Big Money hustle

Jalang’o
From corporate gigs, campus parties to gala awards, trust comedian Jalang’o to be there; his day seems to have more than 24 hours.

Starting off as a fishmonger then a small-time comedian, ‘Jalas’ ventured into TV and radio and used his unique image to become one of the most sought-after MCs in the country.

He is still associated with Culture Spill Productions, an offshoot of the theatre powerhouse, Heartstrings Kenya, as well as a leading stand-up comedy company.

Jalang’o is the owner of Arena Media, a growing public relations firm — but citing personal reasons, he cannot disclose its (Arena) estimated value.
On an average weekend, he does three to four emceeing events worth Sh100,000 to Sh250,000 per show. As if that is not enough, the energetic comedian is featured in numerous adverts. According to sources, celebrity advertisements pay not less than a million shillings (so do the math).  

Jalang’o is rumoured to be building two houses on Magadi Road and he plans to give back to his Homa Bay hometown by building a deluxe resort.

Daddy Owen
When Dr Eddie produced System ya Kapungala, not many people liked the song. Daddy Owen was advised to ‘hide’ the song in the album. However, he released the single and a video.

System ya Kapungala catapulted Daddy Owen above every other artiste in Kenya, a culmination of his determination and hard work on display.

“I thank God for His generosity,” says Owen, who had sunk into hopelessness after leaving the streets where he led a thug life. His brother Rufftone, also a gospel artiste, helped him transform and since then, Daddy Owen has been hustling his way to success.

Right now, he is valued at about Sh30 million in cash and investments. This year alone, he signed a contract with a mobile phone service provider estimated at Sh7 million. The same telephone providers sponsored his Mbona Campaign at an estimated Sh4 million per outing. Recently, he won the Sh2 million Kisima Awards winner’s jackpot. With a performance fee averaging at Sh150,000 per show and estimating an average of two shows per weekend, Daddy Owen is one star laughing all the way to the bank.
 

“I don’t want to talk about money but I am happy with the way things are. I am not complaining,” the multiple-award winning gospel singer told Pulse on Wednesday.

He recently invested in land in Nairobi where he plans to put up a shopping mall.  Last weekend, the singer turned down Sh200,000 performance fee when he realised the event organisers were not out to do charity as promised. Previously, he has turned down offers from politicians to the value of Sh10 million saying he does not want anything to do with politics. Yes, the high and mighty contimue to seek audience with him.


Size 8
Size 8 is among a select few who see what they do as a job; she will wake up each morning to hustle for shows.  Whenever you call her, even on a Sunday morning, she will either be in a business meeting or in the studio.

“When my contract at Calif Records ended, I didn’t have a single shilling to my name. In fact, Pulse Editor Stevens Muendo who sent Sh5,000 to pay deposit for a video. I went to Jomino and they agreed to record Fire for me,” says Size 8.
Fidel Odinga paid for the video. A friend did the make-up and hair, for free. The accessories and clothes were rented. Former

Nairobi City Council town clerk Philip Kisia allowed her to use the fire station to shoot the video.
“They charge Sh21,000 per hour, but I got it for free. I am a product of people’s goodwill,” she says.

Last year, this beauty was living from hand to mouth but by January next year, she hopes to be breaking ground — literally — and build a block of apartments.
“I don’t have the money to build it to completion but I will start, and I know I will finish the project,” she remarks.

Size 8 has become one of the most sought-after singers. Whereas she once could settle for Sh10,000 two years ago to perform, with the rising demand, she is rated at Sh100,000 a concert and with a minimum of two major shows per week...well, do the math. She is on the Niko Na Safaricom Live Concerts’ six months payroll and has featured in a number of major commercials besides running a weekly TV show, which was her idea. She also runs a few small-scale businesses with her sisters. The sum-total of all these hustle must be a handsome figure for the petite-figure beauty — every month.

Ever the hustler, she is known to so eager to take up shows that she came under criticism for her role in a local TV drama, with some arguing that it ‘cheapened’ her brand. Even then, all that worked for her!
She recently acquired a brand new Toyota Celica Sports — to get things moving faster.  

Jaguar
Charles Njagua Kanyi is an astute businessman with investments in real estate; automobile industry and the import-export business.

