Five years ago, Caroline Wanjiku, aka Teacher Wanjiku, was in the big leagues. Her meteoritic rise to the top seemed unstoppable. Then she made one decision that saw it all come crushing down. She speaks to ANDANJE WOBANDA about her struggle to get back on top of things and her new Wa John comedy series.
Caroline Wanjiku Tharau is always early. On the day of our shoot, she shot me a text. ‘I am here. Pole I am a bit early.’ She was a whole hour early.
‘I have always been an early bird; it was instilled in me by my mother. We were never allowed to be late for anything from dinner to functions,’ she says.
For our interview at the Clarence Hotel, a day later, she is still an hour early. I find her in a small cubicle on the 7th-floor restaurant enjoying her mukimo and beef stew. ‘I love their mukimo,’ she informs me of pushing her plate to the side after a few minutes. She’s casual in a pink dress with matching brogues and a black trench coat with her signature big curly hair.
Her conversation with True Love in January 2014, covered her rise as Teacher Wanjiku, her love triangle with her then-boyfriend... and now husband of four years and her hopes for her next project. But since then, she has been married, had another child, come from the brink of oblivion and added another character (Auntie wa Harrier) to her comedy arsenal.
But before all this, she was just a kid who loved singing. ‘I was born and raised in Huruma estate in Eastlands in a two-roomed house. People can’t believe I grew up there because of how I turned out. But it was possible because I had a strict mom,’ she says. Caroline talks slowly, clearly enunciating every word just like a teacher would. Her stern features are perhaps what makes her character Teacher Wanjiku so convincing. ‘Yes I am stern, but I am also very nice and understanding.’ She says.
Denne historien er fra July 2019-utgaven av TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 2019-utgaven av TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RADIO HEADS
Known for their pleasant voices and eloquent English, Cate Sidede, Terry Muikamba and Anne Mwaura open up about life on air, their personal struggles and why they love radio.
WHY SO INSECURE?
Creating false realities inside your head based on assumptions is highly likely in any relationship. PRISCILLA WAIRIMU says acknowledging this is a problem is the first step in the right direction.
TOGETHER, APART
Are you in a long-distance relationship? Are you tired of hearing all the messages of doom from people who swear your relationship is bound to fail? ALISON SIFUMA shows you how to foster your connection despite the space between.
THE BEAT KILLER
Amos Njenga Chege aka Magix Enga, on producing, forgiving Harmonize for sampling his beats and finally getting into singing.
THE ANTI-SOCIAL STORY TELLER
Muigai Mwangi aka Ndugu Abisai, 30 loves the art of storytelling. He speaks on his love for chai, his biggest fear as a writer and the Soap opera he is currently writing.
The Making Of A Popstar
Her first EP (Extended Play Record) is ruling the airwaves and Tanasha Donna wants you to know that despite her heartbreak and being a new mom she is on her way to superstardom.
IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP FUN?
A relationship can sometimes feel boring. This is a phase that comes and goes. However there are certain circumstances where feelings of relationship boredom are not a phase but are permanent.
MANAGING YOUR ANXIETY
Anxiety is like a toddler, it never stops talking, tells you constantly that it wants its own way, and keeps you up when you are trying to sleep.
INDOOR CAMPING
No indoor plans for the Easter Holiday? MERCY RAPHA shows you how to make indoor camping a forever memory for your kids.
6 FUN HOUSE-BOUND ACTIVITIES
Stuck with the kids at home this lockdown season? MERCY RAPHA gives you fun activities to turn boredom into bonding time.