Tedd Josiah returns home

In an exclusive story back in 2008, Pulse carried an interview of veteran producer Tedd Josiah on the run after threats to his life. Stevens Muendo revisits the saga and brings you yet another exclusive on the showbiz genius, two years on.The maverick soft-spoken former Blu Zebra Records boss Tedd Josiah walks to the Pulse desk with collected calm. This is the same guy, who was toiling in tribulations and nightmare, seeking political asylum in the UK just the other day, and here he is, strolling freely and displaying no sign of aguish, a thought races through my mind.Two years ago, Pulse could not reveal his whereabouts after word spread that he was in danger and in hiding in the United Kingdom over alleged political threats whose genesis was a television advert — the famous ‘Domo TV’, which triggered a fierce propaganda-laden battle of wits between ODM and PNU camps in the run-up to the 2007 General Elections.Calm ReturnsBut that was then and the political cyclone has since taken different shapes just as the 39-year-old’s showbiz life has now taken a new direction."I have an office in Central London where I work with the giant Steel Drum Company. It’s an American company which deals with production, animation, news production, adverts and other related records, mostly for multimillion companies," he remarks, his baritone voice and usual ease bringing back the memories of the hey days when he was rated East Africa’s undisputed music producer.Former Blu Zebra Records boss Tedd Josiah"How did you get yourself to Steel Drum? I thought you were just another refugee in the UK?" I tease and go on to wonder about the whereabouts of his wife and kids."Probably we need to get the record straight first before we move on," he pauses and continues; "I was running projects in Tanzania when my UK-based sister informed me of an opportunity there. I had wanted to join an international film school and the chance had come.Constraints"But I didn’t have the cash to fund the studies. Coincidently, I got a call from Nairobi on a deal to create an advert. It was the height of 2007 political campaigns. The offer was lucrative. Through it, I would make money to fund my studies in the UK."In December that year, he recorded the response to the ‘Domo’ TV advert that was originally done by the PNU camp. The advert featured a female student reciting a poem, ranting on how she would be cowed from revealing the truth. And two others followed, adverts which became the talk of town to the irked wrath of political schemers. It was then that what began as a handsome recording deal turned into a life-threatening venture. Back then, Tedd was part of the ODM presidential campaign team working directly for (now Prime Minister) Raila Odinga. He had been assigned to be in charge of all media in terms of putting together the creative brief and was executing his duties from Lavington, which was the presidential creative team base. "Some powerful people wanted me to stop running the adverts with death threats following. Unidentified men locked me in my compound under a 24-hour surveillance. The moment I got a chance, I fled," he narrates and sighs with reprieve as if it all happened yesterday."I left my family behind and that was so difficult to cope with. I missed my kids and wished I was with them. I hated my enemies. But with time, I stopped focusing on negative energy and forgave the guys behind my woes. To date, I have nothing against them," he notes.London LifeAway in London, Tedd who is credited for pioneering Kisima Awards besides giving life to Kenyan urban showbiz recording the likes of Kalamashaka, Shades o’ Black, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji, Jimmi Gathu, Nameless, Nikki, Redsan and many more, was back to the drawing board — seeking green pastures in the land of plenty."Let’s just say 2008 was a trying year. I left Kenya as the best producer. At Steel Drum, I was an apprentice. I was told everything I was doing was sub-standard and that I had to train all over again. Sometimes I could sleep in the studio to learn more," he recalls."But with time, I caught up and became the head of programming. I had to handle artwork for serious brands like Nike, Sony and Unilever UK. Now, I am up to the challenge," he says.Besides, Tedd maintains that his passion has always been on the development of Kenyan art saying his UK experience will help him in his new mission — nurturing new talent and developing media concept —which he hopes to start in January once he shifts base back to Kenya."I would like to see new talent come out of Kenya. Though the game has quite changed, we are not growing at the same rate as, say, Nigeria and Tanzania, who used to look at us as big brothers," he concludes.

Tedd Josiah returns home

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