Jua Cali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jua Cali
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Jua Cali during a photo shoot for his album, Ngeli ya Genge in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Julius Nunda |
| Born | 12 September 1979 Nairobi, Kenya |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Calif |
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Paul Julius Nunda (born September 12, 1979), known as Jua Cali, is a famous Kenyan rapper and music producer. In 2000, he started Calif Records with his friend Clemo. This record label became very popular. Jua Cali's music, along with artists like Jose Chameleone from Uganda and Mr. Nice from Tanzania, was very big in East African music. Jua Cali sings in Swahili and Sheng. His style of rapping is called genge, which is a popular Kenyan music style.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Jua Cali was born in Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya. His parents, Doreen and Evans Onditi, were both schoolteachers. He grew up in California Estate, a place in Nairobi, and had a strict Catholic upbringing.
Discovering His Talent
Jua Cali started rapping when he was just 10 years old. His older brother, Christopher Sati, encouraged him to pursue music. As a teenager, Jua Cali was quite shy and didn't socialize much.
Education and Early Dreams
He went to Ainsworth Primary School and Shepherds Junior Buruburu. Later, he attended Jamuhuri High School. He then studied at the Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (K.C.I.T.I) in Eastleigh. There, he earned a diploma in Information technology. During this time, he also played basketball. He hoped to join the Kenyan National Basketball Team but felt his height held him back.
Forming Calif Records
Before Calif Records, Jua Cali sang in a band called 'Sita Futi'. This band broke up soon after it started. After that, Jua Cali and his close friend Jemmoh were left. The other members decided to do other things outside of music.
Calif Records was created when Jua Cali and his childhood friend Clemo teamed up. Their record label quickly became a "hit factory." It became very well-known in the East African music scene. They produced many chart-topping artists and songs. Calif Records also created the Genge style of Kenyan hip hop. Jua Cali often says his brother, Chris, and his parents were his biggest inspirations in life.
Music Career Highlights
Jua Cali's first recorded song was "Ruka," released in 2001. He followed this with "Nipe Asali" in 2002. In 2004, he worked with Pilipili on the song "Kamata Dame." Like many Kenyan artists, it took a few years for him to release his first full album.
First Album Success
His album "Juacali Sekta" came out in 2006. It included many songs he had released before as singles. His song "Kwaheri," which featured Sainapei Tande, was a huge hit in Kenya in 2007. Sainapei Tande was a winner of the Coca-Cola pop star competition and a radio presenter.
Later Albums and Recognition
At the end of 2008, Jua Cali released a new album called Ngeli ya Genge. He has performed in the United States and other countries. In August 2007, The Standard newspaper named him one of the 100 most influential Kenyans.
Meaning Behind His Name
His stage name, Jua Cali, comes from California, an area in Nairobi. This is also where Calif Records got its name. "Jua" means "Know" in Swahili. So, his name can mean "Know California." It also sounds like Jua Kali, a Swahili term for "fierce sun." This term is used to describe Kenya's informal sector of the economy.
Recent Music
Jua Cali has released new songs with a producer named Keggah, who is based in the United States. These songs include "Karibu Nairobi" and "Kuna Sheng." Both songs have been played a lot on the radio and have received good reviews.
Brand Partnerships
Jua Cali is not only a talented musician but also very successful in business. This is because young people and adults both enjoy his music.
Motorola Partnership
In 2007, he became the first Kenyan artist to get a major endorsement deal. He signed a deal with the mobile phone company Motorola for their W model phones. This deal was reportedly worth a lot of money each year. Motorola saw him as a great choice. Joanne Doyle, Motorola's marketing manager for East Africa, said that Jua Cali was a "great ambassador." She added that he represents creativity, style, and substance, just like Motorola.
Orange Mobile Partnership
Jua Cali is one of the most successful artists in Kenya when it comes to endorsements and how much he earns per show. In early 2009, Telkom Kenya chose him to be the Orange Ambassador for their youth market. He started a one-year contract by leading the 'hello tunes' advertising campaign. Following the success of the Kenyan Rugby Sevens team, Orange made a series of short commercials about Rugby. These commercials featured top Kenyan rugby players and the genge artist. Other artists from his label, Mejja, Jimwat, and their producer Clemo, also appeared in these commercials.
Pamoja Mtaani Game
Pamoja Mtaani means "together in the hood" in Swahili. It is a video game from Kenya created by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game is about a group of young people who work together to overcome challenges in an East African city. The game also has a message about HIV prevention. Players learn about risks and self-confidence through the game's adventures. Jua Cali recorded the game's main song, "City in the Sun."
Other Partnerships
Jua Cali has also been part of other big advertisements. These include ads for Protex bath soap and Pilsner beer, which have brought him a lot of money. He is also an ambassador for the Bloodlink Foundation Kenya. Bloodlink Foundation Kenya is a non-profit organization in Kenya. It works to help Kenyans achieve better health and a better quality of life. They do this by working with communities, companies, and public groups.
Music Albums
- JuacaliSekta (October 2006)
- Ngeli ya Genge (December 2008)
- TuGenge Yajayo(December 2013)
- Mali Ya Umma (September 2019)
Awards and Nominations
Jua Cali has won many awards for his music.
Awards Won
- 2006 Kisima Music Awards – Best Male Artist in Boomba style
- 2007 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards (CHAT Awards) – Best Male Artist and Celebrity of the Year
- 2007 Kisima Music Awards – Best Male Artist and Best Boomba Male Artist
- 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) – Best Male Artist (Kenya)
- 2008 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards – Favorite Male Artist, Best Live Stage Performance, and Best Collaboration Song ("Kwaheri" with Sainapei)
Awards Nominated For
- 2006 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards – nominated in three categories
- 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards – Best Africa Act
- 2007 MOBO Awards
- 2008 Tanzania Music Awards – Best East African Song ("Kwaheri")
- 2008 MTV Africa Music Awards – Best Male Artist
