Undercover: Why celebs keep their love life secret

By Stevens Muendo and Caroline Nyanga

For weeks, leading Uganda singer Bebe Cool and Zuena Kirema’s marriage has been on the rocks. The golden couple of Uganda showbiz captured headlines following a muchpublicised breakup.

Zuena left their matrimonial home in a huff following rumours that Bebe was dating another woman by the name of Laura.

Word has it that by Friday last week Zuena was already consulting her lawyers in a bid to push for divorce as Bebe pleaded for her return.

Frasha and his daughters.

News of the split was a surprise to the East African showbiz community who thought their union was strong.

"That is the kind of exposure celebs should avoid. Once it backfires on you, it affects your entire showbiz career," says Frasha Amisi. He loves chilling at home with his wife Maggie — his love for the last nine years.

The P Unit member is a proud father of two daughters Sharlin and Esther. Although Frasha loves partying, he is at heart a family man. On Saturdays, he will be at home with Maggie, either shopping or attending a parent’s day.

The rapper admits that opening up his relationship to the face of the media and public could affect the affair.

"Why should I go with my girlfriend for a gig if I am going there to perform. I mean, do you go with your girlfriend to the office or other official assignments?" he challenges.

"Celebs should draw a line between their showbiz lives and their private lives otherwise they will keep on complaining that the press is killing their relationships. After all, why do you want to make your girlfriend look like a celeb?" he wonders.

The singer admits that through the years, the couple has had its drama which if the press had known of, the two would have probably called it a quits a long time.

"My wife and kids shaped my life. If it weren’t for them, I would be a mess right now. There are temptations in showbiz industry but my wife and kids keep me in check."

JUA CALI

Genge star Jua Cali has also chosen to keep his love-life ‘private’ — away from the media and public. He recently revealed that he was dating and would tie the knot soon. We can reveal that Jua Cali has been dating his beau Lizz for four years. In a recent interview, Jua Cali was quoted saying: "Najua hii ita wauma wengi lakini ukweli nikwamba niko na girlfriend (I know this will hurt many but the truth is that I have a girlfriend)," he confessed adding that he was no longer searching.

"Sijui kwanini nyinyi huniuliza kama niko na girlfriend juu hiyo ni private (I don’t know why you keep on asking me if I have a girlfriend, that is my private life)."

But our sources reveal that Lizz is known only to a few of Jua’s close allies including Calif Records crew. Lizz is said to control the relationship. "Jua Cali fears her so much and that is perhaps one of the reasons he decided to keep it on the low," claimed a source.

Apparently, Lizz has not managed to keep off the media completely. She has been spotted in some of Jua Cali’s concerts lurking in the background.

Sources reveal that although Lizz rides in the same car with Jua Cali, she has a habit of coming off last accompanied by friends.

When contacted, Jua Cali chose to play it safe by saying that he prefers to keep his love life private.

"I cannot go around telling everybody about my personal life. Theirs is to enjoy my music while leaving up the rest to me," he said.

He adds that their relationship is based on love and affection for each other. " "She understands my busy schedules. For the last three successive Valentine’s Days I have been out of the country and it makes no difference because to us everyday is special," he explains.

Nonini

Controversial rapper Nonini also falls under the same category of celebs who keep their loved ones away from press. He has often denied being in a relationship. Nonini dated a girl called Sylvia for a span of two years. The girl is said to have appeared in a number of local videos including Furahi-day a collabo with Nameless. But as fate would have it, the two split. Since then Nonini has chosen to remain tight-lipped. "Hizo ni maswali gani jo," he answered rather furiously.

Nazizi

Reggae singer Nazizi is also known for not broadcasting her love life. She is said to be dating a mixed race guy whom she prefers to keep away from public. Only a few pals know about the affair and she prefers it that way. And although he doesn’t attend her concerts, they reportedly spend a lot of time together. Naz like many of celebs has never mentioned her boyfirend’s name.

Christian

Christian Longomba, one half of the Longomba brothers is not an exception. Although his brother Lovi openly declared his love for Ida Onyango, US-based Kenyan singer, Christian has been dating Fahima for close to six years.

The girl has appeared in a number of television adverts. "She adores and trusts him so much that she doesn’t mind him not acknowledging her whenever they are in public or even when they come across friends," says a close friend.

Fahima, is said to attend all Longomba concerts including the last Kisima awards in which they scooped four awards.

Churchill

Leading stand-up comedian Daniel Ndambuki aka Churchill is another family man who has chosen to keep his family in the background. Although he has a fiancÈ with whom they have a child, he is never willing to talk about them in public. "I prefer to keep such matters away from the media and public in general for good reasons," he said during one of his interviews.

Wyre

This is the same move Kevin Waire Ngure aka Wyre The Love Child pulled a fast one on the media and married Hanifa after eight years of courtship.

In fact, the wedding plans were kept as a secret until the very last minute. The couple were joined in holy matrimony during an invites-only wedding away from the media.

Wyre defended the decision of keeping it private on a TV show at Carnivore saying:

"She is a shy girl and laid back," he said.

And even when he was asked to call her to the podium, Wyre declined and chose to leave the venue before introducing her to the crowd.