When celebrities ignore old friends

By Salome Gregory
It was an evening that had a lot of promise as aspiring models looked forward to a great day that would probably shape their lives in  a career that very few have managed a breakthrough.

The setting was at the ‘Mimi ni Kisura, Najitambua’ at the Movepick Hotel now Serena, alongside young models; there were also local designers who were set to showcase their collections to high end fashionistas.

Though tickets were on sale there was an invite only section and gauging by the guest list, it was an event that had sieved the best.

And like most social gatherings the moments before the event was time for playing catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while and even hook up new alliances.

On that night I had been invited by my elder sister, Anna who had personal reasons to be there. When we entered the hotel lobby she all of a sudden started beaming at a certain beauty who was seated quite close.

As I was informed later, she was a former beauty queen who had turned to music at the time.

Unfortunately, despite the two having known one another well from their days as contestants at the Miss Kinondoni and later on at Miss Tanzania camp very little transpired.

Later that evening, as she was passing close to our table my sister stood up, smiled at her, called her nickname, she stopped for a while then walked on.

Anna took a deep sigh with rejection written all over her face; according to her it was the most embarrassing  moment in her life on fast lane.

Though Anna’s case happened several years ago it is not an isolated case as more celebrities continue to ignore friends who were close pals in their days of obscurity.

According to some circles it is the belief that as one ascends the social ladders there is  a need to shake off unwanted company.

This is because such interactions always tend to be a distraction to one as some of these guys might not lend any value to one’s efforts and instead drag you down.

However, this is a theory that is disputed as even those who are on top of the game still need their childhood friends to share some of the fond memories of how they struggled to get where they are.

Speaking to The Beat, Bongo Flava’s Sunday Mangu aka Linex admitted the fact that some of his old pals have turned their backs on him on several occasions, something he attributes to ignorance.

“Look here this is being stupid. There is no way you can just decide to ignore old friends just because you have gained some success, these guys know you better and above all you can never reverse your past,” says Linex.

He holds the view that you can’t trust strangers to guide you properly because not many share your aspirations as some will only associate with you for material gains only.

“I still treat my friends well and will never change because they have shared my tribulations and in times when I am successful I have a feeling they should be part of that success as well,” says the Moyo Wa Subira singer.
Linex’s views are corroborated by Young Africans striker Jerry Tegete, who thinks it could only amount to permittivity and an attempt to suicide .

Tegete who rose through the ranks to become one of the country’s prolific goal scorers says one becomes a star because they have a following out there especially in his field of trade.

 “How you associate with friends and relatives matters a lot as a public figure, ignoring people might ruin ones career as the fan base could easily dwindle and you could soon find yourself all alone,”  says Tegete.

Film actor Hemedi Suleiman’s remarks on a TV interview that he doesn’t talk to ugly women once drew criticism two years ago.

While on the programme he was quoted saying: Good looks have a lot to say about someone’s personality. Why bother talk to someone with bad looks?

This negative attitude according to Blandina Chagula aka Johari is not confined to stars only as it is eating even the ordinary folks out there.

 “Though there are stars who ignore friends but there some common people who also diss old pals once they make it,” she says.

Johari cautions that sometimes one realises when it is too little too late to remember old pals and this is always after the gloss has gone off their careers.

“Just imagine going back to the same people after your world has crumbled, this can be a real disgrace that you can hardly handle,” she says.

Designer Ally Remtullah though he agrees that it is uncouth to ignore pals but he advises that people sometimes get the wrong message when seek attention without considering the circumstances.

 “Some friends feel ignored when a star does not pay attention to them as one can be performing or showcasing his or her designs, this takes too much attention than chatting with people,” he says.

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