LES MANGELEPA MARK 33RD ANNIVERSARY WITH CONCERT

Orchestre Les Mangelepa will be celebrating the 33rd anniversary since their formation, and will launch their latest CD, Vituko, composed by vocalist and guitarist John Monga. The event will take place at the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi. Les Mangelepa came to Kenya from what was then Zaire, now DRCongo, on July 1, 1976. Within a short time, the band, established itself as leading exponents of rhumba music with their infectious vocals and guitar work. Among their peers are Kenya’s own Maroon Commandos and Super Mazembe in Kenya. To add their musical greatness the band licensed one of their popular hit songs Nyako Konya for use as a soundtrack to a film being shot in the Netherlands. The legendary band is made up of Evanny Kabila Kabanze (band leader and lead vocalist), Lutulu Kaniki (guitarist), and Kalenga Nzazi (guitarist), Twikale Kalonda, and John Monga (guitarist) who have kept the flame alight in the 21st century with a slew of releases — Mangelepa Millennium (2000), Remix (2005) and Golden Voices (2007).
The concert starts at 7pm. And entrance is only Sh300. African and World music specialists Soundafrica sponsor the event.

HOW TV’S NEWEST DITZY BLONDE WAS CAST

The second episode of the Kenyan made drama, Changes, will be aired on Mnet. But what viewers do not know is that is was very hard for Njoki Muhoho, the Executive Producer to cast the role of Cindy Kamau played by Pierra Makena, actress and filmmaker.
“Initially we thought I was going to be an easy task and the number of girls who turned up for the casting were many,” she recounts. However, Njoki says that they were all too blonde for the role. That is when she realized the only way to go was get an intelligent girl to play the part and settled on Pierra.
Cindy is a dizzy blonde who lives with her older Tanzanian boyfriend Minja Kabwe (Producer Adam Juma) in the most expensive flat at Makao Close.
When contacted Pierra explained the task of playing blonde.
“It was one of the most difficult auditions I had ever attended since there were many other many girls who were auditioning for the same role,” Pierra said. Adding. “I felt ridiculous auditioning, I did not think I would get the part.”
A few months later she was called for the role and the rest as we say is history.
She talks about playing the role of a ditzy blonde. “It is fan and the best part is, the viewers love Cindy and are always anticipating her next blonde moment.”

IS BEYONCE GOING TO KAMPALA?

If tabloid reports are anything to go by, Beyonce is scheduled to give a performance in Uganda, days before Christmas. This is causing quite the furore in the corporate circles as two major Telecommunications companies in the country, are reportedly tussling to sponsor the diva’s concert, set to take place in Kampala.
The unnamed telecom giants have both contacted the event promoter, a Joseph Masembe to land the concert, reports the tabloids.
The Put a Ring On It star is set to stage a performance on December 19 and is expected to arrive in Kampala the day before her show. Beyonce will also do a charity tour in Uganda before she leaves the country on December 23.

KENYAN CELEBS REMEMBER JACKO

As the world mourns the death of the greatest pop icon ever, Three Kenyan celebs give their own thoughts on the same. Michael Jackson, 50, died early Thursday afternoon after suffering a cardiac at his Holmby Hills home. Paramedics were unable to revive him.


RUFFTONE – VITA500 BRAND AMBASSADOR, PRODUCER AND MUSICIAN
“I think it is a funny thing that he has become an instant hero now that he is dead. I saw on TV a fan who almost fainted when they were told Michael Jackson is dead. For me, it is a difficult lesson to learn that you are never indispensable and there are really never any superstars. Look at Jackson’s life. He died in a rented house, his home was repossessed, he lived in a foreign country, Bahrain, for a long time after America and the world had forgotten him. After his child molestation trial his musical career was brought down just like that. The UK tour was to help him make a financial comeback, now he’ll make a musical one. Despite his musical success people ditched him and now that he is dead people are still thinking of ways to cash in. It is a big lesson for me as an artiste that there is nothing like a super star.”


PIERRA MAKENA – ACTOR AND FILMMAKER
“I’m terribly crashed by his death. He was the big star I listened to growing up. I was also waiting eagerly for his South African tour, because I heard last year that he was going to do one. The world did not treat Michael the way he should have been treated. You know what Quincy Jones said, ‘It’s a surprise that guys were not really nice to him when he was alive, and now that he is dead they are all teary and sad.’ I think people should have just treated him as a star; after all we all have our weaknesses. And for that people judged him harshly. Despite all that he is still my hero.”

