kidfox talks about his first

Kidfox talks about his first girlfriend Straka

EDGAR R. BATTE

Kidfox says Straka was a sweet girl. Photos by Walter Wafula

He is composed and his lifestyle is simple. His lyrics tell it all. He

is the voice behind popular hits like Brothers and Sisters and Love is

a good feeling. His name is Kidfox. The laidback budding dancehall gem

once dated T.V star, Straka Mwezi. That was way back before Straka

made her way into local television. She was his first girlfriend.

"Pamela Mwezi better known as Straka was my first girlfriend. "We met

at a certain school show, which a friend of mine had organised. Pamela

used to rap those days.

She was still a young girl then," Kidfox recalls. At this particular

show, all they did was exchange formal courtesies but Fox confesses

she was a beauty to behold. He had an eye on her but was quite a shy

guy.

Meanwhile, a good number of guys (big stars now) also had an eye on

her but for some reason, her eyes were glued on Kidfox. "She was this

young, slender, beautiful girl with a nice figure and glowing eyes. So

when we finished making our rounds on stage, I decided to take another

look at her and well, I landed but could not let it out. We chatted a

bit. I didn't know what to do. I was really raw when it came to

relationships".

For fear of having to compete with all these many guys, Kidfox gave up

and tried to silently deal with the crush he had had on Straka. On the

contrary, Straka seemed not to be interested in any of the many guys

that were interested in her. She had her eyes on Kidfox.

Like luck could have it, Pamela made her intentions known. She then

upcoming artiste. Before long, the magic had worked out.

Pamela was such a sweet girl and with the nice accompanying luring

sweet messages she sent him, Fox was soon hooked. Before she could

perform a song, she would dedicate it to Kidfox. He found love was all

about being open and expressive. Soon he found out it was time to stop

playing the dodgy little games. Interesting enough, some of his

friends put him under pressure to give in.

So one day while at home, Boogie Woogie (Amooti of Amarula Family)

brought Pamela home for a casual visit."She was serious and determined

for us to have something concrete moving. We were together for three

years," Fox recollects. As a young couple, they managed to understand

each other. Both of them were still breaking through in local showbiz

and frankly owned nothing much. Kidfox was still at Makerere

University.

Straka's talent started landing her good money as an emcee at some of

the joints like Sabrina's pub and DV8 bistro. Soon, they moved out and

started a life on their own. "We were both willing to learn from each

other. It was a little hard in the beginning but with time, I started

hooking deals with big companies for promotions and we managed to

survive."

The walk to stardom Straka tried her luck at WBS television, not only

for her career development but also to improve their status as couple.

She was a very hardworking young girl.

She was patient too. "I used to drink out with the boys but she was

patient and really compassionate. I would always find her waiting for

me.

She was really serious about our relationship irrespective of the many

guys that were still after her," says Kidfox. As a young couple, they

would freely talk about everything plus helping each other out. Fox

would give her some tips on how best she could present her show.

But like fate would have it, soon Straka was getting older and more

exposed. Back at home, Kidfox and Straka wrote applications but it was

not easy as she was tossed up and down at WBS till she decided to go

ahead and see the Managing Director, Gordon Wavamunno, who was

somewhat impressed by her confidence and gave her the benefit of

doubt. She started working at WBS television.

Hitting the snag"I started smelling a rat when they brought this guy

Charles Oimuke on T.V who once presented African Rhythms. Meanwhile, I

guess I was spending more of my time with my friends and not giving

enough care so I think this guy (Charles) got enough space," Fox

recounts.

In fact, Kidfox initially thought Charles was lining her for another

guy, I was later to learn the bitter truth. Soon, they began hanging

out together which only affirmed Fox's fears that Charles could have

had intentions of moving out with his girlfriend, Straka. "One night,

I retired before her and when I called her, in the background were

some of her friends saying all these bad things about me. I was hurt

and simply switched off the phone," says Fox.

The relationship went from bad to worse and the two had to separate.

She later had a child with Charles. She moved on while Fox lost ground

in the music industry.

"It was time for me to go back to my kind of crowd, my down to earth

friends. I concentrated on the completion of my degree. Meanwhile, I

also went back home to stay with my parents."

When he saw the lightWhen he returned home, it was yet another battle.

His family had never liked the idea of him moving out with Straka. For

his sisters, she had taken away all the attention and for the parents,

they were too young to start a life on their own.

Plus, his family is born-again and he had messed up his life. With the

help of his sisters, he decided to get saved, which he says has

changed his lifestyle. "I used to smoke and take weed (marijuana) as

well as drink but I have managed to change my life around to stop

doing them all."

He is now focussed on making a greater mark on the local and