LATEST TATTU JOINT

Check out Come Back To Me by Tattu featuring Ulopa

MAMA NOMINEES PARTY IN NAIROBI

Tanzanian rapper AY performs with Kenyan singer Avril


Kenya has bagged six nominations with Nameless getting three in this year’s MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. The announcement was made last night at a colourful event hosted by MTV and Zain. Kenya will host the 2nd ever MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain on October 10th at a gala event which will take place at the Kasarani indoors gymnasium. The MAMAS are the continent’s biggest music showcase.

Calif Records Alahola and Mejja pose with thre time MAMA nominee Nameless and rapper Collo


MTV Kenyan VJ Emukule Ekirapa


Avril poses with a fan


MTV's Lisa Amenya and Tanzanina songstress Nakaaya


PHOTOS/Chrispinus Wekesa

CHIZI’S COMEBACK

Architect and singer Dan ‘Chizi’ Aceda played at his first ever concert on Saturday 15 at Blue Times restaurant, Museum Hill. The show dubbed Sauti Ya Simba is part of the preparations for the release of his second album due out later in the year. The show marked the comeback of the Afro fusion musician who hasn’t held any concerts since December 2008.
“I haven’t played this whole year, been writing new material and preparing for the album, looking forward to it. I have missed the stage.

FORMER STAR REPORTER CAUSING WAVES ON AMERICAN TV

Juliet Torome a former reporter with the Star (fastest growing newspaper in Kenya) caused a stir in the US after her documentary on African male circumcision was aired on an American TV channel.
Juliet’s documentary on male circumcision was shot in Uganda. It follows the rites the young boys go through during their initiation.
“I shot it as a by the way, I was in Uganda doing research on farmers and I happened upon the ritual,” said Torome.
The documentary was aired early this month on KMTP-TV channel 32, a non-commercial television station in San Francisco, California. This follows a lot of interest expressed by viewers who watched the documentary on YouTube.
“Male Circumcision is a hot topic here. The reception was very good because not only was the documentary interesting to watch because of the circumcision rituals, it was also informative,” said an excited Juliet.

IDOL CYNTHIA KUTO’S DOMAIN

Go ahead check it out…really check it out.

http://cynthiakuto.com/index.php

AMERICAN STARS IN KENYA

Actress Susan Lucci was recently in Kenya for a charity tour with Feed the Children, an international, non-profit relief organization. The "All My Children" joined Feed the Children in delivering food and items to the needy, and visiting local schools and an abandoned baby center that was built by the Feed the Children organization.
Other celebs involved in the project include "General Hospital" stars Kelly Monaco, and Anthony Geary, Montel Williams and more.

SEANICE WEDS QUIETLY?

Capital FM Programmes Controller Seanice Kacungira is said to have quietly married her beau Christian Gronlund. The wedding date that was never publicised had been originally set for early this year, however, she talked to a pal who is thisclose to me and said, she actually exchanged vows on July 31 at an undisclosed venue.
A radiant Seanice revealed that since the wedding, she has been busy running around “like a headless chicken so has not been able to fix a honeymoon date yet.” Her preferred getaway destination would either be Denmark where she said she would love to go for the beautiful waters (despite the cold) or an African honeymoon in her own home town of Kampala.
Now I hear that the actual wedding date is September 30. What is going on here?

EX-GIRLFRIEND OF MONEYED POLITICIAN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS

A news reporter who recently broke up with her flamboyant politician fiancé is fearing for her life. A family member close to the reporter says she had been receiving anonymous death threats. “The two (her and the politician) were engaged last year after he met her mother. She broke up with the politician in July when she found out that he had lied about not being married. He has now refused to support her in any way unless she returns to him. Worse still she is receiving death threats. She suspects that it might be the politician’s wife. What’s more the person seems to know a lot about her as they threatened the life of her unborn baby,” said our source. Drastic, ha?

