Who is Clever J? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, songs, Mayanja family, and relationship with John Bukenya, Sharon Apolot, the late Rosemary Nalujja, Jose Chameleone, early life and education of a Ugandan recording artist, producer, arranger, performer and composer.
Gerald Muwonge whose stage name is Clever J is a Ugandan recording artist, producer, arranger, performer and composer.
He stormed the music scene in the early 2000s particularly with his song ‘Wanzi Wanani’ in 2007.
Clever J’s music genre has always been the Afrobeat style.
Early Life
Gerald Muwonge was born in Uganda to John Bukenya and the late Rosemary Nalujja.
He was, however, partly raised by his cousin Jose Chameleone’s parents Gerald Mayanja and Proscovia Musoke.
His father, a businessman, advised him to abandon his childhood talent of football for music.
However, his mother never agreed with that path for him. Clever J parted ways with his mother in 2000 after she called him a brat when she saw a tattoo on his hand.
They later made up in 2007 and Clever J made a new seven-track album in tribute to her titled Sweet Mama.
Education Background
Clever J attended Kasanga Victoria School for his nursery education, then surprisingly, he joined Jinja Kalooli Girls School, but later left the school in Primary four.
Thereafter, he joined Holy Family School for his primary five till primary seven.
Later, Clever J joined Standard High School Kawempe for his secondary education before attending Nagalama Islamic Institute.
Unfortunately, Clever J dropped out of school in senior three after losing the properties that were given to him by his cousins from the Mayanja family in a fire that gutted the school.
He could not afford school anymore and that’s how his education journey ended.
Marriage / Relationship
Gerald Muwonge was married to Sharon Apolot for 20 years and the couple divorced in 2023 after Apolot deemed the marriage unbearable.
They have two children; a daughter and a son.
Clever J’s wife ended their marriage because of his continual consumption of substance abuse, his dog-like appearance, his arguments, and his adultery.
Additionally, Apolot claimed that Clever J had neglected to pay for their two children’s tuition.
They later reconciled and are currently living together in their Wakiso home.
In 2023, when Clever J went to Dubai for a music tour, he came back with a pre-teen daughter whom he never knew existed from a woman he once dated.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Clever J began his music career in 1994 after being inspired by Jamaican icon Buju Banton.
His first three songs; ‘Yewuwo’, Sirina Mulala’ and ‘Obusungu’ were recorded at Leone Island record label owned by Dr Jose Chameleone.
In 2006, he released his hit album titled ‘Manzi Wanani’ in which he was the producer.
It was followed by the ‘Ensi Yaleeta’ album and other songs till his downfall.
In 2020, Clever J resurfaced on the music scene saying he was working on his comeback after a successful concert he was involved in.
However, his music return didn’t work out, he has been silent since then and according to reports, Clever J gave up on music.
He’s said to have resorted to bricklaying after failing musically in Buloba, a Kampala City outskirt.
Clever J has been added to the roster of artists signed to Fangone Forest, Alien Skin’s management as of 2023.
Achievements and Awards
Clever J has over 30 songs to his name. Some of them include;
Mukama
Buluma Akuze
Bakwagala Olina
Pineapple
Sio Balid
Mbongo
Fanya Kazi
Essanyu Lya Marembo
Ye Wuyo
Webale Butanswaza
Topeedo
Controversies
Clever J’s mother, Late Rosemary Nalujja, passed away in 2017, however, the singer refused to see his mother on her deathbed and did not show up for the funeral, according to his father.
About the reason behind Clever J’s apparent abandonment of his siblings, the Mayanja family;
Clever J was jailed once due to accusations that he had pilfered some musical equipment from the event he was scheduled to perform.
His siblings ignored him and referred to him as a thief when he attempted to ask for help. Clever J had also been informed by some of Jose Chameleone’s close associates that the singer “Baliwa” had bewitched him, making him despise the entire family.
Fifteen years down the road in 2020, Clever J visited the Mayanja family to apologize for whatever happened over the years and receive their blessing once again.
Clever J who carried groceries to the family was forced to kneel and apologize for his conduct.
After numerous fans and newspapers compared his sound to that of Jose Chameleone, he had to endure a series of tasks to establish his own identity.
In an interview, he said he wanted a music battle with Chameleone and in response, Chameleone told Clever J to fight for his music to come back or rather seek a music battle from Lil Pazo Olunabe instead of with him.
As quickly as his reputation arose, it quickly faded. In just three years, Clever J was no longer in popular, his songs long forgotten, and he was no longer a welcome presence on any stage.
He attributed his downfall to the way the music industry has changed, saying that musicians these days are more concerned with having fun than imparting knowledge to their audience.
