THE TV SCREEN TESTS THAT TESTED MY LIFE
A THREAD
As I boarded the British Airways flight to take up a new job at the BBC in London, my mind went back to the words of one of the elderly... #WhoHeldMyHand
The fact that many people, some of them strangers, came to bid me farewell was a reminder that my career was not mine, it was theirs too... #WhoHeldMyHand
“That’s our son speaking on the radio,” were words that were frequently used about me. All this kept me grounded and helped me develop strict rules for my brand from those early days.
I was born a storyteller. Old folk in my village tell me that from around the age of five I regaled them with endless tales – a combination of my observations and imagination. In class, I would not shut up.
By the age of 14 I had a weekly publication. It was called "Kushusha Journalist," an article that was handwritten on a page torn from my school exercise book and circulated to my classmates.
I also had a lunchtime ‘radio’ show at school. After lunch I took over the music system in the school assembly hall. #WhoHeldMyHand
The answer was simple:
#WhoHeldMyHand
Problem number two: I did not have relatives in high places or with deep pockets. Hardly anyone in the context of Kenya at the time would pay any attention to a boy born of an unknown single mother, #WhoHeldMyHand
Whenever I got a chance to record a screen test, I unleashed such a performance that there would be no room for a decision by VAR (video assisted referee). #WhoHeldMyHand
The biggest problem was that in an era with no mobile phones, no internet and no emails, every communication was done by letter, #WhoHeldMyHand
Before he’d even warmed his seat at VoK, I sent him a letter requesting an appointment. Miraculously, he wrote back and invited me to his office. Armed with all my previous communication with VoK bosses I explained my two-year struggle...
Nyamboki immediately summoned the Controller of Radio Programmes and said to him “Test this young man, and if he has anything to offer let’s make use of him.” #WHoHeldMyHand
Cornelius Nyamboki did not know me. He’d never seen me before. I did not pay him a bribe. #WhoHeldMyHand
Yet he opened the door for me to enter the Voice of Kenya as a freelance news anchor. #WhoHeldMyHand
#WhoHeldMyHand
1.Someone has to take a risk to open a door to the world of your dreams.
2.You should never tire of knocking on doors or iron gates... #WHoHeldMyHand
5. You have a responsibility to take the risk and open doors for others, especially young people at the start of their career #WhoHeldMyHand
#WhoHeldMyHand
For now, whenever I’m tempted to fly above the clouds puffed up with an air of invincibility, ...
#WhoHeldMyHand
“Go well son, and never forget where you come from.”
Ends…..
#WhoHeldMyHand
Take care of yourselves.