Educated celebrities

As candidates sit their Kenya Secondary School Examination, Pulse underscores the need for a new breed of educated celebs. In todays fickle entertainment industry, the need for a solid education has never been more significant, writes Stevens MuendoNamelessTwo years ago — this month — award winning teenage sensation Mohammed Abdulkarim aka C’Zars, mysteriously disappeared days before sitting his final high school exams, never to be seen again.As a child star, C’Zars had sprung to fame through his hit singles Amka Ukatike, Jump Around and Wika Wika and was believed to be the next big thing before his disappearance.It has been reported that C’Zars previously played truant to satisfy his love of music. His parents eventually transferred him to another school. C’ZarsIt was said that showbiz fame coupled with all the lavish life that comes with it caused C’Zars to give up on education. Those close to him claim that he wanted to quit and pursue a full-time singing career. So constantly did he and his parents differ on this issue that even teachers were called in to counsel the youngster. The fact that his career was blooming did not make things any easier.DNGIn a candid interview that I held with the singer one week before his dissappearance — C’zars accompanied by his father Abdulkarim Mohammed Makasi admitted that his school grades were not the best. He was, however, optimistic that he would excel in his KCSE exams. He had scored a D grade during his mock exams but that did not seem to undermine his determination of getting at least grade C, which was all he needed to book him a place in a Mass Communication college to pursue an electrical engineering career. Amidst many myths and theories about his disappearance, some critics still argue that the then 17-year-old singer was running away from the KCSE exams. And ever since, paparazzi have twice claimed that C’Zars has been hiding in Nairobi. The most recent being a claim of the star having been spotted in Eastleigh at the Sunrise Shopping Mall. Police have since been on a relentless search and his family is still calling for the public to assist — even offering a Sh50,000 cash award to whoever might have information about him. KenrazySo as this year’s KCSE exams kicked off this week, the disturbing memories of the lost C’Zars dog his father. He continues to maintain that his son wasn’t running away from exams as he had adequately prepared for the them.But C’Zars is not the only artiste who has been blinded by the flashy lights of showbiz. Tanzanian child star Mr Blue once vanished from school and found his way to Mombasa where he hid for a few months. It is apparently common practice for Bongo Flava singers, toditch school for showbiz and end up in the hands of the wealthy sugar mummies in Mombasa and Malindi. WahuIn fact, there is now a raging debate in the industry as to whether our artistes should pursue academic excellence alongside their music careers. A wide majority of artistes who would rather be found dead than being engaged in a lecture on calculus or anything that comes in the name of books. Interesting enough the few who have taken on the academic yoke are the same few who are now forming the cream of local showbiz. On a cold Tuesday early morning, Jomino Entertainment rapper Kenrazy of Ti-Chi and Rudia fame, is sitting in his lecture hall at JKUAT where he is pursuing a degree in Actuarial Science. Just like Kaya, his stable mate — who graduated with an engineering degree from Egerton some months ago — the newcomer has opted to follow the path charted by local showbiz pioneers and university graduates Nameless, Wahu and Amani by pursuing his studies in earnest.Kenrazy thinks it’s foolish for musicians to totally abandon education for singing noting that studies provide the much-needed knowledge — even — for a recording artiste."Days are gone when musicians were viewed as a bunch of hopeless people looking for cheap publicity after failing to succeed in class. At such an age and time, how can any artiste dream of making it big without going to school?," wonders Kenrazy."Besides, education opens up your mind. With the knowledge acquired, you start thinking outside the box and this gets reflected in the quality of your music as well as the way you package yourself as a singer," adds the first year student.Eric WainainaHaving launched his music career while he was barely in high school, Kenrazy admits that the temptation to quit school for the seemingly easy cash in music has easily swayed many artistes from their academic focus, many of who might regret when its too late."Why would one abandon their degree course just because they have a hit doing the rounds in the charts? Can’t you even see that the most successful artistes like Eric Wainaina, Nameless, Wahu and Amani had to endure campus life even as their fame spread?" poses the rapper.His parents had been opposed to his idea of becoming an artiste, until he assured them that he would not abandon his schoolwork."They advised me to pursue education saying that music could be a short lived career which might need professional back up 10 or 20 years down the line," explains Kenrazy. While multiple award winner Nameless, graduated with an Architectural degree from the University of Nairobi, his wife and co-singer Wahu recently completed a Masters in Mathematics to become one of the reputably educated celebs.Besides singing, the couple is pursuing other profitable ventures, which have everything to do with their professional skills."So much of what comes out of my music is borrowed from my academic knowledge. I would advice my colleagues in the industry to at least pursue a profession as it will always serve as an added advantage in their showbiz bargain," says Wahu — who remains the biggest female showbiz celeb in Kenya with her latest singles My Baby and Little Things, having become instant hits in East Africa."With this kind of qualifications, the industry players take your work a bit more seriously and more so, you have a wider perspective on how to market your music beyond the boundaries," she notes.Amani, yet another celebrated award-winning songstress had to hustle through campus. She used the money she made through shows and music CD sales to pay for part of her university fees.At one point, Amani admitted that she had differences with her mother who insisted that she had to pursue her degree course in Business Management at USIU, though the singer insisted that her life dream was to become an artiste."Well, besides music, I always wanted to pursue something extra. I first had to bring my degree home," says the singer."Now, this professional knowledge is paying dividends to my music career and I am glad that I made the right choice," she adds.Just like Nameless and Wahu, Amani was a big hit in her campus days with the Ninanoki single topping the music charts while she was a second year student."Back then, I had to forgo social life as I juggled, balancing my class work and showbiz life. It had to take a lot of sacrifice. Nothing good comes easy. Now, there is a huge difference between the way I used to view, package and manage Amani — the artiste," she adds.And just the other day Nazizi, the first lady of local rap graduated at USIU where fellow singer-cum-hype master DNG as well as BBA 3 Kenyan representative Sheila Kwamboka are pursuing their degree courses.Topping the list is dynamic singer-cum-activist Eric Wainaina, the Berklee College of Music graduate.The seasoned star who has gained international repute is counted among the few music icons to have graduated at the Boston-based music college with honours.After graduating with a degree in Music, majoring in songwriting and record engineering, Eric has generated a wide following from all over the world with thousands of fans enjoying his well-crafted tunes.With the chart success of his 2001 release Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo, a song that launched his crusade against rampant corruption in the country, Eric received international accolades and became of the most influential individuals in the country. It was the same year when Eric received the M-Net (South Africa) award for Favourite Male Vocalist and was one of the first Kenyans to receive an award for Best East African Artistes at the pan-African 7th Kora Awards the following year.However, besides this new wave of artistes pursuing professional excellence there is a great number of celebs who feel that their showbiz careers need no academic icing."It’s far much easier to work with artistes who are more academically enlightened regardless their field of speciality," says Steve aka Volts, the Jomino Entertainment producer, also a university graduate.And Lucas, the Ogopa CEO, echoes his remarks; "Artistes who give priority to education are likely to have a more stable and lasting music career that those who disregard the academic connection to celebrity hood."Adding to the list of the few educated celebs is KJ, Kajairo and Nyambane who formed their stand-up Redykyulass trio while they were still pursuing their degrees at Kenyatta University. Angela Ndambuki too, a former member of all-girls group Tatu wa sworn in as an advocate of the high court at the height of the group’s fame. And there is also the King of underground hip-hop Mwafrika whose years at Chiromo campus, University of Nairobi have helped to shape his showbiz career.In the same breath is Uganda’s dancehall king Bobi Wine who holds a Masters degree in Literature while veteran Lingala maestro Koffi Olomide holds a Masters degree in economics.

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