Tim Kamuzu Banda
23 April 2008
column
Nairobi — Comedian and rapper George Mwangangi, better known by his stage name Mongolo, has never been rated as a great artiste.
Instead, he was famous for being considered the 'most-unserious of artistes.'
The one who would come late on stage, dressed in most bizarre of clothes. Red suit, green shirt, name it! It was never strange to find him walking around Nairobi City Centre looking very lost.
If you asked him what he was up to, he would probably tell you that he was thinking of lyrics for his next song.
Artur brothers
In fact, Chaguo La Teeny's (Chat) Awards in 2005 is best remembered because of Mongolo. He had landed an MC job bizarrely at the expense of some MCs of repute.
It was at a time when the infamous Artur brothers were the most talked about personalities in the country, thanks to their controversial lifestyle. The Chat organisers invited the brothers to present one of the awards.
While inviting them for their turn, Mongolo asked them: "If you claim to be so rich, why don't you give me a loan of say Sh10,000?"
Artur Magaryan looked visibly caught by surprise, but because he prided himself with being wealthy, he had to do something.
He removed a big bundle of Sh1,000 notes from his pocket and, in the full glare of cameras, handed it over to Mongolo as the audience watched in disbelief. He has never admitted it, but those on stage at the time estimated that it was something in excess of Sh50,000.
Mongolo says he gave the money to charity, although some of his friends say he was seen sporting brand new pairs of expensive jeans the following week.
It is no wonder that when Mongolo announced that he would be vying for a political position, prior to last year's General Election, many thought that it would be another of his jokes.
"I know I do not have the money, but the people of Kariokor ward say I am the best to lead them," he said at the time - something that many found amusing.
Presidential bid
Clearly, the 25-year-old knew something that many did not know because the next time people saw him in the media, he was talking on behalf of the youth at that glamorous event at KICC when Raila Odinga (now Prime Minister) launched his presidential bid.
To be included in Raila's ODM function was the dream of any aspiring politician, young or old, at that time.
Mongolo's star shone even brighter when he clinched the ODM ticket to vie for the Kariokor seat, beating eight other contestants.
But come the General Election, Mongolo, just like many of the showbiz personalities, who contested various seats, lost. He, however, insists that he was rigged-out.
"The results were never announced, we just learnt that the opponent, who nobody even knows in the ward, was declared the winner," he says.
Rather than make noise about it or petition the results, Mongolo let the matter go, only insisting that the people of Kariokor Ward were robbed.
"The people know me as their leader and my party recognises my leadership skills and that is satisfying," said Mongolo after the results were announced.
That the party recognises his leadership skills was a point on mark. Indeed when ODM presented its list of nominated councillors to ECK, Mongolo was on that list - something that again surprised many.
"I am grateful to my party, and to Mr Odinga, in particular, for seeing leadership skills in me when many did not. I now have the chance to serve my people," he said when he received news of his nomination.
Today, Mongolo is one of the almost 100 civic leaders making decisions that shape the everyday lives of some three million Nairobians.
"When I first got to the council, the older ones barely took me seriously, but over time, and having listened to my contributions, they now know that I am one of them," he says.
Mongolo did not go for any of the committee positions during the election and he is the first to admit that he is new to the systems and needs time to learn. He is sure that before the five years term is over, he will be in one of the influential positions in the council.
That tone of seriousness is reflected in his image too. He has since done away with dreadlocks. During the interview, he came dressed in a stylish blue suit, worthy of someone who takes home a good salary per month before adding the hefty allowances.
An entertainer
"As an artiste, I was a role model fine, but now people look to me for help and advice on issues related to housing and education, among others, and they need someone they can believe in," says Mongolo who studied at Machakos High School.
But that does mean that he will forget about entertainment all together?
"Absolutely not, I am an entertainer and people should know that the person they will see on stage is different from their leader they will come to see at the council," says Mongolo.
He says he is also planning to start a musical project and studio that will enable aspiring artistes get training on the business side of showbiz and also record at subsidised rates. Later in the year, he is planning a TV show.
Mongolo is married though he declines to name his better-half. He is the third-born in a family of five, and is also an aspiring pilot, having done flying lessons at Kenya School of Flying at Wilson Airport.
"I will resume my lessons very soon and achieve my ambition of being a qualified pilot," he says firmly.
Having beaten the odds to make it as a politician, it is hard not to see Mongolo achieving this one too.
Showbiz stars whose quest for political office failed include: John Kiarie aka KJ (Dagoretti), Maurice Ochieng' (Mdomo Baggy, Kamukunji) and Peter Kamenyi (Kajairo, Embakasi).
Others are: Ken Wamaria, DJ Kriss Darling (Makina) and Mustafa Iddi (Bahari) formerly of NTV.
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