:

Timam Evans is Kenyan, though he bears a South African heritage through his mother who is Xhosa, while his father is Kenyan.

The artist grew up in Kenya, at Nairobi’s Buruburu, then his family moved Nanyuki, where he spent most of his childhood. After Nanyuki was Nakuru, before Timam finally relocated to Nairobi as an adult.

Marriage

Timam is married to Nyambura, whom he met at their church, Jubilee Christian Church (JCC) Thika Road. The two had sat next to each other four times in church without exhchanging a word, and so on the fourth time, Timam was moved to speak to her. And thus began their journey. They would go out on dates, pray and fast together, and bond. Timam proposed to Nyambura at around May 2017, and they wedded in December 2017.

Nyambura runs a women’s ministry, The Hayil Woman, aimed at making Christ known and healing the woman.

Musical profile

Besides singing lead vocals, Timam also plays the acoustic guitar, though rarely on set – mostly on social media posts.

Journey into music

Like many artists, Timam Evans developed a passion for music and rap at a young age. He would play beats on a table, while recording on a casette player – the good old days.

In high school, at Nyahururu High, Timam took part in music duels, and excelled so much that it was thought he would break out as a celebrity artist right after high school. But things hardly come that easy, do they? There’s always a story of moulding and becoming for every artist – a journey into music.

Timam’s journey was a season of grooming, one that involved falling away into a sinful life, but eventually returning to the faith with a burden for souls dwelling in sin like he once did.

Timam Evans is a pastor’s kid. His parents are involved in active ministry, with his father serving as a Pastor at a prayer ministry, The Lord’s Army, in Nakuru. But despite being raised in a strong religious background, the artist strayed away into ungodliness, caught up in a crisis of identity that often plagues those born to and raised by the clergy.

Born into heightened piety, most PKs are presented with a set way of life, but looking on the outside, a different life exists, one that is loose and visibly attractive. Who in their young and wild days doesn’t want to try an alternative life? Well that was certainly not a young Timam.

His falling away began while he was still tender in high school, at Form 1, influenced by his music cronies. Being passionate for music, Timam Evans would team up with other students for rap battles, beatbox, freestyle and jam sessions. By this association, he developed an admiration for the lifestyle he saw in his mates.

He was already acing the rap battles, and getting along well with the girls, as would be expected of a rap king. To him, this kinda life was more appealing than the seemingly dull Christian way of life, and so he went for it. Timam did not however abandon the faith, but remained caught up in between faith and wordliness.

Timam attests that his dad once led him through the sinner’s prayer while he was freshly joining high school. Despite this, he turned out rebellious, living a life contrary to the faith. But even then, all the counsel, discipline, and teachings of his parents stayed on and helped him correct course when the time was right.

Many times naonanga preachers’ kids wanakujanga wanaharibika cos they were not given that liberty to be probably children and make their own decisions. Though its a very good thing kufunza mtoi wako, “Niaje, this is the way.” Sababu even when I deviated from the way, it is those things that I was taught when I was young ndio zilinirudisha mahali nilifaa kuwa.

Timam Evans opines on why Pastors’ Kids (PKs) wander off into ungodly lives, while on an interview with Purpose Prodigy on YouTube

Just after high school, while transiting to campus, Timam Evans landed a gig as a radio presenter on a reggae show. During this time, he indulged into the misdeeds of the reggae subculture — veve (abuse of khat), drunkenness, promiscuity, name it all.

The passion for music was still alive, driving him to venture into contemporary music. He would record in several studios, at no charges, being a people person, but wind up every time with poor quality tracks.

After campus, Timam ventured into business. He once run a sausage stall in Umoja, sold mtumba wear, and also got a contract from a government agency. He eventually settled into the computer business, repairing and selling laptops.

