Peter Msechu was born in the Kigoma district of northern Tanzania, near the Burundi border, in 1988. When he was 10, his father took him to join the Kigoma Lutheran Church Choir, where his father was the teacher. In 2009, Peter's abilities were highlighted nationally in Bongo Star Search (BSS), a weekly TV talent competition.
He encountered numerous problems because his experience was restricted to choir singing, but his fellow contenders sang in a variety of popular styles. Msechu gained confidence after delivering his own first composition and receiving criticism from the judges (Madam Rita, Salama Jabir, P Funk, and Master J).