Months after his controversial sex tape leaked, top Kenyan DJ George Njuguna aka Crème de la Crème is back in the limelight with yet another saga. This time it was not about a leaked intimate clip but his brush with American authorities. News about his apparent deportation from the United States where he was scheduled for a series of shows spread on social media leaving many of his U.S. based fans disappointed. The renowned DJ was held in custody awaiting his deportation back home on an Air Emirates flight.
Reason? Immigration busted him as he tried to enter the country without proper documentation. According to reports, the DJ had applied for a tourist Visa to “celebrate the memorial weekend with friends in Dallas and later visit some historical sites like the White House,” according to a WhatsApp conversation that we obtained between him and his host. However, this was not to be as their scheduled plan was intercepted as soon as he landed.
Speaking exclusively to Pulse, the decks master opened up to the events that led to his arrest and consequent deportation.
“It’s true I travelled to the States but I couldn’t gain admission because my papers had discrepancies, “he admits.
Crème is said to have received an invite from an American based Kenyan promoter popularly known as Tall under Genge Entertainment. He reveals that he was to tour a number of states including Dallas, Atlanta and Minneapolis.
“I left Kenya on the evening of Tuesday May 24 aboard an Emirates Boeing with a brief stop in Dubai. All was just as planned and I was really excited about my first U.S trip,” he tells Pulse. He adds that it was a smooth flight where he spent most of his time interacting with his diaspora based fans most of whom couldn’t wait to attend his gigs. However, upon landing, the situation took a different turn.
“I was stunned when a uniformed cop at the Immigration desk called me aside using my stage name,” he says.
He narrates how he was taken to some small room where he was questioned about the real reason for his visit. Trying not to panic, he informed them that he was only visiting a few friends while on holiday before finally admitting that he also had some scheduled gigs when he was interrogated further.
“They were professional and seemed to know every detail about my visit. What shocked me is that they had been perusing my social pages including Instagram where I had been promoting my gigs,” he reveals with a chuckle.
“How could this happen to me?” he wondered with numerous thoughts going through his mind.
“Let’s be real; a lot of artistes hold gigs in other countries without a working visa. It’s a scheme by promoters to evade taxes. It’s almost a normal thing after all, which immigration officer would pin point a Kenyan artiste?” he adds.
Crème reveals that he was questioned for hours before being transferred to a nearby Dallas/Fort Worth jail about 3km from the Dallas airport where he had been intercepted with the option of only three phone calls as he awaited his next flight back home. He compares the ordeal to that of the Prison Break TV series.
“I thought it was all a dream when I was dressed in the orange jail outfit,” he narrates.
A first time visitor of the US, he says he cannot compare the cells to what we have here in Kenya. “I had a self-contained cell to myself but they couldn’t let me have any visitors and their mutton was too horrible,” he continues.
Crème remembers regretting his move to travel to Obama land without proper documentation but points an accusing finger towards Tall’s rival promoter.
“They had fallout with another promoter known as Kellz Ochieng whom we suspect gave us in to the authorities,” he discloses. Crème admits to having been ill-advised by his promoter as well.
“They will assure you that that is how it works but I must say that he messed me up. It was a learning experience for me to never take assumptions. I would rather take a longer but legit process in my future gigs. As an entrepreneur, I will also urge my counterparts to be on the lookout as you never know who is watching and from where,” he advises.
The multi-talented turn-tablist says he was due to have a session with renowned Jamaican producer Don Corleone.
“We were to meet Los Angeles and work on some projects but all that faded away. I am now into music production and this meet-up would really have boosted my dreams,” he says.
He, however, hopes to invite the Jamaican icon to the country and embark on their plans.
It is not clear whether Crème’s passport was blacklisted to travel in the U.S but he says he is in the process of clearing his name with the American Embassy to enable him fly there in the future.
“I feel indebted to hold a proper concert in America. On the other hand, for the sake of my reputation, my price just went all the way up. No more cheap gigs and business short cuts. Indeed I would love to be back there, I owe my fans,” he says matter of factly.
Unperturbed, the father of two was lined up for a major gig at Alan Donovan house in Mlolongo alongside top entertainers as Safaricom launched their latest product, Blaze.
“I only have God to thank because I have a good rapport with all my clients. While on board I sent an email notifying my clients about my ordeal and some were kind enough to offer me a chance,” he concludes and sarcastically adds that even though his joy to set foot in the land of opportunity was short-lived, at least he set foot, even if just for 60 seconds and with no pictures to prove it.