The big break

Maina Mwangi, best known as Githingithia, is a big name in local entertainment. It was not always so. He tells PHILIP MWANIKI [[email protected]] how a fund of jokes propelled him from rags to richesLife is a tragedy when seen close-up, but a comedy in long-shot". Comedian Charlie Chaplin’s words ring true, as the case of Fredrick Maina Mwangi, better known as Githingithia shows. Now Githingithia is Earthquake in English, which resonates with his giant physique. 

Eight years ago, Githingithia would be hunched over a sewing machine, finishing up a dress at Uhuru market in Nairobi’s Eastlands. But above the whirr of the sewing machine, a tune would be forming in his mind.

"I knew that I would never be a tailor for long because music was my life and that was what would pay my bills," Githingithia told us in a modest River Road restaurant between sips of tea.

Rarely do non-politicians, except the NGO types take up a social issue and make mountains of money out of it as Githingithia did.

The year is 1997 and everybody is talking about retrenchment in Kenya’s bloated civil service and the windfalls ("golden handshakes") that would go with it.

Windfalls tend to change lifestyles all of a sudden, especially if people have not been used to having fat wallets. Husbands run away from home and wives get better ideas.

This is the scenario that inspired Githingithia to come up with a celebrated audio comedy in 1997 and which would catapult him from the tailor’s tired chair.

"It was a tragedy but you know that comedy is tragedy to other people … I decided to do something about it," says Githingithia.

That thing turned out to be one of the biggest comedy acts when Giagatika was born with a cast that included, Domeniko Githingithia (Maina), Gacungwa (Wamucii Benson) and Githide (Joseph Wamumbe), Mugeci (Consolata Wangari) and Ndindiko (Waithaka) among others.

Giagatika was about a man, Githingithia, who after receiving the "handshake" bolts out of home, gets himself a mistress "Gacungwa," ends up at Mun'getho, a shopping centre and squanders his "golden handshake". 

"We decided to poke fun at it and at the same time, educate the few who had survived the money," says Githingithia.

So popular was the skit, recorded and sold in tapes before the CD versions, that "gacungwa (orange) is now a synonym for mistress in Kenya.

Many did not know who Fredrick Maina was but the mention of Githingithia got them nodding knowingly.

"Githingithia means Earthquake and this character had assumed that position because of his size and money… he thought that he could shake the earth. His deep voice and the ability to attract sympathy after squandering the money instead of contempt endeared me to many … other characters were just as popular," Maina says of his role.

Although he would not divulge how much money the Giagatika productions earned, Githingithia puts it to the tune of over Sh90,000 a week. Now that was a giant leap for the former tailor.

After school, he enrolled for a tailoring course but he might as well have bought a guitar. His love for music had reared its head when Githingithia was an average student at Ndathi Secondary School.

"I used to make instruments and play in school and then one day, I made Sh40 after making charcoal and bought a guitar. I would sneak out of school and play it in the forest".

The truancy went on for some time until his teacher asked his mother what had happened to Maina. Upon investigation, she found out what was going on and burnt the guitar.

"It was then that I promised her that I would sing one day despite her act".

It was a promise he would keep. After writing his O’Levels, he did not wait for the results and joined legendary musician Joseph Kamaru Maina as his handyman.

"I would handle the band’s logistics and got to travel a lot though I never got a chance to try my vocal skills". 

When John Ndichu quit Kamaru’s band to form his own, he took Githingithia with him and made him a drummer.

His parents were concerned that their son was wasting time and convinced him to take up the tailoring. The music dream took a break although he decided to hawk pencils before seeing sense in tailoring. 

"One day, I was busy working on a dress when I was told that Sammy Muraya was in Othaya and he was the hottest thing then with his hit, Mama Kiwinja. I stopped what I was doing and went to see him. We met and I asked him if I could join the band. He agreed and I became his drummer. I don't know what happened to the dress," recalls Githingithia.

A game of musical chairs followed as Githingithia found himself working for Queen Jane, Salim Junior and Grand Magoma. With Grand Magoma he got a chance to sing.

"We travelled to Nakuru and the lead country music vocalist was not around. I gave it a try and the crowd loved it. To the lead singer, two great vocalists was a crowd and Githingithia had to leave.

He then started doing his own renditions of Western country as what, in Kenyan music circles, is curiously referred to as "one man guitarist" under the name of Jege Man.

"Jege is Kikuyu for porcupine and I chose it because my grandfather loved to dance and would imitate the animal releasing its spikes".

He would stop singing other peoples’ songs on advice from a friend who challenged him to be original if he wanted top succeed.

In due course, he met comedian Kajairo (Peter Kaimenyi) and with him, staged live events before embracing comedy. In their first attempt, they poked fun at President Daniel arap Moi (he was still in power) and landed in trouble with the law.

"We started imitating Moi way before Redykyulas but we stopped after we realised we were putting our lives in danger. I had too seek refuge in Uganda," recalls Githingithia.

All the same, he stuck to comedy and in 1994, released his first attempt titled Jokominu - Jakubu Kuhotwo ni Muka (Jacob cannot rein in his wife.) It proved popular and his next production was the hugely successful Giagatika.

They say that art imitates life and that was what happened to Maina. Towards the end of the Giagatika series, the main character, played by Maina, gets "saved" and this was to be real months later after Maina stared death in the face.

"I was travelling from Mombasa when the person sitting next to me offered me a drink laced with poison. I collapsed, was robbed and was in a coma for three days and after which I realised just how close to death I had been. I decided to get saved," he said.

His next mission was gospel music but he continued acting since his popular productions had attracted a sponsor and were being aired by Kameme FM. He had also started touring abroad thanks to Giagatika.

"I have travelled to Germany, London, South Africa, France, Rwanda, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Scotland and I’m also scheduled to go more places soon".

Born 40 years ago in Othaya, Nyeri district, Githingithia is not the type to sit on his laurels. 

He is in the publicity business through his Odyssey Multi-media Ltd which organises corporate events, owns a recording studio and is seen and heard on some commercials locally.

Githingithia is also a radio co-presenter at Kameme FM on the station's breakfast show, Arahuka. "There is never a dull moment in my life, if I’m not doing this, I’m doing the other."

Added to this is his biggest responsibility of all: His wife and four daughters.

"I have been married for the past twenty years and I can say that I am a one woman man. No gacungwa," he says amid laughter.

What next for this busy man? "The future is in advertising," he says.

However he will be keen not to lose out on music and acting.