From high school dropout to illusionist: Brian Kiprotich’s magical journey
Brian Kiprotich, better known as Ray the Magician, has defied the odds and turned his life around from a difficult upbringing marked by dropping out of school to becoming an aspiring magician with dreams of making a mark not only in Kenya but across Africa.
In an exclusive interview with Nairobi News, the 22-year-old illusionist revealed that his decision to drop out of school in Form Three was prompted by his mother’s financial struggles after his parents separated.
Kiprotich, the eldest sibling, witnessed his mother doing menial jobs like washing neighbours’ houses and clothes to put food on the table.
“I have never been afraid to say that I never finished school. My mother and father separated and we decided to live with our mother who struggled to put food on the table,” he said.
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Kiprotich recalled the difficult times when his mother would come home late and exhausted, often falling ill. Driven by a desire to ease her burden, he made the difficult decision to quit school and join the workforce.
“One day I just sat down with her and told her that I was going to stop going to school and start working and helping her financially,” he explained.
After some initial hesitation, Kiprotich’s determination prevailed, and his mother reluctantly agreed.
Despite the challenges, he expressed his commitment to return to school to complete his secondary education now that their circumstances have improved.
The difficulties of his parent’s separation and the need to work from an early age took a toll on Kiprotich’s mental health and led him down a path of substance abuse through peer pressure.
“I was always drunk and on drugs, but I made sure that my mother did not know about it. Little did I know that I was making my mental state even worse,” he confessed.
A turning point came in 2016, however, when Kiprotich stumbled upon a magician performing on television.
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Intrigued and inspired, he decided to embark on a journey into the world of magic, reading extensively to understand and practice the art.
“With time, things started to work and I started performing some magic gestures on my own,” he said.
Kiprotich surprised his mother with his newfound talent, which initially left her in shock and prompted her to pray for him, sceptical about the link between magic and witchcraft.
In addition to magic, Kiprotich dabbles in photography and painting to support himself financially.
When asked about his future aspirations, he confidently declared: “In the next five years, I will be a celebrated magician not only in Kenya but in Africa as a whole.”
Brian Kiprotich’s story is a testament to the resilience and the transformative power of pursuing one’s passion against all odds.