AMANI – SINGER
“I still look up to him. I’m a pop artiste and he is the Kind of pop. I loved listening and watching his performances during his world tours, he was my inspiration. I still believe he will make a commercial come back. The only other pop icons that equal his legendary status in my opinion are Mariah Carey, U2 and Madonna.

TID MIGHT GO BACK TO JAIL

Just barely six months after receiving a presidential pardon, Tanzanian singer TID might just find himself back in the slammer again for repeating the same offence, assault. According to a Tanzanian tabloid, TID beat up a high school student and was involved in destruction of property at a club called Thai Village. Sources at the scene say TID beat up a woman identified as Naima Abdul and later ran away.
The woman who was assaulted reported the matter at the Oyster Bay police station. She has now filled a case against the Nyota Yangu star.
TID served a one-year jail term for assaulting another reveller in a bar. But was pardoned by President Kikwete after serving out six months.

SOUTH AFRICA GOSPEL MUSIC ICON WAS HERE!

Prominent South African Gospel Singer Deborah Fraser was in Nairobi for a two-day concert, last weekend. Nairobi Pentecostal Church Valley Road invited Deborah, whose first show was a dinner and concert at Safari Park Hotel, on Saturday 27, followed by a Sunday performance at NPC Valley Road from 3pm.
Deborah has helped a lot of young people through her Abanye Bayombona Foundation. She has sung with many well-known singers in South Africa like Brenda Fassie and Lucky Dube. She has also worked with with Quincy Jones and Bebe Winans.

MALIAN PRINCE CONFIRMED FOR LITERARY FEST

Y’all need to know that a Mali royalty will be in the country next month.
Senegalese born Seckou Keita a descendant of the Malian Keita family of kings will grace the international literary fest, Storymoja Hay Festival.
The four-day literary event will run from July 30 to August 2 at the Impala grounds, and will host acclaimed personalities including writers Hanif Kureshi, Michela Wrong, Vikram Seth among others.
The PR representatives confirmed that the Seckou, 31, has confirmed his attendance. He is a charismatic live performer and one of the few champions of the less-known kora (a 21-stringed harp made from a gourd and popular in West Africa).
However, under normal circumstances his lineage would not allow him to become a performer (griot) but he learned to play the kora during his stay with his mother’s side of the family, the Cissokho’s, a well-established griot family in Senegal.
Seckou developed his work on the kora by playing for luminaries like Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour,

LUPITA’S SHARED DIARY FROM RWANDAN FILM FESTIVAL

Jaques Rutabingwa (RFF's Tech Director), Lupita Nyong'o (IN MY GENES) & Joseph Kinuthia Kamau (JITU FILMS)


: Musarait Kashmiri (Director of MAISHA FILM LAB, Uganda), Meddy Saleh (Cinematographer), Lupita Nyong'o (IN MY GENES), Ayuub Kasasa (Hillywood Coordinator) and Daddy Ruhorahoza (Rwandan Filmmaker)


View of Kigali from Cine Star, one of the festival's screening venues


Lupita and Alex take motos to town, popular local transportation


Alex Konstantaras (JITU FILMS) and Joseph Kinuthia Kamau (JITU FILMS)

Filmmakers Lupita Nyongo and Alex Konstantaras have written an account of their experiences at the Hillywood Rwanda Film Festival, which ran from June 18 to 20, in a lengthy email.
OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony took place at the Serena Hotel on the eve of the 18th of June. This red carpet event attracted an exclusive list of invited guests, including local celebrities, filmmakers, and other local and international stakeholders and of course, the media. Although there wasn’t a strict dress code, the traditional Rwandese outfits that most of the guests opted for, stole the show and gave the event a unique character. The Guest of Honour, Hon. Joseph Habineza, the Minister of Sports and Culture officially launched the festival with a short, heartfelt and inspiring speech of how the government should actively support local filmmaking because it has the power to transform and develop a nation’s culture – something Kenyan leaders should learn from!

