- Singer finds ripe reward in the fields
When she’s not whipping up a storm in the studio, local RnB singer Queen Hurrikane is a whirlwind of activity away from music.
The 35-year-old beauty, whose curvy good looks have earned her a legion of male followers, sells fruit & veg and also runs a laundry service.
The ‘Mamela’ hit-maker, real name, Jennifer Tsheole is proud of her hustle, Jlow’s Fruit n’ Vegetables on the Move, which began operations in 2019.
“That was just before the Covid-19 outbreak. Surprisingly, it did not affect me as I had orders throughout which I delivered on the doorstep with ease as they are always in demand,” recalls the industrious artist, who operates out of her home town of Mochudi.
Her produce is dominated by the usual suspects, including: potatoes, tomatoes, green pepper and butternut squash.
“I grow some of my produce while I order the rest from my supplier in Tuli Block,” reveals Tsheole, who counts big retailers such as Pula Spar and Pick n Pay amongst her clients.
“I usually supply people during special occasions such as weddings, bridal showers, funerals, and I also deliver to a number of restaurants in and around Gaborone. We also courier if it is outside town,” she tells Voice Money, speaking over the phone from Jwaneng where she is completing a delivery of fresh tomatoes.
Facing a slight challenge of a shortage of stock, the hard-working artist added a laundry and cleaning service to her empire last year, which she says is going well.
So how does she balance her music career with her businesses?
Effortlessly, it seems!
“I make it a point that I give each one time for my well-being. There are days where I go to the studio and record music, and sometimes I do performances in the evening, then I deliver my products first thing in the morning,” explains the Information and Technology (IT) graduate from Gaborone Institute of Professional Studies (GIPS).
At the moment, Tsheole’s workforce stands at just two, including herself. However, she plans to add to this soon, seeking help from within the family.
“I only have one employee, Doreen Book, thus far and she is in charge of marketing the business. We met online as she was interested in helping me with running my Facebook page, which was a great gesture. For growth purposes, I am about to hire my little brother, Maxwell Tsheole as a Manager to keep himself busy and make a few bucks,” says the singer, who has high hopes for the future.
“There is high competition in this industry but I always work hard to please my customers so that they can always turn to me. My biggest ambition is to own a Warehouse and incorporate branches countrywide, making life easier for my customers!” Tsheole concludes.