CHAMELEONE’S SMALL BRO STEALS NAMELESS’ JUJU

Chameleone’s brother Weasel and his bandmate Radio are about to release a song that is said to be ‘quiet similar to Nameless’ Juju’ and the two plan on titling it ‘Ameni Pa Juju’.
Anyhow, when I caught up with Nameless at the recent Guinness 250 worldwide celebrations in Meru, the Sinzia Star still hadn’t heard the said song.
“I was in Uganda a few days ago and I heard it. However I cannot comment on whether or not it is similar to mine, as I am yet to listen to it. I have actually being doing some collabos with the two. So until I listen to the track, I cannot accuse them of anything.”

K'NAAN AT THE BBA LAUNCH!

Somali born, Canadian based musician K’Naan will perform at the opening night of M-Net’s Big Brother Africa on September 6.
The rapper who recently launched his album Troubadour in Europe has become a hit. K’Naan will thrill BBA4 fans with his Wavin’ Flag a single of his new album.

THE SON OF K’OGELO IS SUPER PROTECTED

Just so you know, the Secret Service agents keep watch as the Son of K’Ogelo a.k.a U.S. President Barack Obama goes about his biz.
This particular shot was taken when Obama was returning to the Oval Office after an event honouring NASCAR 2008 Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson at the White House in Washington August 19, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

TPF111 JUDGE IAN TO JUDGE COSTUMES AT CONCOURS’

Tusker Project Fame’s meanest judge Ian Mbugua has broadened his scope of judging.
Ian who is also a consultant at Phoenix players. If there is one thing that he is famous for is being a critic. He never minces his words and often hits where it hurts.
He has been chosen as a judge at this year’s Access Kenya Africa Concours d’Elegance which will be held at the Nairobi Racecourse on September 27.
However he will not be judging cars but costumes. He is expected to pick up the most distinctively dressed person at the event. First Thearte, then music now fashion, clearly Ian is a man of diverse tastes.

IDOLS JUDGE SCAR GETS ORANGE PHONE DEAL

The 2007 Idols judge and rapper, Scar Matlhabaphiri recently clinched an unspecified deal with cell phone giant, Orange.
The rapper becomes the first Botswana entertainer to be signed by the cell phone giants in a deal that sees the Orange Company selling Scar branded cell phones-the Scar Pack.

ERIC WAINAINA POSTPONES ALBUM LAUNCH

Afro fusion act Eric Wainaina has changed the dates for launching his album Love and Protest due to ‘unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances’.
According to his Facebook page, Eric posted an update on Monday informing his fans that the launch dates have had to change. “So ladies and gentlemen let's mark our calendars for the 10th, 11th and 12th of September instead. Hope to see you all there!”

THE NOMINEES FOR 2009 MAMA WITH ZAIN

BEST MALE

2 Face (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Nameless (Kenya)
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)

BEST NEW ACT

M.I. (Nigeria)
Shaa (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

BEST HIP HOP


M.I. (Nigeria)
A.Y. (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)

BEST FEMALE

Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya)
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)

BEST PERFORMER

P-Square (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana)
Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3 (Uganda)

BEST R&B

2 Face (Nigeria)
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyoncé (USA)
Akon (USA)

BEST GROUP

P-Square (Nigeria)
Blu*3 (Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR


2 Face (Nigeria)
D’banj (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless (Kenya)

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Green Day (USA)
Coldplay (UK)
Cassette (South Africa)
Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa)
Aking (South Africa)

BEST VIDEO

2Face – Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD – I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP – Mpitse (South Africa)
Da L.E.S. – We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu ft Bobi Wine – Little Things You Do (Kenya).



The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain will be unveiled on 10 October 2009 at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. The broadcast of the show, hosted by hip hop legend Wyclef Jean, and featuring performances by Wyclef Jean, Lira, M.I., Samini and Wahu will air to a potential TV audience of 1 billion viewers around the world, via African pay-TV channel MTV base (DStv Channel 322), MTV partner networks around the world and African terrestrial channels including RTGA (Democratic Republic of the Congo), TV3 (Ghana), CTV (Kenya), AIT (Nigeria), STV (Nigeria), TBC 1 (Tanzania), ZNBC (Zambia) and WBS (Uganda), from 17 October 2009.