The lifestyle of debauchery went on, but all along, Timam knew deep down that he didn’t belong to a life of ungodliness. After nights spent in indulgence, he would wake up with such strong convictions amid hangovers. He battled with this distinct emptiness that couldn’t be filled by alcohol. The reprief he got from drinking was only but short-lived, but the emptiness lingered on. Timam says this is a feeling most revellers get, knowing deep down they do not belong to the loose life.

We try to find joy in women. We try to find joy in men. We try to find joy in alcohol. We’ve tried to find joy in things sherehe, but all those joys, they are short-lived happiness.

Timam Evans while on an interview with Purpose Prodigy on YouTube

Looking back at his lowly life detour, Timam says that God allowed him to wander off because he would later minister to the people caught up in that lifestyle. Being familiar to it, he is now in a better position to level down and reach out to them.

Someday in 2015, change knocked on Timam’s door, and he resolved to come back to the faith, a process that was marked by many slips and rises – the change was sure but gradual. Timam was very desirous and hungry for God, which helped him rise after every slip. It was during these slips that he says street worship was born, as he heartily prayed to God.

Nilikuwa natextiwa labda na mdem hivi, nachukua tu phone naambia God, “Maze God, ametuma text, na anadai kukam, na me unanijua God si ati haunijui, akikam si ati ni story mingi mingi. Unanijua kabisa, so We fanya hivi, cheza tu kama Wewe.”

Timam Evans speaks on his candid prayers to God in Sheng, while on an interview with Purpose Prodigy on YouTube

Did it work? Yes it did! God slowly distanced Timam from the influence of his former life’s company, while giving him the strength to say no and to testify to the change in his life. He grew such a skin as to turn down liquor when friends showed up for drinks at his own house. With time, Timam withdrew and focused on growing his faith. Some of the friends would still reach out to him, asking if he was praying for them.

Key to his transformation was a heavy commitment to serving in church. Timam immersed himself into any church activity he could find, in an effort to keep himself occupied, leaving no room for idle thoughts, and to renew his mind by virtue of interacting with scripture and surrounding himself with believers.

True to the saving grace, Timam’s transformation bore fruit. He was freed from addictions and given a new life.

Discography

Debut and going viral

Timam Evans debuted with several gospel music releases in 2015, including:

• Nishatulia – done in collaboration with 11 other artists, released August 2015
• Mbarikiwa – this was done on September 2015, in collaboration with Zae De Kim, one of the artists on Nishatulia

On Valentine’s day of 2017, Timam got back with the song Wife Material. It is uncertain whether he and Nyambura had met yet.

Kamagera, released in 2019 was a hit, reflecting on the soul’s longing for God. Timam drew inspiration from turnboys who often have to wait for matatus, while marshalling passengers at the stage, only but for a meagre token. This was the one song with a strong Sheng reference.

Four years later, Timam released his arguably big break, Nafsi Moja, in February 2021 which largely put him on the map. The song carried a peculiar burden than most, to reach to only one soul.

Washa Nare was released three months later in May 2021. At the time of its writing, Timam felt that his drive for things faith was running low. Washa Nare was a prayer for God to rekindle the burning passion he had.

Collaborations

Timam has collaborated with several artists including:

• Moji Shortbaba
• Mercy Masika
• Gituamba – his friend and producer on multiple songs
• Liz Korir who also features on Karura Voices
• Manolo ME
• JCC Thika Road Worship

Full discography

Mission in music

As the song “Nafsi Moja” goes, so does Timam’s desire and purpose in music – ministering to the one lost soul. This is the only expectation he carries for his music, not to earn wealth, nor fame, but to minister.

For this mission, Timam invested in a home studio, where he records his music. He often works on his songs with friends who are now seasoned musicians, including Gituamba the producer.

Awards and Recognitions

As at the time of publishing, Timam is yet to receive an award for his music. But all in all, the artist finds his motivation in ministering to souls, with little care for fame. Well, isn’t he a blessing?

[Cover image credits: Facebook/Timam Evans]