Bony Onyango has been making a buzz on Australian Idol 2025 from the moment he stepped into the auditions. His live autotune rendition of Girls by The Kid LAROI left the judges divided.
While he didn’t secure a Golden Ticket straight away, judge Kyle Sandilands saw his potential and brought him back, giving him a second chance in the Top 30… or, Top 31.
Now, Bony is in the Top 10, proving he’s got something special.
What’s the story behind the 25-year-old? Here’s everything we know about Australian Idol’s Bony.
Australian Idol’s Bony grew up in a refugee camp
Bony’s journey to the Australian Idol stage started from very humble beginnings. Originally from Kenya, he spent the first six years of his life in a refugee camp before moving to Brisbane.
“I grew up in Kenya — in a refugee camp there — up until I was six years old,” Bony revealed during his audition.
“Mama would have to walk kilometres, sometimes with me on her back, just to get water. So part of what I’m doing is somewhat of an inspiration for Mum.” How sweet is that?
He works as a traffic controller by day
By day, Bony is out on the roads, directing traffic. But even then, he’s never too far from his true calling.
“As a traffic controller, I work long days, but I sing all the time. For real, I’m always, constantly singing.”
Bony sees every shift as an opportunity to practice.
“It’s a good way to rehearse. Like why not? Even if you sound bad, you’ll eventually sound good… hopefully!” he joked.
He’s already released a single
If you need more proof that Bony vocal chops are the real deal, check out his EP It Is What It Is, which dropped in December 2024.
And for those still doubting, he even gave fans an a cappella performance on TikTok — no autotune in sight!
@igobythenamebony Acapella from my EP – it is what it is #brisbane #australia #bony ♬ original sound – Bony
He’s come this far. Can Bony take it all the way to the finish line on Australian Idol? We’ll have to wait and see!
