The Beat That Saved a Life: Stanley Mwendwa’s Rise as Stanje Through Music, Culture, and Courage
From nursing school dropout to community icon, the story of how one Kenyan student used music to rise, inspire, and lead in Australia.
A New Land, A New Dream
When Stanley Mwendwa first arrived in Australia in November 2014, he carried the same aspirations shared by many international students: to study, succeed, and secure a better future. He enrolled at EQUAL International College in Adelaide to pursue a diploma in Enrolled Nursing (EN), a career path he believed would provide stability and purpose.
But fate had a different plan.
Just three months shy of completing his course, Stanley began a clinical placement. What should have been a career milestone turned into a moment of reckoning. “It hit me hard,” he recalls. “This isn’t the life I wanted. Nursing wasn’t my passion.”
During a routine coffee break, Stanley made a bold decision—he walked away from the facility and never returned. That choice marked the end of his nursing studies, the beginning of uncertainty, and, ultimately, the birth of his true calling.
source @Stanje
Hitting Rock Bottom, Rising With Rhythm
Without a nursing qualification or backup plan, Stanley faced immigration complications, financial instability, and emotional distress. Jobs were hard to come by, and the stress of survival in a foreign country became overwhelming.
But instead of turning to despair, Stanley turned inward. He found solace in music and creative expression. “Music became my therapy, my rescue,” he says. “I knew I had talent—I just needed the courage to follow it.”
He appealed to immigration and was granted a 28-day grace period to enroll in a new course. Against the odds, he secured a place at Sheffield College to study Automotive Electrics and Electronics. While studying, he discovered the South Australian Governor’s International Student Awards. He entered, representing his school through creative arts—and made history.
Not only did he place second, but he also became the first student from Sheffield to earn that recognition. Invited to the Governor’s residence and praised by the school’s director, Stanley was awarded a full year’s tuition. He completed the course and eventually transitioned into a Mechanical Engineering degree.
“I’ve been at the edge. But music pulled me back. It gave me a voice, a purpose, and a way to heal—not just myself, but others. Even in a foreign land, you can rise.”
Finding His Voice, Empowering Others
In 2016, Stanley released Heaven or Hell, a powerful song that resonated across the Kenyan-Australian youth community. It became more than just music—it became a mirror of shared struggles and silent battles.
The song’s impact led to Stanley’s election as Student and Youth Representative for the Kenyan Association of South Australia (KASA). He emerged as a bridge between generations—connecting older Kenyans who had migrated on skilled visas with younger international students facing a vastly different experience.
“My lyrics were real,” he shares. “They talked about pain, pressure, fear, even deportation. People listened, and they opened up. That connection changed everything.”
His music opened the door to honest conversations about mental health, identity, and belonging—topics often unspoken within the diaspora. Through his platform, Stanley became a mentor and role model, proving that art can be both healing and revolutionary.
A Cultural Visionary and Community Builder
Stanley didn’t stop at personal success. He co-founded AC5, a multicultural music group made up of four African artists—including a refugee. Their mission was to celebrate diversity, creativity, and cultural pride. The project secured a $20,000 CARCLEW grant through MUSIC SA and resulted in an 8-track EP showcasing South Australia’s culture and vibrancy.
His influence caught the attention of Victoria Lewis, founder of Sanaa Festival. As a founding member and organizer, Stanley traveled to Kenya to scout talented graffiti artists. Their work would later transform Adelaide’s streets, turning dull city walls into bold, cultural masterpieces.
The Sanaa Festival earned the Best Event award at the Adelaide Fringe and strengthened Kenya-Australia relations, drawing high-profile attendees including the Kenyan Ambassador, South Australia’s Premier, and other government officials.
Bringing Kenya to Australia, and Africa to the World
With a growing understanding of the music business, Stanley began organizing Australian tours for major Kenyan artists such as Octopizzo, Nyashinski, Otile Brown, and Bensoul. His songwriting has led to collaborations across Africa, further cementing his role as both a cultural ambassador and creative force.
Today, as Stanje—also known as Blood of Kings—Stanley Mwendwa continues to break barriers, inspire youth, and uplift communities through music, mentorship, and cultural expression.
“I’ve been at the edge,” he says. “But my story shows that even in a foreign land, you can rise. You can heal. You can lead.”
Kenyans in Australia Spotlight
Stanley’s journey is not just his own—it’s a reflection of resilience shared by many in the Kenyan diaspora. His story reminds us that success isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it’s the detours that lead us to purpose.
We celebrate Stanley not only for his talent, but for his courage to be authentic, to create change, and to raise the Kenyan flag high in Australia
