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At 11 years, rising gospel musician SHANAH MANJERU was head-hunted by Hollywood in 2019 to audition for the role of a young Aretha Franklin (the late Queen of Soul) in the upcoming MGM Studios film Respect. She talks with HARRIET JAMES on her experiences

The year 2019 was quite eventful for you. How did Hollywood trace you to audition for the Aretha Franklin film?

It started in August last year. My dad found a Facebook request from a film director who wanted me to audition for an upcoming film.

They told us to contact them via email for further info on what we were supposed to do. At first we thought it was a con game since so many people contact me through Facebook.

But when my father sent the email, it proved to be true and that they wanted a girl aged between 10 and 14 to act in a film about the great Aretha Franklin’s life.

They had already settled on Jennifer Hudson to play her, but they also wanted a young girl to play the role of Aretha as a child. 

Take us through the audition process

At the beginning, I didn’t know there were auditions to act in Aretha Franklin’s movie.

I didn’t know about her story until I watched her documentary and learnt about her life and was wowed by her performance.

The process went on for a round five months, always carrying out the instructions given and sending them via email.

At first, I had to send my photo and video and later I was requested to sing a song of my choice.

In addition, they sent a script about Aretha having a conversation with her mum for me to act it out on camera, which my mum assisted me to get.

I also had to work on my accent to sound more American and it was a bit frustrating trying to get the accents. But they gave us time to work and get everything right.

The last audition was a Skype conversation with a well-established music director in Hollywood where I was interviewed on my passion, interests and what I liked about the auditions.

We tried as much as possible not to miss any deadline to have a good reputation.

Despite the fact that they picked another person, I still feel that it was an honour they picked me to audition.

What challenges did you encounter during the auditions?

Singing soul music was tough as I am used to pop and rock. Aretha loved long drawn out notes and for me the slowing down bit was the main issue.

But the auditions made me grow and discover something new that I never knew of.

Were you inspired learning about the Queen of Soul?

At first I didn’t see any resemblance between us until my dad brought me her photo and story and I saw how similar we were in our passion for music.

She was the Queen of Soul and I aspire to some day become the Queen of Pop.

How did you balance between the auditions and school?

During weekends or a day in the middle of the week, I’d be picked early to go practise for the auditions.

I had to finish my homework in school, so that when I get home, it was all about practicing and getting myself ready for the auditions.

As a young gospel musician, what makes you happy about your call?

I am happy because I sing for the glory of God and it makes me happy that I am doing a good deed. Sometimes I feel like I need to sing more, so that people can know the Word of God.

I feel happy when people of other denominations such as Islam listen to my music. I pray and read my Bible and go to church to stay grounded in my call.

Advise for parents of talented children like you?

They shouldn’t be too hard on them when they don’t learn as fast. Eventually, they become better if you love them and don’t give up on them.

I am happy to have my parents’ support. If I was all-alone, maybe I won’t have grown my talent.

Do you have plans for 2020?

There are projects that didn’t materialize in 2019, but I am hoping with the help of my parents they will do this year.

We were to release two or three songs in December, but we have rescheduled their release to early this year.

Though long overdue, I hope to have my first ever-Kenyan concert in April this year, where I’ll be the main act and have other children be part of it.

I am also hoping to work on a movie with all my songs in it, as I also want to develop my acting skills.

My dad has written most of my songs and I am working on a song that I have written with his guidance.