From Vioja Mahakamani to Daktari March 2018 | Page 15

Riziki
Ambrose:
I quit college to chase my acting dream
B y F rancis M uli
At the age of 24, she is riding the crest of fame, rubbing shoulders with
big names in the Kenyan film industry. However, Riziki Ambrose’s rise to
stardom was not smooth sailing, as she pursued her acting dream against
her father’s wish.
All her life she has not known any other career, apart from acting. Her
passion grew from her high school days, where she participated in music
and drama festivals. This is what sparked her acting passion, as she
discovered the hidden talent in her.
She had chosen a path filled with obstacles. It would not be a walk in
the park, as it would seem, but a bladed jaunt. Her father would not
hear of it. He believed that acting is a hobby that should never be taken
seriously. According to him, it should never be thought, let alone taken,
as a career path.
“My dad did not believe that I could make a career out of acting,” she
chuckles.
Being in school presented an opportunity for her to enjoy acting without
the watch of her father’s strict eye. This lasted her three years. She
finished school before turning 18; hence, her father saw it fit for her to
wait until she attained maturity age to join campus. However, her thirst
for acting was burning her soul. She decided to quench it.
Her father worked in Nakuru and their family lived in Nairobi. This
presented her another opportunity to act behind her father’s back, with
the help of her mother. She would stage high school set books with her
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