The opening night featured four short films by Rwanda Film Institute students. An animated audience received these enthusiastically. Surprisingly, all the short films were directed by females! The shorts were followed by the main opening film, Karim Chrobog’s, WAR CHILD, about the life of Emmanuel Jal, a former Sudanese child soldier who grew up to fight for peace in his nation through his sensational hip hop career. The film that runs 97 minutes seemed too long for an opening ceremony and yet it managed to captivate the audience of about 400 people, and by the vigorous round of applause at the end of it, I would say it was a success. The star of the film, Emmanuel Jal was supposed to be present and perform that night but due to some undisclosed complications, he was visibly missing in action. Nevertheless the crowd enjoyed local Rwandese live performances under the moonlight and the influence of wine.

DAY 1

Friday 19th June. With 16 films to see and 5 venues to choose from, we set out for Cine Star, a quaint movie theatre in the heart of Nyamirambo, to watch a few short films before witnessing the Rwandese audience’s reaction to MOB DOC, the first Jitu Film to be screened at the festival. First up were two short Spanish films, SINTONIA and EL TREN DE LA BRUJA, both of which struck us for their simple concepts made exceptional by the way the stories were crafted. SINTONIA, for one was a typical love story about two strangers that meet under odd circumstances and cannot resist their mutual attraction, but what made it special is the way the two met: listening to the same radio show while waiting in traffic. EL TREN DE LA BRUJA is a horror short about torture, set in one room with one actor. We both commented that these films proved that it was more about the strength of the story than the amount of money used to execute it.

As the sun set over the hills, we headed out to Shokola Café, where the evening’s films would be screened in the open air. MOB DOC was the highlight of the night, screening last after a few short unimpressive films. MOB DOC seemed to take the audience by surprise with its dark and sometimes controversial humour, but what really surprised the audience was the appearance in the flesh of the MOB BOSS himself, Joseph Kinuthia Kamau. Eric Kabera, the festival’s founder and CEO and an all-time fan of Kinuthia’s work, conducted a brief discussion with him about the movie and the Kenyan film industry after the screening. MOB DOC set the pace for the rest of Jitu Films’ screenings at the festival with a bunch of East Africans asking for copies of the films.

WEEKEND HEAT – SCARY SATO

Weekends are the best festival times anywhere in the world. The locals are at rest from a week’s work and the tourists too pour in to the city in search of culture, adventure and a good party. The festival packed in 46 screenings to cover the weekend demands, with Jitu’s OTTO, THE BLOOD BATH, the horror banned in Kenya, being the Saturday night main attraction. Everyone was so curious to see this infamous film said to be “too horrific” even for an adult audience. After the screening, Eric Kabera, remarked that he was glad that the film was screened in the open air rather than in the confines of a dark cinema because it made it easier to bear. Before OTTO a short Kenyan/Ugandan film by Paul Ekuru, DANCE FOR WIVES was screened. This film about a dead-end love affair features an impressive cast, with David Mulwa, Mumbi Kaigwa, Melvin Alusa and Karen Lucas (a.k.a. Kaz) playing the lead roles. Despite the A-list actors, the DANCE FOR WIVES employs full English dialogue in a film set partially in a slum, which makes the story weaker.

After a jam-packed day of screenings, we set off to explore the Saturday nightlife of Kigali. Our first stop was Republika, a popular bar with a spacious balcony where we sat to throw down a few with other festival enthusiasts and the owner of the bar, a fellow Kenyan. Next stop was KBC – Kigali Business Centre, a building complex with two contrasting club scenes. We stood between the blaring sound of techno from one club and hip-hop from the other. Naturally and without an argument we chose club number two. We wasted no time and hit the dance floor with the locals. Alex bust some Greek moves, putting lakeside Lupita to shame.

SAUNA SUNDAY

Sunday was a day of relaxation to the point that even the Internet service at our motel took a break. Frustrated we sought for some form of relief. We dragged ourselves to the afternoon screenings in Cine Star, which included Jitu Films’ R2 SECURITY. The local audience appeared to enjoy the film despite the fact that they were not as familiar with the story of the real Artur Brothers that inspired the film. Shamelessly we decided to skip the evening’s screenings to try out Kigali’s little known sauna culture. We hopped onto two of the hundreds of motos (motorbike taxi or pikipiki) to join fellow filmmaker Patrick Mureithi at a sauna near our motel. How surprising to find the sauna packed with men and women of varying ages in a unisex sauna room! Until then, we had thought that such a thing only existed in far off liberal countries like Sweden and Finland. For less than 500 Ksh, we had the full sauna experience, including a full body scrub by a diligent and highly skilled man.

