The challenges Kenyan musician Jaguar faced in South Africa while shooting video

"Call me Casanova, am coming over in my Rover, they're watching over, things flowing over before the party is over," Jaguar, the flashy Kenyan celebrity rhymes in his new video, in which he features South Africa's Mafikizolo.

Released a few days ago, Going Nowhere is well timed after Diamond released Colours of Africa that, too, features Mafikizolo in an unending East Africa supremacy battle between the two regional music kings.

Yet, the untold story surrounding the South Africa-filmed Sh6 million video is an unsettling one.

When Jaguar and his Mainswitch Production team flew into South Africa to shoot the video, little did they know the challenges that would face them. While at the airport, Jaguar's crew was questioned for hours by security officers as to why they were in possession of so much foreign currency, money that was meant to meet their expenses in South Africa.

"We were grilled for hours and were only released after they realised that Jaguar is a very popular artiste across Africa. It was then that they offered us full security escort all the way to the hotel. This is because of the insecurity issues there that saw Nigerian star Davido lose Sh18 million to robbers late last year," one of Jaguar's point men told Pulse.

And that was not all, during the video shoot, Jaguar lost Sh200,000 to unknown people who posed as security officers. The Sh200,000 was part of a huge stash that is seen in the video, cash that was being flaunted during a club scene.

"I don't really want to talk about that now but whoever has told you that is not too far from the truth. A lot happened in South Africa during the Going Nowhere shoot and I am glad, the video is worth the challenges," Jaguar told Pulse this week.

Going Nowhere, a video directed by renowned producer God Father is a club song done in English, Swahili and Zulu and comes with a catchy Kwaito beat, energetic dance scenes and awesome party energy.

The singing duo of Mafikizolo, made up of Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza, join Jaguar in the fun as they sing in Swahili in this song that is viewed as a new height for Jaguar who has been in the game for over a decade.

Beyond his flashy gold chains, millions in investments and acts of philanthropy alongside an illustrious music career that saw him become Kenya's biggest artistes before claiming continental stardom, there is the story of Charles Njagua Kanyi – for that is his real name.

It is one that narrates the awe-inspiring story of his humble upbringing, childhood days that were at times gloomy and hopeless. Today, he has not only captured the imagination of thousands of his fans but also caused jitters among the political class with his political ambition to become a Nairobi City boss.

"I was born into a very poor family and we were the laughing stock of the village. We hardly had two meals a day and attending primary school was a challenge as our feet were jigger-infested. I suffered and

I don't like seeing people going through what I did. Now, I live for others," Jaguar narrates adding that all what he wants now is assist other talented youngsters rise up.

Back then, Jaguar's mother had separated with his father when he was still a toddler and left with the burden of raising him and his siblings; an elder sister and a brother, she was forced to rent a one-roomed house in Kawangware. And then, at the age of 11, the worst happened. Jaguar's mother passed on. Jaguar and his siblings were left destitute. Only hope kept them alive.

"That is how I dropped out of school in Class Eight at Musa Gitau Primary School and when I later went back, the school declined re-admitting me as they said I could not speak in English. I then started hustling, doing odd jobs like fetching water for residents and hawking whatever I could get. One year later, my auntie rescued me from these odd street jobs and got me back to school in Magutuini Primary School then Gitugi. I was moving from one school to another as my auntie under whose care I was in kept getting transferred.

"All through, I was forced to repeat classes but I am glad that it ended well as I emerged the best student in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). That is how I ended up joining Senior Chief Koinange Secondary School," he remarks.

"So at what point did you get into drugs," we quip.

"As I have said, growing up posed so many challenges to me and that forced me to look for alternative means to make ends meet. While still at school, I started operating as a matatu tout so that I could make some cash to help pay for my school fees," the singer notes.

Jaguar says hardships that he encountered while growing up helped shape his life and made him the philanthropic man he is known to be.