VALERIE KIMANI AND LUPITA NYONGO IN MTV SERIES

The MTV Staying Alive Ignite drama series started shooting in various locations in Nairobi this week. One of the sets of the educational show was at the Zen Gardens on Wednesday 19.



One of the notable cast members is Lupita Nyong'o who is playing the lead role – Ayira, a beautiful and vivacious college student who is using her body to give her family a better life.



Ayira is friends with Sindi an exac opposite played by TPF1 winner Valerie Kimani.



The TV drama is directed by South African Teboho Mahlatsi famed for producing Yizo Yizo a hard hitting TV drama which pushed the envelope in very way possible and challenged societal attitudes towards taboo subjects as HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. He has also directed Jacob's Cross which currently airs on KTN.

ON PROBATION

This Saturday 29 will be the first TPF3 eviction. The evictee will be hosted at the Carnivore Restaurant in conjunction with Hot 96 Inferno Dj's.

The eviction party is titled " Tusker Project Fame 3 eviction at the Backpin Night hosted by Hot 96 Inferno Dj's".

Backspin basically takes the revellers back into time by playing old school/ new jack songs.

This information is exclusive only to you. It is confirmed that this is where the eviction shall be held.

This are the four on probation
Nina (Rwanda)



Caroline (Tanzania)


Ng'ang'alito (Kenya)


Kelvin (Tanzania)

SING ALONG TO THE LATEST HIT ON KISS 100

It is a eye candy Thursday all over again. In addition you can sing along to Brackets (Nigeria) hit song Yori Yori.
Sing along now…

Love love, ai mh mh mh; well well, yori yori
ai,
chineke meh; am with you ma, love love

mh mh, well well; ape planet, yori yori

bracket le; am with you ma love love

CHORUS 2X

Ma love love, with you everything is well well

Your love dey make my heart do yori yori

Nobody can love you the way I do

Am with you ma love love

VERSE 1

Same thing, same thing way dey make me feel like say you go be my wife

Na the same thing wey been dey make others dey say I dey waste my time

Na because I dey respect you girl, spending for you every night and day

I dey pray for you, because of you I dey fly like butterfly, my love love
Refrain 
Na this thing make people dey say,
I don lose my sense my brain

But nobody can stop me from loving you, am with you ma love love

REPEAT CHORUS

VERSE 2

You see the all the things dey flow,
some surprise to see how I dey love you so
Girl
I dey suspect say them no know say na you be the person we dey make me flow
Uuh
I tell them say you are a blessing and that’s why you are so interesting

Nobody is understanding the way you are, oh my beautiful girl

REPEAT & REFRAIN CHORUS

BRIDGE

Your love dey affect my brain and two e dey make me go insane

E go make sense if you come my place if you no hear am I go talk am again

Your love dey affect my brain, oh my love
I dey go insane
Just leave am the way e be, the way it is oh my love.

REPEAT REFRAIN

OUTRO 

Love love, iya iya,
yori yori iya iya, yori
Decumzy lee e e eehe
Ai chai
my love love my love love
uh my love love

Nobody can stop me from loving you,
am with you my love.

© Bracket

MICHAEL JACKSON TO BE BURIED NEXT WEEK

After nearly two months since Michael Jackson died at the age of 50, he will finally be buried next week, on what would have been the pop star's 51st birthday, August 29, New York Daily News reports.
The singer's father, Joseph Jackson, told the paper that Jackson will be buried at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Cemetery in accordance with plans that were finalized over the past few days.