After 2 hours of paradise and full relaxation, we could barely walk back to our motel ten minutes away. Some of us didn’t see our rooms until the next morning… That’s the RFF effect!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT’S BREAST CANCER MONTH

For your information, The Aga Khan University Hospital will be holding a free Clinical Breast Cancer Examination this Saturday, 27th June from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The clinic will be held at the hospital's Family Medicine Centre. Thereafter, there will be a public lecture on Gynaecological Pain and Endometriosis from 12.00 noon to 12.45 p.m.
presented by Prof. William Stones and Dr. Timona Obura. The hospital is also offering free breast checks every fourth Saturday of the month.
Please share this information with friends and family as the check-up could save a life.

R KELLY FOR NIGERIA

Tickets for the 2009 THISDAY Music Fes-tival starring American R&B legend, R. Kelly, with African icons, Lagbaja, D'Banj, Neto C, Wande Cole, PSquare and others performing, will go on sale today for the Abuja and Lagos dates.
R. Kelly, who performed at the Arise African Fashion Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa, is scheduled to play at a VIP special command performance on July 3, at a seven-star venue and round off the Lagos leg of the tour with another performance on July 4.
The tickets in South Africa are sold out both in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with South African clamouring for more shows.
R.Kelly will perform at the grand finale of THISDAY Music Festival 2009 holding at the Wembley Arena, London.

JAY Z’ TAKEN FOR A RIDE BY BABY MAMA!

One thing I would like to know is, does Beyonce know that Jay Z has a baby mama and he pays for her upkeep?
If not, I suggest she check out this blog. According to a British tabloid, Jay Z’s 7-year-old son, Isa and his mother, Shenelle Scott, are living large in a $2.5 million mansion that Jay Z purchased for them on their native island of Trinidad. That everyone knows. However, Shenelle has since gotten married and is now living with they hubby in the house Jay Z bought for her.
Thing is, for a hardcore rapper Jay Z is been taken for a ride, by his jump-off, a dime piece, the women he calls hos in his lyrics. Who is laughing last now? Tehehehehehehehe ati, Nigga Thug G! Ha

THE LEGENDARY TANZANIA VIDEO WHIZ IN TV SHOW

Most people did not notice that the bad guy in the just launched M-Net Series, Changes, is actually a very well known video whiz.
Most of y’all remember seeing Visual Lab Next Level credits, on bongo videos? Well, Adam Juma is the man behind those fabulous videos. He owns the company as well. I personally remember his work in Z Anto’s video Binti Kiziwi and Nakaaya’s Mr Politician.
In the drama series, Adam plays, Minja Kabwe boyfriend to ditzy and glamorous Cindy Kamau (Pierra Makena). So far they are proving to be the favourite couple of most viewers of the show. The couple live in the most expensive flat at Makao Close – where the series is set. The wealthy Minja loves playing chess and will go to extraordinary lengths for family and for love. Generous but ruthless he keeps his family’s mining success a closely guarded secret.

CHANNEL O PAYS TRIBUTE TO KING OF POP

Channel O is paying tribute to Michael Jackson in the most fitting way possible – by a video mix and so much more - featuring hit after massive hit from the global icon.
The 30-minute specialised O-Xpress will provide a platform for the universally acknowledged King of Pop’s astonishing array of hits, on Monday June 29 (13:00 CAT) and Tuesday June 30 (11:00 CAT).

Hit songs like Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black and White, Scream, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel and You Are Not Alone will be showcased in this unique video mix.

O-Boma (16:00 CAT) and O-Boma Xpress (from 22:00 CAT) will be dedicating today’s live shows to the man.

The poll question is – “What is your all time Michael Jackson track?” Alongside the music, it was Jackson’s dancing – most ironically the Moonwalk – that ensured even his early videos would be something special, and over his career he took care to push the benchmark when it came to creating the visuals to go with his endless supply of hit songs.
Over the course of his career, Jackson sold more than 750m albums worldwide and won 13 Grammy awards.

Channel O joins in the other thousands of voices around the world mourning the loss of this one-of-a-kind entertainer and truly gifted musician. Channel O is available across the continent on DStv channel 320.

AS WE MOURN MJ...

The following celebrities have sent out their condolences.


