By FEMI SALAWU
Whenever he struts out of his N13.4million worth Porsche 911 Carrera, the picture that looms large is that of opulence. But unknown to many, especially his teeming fans Michael Collins Ajereh famously known as Don Jazzy once hawked on the streets of Ajegunle, Lagos, for his struggling parents before fame and fortune smiled on him through entertainment.
Don Jazzy was a street hawker selling fried bean cake balls (Akara) and plantain on the bumpy roads of popular Lagos ghetto of Ajegunle.
In this special report, Entertainment Express brings you the rags to riches tale of 10 celebrities, who once hawked various items on the streets including sachet water, ice cream, recharge cards and fried bean cakes among others before hitting fame.
Timaya (Artiste)
To further demonstrate his triumph over poverty, self styled Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Enitemi Alfred Odom famously known as Timaya waxed a song entitled Plantain Boy.
Ironically, the Malonogedede crooner was raised by a banker father who had 14 other kids to worry about. But exuberance drove the singer away from home at the young age of 14.
“I was stubborn and had this big dream. My father wanted me to become a banker like him but I had other ideas,” he recalls.
“At one time, I was even hawking plantain to earn a living, of which I am proud of today because there is pride in legitimate hard work,” he confessed.
Ibrahim Chatta (Actor)
The talented Yoruba actor cum director and script writer has had his fair share of rough patches in life. Hear him, “I suffered so much while growing up but the truth is that past experiences helps in one way or another. I hawked ice cream, doughnuts and even worked as a bus conductor. I don’t have any regrets.”
Holymallam (Comedian)
“My father had to sell our house in Festac and we moved to Okoko. He could no longer pay my school fees. In fact, I was hawking bread and sometimes my classmates would see me on the streets and laugh at me,” recollects Ajibola Adebayo otherwise known as Holymallam.
Indeed it was an ‘unholy’ experience for the highflying comedian cum singer.
“It really affected my self-esteem and brought me face to face with the true meaning of embarrassment and intimidation. I also sold eggs and pure water to make ends meet. There were times we lost the respect people had for my family,” he adds with an air of triumph.
Chuddy K (Artiste)
For Chuddy Ken Aghali otherwise known as Chuddy K, it came with the terrain. The Gaga Crazy crooner grew up on the notorious streets of Ajegunle. Life for the talented singer was tough. “I once sold Pure Water on the streets of Ajegunle,” he once confessed.
After the success of his debut song entitled Slow Slow, things have changed for Chuddy K, who now resides among wealthy neighbours in Ajah area of Lagos.
Don Jazzy (Producer/ Artiste)
“My brother, I dey sell Akara before o. The memory is still fresh in my head,” that was his shocking confession. It was during one of his chitchat sessions with his over 740,000 fans on Twitter.
Yet the Mavin Records head-honcho who Forbes Africa ranks among the 10 top richest entertainers in Africa wasn’t done. Asked by another fan if he sold other commodities, the defunct co-founder of Mo’Hits Records revealed that he also sold, “Akamu, Agidi, fried yam and plantain.”
Yaw (OAP/ Comedian)
Hawking sachet water on the streets of Lagos was the ticket to survival for Wazobia FM On Air-Personality (OAP), Steve Onu popularly known as Yaw. Yaw was pitched against the harsh realities of abject poverty.
Sometimes ago, the talented actor was a bus conductor. “It got to a point in my life that things were really tough and I had to take to the streets. I did (bus) conductor a couple of times. I sold pure water at Yaba market and did some okrika things then…”
Solid Star (Artiste)
After losing his Grandma and father, life took a new turn for the Isoko, Delta State born singer. Those were days of humble beginnings and harsh realities.
“It was just me and my elder brother,” he recalls. The Skibo and Omotena crooner added, “So after I finished Secondary school I had to do something to survive. I started hawking at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). I was hawking meat pie and sachet water (popularly known as pure water).”
Kcee (Artiste)
Kingsley Okonkwo or Kcee has had his own share of poverty on the streets of Lagos. The former member of the music duo, KC Presh stared poverty in the face.
“It was extremely difficult growing up on the streets of Ajegunle,” he confessed. Things got so bad for the Limpopo crooner. “There were moments when Molue drivers threatened me, Presh and E-money because the three of us would lap ourselves in the bus. I had to resort into selling CDs and cassette players to earn a living,” he adds.
Elenu (Comedian)
“I worked as a casual staff at Nigerian Bottling Company. I worked at building sites as a labourer. I sold recharge cards. I made phone calls. I worked as a bus conductor,” narrates Akinlami Babatunde Julius, famously known as Elenu.
“I worked as a hired hand to offload goods from trucks and containers – rice, groundnut oils and so on. I was not this chubby then, but I was strong.”
Mercy Johnson (Actress)
“I remember how we moved into an uncompleted building and had to take cover whenever it rained because of the condition of the house,” the Kogi State-born thespian painfully recalls.
Mercy Johnson stopped short of revealing her experience on the streets where she once hawked sachet water to survive.