Lulu Hassan: I started out as a receptionist, a stranger made me get into TV

Hassan, while speaking on the Hot 96 morning show, said that as she was working her receptionist job in Mombasa, she picked a call and on the other line was a man called Anthony who complemented her voice.

Anthony asked if she had ever thought of a career in TV or radio, and there and then, she gained a sudden interest in the field.

“It started in 2005, nilikuwa receptionist in Mombasa company ilikuwa inaitwa Tech Biz limited, and it dealt with computers. So whenever I picked calls, there is a guy called Anthony, I’ve never met him but nakumbuka to date, aliniambia madam, I love your voice have you ever thought of doing radio or TV?”

“I was like, sijawai skia kitu kama hii but then nilianza ku-gain interest,” said Hassan.

The Swahili news anchor started taking newspapers from work to her home and practicing lines in front of her mother.

“Unajua ukiwa receptionist, unapewa newspapers unapelekea boss, ikifika jioni I used to take newspapers napeleka home, so I used to read to my mother, and she was like, ‘wewe uko na sauti mzuri you can do it,’ she said.

At the time, the award-winning anchor had not studied any journalism course but when she got her first opportunity to apply as a radio presenter, she went for it. 

‘’Kwa one of the newspapers niliona, they were advertising for TV presenters, news anchors and radio presenters, I applied but back then sikuwa nimesomea journalism nilisema let me try,” said Hassan.

At just 20-years-old, she blindly sent her voice recording and got her first job as a part-time radio news anchor while she pursued her studies in media.

“Nilikuwa nafanya kama part-time, I used to do news alafu naenda college,” she said.

She ultimately got a job as a TV News anchor at one of the leading media stations in Kenya.

Hassan also noted that her mother, who was a big part of why she wanted to pursue a career in journalism, passed away even before she got a chance to join TV.

"This is something my mom wanted, alikuwa ashasema mimi nataka wewe ufanye TV, ilikuwa breakthrough...but she passed on nikiwa radio," said Hassan.

She went on to advise young people who find themselves in the same path as hers to follow their instincts and listen to good advice.

''Follow your instincts first, ukiskia it's something you need badly, go for it, listen to people also but not the naysayers," she said.

Hassan, together with her news anchor husband, Rashid Abdalla double up as the producers of some of the most loved shows in Kenya: ‘Maria', 'Zora' and 'Sultana.'