Former Tanzania President Alhaj Ali Hassan Mwinyi gave a an exclusive BBC interview on Friday of June 26, 2009, on the death of Michael Jackson.
In the interview, conducted in Swahili, President Mwinyi recalls Michael's visit to Tanzania in 1992 and described his sudden death as a huge loss to the music fraternity world wide, and that the late King of Pop was a legend that will forever remain etched in the memories of both young and old alike - even for those who were not around during the thriller's unique lifetime.


Known Entertainment Executive Ben Brown, the Man Who Discovered Michael Jackson, Issued a Statement Regarding Michael's Recent Passing.
Said, “I was deeply saddened to hear the reports of the passing of my friend, the 'King of Pop.' My prayers, thoughts, and best wishes go out to Michael's family, friends, and fans around the world," Ben Brown said today, according to SuperGold International.
Brown went on to say, "Michael, a giant in the music and entertainment world, I feel, will continue to impact the world of entertainment and the world itself through his creative works. He will be missed."


Chris Brown: “Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I will continue to be humbled and inspired by his legacy. My prayers are with his family. Michael will be deeply missed, but never forgoten. He’s the greatest… the best ever. No one will ever be better. ”


Usher: “This loss has deeply saddened me, with a heavy heart I composed this statement. May God cover you Michael. We all lift your name up in prayer. I pray for the entire JACKSON family particularly Michael’s mother and all his fans that loved him so much. I would not be the artist, performer, and philanthropist I am today without the influence of Michael. I have great admiration and respect for Him and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to meet and perform with such a great entertainer In so many ways he transcended culture. He broke barriers, he changed radio formats! With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled Michael Jackson will never be forgotten.”


Elizabeth Taylor: “Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time.”
Taylor, who was a close and dear friend to Jackson for several years, was the one who dubbed him the “King of Pop.”


Paul McCartney: “I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.”


Madonna: “I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever!My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”

LUPITA NYONG’O COVERS DRUM

Well, according to the Facebook communiqué’ Lupita Nyong’o graces the Drum cover this month. Read all about this young award-winning film maker whose documentary ‘In my Genes’ was recently released locally. Get inspired by how she launched her career in a cut throat industry.

Capture the exciting birthday bash of EAM publisher Carole Mandi at the spa with close friends - sunning, bathing and full-on treatments. DRUM captures her day in our society pages. A must read!

As always, the DRUM society pages are packed with the hottest parties, events and corporate dos, find out who is who and who is seen where.

When it comes to young talent there is only way to put it - Ramah Nyang’. His philosophical ideas will astound you, his intellect will drive you and his presence will awaken your heartbeat. Ramah talks to DRUM about his job and his place in the public eye

TANZANIAN HASHEEM PICKED BY MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Tanzanian basketball player Hasheem Thabeet from the University of Connecticut poses for photographers at the NBA store where Panini America announced the five draft prospects who signed an exclusive trading card agreement, in New York June 24, 2009. Hasheem was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies as the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft in New York, June 25, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
(UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Y’ALL NEED TO KNOW…

Formula X is now available on DVD starting the Saturday, June 27, 2009. The Sagwa Chabeda produced and Steve Ominde directed movie has bagged five nominations in the film category at Kenya's own Kalasha TV and Film Awards to be held this Saturday.

FAREED KHIMANI’S TO EXCHANGE VOWS ON BOAT

Radio presenter Fareed Khimani’s big wedding will take place this Friday 26, in Geneva Switzerland. He will jump the broom with fiancée Leah a Swiss national.
Sources who will be attending the wedding confirmed that the couple will exchange vows on Friday evening aboard a boat and the evening party will be held the following day.
Some of the confirmed guests include Studio 53 cameraman Mark Moss, Gina Din Kariuki – Fareed aunt - of Gina Din Corporate Communications and a host of other guest flying in from the US.

This got me thinking, will the following scenarios be reenactyed by the soon to be married couple?
Check this out...


WEDDING SHOTS
Remembering the boat and the magical moments after saying ‘I do’.


Walking off into the sunset shot


Family portrait


The staring into each other’s eyes wedding shot


You may kiss the bride shot


Time to say the I Dos shot

Off to the honeymoon wedding shot


Not exactly on a boat but...


