Musician Jaguar rules Africa!

Forget the current rise of the bands, this year in East Africa, the battle for music supremacy has been between Kenya's Jaguar, Tanzania’s Diamond and Chameleone from Uganda, a three horse race that has the celebrated acts racing for continental dominion.

You will be mistaken to think that the three, and more specifically Diamond and Jaguar are still fighting over East African fans. Their cold war has moved to West Africa and the South, the new virgin ground where music fans are now accepting the East African tune.

Mid this year, Diamond reached out to Nigeria’s Davido to record the Number One Remix. Jaguar had, at the same time, left for South Africa to shoot his One Centimetre video, that was seen as a counter to the success of Number One, as well as Bandilisha, a Jose Chameleone track.

Last week, Diamond released a new video following Jose Chameleone’s Wale Wale and on Monday, Jaguar pulled a shocker, his new One Centimetre video featuring Iyanya, which could turn out to be the biggest video as the showbiz year hits its peak.

“I feel that it is now time for me to show Africa that we have the best music talent. My new One Centimetre video, which features Iyanya is a border breaker and an answer to demands from my fans across the continent who have been asking me to release a song that cuts across. The plane has taken off," Jaguar said.

Jaguar, who is also enjoying Deputy President William Ruto's endorsement after he publicly said he enjoys his music, says he did not pay Iyanya as many believe.

"I did not pay anything for this collabo. Absolutely nothing. Iyanya, just like Jamaica's Alaine really wanted to do the collabo. So we simply discussed things out and agreed to work together," Jaguar says.

"I have crossed the border and all I can say is Africa, watch this space,” said Jaguar, the flashy  philanthropic star whose major breakthrough came in 2010 after his Nimetoka Mbali hit, featuring Tanzania’s AY. Since then, the multiple award-winning celeb has released Nikuskize, Matapeli, Kigeugeu, Kipepeo, Kioo and One Centimetre to a mass appeal from across the region.

“As a musician, I am not wasting time thinking what Diamond or Chameleone or...any other big artiste will release. I am focused on my thing. All I care about is how my fans take my music. After all, I do it for them,” Jaguar says, playing down the competition that has seen his demand rise to new heights.

The story is told about how Jaguar started off from a humble background after his mother, then his only guardian, passed on when he was eleven. He was forced to take odd jobs to earn a living; working as a matatu tout to get a little cash to help him through school.

He recorded his debut single Utaweza Kweli, in 2004, followed by Furaha, both recorded at Mandugu Digital. He then moved to East Africa’s music power house Ogopa Deejays, in 2005, and it is here where he released tracks such as Fanya Mambo, Nikuskize, Unaniwasha and Nimetoka Mbali (featuring Tanzanian rapper AY), the song that earned him regional fame after years of consistent attempts to assert his authority on the local music scene.

“What most artistes, especially those upcoming ones, fail to understand is that success does not come overnight. What I am enjoying now are fruits of 14 years toiling in the industry. You just have to be patient, find your own sound, build a fun base and an image before the big money comes. And even after the money comes, you must learn how to keep your head above the water,” says Jaguar, who is now using his showbiz money to invest in real estate.

So does all his big cash come from music?

“I have heard people say all sorts of things about where my money comes from. Some say politicians sponsor me besides many other assumptions. But anyone who knows how far I come from can tell you how my coins have turned into millions over time.

I am a self-made hard working millionaire. And now, I am giving back to the society through charity projects as I know what it means to be in need,” he explains.

“Many politicians are my friends and I now walk in the corridors of power. I am a businessman so when I sit at round tables with the high and mighty, the likes of Nairobi Senator Gideon Mbuvi aka Sonko and the Deputy President William Ruto, I am discussing business. Politicians are not made to give us handouts, they are supposed to share in our ideas and partner in making them become a reality,” he quips.

Thanks to his close association with Sonko and his charity projects in Nairobi slums, many have been speculating that Jaguar is being groomed for politics.

“Let’s just say we will cross that bridge when we get there. Besides music, as a role model to the youth, all I want to see is the less privileged ambitious youth in our society live their dreams. That is why I called those in crime to surrender their guns and get funded for better living. That is better, better than politics,” he says.

photo:mpasho.co.ke