How I knew I had made it in show business

Showbiz is a tough industry. By the time someone makes it, they usually have been through hell and high water. On average, it takes between five and 10 years of continuous heartbreaking and gruelling work to break even in the entertainment business. Of course there are those who strike gold on the first round, but majority have to stick it out in often horrible conditions. The hustle sometimes gets so tough that some celebrities get used to the grind and never even realise when they have made it. For many artistes, fame, even fortune, comes as a surprise; a light that is so far into the tunnel that they do not see it coming. Boniface Nyaga spoke to a few top celebs who shared their aha-moments.

NAMELESS

He is a timeless icon, appealing to multiple generations with his unique vibe. Countless covers of his songs have been done often by singers who were probably toddlers when the originals were sung. Through the years, he has weathered the storms, commanding both the airwaves and concert stages. He says:

“I started out in 1997 but it wasn’t until I scored a recording deal with Tedd Josiah in 1999 that things picked up for me. My ‘aha’ moment came in 2002 when I was on my first Ugandan tour, and guys were really appreciating my music. It was such a shock to see people from another country show me so much love. For me, success is connecting with the fans. I love creating, but it feels even better when my creation makes a difference in people’s lives. What is really touching me now is meeting my grown up fans with their seven-year-old kids who want to take a selfie with me.”

DADDY OWEN

With accolades a mile long, Daddy Owen has had a very successful career. His music has broken barriers both geographic and ideological. He was one of the first Kenyan gospel artistes to go mainstream and becoming a regional pioneer representing Kenya in the African music space. But his journey to the top was a tale of persistence in the face of impossible challenges. The mere fact that he never gave up after releasing two mildly successful albums is a testament to his tenacity.

“Music started to make sense after Kapungala, which was my turn around after about five years of hustling. I did my first album in 2004 and followed that up with another one in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2009 when things really started to look up. Someone called me and told me he heard my song Kapungala playing in a club, that was when I knew things had changed. There is really no formula to a hit song; I think I just have God’s favour. Most of my hit songs have come as a total surprise even to me. I usually know one of them will be a hit, I just never know which one,” he says.

MERCY MASIKA

If ever there was a story of long suffering then Mercy Masika would score the lead role. After nearly 20 years of obscurity and mild success, she finally burst into the music scene about two years ago. Like many of her songs, her break out hit Mwema took about six months to kick into full gear. Since mid last year the soft spoken celebrity has permeated the Kenyan cultural space that Presidents, bishops and CEO’s alike consider her a must have at their events. Masika says:

“It wasn’t until I went to the supermarket and I couldn’t shop that I realised I had made it. Before all this, only my friends and family knew me, but now people say ‘hi’ and others stop me to ask if I am Mercy Masika’s sister. Others stare and point at me while arguing in harsh tones if it is really me or not. Then there are those who look at me curiously, as they try to figure out where they know me from; let us just say I have been declared a former deskmate more times than I can count. Another indicator was when celebrities and other prominent government officials started following me on social media. However all good things come from God. It’s been a long journey but I thank God for this far he has brought me. I am not where I want to be, but I am not where I used to be either.”

ERIC OMONDI

The rib cracker made his name on Churchill Show, and for him headlining the show was a major achievement. However, it wasn’t until the television audience started laughing at his jokes that he realised things had truly changed. It’s easy to work up a live audience that has already been raved up by opening acts, but it takes a whole lot more to get giggles out of a home audience. Soon after, people started to recognise his face on the streets and before long he was a household name.

“Comedy is a big part of who I am, asking me to stop is like asking Raila to quit politics. This journey began a long time ago when I was in Standard four cracking jokes in class, but it wasn’t until high school that I took my comedy to the stage. It took me 11 years to make it professionally, passion is what kept me going all these years. These days comedians want to meet me or Churchill in a day and make it by the end of the week,” says Omondi.

DJ JOE MFALME

One of the most hardworking deejays in showbiz, DJ Joe Mfalme is living the dream with a solid social media presence and a packed performance schedule. The highlight of his career was joining the Capital FM team, he describes it as a “Form One” experience; he was green, with so much to learn. Playing beside deejays he had grown up listening to and watching on television was a dream come true.

“You never really get to a point that you feel you have made it, there’s always something to improve. When I joined Capital I was still green, but the veterans like Adrian encouraged me and showed me the ropes. People always ask me how I made it and to tell you the truth I have absolutely no clue. To be honest I am afraid I will wake up one day and realise it was a dream: maybe that is why I work so hard,” he says.

KHALIGRAPH

He is known as one of Kenya’s biggest rappers, but his former colleagues know him as OG Jones the club bouncer. From standing at club doors to performing in concerts, Khaligraph has come full circle. The shift came after the 2012 club banger ‘We be happening’ with Kristoff came out and all of a sudden he had a recognisable face.

“I knew I had to quit my bouncer gig when people started to recognise me at the gate. At that time I had been a bouncer for quite a while, starting out at club Reminisce in Lang’ata near Wilson airport, and then I moved to Skylux Lounge when it first opened. “By the time I quit to focus on music I had been all over town. You know sometimes things look like  things look like they have stagnated, but its all part of God’s plan you have to keep pushing.”