“Nahope huyo madam aliniuliza hio swali ya gari anatuona tukifanya mambo!!!” Jua Cali said.
The legendary genge artist has recalled the moment that he was denied a promotional job because he didn’t have car. This was back in 2004. He was among the artists who had been shortlisted for a Trust campaign.
However during the interview, he was questioned about the car model that he drives and in his honesty, he told the panel that he had used a matatu to get to the venue.
“Around 2004 kuna campaign flani ya Trust ilikua inapangwa so wasanii kadha waka shortlistiwa mimi included, but before you get the gig ilikua lazima uende for an interview. So interview ilikua pale The Chancery Valley road, mimi huyo nikapanda mathree teke teke mpaka tao then nikatembea kutoka tao mpaka Chancery si mbali. Nikafika poa nikakaribishwa fresh nikapewa chai introduction mbili tatu meeting ikaanza.
“Meeting ilikua ya mtu tatu mimi na madam flani wawili. So the 1st question niliulizwa ni ‘What car do you drive?’ I swear to God I am not lying, Yo!! Hio swali ilinipata offguard coz in my head I was like hii swali ikona connection gani na hii campaign? Ama hawa wasee waliniona kwa dirisha nikitembea wanajaribu kunipima? But anyway nilikua truthful nikajibu ‘I dont own a car actually I came here using a matatu’ so nikaulizwa swali zengine related na music but siezi ata zikumbuka” he narrated.
After the interview, he was told that he will be contacted if he would be selected.
He travelled back home and everyone was waiting to hear the good news from him upon arrival.
“Kufika home kila mtu alikua anangoja the good news sadly nikawaambia ‘sioni tukitoboa’ but naeza kumbuka my mum na mum wa Clemo wakiniambia ‘tulia your time is coming’,” Jua Cali stated.
Months later billboards of other artists were erected and it was at that point that he knew he had been left out.
He however did not give up and he continued with his music career. Two years later, he landed an opportunity that changed his life.
“The most important thing we believed so much in ourselves we never gave up tukaendelea na grind kurelease songs, Mungu ni nani after like 2 years I became the Brand ambassador for Motorola na hivyo ndio vile journey yangu ya the corporate world ilianza so na hope huyo madam aliniuliza hio swali ya gari anatuona tukifanya mambo!!!” Jua Cali said.
The genge artist is excited after genge music was added to the list of Grammy awards.
“Never give up on your dreams no matter what!! GENGE TO THE WORLD!!! #GRAMMYs,” he added.
Around 2004 kuna campaign flani ya Trust ilikua inapangwa so wasanii kadha waka shortlistiwa mimi included, but before you get the gig ilikua lazima uende for an interview. So interview ilikua pale The Chancery Valley road, mimi huyo nikapanda mathree teke teke mpaka tao then…
— JuaCali (@juacaliGenge) June 19, 2023
