Akothee’s Planned Move Abroad Set to Inspire the Kenyan Diaspora
Kenyan singer and entrepreneur Esther Akoth, known professionally as Akothee, will launch her memoir Turn Your Pain Into Purpose on 11 April 2026 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi.
The event will also mark her birthday and serve as a farewell gathering before she relocates permanently to France. The memoir chronicles Akothee’s journey from modest beginnings to international recognition. It combines personal reflections on challenges she has faced with insights on resilience.
Beyond recounting her own experiences, the book explores how individuals can transform adversity into opportunity. Akothee’s relocation to France places her among an estimated 30,000 Kenyan nationals living primarily in Paris and Lyon.
This community consists of students, professionals, and entrepreneurs who have sought opportunities in a country known for its academic and artistic institutions. More broadly, France’s African diaspora plays a significant role in shaping cultural life through music, fashion, and the arts.
Paris, in particular, has been a platform for African and Afro-descendant artists, including Fally Ipupa, Aya Nakamura, and Yseult. African music and fashion have become influential in France, supported by the country’s history of hosting Black expatriate artists and writers.
