East Africa's First Lady - Jaydee

In February this year, news broke that Lady JayDee, Tanzania's celebrated female star was divorcing her radio presenter husband and manager Gardner G Habash.

It was rather a shocking story about the couple, one of the most respected showbiz families that have stayed together for nine years.

The truth is, Gardner had clinched a major radio deal in Nairobi and with that, and he was willing to relocate to Nairobi, a fact that threw their marriage off balance.

It is said that the talented singer asked her husband to choose between her and the job. And choosing he did; to remain in Tanzania with the love of his life, the amazing Lady JayDee.

It wasn't the first controversy in the illustrious showbiz life of the rather celebrated Lady JayDee. After rumours that her marriage had hit the rocks back in 2002, the mellow voiced singer went under before releasing a reply to her haters, Siku Hazingandi, a rather emotional song that proved her maturity besides propelling her to a new showbiz level.

"Nadhani hamyajali maumivu yangu moyoni

Na wala hampendi kwangu yatokee mazuri. Hata nisiowategemea, leo hii mmenigeuka. Hata nilio waheshimu, leo hii mnanihukumu. Kila mtu ana dhambi, msijihesabie haki. Kusemwa semwa sitaki, hakuna aliye msafi..." the first stanza of the soul arresting ballad went with even a more captivating chorus buzzing to the songs big credibility.

"...Yote mlosema, mlotenda, nasahau,

nasonga mbele, mangapi yamesemwa,

mangapi nimeona, mmmh liosema

Eh nimesemwa sana jamani,

Hamchoki..."

The chorus of the rather captivating song went.

The single became the biggest song in East Africa then, winning Lady JayDee many fans both urban and rural areas. And like her or hate her, Lady JayDee has always captured the imagination of the old and young with her graceful talent and soft-spoken humble personality.

She is currently ruling the airwaves with her hit song Yahaya and the soft –spoken Lady JayDee has no intention of slowing down any time soon even though she has been at the top of her game since she joined the music industry in the year 2000.

At one time a member of Afro Reign group, a leading Tanzanian R&B group in the mid-90s, she also worked as a radio presenter at Clouds FM Radio in Dar es Salaam where her husband also works.

It was during this time that she released her first single Nakupenda, in 2000. The hit was followed up with another song Mpenzi Wangu.

As it became evident that she was born to sing, the rather soft-spoken star quit broadcasting in order to become a full-time musician and achieved unparalleled success soon after with the release of her hit single Machozi.

Hers had been a childhood calling. During her teen years, Lady JayDee was already showing her music talent as she led church performances, yielding to her calling, which later saw her cut her own niche as she went versatile singing in various languages; including Kiswahili, Zulu, Lingala, Kinyarwanda and French. It is this unique character and overwhelming talent that has seen her win various awards in her career as well as many heart across the continent.

"As a teenager, I used to listen to their songs and looked forward to becoming a star like them one day," she recalls.

She was the first Tanzanian female artiste to release a solo album and subsequently spent two busy years performing for her East African fans, touring and enjoying success.

After singing as a solo artiste for a long time, she later decided to form her own band, Machozi, to aid her live performances.

She names Whitney Houston, Monica, Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim and Dr Dre as among musicians who inspired her to venture into music.

The singer, whose albums include Binti, Moto, Shukrani and Ya 5, credits her mom Martha and manager Ruge Mutahaba for helping her blossom.

Some of the songs that catapulted her to fame are Machozi, Mawazo, Nishike Mkono, Tatiza, Pumziko, Uko Juu, Siku Hazigandi, Siri Yangu and Usiusemee Moyo.

Apart from winning several local and international awards, Lady JayDee was last year one of the nominees for Kora Awards in the best East African artiste category.

She was pitted against Susan Kerunen, Klear Kut, Michael Ross and Blu3 from Uganda and Kenyans Nameless, Valerie Kimani and Wahu.

In 2003, she was among Africa's top artistes who performed during the Kora Awards at the Absa Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

Other performers included Congolese Rhumba superstars Tshala Muana and Mbilia Bel, Ethiopia's Tewodros Mosisa and South African stars Lebo Mathosa, Ringo, Hugh Masekela and Mafikizolo.

Last year, Lady Jay Dee, the wife of Clouds FM presenter Gardner Habash, joined other musicians in London to celebrate former South Africa president Nelson Mandela's birthday.