Exclusive Interview

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Stara Thomas: Embodying the African Woman

When I first called Stara to ask for an interview, I did not disclose to her that I was a year junior to her at the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, where we were occasionally teamed up during school concerts. After I introduced myself as a journalist from The Express, she agreed to give me an exclusive interview at her place.
Next day, I arrived at her place and there she was, dressed in a simple denim jeans and a shirt with her hair neatly done in a modern African way. She was nothing like the Stara I knew ten years ago, tom-boy looks, carefree and extremely loud.

The Express: Hi, I am Fatima from The Express
Stara: Hi! I think I know you. Did you study at Mzizima?

The Express: Yes. I was a year behind you.
Stara: I remember you. Welcome right in.
Leading me to the drawing room, Stara introduced me to her husband Gabriel with feelings of pride and respect for him. There was tenderness in her voice and she portrayed a pure African woman.

The Express: How did you get in to singing?
Stara: I always enjoyed singing in school concerts outside school I used to sing in a live band known as In Africa Band at Kilimanjaro Hotel when I was still in school, but in 1999 I decided to seriously get into music in terms of making my own songs and releasing my albums.

The Express: How do you feel being a super star?
Stara: It’s a big responsibility. You can’t say no to your fans. I can decide to go for an outing with my husband and my daughter Nicole and the moment we arrive I get people calling me, surrounding me, some want to shake hands, while others try to put their arms around me for a hug and you just have to be diplomatic. That’s the only rule of the game.

The Express: Is that too much for Mr Gabriel to digest?
Stara: Sometimes, But hey he is a really good husband and smart too. He doesn’t entertain gossip about me. You see honesty in a relationship is very important even if you are famous…you have to be honest. It’s the only thing that can make your marriage strong.

The Express: When you got in to music in mid 90’s there weren’t many female singers doing the ‘Bongo flavour’ style. Was it difficult for you?
Stara: Challenges are there even today. At that time I was being asked “Can you make it?” I asked myself why not? If I could sing in a band I can sing in a studio. I have my own style, I sing in Zouk style with a bit of Bongo Flavour in it.

The Express: In all your public performances and even your videos you have always maintained a certain dress code, aren’t you interested in branding yourself as the so called “J- Lo”?
(Laughter)
Stara: I can wear short dresses, but that is not music; music is in your head not your body. As long as I can sing and people like my songs I don’t think I have to market my songs by exposing my body. Besides, I have a responsibility towards my child, it is important that I set a good example for her just the way my mother did to me. I am an African woman and I am proud of it. I don’t have to be J- Lo, I am Stara.

The Express: Who is Stara?
The Express: She is just like any other woman; she cooks, cleans, washes dishes, looks after her family and she is hard working. Running a family is not a joke you need to be strong. I believe African women have all it needs to run a family.

The Express: Who designs your clothes?
Stara: I don’t have any designer in particular. I pick my own clothes from the shops, to suit the occasion and my taste.

The Express: What about those eyes?
Stara: (Unable to control her laughter) I know. Even when I am performing I can tell that people are staring at my eyes. They are not staring at me but my eyes. I have big eyes (giggling as she speaks) I like to wear a simple make up but I am very particular about my eye make up. I thank mummy.

The Express: For what?
Stara: She had beautiful eyes, I inherited them.
(There is a gradual change in her voice) Mummy was a fighter I wish she was here we would have been best friends. (Stara’s mother was a great support to her during the early years of her singing career. Her parents had an interracial marriage, both are now dead.)

The Express: How was it growing up in two different cultures?
Stara: It was confusing, but mummy tried a lot to give us the best. She was a fighter in life and always shining. She made us strong. Our parents gave us a life free of suffering.

The Express: Lets talk about the school days, Why did you throw a book on the headmaster’s face that day? (Stara, once overwhelmed with her anger had thrown a book at the headmaster, an incident that had become a legend for a long time)
Stara:I didn’t realise what I was doing, I was just a teenager. I was very naughty in school but now I have changed. I guess responsibilities transform you into a different person. Mr Thind (the Headmaster) knew me as Matatizo tu. (Trouble). Late coming, noise making, truancy you name it. But he also helped me a lot. Now that I am able to comprehend what he was telling me, it makes sense.

The Express:If he shows up at your door step right now, what is the first thing you would want to say to him?
Stara: Thank you. I’ll thank him for the good advice he gave me. You know despite all the scolding he wrote in my school certificates that I am a good singer.
Currently, Stara is working on her third album that she is planning to send in next year’s Kora awards for nomination. So far she has won the Kilimanjaro Music Award for Best Female Vocalist in Tanzania in 2002 and a second runners up Big Sister award last year.