And finally another extreme, an underwater wedding


Or a snorkelling wedding

APPRENTICE AFRICA’S EDDIE MBUGUA TO WED

Former Apprentice Africa contestant Eddie Mbugua - Njeri is set to say ‘I do’ next month, to his long time fiancée Lois with whom they have a son called Waiyaki.
Eddy is currently working in Nigeria as an Investment Analyst manager in the East & Central Africa expansion department at Bank PHB, and his fiancée is based in the UK.
However, the couple will be uniting in matrimony in Kenya, where most of their friends and relatives reside.
The groom to be confirmed that the wedding ceremony will be on July 25. The full details on the venue and guest list will be revealed soon.

BEENIE MAN SKIPS KENYA ON EAST AFRICAN TOUR

Jamaican dancehall star Beenie Man is set to tour East Africa later this month. He will make his first stop in Dar es Salaam next Saturday. After which, he will head on to Kampala for a Tuesday 30 concert in a yet to be confirmed venue.
Confirming the news, Hemdee Kiwanuka the CEO of No-End Entertainment said that Beenie is excited and promised that the concert will be a memorable one.
It is not clear yet if any Kenyan promoter has shown any interest in partnering with Hemdee to bring the singer to Nairobi or even Mombasa.

ALI KIBA IN TALKS WITH DRE’S PROTÉGÉE FOR COLLABO

Tanzanian bongo sweetheart Ali Kiba who has been on tour in the US revealed that he and American RnB singer, Truth Hurts are in talks for a collabo.
The US singer is best remembered for her hit song Addictive, which featured rapper Rakim. The song featured the legally embattled uncleared Hindi Lata Mangeshkar sample whose copyright holders sued for $500 million dollars, and issued an injunction against further sales or performances of the record. She was also a protégé of record producer Dr. Dre, and an artist on his Aftermath Records label.
Commenting on the issue Ali Kiba’s manager DJ Guru said, “Apart from the coast to coast US tour, we had the chance to meet and speak to Truth Hurts, the American RnB singer was happy to record a track with Ali K and we hope to work on that project ASAP.”

RADIO COMIC QUITS PRESENTER JOB

Kisumu based radio comedian Lawrence Oyange aka Jakakamega of Big Tyme Comedians, quit his job at Lake Victoria 92.1 FM.
Lawrence was the guy who last November organised the mock voting exercise for US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain in Kisumu town. He has worked for the station since June 2006, where he was presenting the evening drive show.
The comic also had a stint on the Mombasa based radio station Baraka 95.5 FM as a voice over artist and presenter.
Lawrence said he left to “seek new challenges. I want to concentrate on my entertainment outfit, Big Tyme Entertainment. I assure my fans that I will still keep them entertained through the events I plan to set up.”

CHEPTAB AND MAKADEM FOR INTERNATIONAL MUSIC TOURS

TV actress and musician Cheptab and Afro fusion act Makadem have been head hunted for international concerts.
Cheptab who plays the lead female role in Citizen TV’s Waridi, left the country on Tuesday (23-06-2009) for Iowa in the US for a June 26 concert.
“The event is organized by Kass FM and its titled Gotabgaa. It’s a great feeling for me as a spotlight of Kenyan Music finalist for 2007 to be given this opportunity,” said the enthusiastic singer. She recently released her first album Tilenyun. As for Makadem, he will be going to Morocco at the end of June for the Timitar World Music Festival in Agadir.

US BASED DADDY V PUTS PINYE ON BLAST

DJ Pinye

Daddy V

This is an email sent out by US based Kenyan act Daddy V explaining why he beat up on DJ Pinye.


My name is Daddy V, a Kenyan artist based in Dallas, Texas, USA. Recently, while Dj Pinye was here for the Memorial Day weekend festivities in Dallas, I confronted him and asked why he and specific other deejays do not help promote the music of Kenyan artists in the Diaspora. Kenyans artists based in the US have on several occasions given DJ Pinye and other DJs based in Kenya our music and they never play it at all. I am disappointed with the fact that while we treat these guys as our fellow Kenyans whenever they are here, they seem to forget that love goes both ways. It is in relation to this issue that I was looking for DJ Adrian and DJ Stylez but I did not manage to reach them. I later found out that DJ Stylez did not come to the US this time.

I have also heard from Kenyan artists based in Kenya complain about the disrespectful treatment they receive from these so called “celeb DJs.” I, on behalf of other Kenyan artists based in the US is giving these DJs an ultimatum. They either show us the love we show them or we will organize to make sure that they do not get the US opportunities they currently take for granted.

