Freedom for Lulu at last after six long years

This week marks exactly one year since actress Elizabeth Michael aka Lulu was sentenced to two years in Prison for manslaughter of fellow actor in April 2012.

Incidentally, it was the same week when she completes her probation after her sentence was reduced to community service in May 2018.

According to probation officer Charles Nsanze, during that time, the actress served 20 hours per week which translates to four hours daily from Monday to Friday.

These have been very long six six years for the actress and she can finally taste freedom without a court case to worry about.

This period also marked as one of the quietest in her career as she fulfilled her duties at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

During that time either out of good advice or just out of reformation of character Lulu stayed away from the social media and the party scene.

And it seems so much has changed since that April 2012 incident that left the movie fraternity in real shock, though she was only in her teens then it seems there is more that is set to come her way.

As opposed to six years ago, the actress is all grown and is ready go the family route after her engagement to business man Majay who also owns a radio and TV station in Dar es Salaam.

Her release will perhaps spur the creative energies that she had kept in the back yard since she last premiered Foolish Age which was quite a success.

At 21 years or there about actress Elizabeth Michael aka Lulu has almost seen it all, she dined and wined with the high and mighty in the leafy parts of Dar es Salaam.

Life for the Tanzanian actress who started off as a child star was at one point one on the super highway.

In an industry that seems to have lost its way, Elizabeth Michael aka Lulu on is still considered Bongo Movies’ princess, whose career kicked off quite early at the age of five, becoming an instant sensation on Television.

Six years after the incident that sent her to Prison Lulu seems to have moved on with a couple of movies under her belt, and even a high profile boyfriend in tow.

She went on to win two awards including the Africa Magic Viewers’Choice Awards in Lagos, a feat that has eluded many of her compatriots in the Bongo Movies.

She had triumphed on a stage that so many of her compatriots had failed to conquer miserably making her the latest point of reference in Bongo movies.

The premier of the award winning film ‘Foolish Age’ was one of a kind as celebrities from all walks of life were there to witness this milestone in Tanzania’s film industry.

The red carpet affair at Dar es Salaam’ Mlimani City marked her return to the screens after the 10 months in remand then.

The rise, fall and probably another rise will leave her fans wondering when the rays started beating the actress with startling beauty.

At the time when the incident took place, Lulu was but a minor who was always seen in company of mature friends who mostly belonged to the industry that she had chosen.

Little known to most, of the friends and mentors that the teenage beauty hanged out with, one of them was taking advantage of her.

Her connection with Kanumba was rather suspected, but even then no one lifted a finger to point out the rather bizarre liaison that the two were having.

A few times when they were put on the spot by the prying media, the two categorically denied the any closeness of that nature.

The events of April 6 2012 only confirmed what many suspected but as rumour had it she was already involved in many other relationships with high profile individuals leading a life style that many a girl can only dream about.

Though the rumours were sometimes unsubstantiated close sources maintain that she maintained these relationships alongside that of the self styled King of Bongo movies.

Her discovery

Lulu started her acting career as a child actor when she was only five years old after she was spotted by actor Mahsein Awadh aka Dr Cheni who took her to Kaole Sanaa Group.

They still maintain very close ties, in fact it was Dr Cheni who officiated her engagement party in the presence of the Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda a few months ago

While at KAole she was polished and soon appeared in many television soap operas which were then broadcasted on ITV such as Zizimo, Baragumu, Gharika, Taswira, and Demokrasia.

In 2005, she made her film debut in the action film called Misukosuko, she went on to participate in projects such as Wahapahapa Radio Drama of 2009 that was produced by Media for Development International Tanzania directed by John Riber.

She played Mainda in the story that tells the importance of parent-child communication in protecting youth as they navigate through the difficult period of adolescence.

Her subsequent movies include Family Tears, Ripple of Tears, Oxygen, House Boy , Woman Of Principles.

Several months after she was granted bail, in August 2013, Lulu launched the movie Foolish Age, which featured her as the producer.

The movie was selected to be screened at the Zanzibar International Film Festival 2014, Foolish Age was nominated as Favorite Movie at the 2014 Tanzania People’s Choice Awards and Lulu won Favorite Actress for her performance in the film.

In 2015, Lulu released her second movie as producer called Mapenzi Ya Mungu .

Just like Foolish Age, the movie was also screened at the 2015 Zanzibar International Film Festival and the movie won the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards as the Best Movie Eastern Africa, this was before she released ‘Ni Noma’.

At the time of her incarceration, apart from her social media account where she had some 2.5 million followers she had maintained a low profile.

It remains an interesting prospect of what the future holds for what was once the brightest prospect in Tanzania’s film industry especially with family life knocking on the door.

Whether she goes on to unleash the former partying socialite self just like many others is something that only time can tell.