Azeezah Hashim is a media personality and emcee.
At 26, emcee and voice-over artist Azeezah Hashim has already worked at two leading TV stations and a radio station. Despite initially being hesitant about her husky voice, Ms Hashim has become one of the youngest and most sought-after emcees today.
Her husky voice, blended with her natural charisma, engaging approach, and vibrant aura, has afforded her the opportunity to host some of the biggest events in Kenya and the region.
She now dreams of hosting the BET Awards. Initially, she dreamed of studying medicine or engineering or becoming a pilot. She had even enrolled in a university in Dubai, but her family faced financial difficulties.
Voiceover artiste Azeezah Hashim. She will host the ‘Overdose Diaspora Edition Party’ at the Replay, Broadwalk Mall Westlands.
When do you rest?
As we speak, I am at the airport heading to Dubai for work. I will be there for the next four days. I return on Friday for my TV show, then prepare for a Saturday gig. I will be emceeing the UEFA Champions League Final viewing party that will be graced by South African A-listers Nasty C and Casper Nyovest.
You still haven’t answered me, Ms Hashim…
(Laughs) Sorry about that. As you can see, my mind is all about work, work, work. Well, because of how tight my schedule always is, I sleep a lot during the day. Rarely do I pick calls as I need to recharge and be ready for evenings and nights when most of my gigs happen.
These overflowing gigs seem to find you easily, don't they?
Not really, although it appears as such. Yes, there are gigs that I get approached for, but the bulk of the jobs are the ones I go chasing after myself. I am one girl who is never embarrassed to reach out and ask for jobs. In fact, at this very moment, I have intensified the hustle because I am no longer under management. It is just me and my manager.
Hold on, are you saying that you've cut ties with Kaka Empire Management?
It was just a one-year contract which ended months ago, and we both chose not to extend it.
Was there…?
There was no issue if that’s what you're getting at. We are very good. It was a business decision for both parties and we remain good friends with King Kaka and everybody else who is part of the management stable.
You were already doing okay, had enough gigs before you sought a management stable…
I was, but I needed to learn a couple of things. I have always been good at looking for jobs, but I felt I lacked the proper knowledge on how to professionally approach this. I learned how to put out a pitch, a proposal, how to read and interpret a contract, how to negotiate for fair terms, PR, brand management, marketing, and things like that. The one year was good enough to walk me through that journey.
Does it mean your rate card has just gone up now?
It hasn’t changed really because I am still establishing myself and the brand I am trying to build. It might seem like I have been doing this for a very long time, but it’s only been a few years, hardly five. So I wouldn’t say I am seasoned.
Azeezah Wanjiru Hashim describes herself as a media Messiah. The 23-year-old is NTV’s Teen Replublik host, a radio presenter at NRG radio and a voice-over artist. Photo | Pool
How then did you split revenue?
I wouldn’t want to go into details of the contract but essentially, there were percentages. We had a split sheet of the revenue from the gigs that the management brought in but for the jobs I looked for, every shilling was mine.
Have you ever been shafted by a manager?
Boy, it happens all the time. It’s the name of the game. You get a gig and the next thing you know, somebody else has your gig. But I never whine about it, I move on like the good gospel. I always see such situations as a redirection to greater things. I am a great believer that what is meant for you will always find you.
You got your dream car already, right?
I’m still working on getting my first car but definitely at some point I will own my dream car, a Jeep Wrangler. A huge car for a small girl. Picture me in it, what do you think?
Enough of that, are you still open to being a second wife?
(Laughs) Ooh yes! Nothing has changed. I don’t have a problem with that, being a second wife, it’s quite normal, we are Africans. I didn’t understand why Kenyans found it weird when I said I am down for it.
Any suitors already? I would love to attend your wedding…
Of course suitors are there, they will always be. But for now, I have been so occupied with the paper chase that I haven’t had time to pay attention to these suitors. Let me first build my wealth, because when you have something going on for yourself, you become contented. After that I can look around and see which prince charms me the most. Isn’t that a good idea?
