Princess Farida Mahfudh- The ‘music’ in my waistline

Her Swahili melodies and belly gyrating dances made her a household name as the ‘Queen of Chakacha.’ Now immersed in the in the gospel industry, ‘Princess Farida’ (Farida Mahfudh) moves even more people with her Christian hits. ‘Well, her life only gets better as she tells Babylove Network about a different kind of music going on within her.

At a prestigious Nairobi hotel where I met with this diva, the tastefully furnished suite was spacious with a flat screen TV playing soft gospel music. Resting on a sofa with her feet propped up, she was evidently comfortable. We exchanged pleasantries and I noticed that she still looked her best with her freshly manicured nails. I joined her on the couch and we started our conversation.

In truth, Farida did not plan to get pregnant at the time she did. She and her husband had other plans. ‘One evening in October last year, I got sick and immediately suspected malaria. The next day, a visit to the doctor confirmed that contrary to my suspicions, I was pregnant! Although the news took me by surprise, I accepted it and was happy nonetheless, knowing that ultimately, since God had allowed it to happen, his plans were for my own good,’ she remarks.

So how has this pregnancy changed her? Well, unlike her first, this experience has been more relaxing and she notes that she did not fall victim to the dreaded mood-swings. ‘I am much friendlier!’ she beams. She no longer overreacts at small issues. Her friend’s comments about her weight or how far along she is to deliver no longer bother her.

Indeed, the weight has come, though she is much smaller compared to her first pregnancy, where she says she was ‘huge’. Her skin color has also darkened, making her really akin to the ‘African Queen’ she has been referred to as.

What’s so different about this pregnancy?
This pregnancy has been all smooth-a roll down the hill for Farida. ‘I have had no scares unlike my first pregnancy which I ended up miscarrying.’ Her next pregnancy had her under house arrest for the entire nine months, as the doctor had prescribed bed-rest. But look at her now. All active confessing that she has never stayed in the house because of sickness. All this she attributes to her faith and especially to a prophetic word told to her, where she was rebuked for embracing fear-citing her past pregnancy experiences. Her accepting the reprimand has seen her this far-with the easiest pregnancy ever.

Do her emotions spiral out of control?
‘No. I have better control of my feelings. Unlike in my previous pregnancy where anything my husband said would annoy me, I want to see him all the time. I am also more aware and in control of what is happening around me, unlike my earlier pregnancies where my friends were not always close by, so I had to find out things for myself. ‘ Regrettably, she has had to give up a most prized thing-perfume. ‘I don’t want to smell any perfume at all!’ she adds laughing. ‘It makes me not even think straight,’ she continues. When she comes across the scent in public, she says she holds her breath, tries to do what she has to do there at lightening speed and scram off for dear oxygen.’My husband has since stopped using cologne,’ she says amusedly.

She also no longer drinks Fanta and has been responsible enough to make high heels a no-no! She craves chicken, chicken, and more chicken. ‘I can eat chicken any time!’ she chuckles.

Any challenges for this song bird? 
‘None. So far, so good,’ says seven months pregnant Farida. She says the only challenge is when she is on stage and feels the need to match the song with that much desired move. It of course doesn’t pull through. But she is having it easy-so much that she sometimes gets carried away by the tunes only to say ‘oops … 1 am pregnant!’ and resolve to her gently but highly rhythmic side to side sway.

How about motherhood?
She says her two experiences have made her more mature and definitely less worried. She has learnt a lot from her first born, Shekinah Angel (where Shekinah means, ‘The glory of God’) who will be turning three in June this year. Faridah now knows when a baby is sick, hungry or tired, and how to go about it. She also has a very supportive husband, who makes motherhood easier. She says he ‘spoils’ her. Her family and friends are not left out of this equation either.

Plans for the baby?
‘I want my baby to be God-fearing, bright, loving, polite, sweet, lovable and someone in the society.’ She says she hasn’t made any shopping plans for baby in terms of clothes since she has not confirmed the baby’s gender. ‘If it is a boy I will name him Moses after my father-in-law who just passed on. We would like to carryon his name. If it is a Girl, we will name her Hadassah-a word from the Bible meaning a powerful woman of God.

A word for the expectant?
Farida is an avid pro-life supporter and does not recommend abortion under whatever circumstances. ‘You are carrying a human being. Carry the pregnancy, no matter how difficult it is. Just trust in God,’ she says with a lot of conviction. You can find this celebrated gospel artist in her salon or on a stage doing- what she does best-giving you rhythmic soul food, if not telling you of Christ’s good news as it is. Farida has also recently released her new album Kiumbe Kipya, (New Creature). There you have it. The former ‘Queen of Chakacha’ revealed in different music.

END: PG 31 /24-27