If you want to be a successful artiste in Kenya, Jua Kali has revealed the secret way guaranteed to get you there.
Rising Kenyan artistes know that the journey to the top is not easy and they’re forced to settle for less a lot of the time. Landing gigs that actually pay is something many of them admit to being hard.
From the most famous to the underground artistes, many have fallen victim to conmen at one point or another of their career.
One such artiste is veteran rapper Jua Cali, who recently recalled how a promoter swindled him of his hard earned cash in Busia.
The Genge King was responding to Willy M. Tuva on whether he has ever reached a point of giving up on music. Jua Cali said he has never but the incident in Busia dealt him a painful blow.
“Nilikua nimeenda show Busia… unajua iko kwa border. Kabla ya show ikakua lazima umaliziwe deposit, kama kawaida. Ikawa huyo jamaa yuko zile za “pigeni show buda hakuna noma. Club imejaa tulia, maliza show ntakulipa usiogope”. Tukapiga show,” said Jua Cali.
After performing, the promoter told Jua Cali to get some rest as he collects entry fees.
“Baada ya show Jamaa akakua sasa “unajua mlango bado watu wanaingia. Ni mahesabu sasa. Nyinyi endeni tu mulale. Nitakuja kukuamsha nikupatie pesa yako.” Tukasema ni sawa haina noma club ilikua imejaa.”
Agreeing to sleep proved to be Jua Cali’s greatest undoing; the promoter used the opportunity to flee to Uganda.
“Msee, niliamka asubuhi jamaa hakuja kuniamsha. Najaribu kumpigia simu ni ‘mteja wa nambari hapatikani kwa sasa’. Kumbe alienda Uganda. Alitoroka hio asubuhi na pesa,”recalled Jua cali, further adding, “Sasa ikabidi mdosi wa club aka amka. Ata aliamshwa na masimu akiambiwa wale wasanii wako bado wako hapa hawajalipwa.”
Although the club owner could not pay Jua Cali his fees, the best he could do was provide him with bus fare back to Nairobi.
“Akakuja kwa club akasema, “bahati mbaya contract haikuwa between yeye na promoter. Lakini mimi ile kitu nitafanya nitawapatia bus fare ya Eldoret Express murudi Nairobi.”
Jua Cali said the incident taught him a valuable lesson in the music business. “Hii ni biashara. Hakikisha tu jamaa amekulipa kabla upande stage kwa sababu uko hapo already. Jamaa tu akupe pesa yako,” he conluded.