WYRE’S WOW THE NIGERIAN FANS

Wyre, DBanj and Ikechukwu

Wyre the Love Child wowed crowds at the August 1 Sound City Music Video Awards in Nigeria’s Eko hotel. The singer who has just released his second solo album called 10 Years Wiser, was given rave reviews by Nigerian press who described his performance as ‘energetic’ and ‘able to hold on his own’.
Nigerian acts got on stage with Wyre to show their support for the Love Child.

Wyre and Tuface


Wyre and Ikechukwu


Tuface Idibia, Ikechukwu and Nigeria’s darling D Banj the Koko Master danced with Wyre during his performance.
Spark Africa Management and Nigeria’s One Management facilitated his visit to Nigeria.

EMANUEL JAL COLLABOS WITH MACY GRAY

Rapper Emmanuel Jal has done collabo with Macy Gray. The song titled ‘Walk on the moon’ was recorded about two months ago.
Jal’s autobiography War Child premiered in Kenya to a very receptive audience.

The American R&B/ Soul singer has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album, Big, released in March 2007—and has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including Training Day, Spider-Man, and Idlewild.

JUA CALI HEADS A BLOOD DRIVE

Jua Cali - Youth Brand Ambassador for Orange presents Kelvin Njoroge 1st year student at KCA University with his latest Album 'Ngeli ya Genge' after he donated blood. Looking on is student John Kimohu


Last Wednesday (August 12), Jua Cali was at the Kenya College of Accountants on Thika Road to spearhead the Donate Damu Kiasi blood donation campaign launched by Telkom Kenya and Bloodlink Foundation. The King of Genge is also the Youth Brand Ambassador for Orange played his role in championing the campaign and encouraging the university students to come out in large numbers to support the cause.

THE KENYAN BROOD OF STARS…

PATRICIA KIHORO – Kenya
23-year old Patricia hates that she still gets stage fright despite some previous experience in public performance but likes that once she sets her sight on something, she will go for it, whatever it takes. She is the only girl and has 2 brothers.



DEBARL CLEMENT INEA – Kenya
Debarl, 32, is the only boy and has 3 sisters. His father passed away on August 12th, a few days before he auditions in Nairobi on August 18th. This was a very trying moment for him, but he believes in himself and is passionate about pursuing a musical career thus did not let this get him down. Debarl describes himself as ‘amazingly patient,’ a trait that he is particularly proud of. He also likes that he is persevering and adaptable but feels that in certain instances he perhaps holds back a little because he worries too much about other peoples’ opinions.



BENARD NG’ANG’A MARANGA - Kenya
23 year old Benard is the third in a family of 2 girls and 3 boys (himself included). He describes his family as social, welcoming and expressive. He reckons that he is naturally very funny and always manage to make other people around me laugh.

MEET THE TANZANIANS

ILLUMINATA RWELAMIRA - Tanzania
Illuminata, 28, loves that she is very diplomatic in her dealings with people. She is also honest but thinks that perhaps she is too forgiving at times and thus can be easily taken for granted. She is 5th in line in a family of 3 boys and 4 girls.



CAROLINE ULIWA – Tanzania
Caroline, 22, finds it interesting that her friends seem to win her trust and confide in her – her friends teasingly call her ‘Oprah’ as she always has a ready ear for all. She says that she is learning to believe in herself a little more. She is the eldest in her family and has 2 siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister.



KELVIN STEPHEN - Tanzania
Kelvin, 24, was inspired to pursue a musical career by his father who is a pianist. He learnt to play the piano from his father and is currently mastering the guitar in music school. He has, however, never performed before (unless family gatherings count… he says). He is the middle child in a family of 3 and has 1 older sister and 1 younger brother.

NOW MEET THE UGANDANS

KAROLYNE NABULIME - Uganda
Karolyne is the 2nd born in a family of 2 girls and 2 boys. She would definitely like to get married in future but for the moment prefers to concentrate on her trying to build a musical career.
The 26-year-old likes her warm and likeable nature but because she smiles often, she feels that sometimes people do not take her seriously.



