Jerrie Jesh:Ushering a new era of gospel musicals at River Road Nairobi

Though not famous as her contemporaries in Kikuyu Music in River Road, Jerrie Jesh a gospel artiste, actress and script writer is ushering a new era in River Road of making gospel musicals. Already, her first production in 2013 Munabii wa Maheni (false prophet) starring Kikuyu comedy legend Wandahuhu has sold over 3000 copies amidst the piracy.

Early Life

Jerrie’s musical roots began when growing up in Makuyu where she sang in the church and school choir as her parents were devout Christians. Her early influences then were Machakos Town Choir and Tanzania’s music that played on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). When she came to Nairobi in 1991 aspiring to record she couldn’t. Then it was impossible for her to self produce and she had no money. So she just composed songs and stored them. She nonetheless, continued in music business by selling cassettes she bought from Uganda and Tanzania.

Influences

Her musical role models then were Joseph Mwaura of Muthini wa Ngai fame. “I used to follow them where they sang,” remembers Jerrie. However all her compositions were stolen when her house was burgled around 195 and she lost the motivation to compose. She left to UK in 2000 where she stayed until 2004. In UK she self produced her album and Mathani Ikumi, (Ten Commandments) in 2005 just as VCDs shooting was becoming commonplace at River Road. “The shooting of VCDs was low quality so I decided to wait,” said Jerrie.

Debut Album

Self producing for Jerrie was because most producers she approached were looking for a big name and they didn’t think she was it. Nevertheless the album sold around 3000 copies boosted by air play it received from kikuyu radio stations like Inooro, Coro and Kameme FM on release. For Jerrie most of her compositions come about when she sleeps. “I get choruses, melodies and songs that way,” she says. Still her signature song Mathani Ikumi was harder and took years to be perfect. “Once a melody comes to my head it never disappears,” she said.

Acting

To market her music she relies on friends and words of mouth. This is to avoid what she calls church hoping to sell copies which can lead to her losing identity and lacking spiritual grounding. She has still released a second album “Njira ni Igiri.” In her new comedy musical film, she says she wanted to write songs with theatrical plays on them as opposed to just music. “So more people can connect with the songs messages,” Jerrie said. The mini title BABITO is from Baba, Bibi na Watoto, it’s about a church run by a greedy false prophet and his equally crooked wife and children.

For the production she wrote the script, directed and acted in it as the neutral observer of the goings on in the BABITO twisted church. According to Jerrie, her Christian faith motivates her to sing and act. “It’s my calling if its not in You, you can’t do it,” she adds. To get her albums and releases contact her on +254 723 100 195/+254 733 663 999 or by email jeshjames@yahoo.com

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