Because he loves music, and well, also makes ‘a little’ money from it, Jaguar is a leading singer.
Jaguar recently finished building his two-storey five-bedroom apartment block on Mbagathi Road, Nairobi. He owns five other apartment blocks and recently finished building a palatial home on the outskirts of Nairobi estimated at Sh10 million.

He runs a motor garage and Jagz Cabs. The Matapeli hit maker has bought two maisonettes in Parklands area, Nairobi, and is in the process of restoring them for tenancy. The Best Male Artiste last year’s 2011 Pearl Awards, is a car enthusiast and owns a BMW 5 series, the Range Rover Vogue as well as two classy Benzs.

Jaguar is also well known for philanthropy.
For a single show, Jaguar charges Sh200,000 and with a demand that no other singer is enjoying currently, Jaguar thanks God for his humble beginnings.

For over ten years, his singing career didn’t seem to take off, but, he never gave up. His taxi business started off from borrowed cash. Now, he is loaning politicians.

Nameless
Nameless started off during those Mega Rider days when he could hardly afford bus fare to get himself from Rongai to Nairobi.

The current showbiz generation was on its take-off and there was little money coming out of the shows.
Few could withstand the hustle back then. Many came and fizzled, but Nameless stood on. When the gates finally opened, he was there and has since become a first among equals in showbiz since Pulse started nine years ago — remaining relevant since.

He is a permanent fixture in major concerts as well as a darling of blue chip corporates. And he has the cash to show for it.
Aside from music, Nameless co-owns Zari Media, an advertising agency that has produced notable adverts for banks, soft drinks, paints and motor vehicles.
“Music is my main hustle, but I also do architectural work with a few friends,” says the Architecture graduate from the University of Nairobi.

Nameless also owns Alternative Concepts, a media company that shot the multi-million shilling documentary on human trafficking. Alternative Concepts is also a record label and apart from having the best and most expensive equipment to shoot world-class documentaries, they also shoot music videos. Nameless has also won numerous music awards in East Africa.

A modest gentleman, Nameless never flaunts his wealth, or rests on his laurels. Given that he drives a BMW X5 and his wife Wahu spins a Mercedes C class, Nameless isn’t doing too badly. Their latest investment is in Athi River where he is building his new residence.


Muthoni the  Drummer Queen
Singer Muthoni Ndonga set out to make a name for herself, as well as some money, through the Blankets and Wines franchise.

Tagged East Africa’s premier music experience, Blankets and Wines now has a presence in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. As many artistes complain about lack of corporate sponsorship, Muthoni’s events are sponsored by a host of corporates.
She has managed to bring in and host Zimbabwean Oliver Mtukudzi, South Africa’s Lira and TKZee.
Oliver Mtukudzi reportedly commands $5000 (Sh415,000) and above, per performance. Muthoni drives a Probox...as it has a lot of space to carry her blankets and wines.

Nonini
Herbert Nakitare runs his music career like a business enterprise. Never the one to sit by the phone and wait for event organisers to call him for a concert, Nonini approaches club owners, negotiates for performances, makes sure he markets his performance and makes a kill with shows every weekend.

Probably one of the best-paid local artistes, Nonini founded Pro Habo Unit aka P-Unit, coined from his Christian name Herbert, and is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers. He runs a music publishing and management company, Pro-Habo, that manages artistes and runs a major online music-marketing site.

He is also a radio host at One FM. Even though his investment details are scanty, Nonini is an ambitious investor with several enterprises in and outside Nairobi.


Octopizzo
In November 26, 2010, Henry Ohanga aka Octopizzo appeared for the first time on Pulse and declared he was going to take over the industry. Since then, Octopizzo has been on the roll.

People might think Octopizzo’s rise to the top was fast, but, it wasn’t. It took him six years to have his track played on radio. Now he owns a tour firm, a clothing line, and is soon mass-producing his line of condoms.
“The sky is no limit, I want to make my voice heard all over Africa, both in business and musically,” says Octopizzo.

He also launched Forgotten Fridays where he gives talks and shares his experience with the youth. Sarakasi Trust sponsors the event. Not one to forget his roots, Octopizzo has partnered with Power Women group, a team of HIV positive women in Kibera to seek funding as well as help sell the furniture made by the members. Besides, the Ivo Ivo Ivo singer has become a major fixture in every show (managing over six shows per weekend). Yes, he is the latest hustler on the block.