LEAH ATUTE – Uganda
Leah, 25, was brought up in a large family of 21 children. She has 14 brothers and 6 sisters.
Leah says that her friends tell her she is very kind and has a ‘golden heart’ which she thinks is a good thing. She, however, says she sometimes underrates herself and is learning to believe in herself, thus her new motto ‘Yes I Can.’



MAUREEN KABASIITA – Uganda
Maureen, 26, is the 2nd born and has 3 brothers and 6 sisters. Maureen is proud of her hard-working and determined nature, noting that she paid her way through high school and college as her parents could not afford to settle her fees. She however dislikes that sometimes she can be introverted and is often afraid to challenge other people.

MEET THE RWANDAN STARS

NINA BOLA – Rwanda
23 year old Nina is the eldest child and has 1 brother and 1 sister. Her family is multi-lingual having lived in various African countries. Nina says she is comfortable speaking in French, English, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kikongo and Lingala. She is always happy but her very organized nature sometimes makes her seem too prim and proper – both a good thing and a not so good thing, she says.



CHRISTIAN ROBERT RWIRANGIRA
Christian, 23, wryly states ‘like father, like son,’ noting that he comes from a family of dancers. His grandfather and father were both very skilled in the famous traditional Kinyarwanda dance.
He sees his Tusker Project Fame journey as a predestined journey, noting that his contract on a temporary job had ended a week before he auditioned. He is more comfortable singing in French and says that he only knew 5 English songs but considers himself lucky to have come this far. Christian is gunning for the top prize like everybody else, but wisely adds that more than anything, this is an opportunity to learn about music because he thinks he has a decent voice but needs help in training it. He is in the contest to learn as much as he can.
Christina says he likes the way judge Ian Mbugua makes no apologies for putting them on the straight and narrow because this way he pushes them to reach greater heights if they take the criticism positively. Christian is the 3rd born in a family of 9. He has 4 brothers and 4 sisters.



ALPHA RWIRANGIRA
Alpha, 23, has recently enrolled in a music school to hone his guitar playing skills.
He entered the Tusker Project Fame contest because he loves music. He notes that his family is very musical as his father is a keyboard player and has a cousin who is a popular musician back home. He would therefore like to explore this musical talent that he believes is in him as well. Alpha is the 1st born and has 2 sisters and 2 brothers after him.

TUSKER PROJECT FAME PREMIERES

Former TPF2 contestant Linda Muthama poses with Comedian Nyambane a.k.a Walter Mongare before the show



Big Ted poses with singer Atemi


Inside the dome


Sarakasi dancers on stage wait for thier que during the live recording


Kenyan Patricia performs Sauti Sol's Lazizi


Judge Ian Mbugua



Judge Julia Kanyomozi


Valerie and Nakaaya perform Beyonce's Listen


Amani performs


Esther Nabaasa sings


Contestants chill out after the shooting of the live TV show ends



Twelve contestants drawn from the four East African countries have been selected to join the Tusker Project Fame 3 reality show contest.
The contestants who were unveiled on Sunday 16 at a star studded glitzy event are now set to compete in the ten week reality show which will see the winner walk away with a Shs 5million cash prize sponsored by Tusker not to mention a one year recording contract with South Africa’s Gallo Records.
The contestants have been enrolled at the Tusker Project Fame Academy where they will be exposed to the best in music vocal, song-writing and performance coaching to fully nurture their talent.
Speaking at the Tusker Project Fame 3 Premiere show staged at the TPF Dome in Ruaraka, East African Breweries Limited Marketing Director Debra Mallowah disclosed that the contestants will this year undergo a revised and enhanced curriculum geared at producing the very best from the individual contestants.
“For the first time in the Tusker Project Fame history, we are this year set to witness a more competitive and engaging training process backed by an enhanced training curriculum,” Mallowah said.
And added: “East African Breweries has on its part and through our flagship brand Tusker invested more than Kshs 200million to ensure the success of this program with the overall goal being to produce an authentic superstar from the talent pool of twelve contestants.”