Big Ted narrates Jose Chameleone's journey to stardom after hardships in South B

13 April 2024

• Jose Chameleone started his music career in Kenya before moving back to Uganda.

• Jose Chameleone one of the greatest songwriters and singers.

Thomas Kwaka aka Big Ted has shared little-known details about Singer Jose Chameloene’s journey to stardom and how their friendship was born.

In a lengthy Instagram post dubbed “Story Time” Kwaka went down memory lane – reflecting on how Chameleone’s music career started in 1996.

He reveals that the Valu Valu hitmaker started as a DJ before transitioning into music in 1998 after he had relocated to Kenya for greener pastures.

“José Chameleone one of the greatest songwriters and singers. Jose Chameleone's career, began in 1996 as a DJ at the Missouri night club in Kampala. He became active as a musician in 1998 in Kenya with the Ogopa Deejays, then a Kenyan record label, which released his first single, "Bageya," featuring Kenyan artist Redsan,” Big Ted started his story time.

Ted went on to narrate that before linking up with Jose he had already met Bebe Cool who was also from Uganda.

“I had previously met an artist called Bebe Cool Who had come to seek greener pastures in Kenya and after a few months told me that his friend called Josehp "Jose" had shown interest in coming to Kenya, see Bebe had found great fame performing at Miss Kenya pageants run then by famed Dr Nyamu (papa results ).

Dr. Nyamu, through an introduction of our boy @tonygatheca, who was then working for @capitalfmkenya sales with the legendary @kiambaandrewmwololo@mavungo_ so with my boys @bigkevkenya RIP,@dickylights@leakeyodera found employment at Dimples entertainment. I digress,” he narrated.

He went on to say;

“So one day, Bebe tells me that his friend Jose has arrived in Nairobi by some bus company @akambabuscompany, BUT he did not have a place to stay. At that time, the 4 of us and our lawyer fresh from India @maurice_mwande_okoth lived in one house in South B (B 140 ) now Bebe had been crashing at our house for a meeting and we took up the new camper,”.

At the time, Big Ted was getting to know Jose Chameleone properly he was managing Kenya’s Redsan, Longombas, and Masengo.

“So, I started my brotherhood with @jchameleon.During that time, I was managing an emerging profiling artist called @redsanmusic (a story for another day). I was also managing @prophetlovy @masengoleboyomais. And our angel bro @christian Longomba," he noted.

He finished his story by a revelation of how the East Africa Bashment group was born

“I put together the biggest group of our time the original East Africa Bashment Redsan - Chameleon & Bebe Cool. Together, we toured the whole of Kenya ! Almost got beaten to a pulp by the Gumo brothers in Kitale anyway we did it.

“One day as we waited to go home Jose came to test his hit song @mama Mia at the Kencom bus stop in one of the callboxes and the rest as they say is history,” Ted said.

Since, then, Big Ted and Jose Chameleone have remained to be good friends.