It was a true story – Freshley Mwamburi confesses about Stella Wangu Song

In the song Stella- Freshley Mwamburi sings of betrayal by his lover who went to study in Japan only to return with a Japanese boyfriend in a captivating reggae-like tune.

Freshley Lucas Mwamburi

Freshley Lucas Mwamburi was born in Taita Taveta County and kicked off his music career back 1979 while still in school and he has stayed relevant to the core.

We Kick off our interview by taking him (Freshley Mwamburi) down the memory lane, to get a clear picture of the kind of kid he was growing up.

“Nilikuwa Msumbufu sana, lakini nilikuwa sipigi mtu… mimi nilisumbua kwa kazi yangu ambayo ndo kipaji changu.”

Stella Remix

After 29 years (1992), the a legendary Rhumba icon decided to remix his famous “Stella Wangu” song and he confesses that he never anticipated the reception the song has been accorded.

“Sikutarajia kwamba itapokelewa hivo, lakini nashukuru jinsi walivyopokea na Mungu awabarikie Zaidi.”

Asked on why he decided to remix Stella, Mwamburi disclosed that the whole idea was given to him by a friend; Njau Njoga who also sponsored the production of the new version.

Secondly, he wanted to accommodate the younger generation that might not have enjoyed his sound back then.

He mentioned that back in the days, music piracy was so rampant to the extent that he never earned a coin from the original Stella song.

“Unajua wimbo huu mimi uliniuma sana…wakati niliotoa kulikuwa na visa vya piracy sana kwa hiyo sikupata kitu. Nikakasirika nikawa kimya kwa miaka saba…na wimbo huu ni wa kila rika, hapo kuna Reggae, Rhumba, twist, chacha and Hip-hop”

“Stella being an evergreen hit that is engraved in the heart of Kenyans it deserves not just a remix but also a quality music video and there is no better time to remix it if not now. I would like even the younger generation who might not know the song to know it and enjoy it”

Bands; Simba Wanyika, Les Wanyika, Mavalo Kings and Everest Kings.

“Nilianza na Mombasa International Ambayo ilikuwa Bendi yetu ya mtaani manaake mimi nimekulia Changamwe.

EP Yangu ya Kwanza ni Heshima Kidogo. Ilipofika mwaka was 1980, nikachukuliwa na jeshi kama Mwanamuziki. Nikaja hapa Nairobi tukaenda training, tuliporudi ilikuwa ni 1982. Baada ya ile Coup tuliachiliwa tukarudi nyumabi. Baada ya pale nikachukuliwa na Simba wa Wanyika kwa miaka mitatu, kisha Les Wanyika. Baada ya pale ndipo tukaunda Mavalo Kings. Tukaona tuifanye iwe Kampuni ndiposa tutaibadilisha kutoka Mavalo kings to Everest Kings ambayo ipo mpaka leo,” he said.

Kukula Fare

They say if you have managed to experience the Nairobi dating life as a man; your fare must have been squandered once or twice and still she did not show up.

This is a story Mwamburi resonates well with, basing on the fact that his air Ticket money plus school fees was “Eaten” by Stella and she came back married to another man with a baby on top.

“Vijana Siku hiuzi wana complain wana liwa fare lakini yangu ilikuwa kubwa, just imagine Ndege. Sai wanaliwa mia ikienda sana ni 1K, mimi ni ndege hapa mpaka Japani.

Stella alikuwa ni rafiki yangu, Mwanafunzi wa Chuo Kikuu Nairobi… ikatokea amepata scholarship ya kwenda Japan kusomea Udaktari. Alipofika kule alipata Mjapani na sikuona vibaya maana labda hata mimi ningefanya vile vile.”

Freshley says after Stella moved on with a Japanese, he opted to cut links with her, because she was now somebody else’s wife.

Ask him if the Stella story was real? A fan reached out to Us.

“Hayo maneno ni ya Ukweli na kama wewe ni Mkamba unataoka sehemu za Sengani Kangundo huko ndo kwa kina Stella. Anaitwa Stella Ngami,” said Mwamburi.

Source: Pulse Live Kenya