It is these very DJs who come to the US to to collect the latest American music to go floss with back home but will not find the time of day to do the same for Kenyan artists. How then does anyone expect the Kenyan music industry to grow if the top Kenyan DJs do not support our own music?

Thanks to the true DJs who Play Our Music in Germany, Kenya, London,Canada & all over the World and all Our Fans. Pamoja

AFYA BORA WALK

Afya Bora Walk is a charity walk organized by Grace Community Center Trust with the primary aim of raising funds to construct and equip a community hospital; the Neema Hospital, located at Kahawa Sukari, off Thika Road in Ruiru District. The main thrust of this hospital is to increase access to quality health services especially to the low income earners.

Flagging – off the walk
The Walk, covering a distance of 500km, will start on Monday the 22nd of June at the Treasury Square in Mombasa and end on Saturday 4th July 2009 at the hospital site in Nairobi and will involve nine walkers including Ms Catherine Ndereba; a renown athlete. It will be flagged off by Hon George Thuo, the MP for Juja Constituency & Government Chief Whip.

Free medical camp at Emali
As Part of the walk, a FREE medical, dental, eye and VCT camp has been organized at email on Saturday 27th June 2009 where the walkers will be reflagged by the Hon. Peter Kiilu, the MP for Makueni

End of walk
The walk ends on Saturday 4th July 2009 at Neema Hospital Site in Kahawa Sukari, Nairobi. The walkers will be joined by the general public at the Kasarani near the Moi International Sports center and walk for about 5kms to the site. The Vice President or the Deputy Prime Minister will be the chief guest.

Support of this project
You can support this walk by sending your donation to MPESA No 400400 or ZAP to the Nick name “AFYA” or by writing a cheque to Neema Hospital.

You can also SMS the word AFYA to no. 5445 at 5/= above normal rate and enter the Afya Bora weekly draws. You stand a chance to win two nights for two at Serena and Nyali Beach and a night for 2 at Gracia Gardens. The competition ends on the 4th July 2009.

SECURITY ALERT!

Dear All,

I wish to bring to light a serious incident that took place last Saturday night (20th June)at about 11.30pm.

This couple had turned into School Lane behind Sarit Centre when their car was banged from the back by another one.They were driving to their home along Brookside Drive.

The husband alighted from that car assuming that he was safe only to be forced back into the driving seat and 2 characters went into the back seat,forcing him to drive ahead after being shown a dagger.

A third guy was picked ahead near the Phoenician by when the lady was hysterical as her head was held tight by the guys from the bag and the husband was sliced some cuts on his lap and hands.

At some point they ‘pulled’ the lady from the front to the back seat despite her screams,and the driver was asked to drive towards Kyuna.The husband pleaded to her to compose herself,and after awhile she thought she had quietened down and hence safe.

Next they were ‘dumped’ near the narrow ‘bridge’ before Kibagare junction.The lady was of course bleeding profusely ,but limp so the husband tried to stop cars.a good Samiratan dropped them to MP Shah hospital only to find that she was dead,the dagger had pierced through her left lungs.

The husband has deep cuts in his arms and thigh but survived the traumatic incidence.The car was later found outside Corner Plaza in Westlands.

(The lady is first cousin to my wife.)

I would like this message to transferred to as many of Residents in the area,Security Companies and to Media if possible so that such acts are made known.

GOD Save Kenya…

Yours truly

Jitesh Shah

Cecila Mwangi Awarded Young Achiever Prize

Cecilia Mwangi- Miss World Kenya 2005 was yesterday honoured with Young Achievers award by Women Students Welfare Association.( WOSWA) an initiative of University of Nairobi. This was in recognition of her fight against jiggers. Young achievers award is the third award Cecilia has received within two months this year alone. The first was Global leadership&management award from USAID, Service Award from JKUAT and finally Young Achiever 2009. The award ceremony which was held at Intercontinental hotel was attended by among others Prime minister's wife Madam Ida Odinga and Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson Mrs Rukia Subwo. The two were also awarded for mentoring the youth especially young girls in Kenya.

Meanwhile several celebrities led by top media personalities have confirmed they will attend the coming Saturday's jigger awareness campaign. Cecilia has appealed to more Kenyan celebrities to come on board