Beauty and rhythm

From hosting radio and TV shows to emceeing and singing, 25-year old Amina Abdi Wako shares her experience in the limelight   

Pulse: You rose into public limelight after the release of the Jay A, On Me, collabo. Do you count this as your claim to fame?

Amina: I have been around for quite some time now. My radio shows are quite big. Besides, I do a lot of emceeing jobs, the last assignment being the Kisima Awards that I hosted last Friday.

P: Before we get to all those details, can you confirm that you didn’t want to feature in the On Me video as you wanted to remain incognito?

A: Not really. The truth is I was not in town when the video was being shot. I am glad the video has been rotating on Trace and Channel O besides getting good media reviews across East Africa.

P: Don’t you think the success of the song can largely be attributed to your catchy voice?

A: I take that as a compliment...

P: You have been involved in the making of other local tracks and music projects before. Word even has it that you auditioned for Tusker Project Fame (TPF) but didn’t go through...

A: I love music. Everything I do revolves around music. I auditioned for TPF and went through the elimination stages where I was knocked out.

P: You sound bitter...

A: I am not; it is all behind me now.

P: Word is that you are in studio working on some tracks with the likes of K Letta. Can you confirm that?

A: True. My next single Paint the Town Red is a party jam featuring the rapper. I can’t wait for it to drop. We are currently working on shooting the video.

P: Do you describe yourself as a singer, emcee or radio and TV host?

A: All the above. Like I previously said, everything I do revolves around music. After completing my radio studies at Homeboyz, I was recruited as a Homeboyz Radio presenter and now it has been three years. Ever since, doors have opened for me. My emceeing and singing skills complement my radio job.

P: Where does your strength lie?

A: I love TV more. I would like to host my own entertainment show soon and I am working towards that. I have a great concept that I will soon be pitching to leading TV stations for possible approval. 

P: How do you juggle between singing, emceeing and hosting both a radio and TV show?

A: You simply have to plan yourself to be able to achieve this, and that is what I do.

P: Tell us about your relationship with DJ Hassan. You are said to be very tight...

A: Hassan is my close friend and radio co-host at Homeboyz Radio. We run the Source radio show on Saturday night. Besides that, I host my Top Ten show, which airs on Friday mornings.

P: Is that all? Hassan and you also host another show at KBC. Is that a mere coincidence?

A: What is wrong with having a working relationship? DJ Hassan veejays on the Homegrown TV Show where I run a segment called Maskani.

P: So the two of you have some great chemistry?

A: You mean radio and TV chemistry? That we have. The Source requires a bubbly, energetic, free spirited and fun atmosphere and that is what you get when you put the two of us together.

P: Occasionally you get fans hitting on you during the radio show besides getting confronted by haters. How do you deal with both?

A: I don’t focus on what my haters think of me. I am a strong girl. With fame  comes all these things so one has to live with it.

P: What is your relationship with Dillie and Saint P?

A: They are my producers. Occasionally I hit the studio and throw in some vocals on a beat as they spin...just for fun.

P: You come out as a very outgoing person. Was this you, growing up?

A: I was the hyper girl in school funkies during my days in Kenya High School. Life is all about having a good time.