EXCLUSIVE: Introducing Kenya’s Rihanna…(Photos+ Video)

In Kenya,when you meet a random jaw-dropping talent at some random club blowing the whole roof off…You walk right up to her,compliment her and take her number with the promise of exposure,Right? Wrong. But,in the West,that’s the norm.

Global superstars like Chris Brown,Justin Bieber,Alek Wek,Charlize Theron,Toni Braxton,Natalie Portman,Naomi Campbell and many many others would be some unknown,dejected people right now were it not for the gracious people who spotted their talents from the streets and,after walking up to them,introducing themselves and giving them their cards,making them the global heavyweights they are today.

Infact,sensational pop start Chris Brown was spotted by some local talent scouts at a his fathers gas station…dancing and singing. The guys at Hitmission Records immediately walked up to Chris Brown’s father who was busy pumping gas and told him straight up,”Your Boy is a wonder. We need to make him a star!”

And,just a week later,little Chris was flown to New York to meet Tina Davis,the A&R Executive at Def Jam Records and after another meeting with the legendary Antonio ‘L.A’ Reid,Little Chris was signed that same day!

RnB singer Chris Brown

US singer Rihanna

As for Charlize Theron,the astounding South Africa-born Hollywood actress was spotted in the streets of Hollywood at 19. What happened was,the Men Of Honor actress had flown to Los Angeles, on a one-way ticket her mother bought her, intending now to work in the film industry. During her early months there, she went to a Hollywood Boulevard bank to cash a check her mother had sent her to help with the rent. When the teller refused to cash it,Theron engaged in a shouting match with him that almost ended up in  an exchange of feminine blows. Upon seeing this, talent agent John Crosby, in line behind her, handed her his business card and subsequently introduced her to casting agents and also an acting school. And that’s how the Hollywood sex symbol was born. Just like that.

In this case,allow Me to introduce to You a young Kenyan singer who I would say I ‘discovered’ at Club Rumors along Moi Avenue on 27th December,last Year.

Her name is Lucy Muthoni….Or,Lulu. I met the petite singer at Club Rumors from where she was locked in a competition with some other Nairobi singers for a Ksh.50,000 Karaoke chase.

After she sang,the whole club boomed into a thunderous applause,some even according her a standing ovation…she had impeccably done the popular Rihanna song “Mandown” in almost the exact Rihanna voice,style and nuance. And after the accolades died down,the little angel calmly walked to her seat. And sunk into it…Humbly.

I walked right up to her after the noise had died down,”Hi,My name Is Cabu Gah…I would love to talk to you after today…I would love to do something for you..And with You…Can I please have your number??”

And,4 months down the line,I invited her to Ghafla! Kenya for her maiden interview. And she blew the whole office away…

Here’s the Lil Angel….

Cabu Gah: Thank you for honoring the invite…You look so beautiful

Lulu: Thankyou…(Shies Off)

CG: So whats Your real name and how old are You??

Lulu:Real name is Lucy Muthoni…I am 19 years old now…

CG: When did You clear school and where were You schooling?

Lulu : I cleared last year…And I was schooling at Muthetheni Girls School…

CG: In Machakos?

Lulu: Yes,In Machakos! You know it?

CG: Yup,I do. My Mum is from Machakos…

Lulu: Oh,My Mum too…(Laughs)

CG: When did You discover your singing talent?

Lulu: Hmmm,I must have been four years old…

CG: Four years!!?

Lulu: Yes,four years old…same cliche story..used to sing in the bathroom…in Church…at birthdays…allover the place…

CG: And…

Lulu; It extended to high school…And now to this minute,Music is my whole life…My passion and reason for breathing…

CG: Is your whole family musical? And how many are You in your family?

Lulu: I come from a family of 6…And yes,there is another musical sibling. His name is Siso…You may know him from Calif Records…He is my bro…Big bro…Ive even done a song with him…

CG: Oh,Yes,I know Siso,the Genge artiste! Where did he go?

Lulu: He is still singing…still rapping…Now he records at Benja Beats…He left Calif Records…

CG: Oh,nice…How was the Karaoke competition at Rumors Club?

Lulu: Awesome! Absolutely awesome! I loved the crowd response…I totally enjoyed the outpouring of love that was extended to me by these hundreds of people I barely even knew…

CG: Sweet! Did You finally win the Ksh.50,000 Karaoke Cash Prize??

Lulu: Actually,No. I was at number four….

CG: WOW! That’s good still…Competition was stiff!

Lulu: I know…Were seventeen finalists..I tried….I am grateful to everyone for everything…

CG: So what have you been upto??

Lulu: I’ve been dabbling in Film Production….As I try and find a way to finally start recording my music…It’s hectic…

CG: What’s hectic? How easy or hard is it for You to record music? And what are the challenges you are facing?

Lulu: Well,obviously the number one challenge is funds to record…also,finding a good studio that understands my sound and voice and that does quality audios…also,finding a manager or airplay…You know…those typical upcoming artiste challenges….

CG: I know…

Lulu: I’ve done a demo though…I’ve got a demo tape….A song I recorded but it’s not on CD…It’s in my song…People have told me it’s real good…

CG: I will give it a listen…

Lulu: Thanks…

CG: Where do You stay by the way? And after high school,are you planning on joining college?

Lulu: I stay in Parklands…Or Pipeline..Got family in both places…And Yes,I am planning to join College in September I wanna pursue Film Production…I have a huge passion for Film,too…

CG: Nice….Who are Your role models?

Lulu: I’ve got many….

CG: Name the top five…

Lulu: The Weekend,Chris Brown,Beyonce,Alicia Keys and of course my muse,Rihanna…

CG: Locally?

Lulu: Hmmmm,I would say,Wyre,Chris Adwar,Sauti Sol and Nonini??

CG: Nonini??!?

Lulu: (Laughs) Yes! Why?!

CG: Anyway,Favorite Kenyan female artiste?

Lulu: Sage! It’s definitely Sage!

CG: Ever thought of joining a band?

Lulu: I am ready for anything…A band,solo career..I just wanna do music….So,a band is very welcome…If it’s music,I will do it in any and whatever forum,method…

CG: Who would You love to collabo with locally?

Lulu: Sauti Sol! And Elani…

CG: That is VERY possible!

Lulu: It is?? I would be honoured!

CG: Oh,Yes! It is…You wait…

Lulu: Thanks alot…

CG: Are You gonna sing for us here? In the office?

Lulu: (Shocked) Sing for all these people!!?

CG: Yes! You’ve got to! Haha…

Lulu: Ok,I will…Which song? Any song?

CG: The song that made the whole of Rumors Club bow down for You…

Lulu: Mandown by Rihanna?

CG: Mandown by Rihanna….

Lulu then sang….And the whole office was awed. And totally blown away. Totally. She impressed us so much so that,Lewis Kaburu,Ghafla’s Sales Executive,quickly organized a random fundraiser for Lulu saying,”We have to buy this girl lunch…we have to appreciate that talent…”

And EVERYONE in the office dipped into their pockets and handed out notes to Lewis who gathered all the cash and handed it to the shy Lulu…

Girl is ON FIRE! We will do ALL WE CAN to make her a star!

Lulu,Where have You been??! (Pun intended)

Click Next Page to watch and hear her totally slay the Rihanna classic,Mandown. It’s orgasmic. I promise You.

Oh,and she did the Sam Smith signature Stay With Me too…You will watch it and hear her version right here,too…

Boy,I’m awed.

Here’s the Angel killin’ it…

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Doing Rihanna’s Mandown.

And here she is doing the Sam Smith classic,Stay With Me….

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Watch out for this gem…Watch out.