Iyanii Shares Heartwarming Moment as Mother Reacts to His New Song Hallelujah

Iyanii has shared a heartwarming moment with his mother after playing her his latest single, Hallelujah, during a casual car ride.

The musician captured the touching interaction on video and shared it across his social media platforms, giving fans a glimpse into the personal support he receives from his mother.

In the clip, Iyanii’s mother sits in the passenger seat as the song plays through the car speakers. She listens attentively before offering her immediate reaction to the track.

“Morning errands with my favorite human. Had to play this prayer for my mother, and seeing how much she loved it made my heart so full. Mom’s reaction after I played for her Hallelujah was priceless,” Iyanii wrote.

Iyanii’s mother gives her verdict

As the song played, Iyanii’s mother quickly expressed her approval.

“Haleluya,” she said.

She then described the song as impressive, saying:

“Aha ni smart.”

When Iyanii asked how she felt about the track, she repeated her praise.

“Ni smart.”

She went on to comment on the song’s musical structure, highlighting elements that she felt gave it a strong hold.

“Hiyo ni poa,” she remarked.

She added:

“Eh hizo vitu yaani ya kushikisha hiyo… ya kushikisha hiyo wimbo asante baba.”

The proud mother also had suggestions for the upcoming music video, recommending dancers she felt would complement the song.

“Na wakudanzia wale wazuri, wale wapoa,” she advised.

Iyanii responded positively to the suggestion.

“Nitaweka,” he said.

A song about God’s faithfulness

Hallelujah blends a rich African sound with Iyanii’s soulful vocals, creating a track centred on faith and gratitude.

The song was written by Iyanii and produced by Waka Waka, with co-production from Igamba Mbiu and Jack Kenty.

Its instrumentation features live percussion and the traditional Orutu, played by George Kenge, alongside guitar work by Kenty. Backing vocals were provided by Sini Shana and Official Sai.

The song celebrates God’s faithfulness through different seasons of life, carrying a message that there is always a reason to remain grateful regardless of the circumstances.

The accompanying music video was filmed across several locations in Kenya, including Garissa, Mwingi, Nairobi, Limuru, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Ahero.

The visuals also feature performances by the Kochia Dancers, further incorporating Kenyan cultural elements into the project.

From Mathare to the national music scene

Iyanii, whose real name is Ian Okwemba Oure, grew up in Nairobi’s Mathare informal settlement after moving from Western Kenya.

He attended Hobunaka High School in Vihiga County, where he attained a B+ in his KCSE examinations, before pursuing communication studies at Daystar University.

His major breakthrough came in 2021 with the viral single Pombe, which helped establish him as one of Kenya’s emerging music stars.

He followed it with songs including Furaha, Donjo Maber and Kifo Cha Mende, further expanding his audience and musical catalogue.

Beyond music, Iyanii has also used his platform to support prison welfare initiatives. He previously pledged 20 per cent of his music earnings to prison welfare programmes and, in October 2025, held a free concert for inmates at Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi.