H_art the Band: We are grateful to Julie Gichuru

Celebrated Kenyan boy group H_art the Band has extended their gratitude to media personality Julie Gichuru for realizing their potential and rewarding them at a time when they were bearing the brunt of poverty and coyness.

Recalling a 2013 incident when they graced Julie’s wedding anniversary celebration and performed in it after big musical acts had taken to the stage, the afro-pop ensemble says the media personality was impressed by their recital and gave them Ksh50, 000.

She later asked her driver to take them at the city’s Central Business District (CBD).

In a lengthy Instagram post, H_art the Band recounted the day that they received the “biggest amount of money in their lives (back then).”

They wrote: “Someone (Julie Gichuru), a prominent media personality, heard us sing @fatumasvoice and decided to invite us to her wedding anniversary celebration.

“We had never performed anywhere else other than in the streets so, this was going to be a big event to us. We went around our neighborhood and borrowed a few clothes here and there just to look presentable plus called on our band members to escort us just in case.

“On reaching the venue, we could not believe our eyes the party was huge – we felt under-dressed but we were there already so we put our chins up. Kidum was first on stage *Oh God Why??? *Performing for almost 2hrs.

“Time was moving fast, it was midnight all of a sudden and we started having doubts as to if we will get a chance to perform. We started panicking the host was nowhere to be seen. We really wanted a chance to perform before the guests started leaving.

“After minutes of panic, we got a chance to play one song woo-hoo! We poured our H_ RT s on the stage that night with just that one song #UlizaKiatu. From the young to the aged we could see them dance and enjoy the song. We were so proud of ourselves.”

“After stepping offstage, she (Julie Gichuru) paid us a whooping 50,000 in cash! We couldn’t believe it, what just one song? Here is the best part, we had never seen such an amount of money in our Life so, we called the host aside and requested her to call us a taxi *psst we were rich now* Imagine instead of calling a taxi, she called her driver and we were driven to town in a RANGE ROVER *you understand why it is in Caps, yes??? *”

“The story doesn’t end there. We get to town like bosses but how do we get home now. We have never had such an amount. We were paranoid. We decide to go to one place and sleep there just for security reasons.”

“Shoekran sana @juliegichuru for showing us that every dream is valid #JahBless.” (sic)