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While advising upcoming artistes during a round table, musician turned politician Charles Njagua aka Jaguar, narrated how he struggled for years to make it in the music industry and was almost on the verge of giving up.
“I did everything in the books, but my songs were never popular. I would question myself why I could never get a hit song that I so badly wanted,” he narrated.
The Starehe MP then revealed that he had a change of mind when a veteran in the industry advised him not to sing about his life’s achievements but about life, which connected with ordinary citizens.
“It was Charles Otieno who put that sense into me. I almost gave up as I used to earn peanuts, as little as Sh500. In my highest earning show I was paid Sh4,000 while my rent in Umoja was Sh1,000. Then I sang the song Kioo, which would resonate with everyone who has ever looked themselves up in a mirror, and boom! That was my breakthrough,” he said.
While advising the young artists, Jaguar had offered Sh50,000 cash prize for any of them who would have a hit song in less than seven years.
“It will take you almost seven years to have a sustainable career churning constant hits if you don’t listen. Anything less, I’ll pay Sh50,000 for misleading you. I’m glad I left the music industry having attained an ‘A’ student status from my career. My songs were on top, but it took forever,” he boasted as they all nodded in agreement.
The Kigeugeu closed by saying his door will always be open.
