BUDDHA BLAZE BIOGRAPHY

Born: March 28th
Race: African
Nationality: Kenyan
Govt Name: Moses Mbasu. Son of Malik (Senior Diplomat) – Abu Dhabi - UAE, Brussels - Belgium, Ottawa - Canada), Elizabeth (teacher). Marital status- single, No children.
Address: 50 Sumo Flats, Marcus Garvey Road, 17960, 00100, Spark Africa. Africa.

Occupation: Writer, Artist, Project, Event, Content & Marketing manager. Social Networker.

Best Known As: Entertainment Writer at PHAT/ WAPI Event Organizer at British Council/ Music & Hip-Hop Activist/ Creative Entrepreneur/ Connector

Current specifications: Creative Director Spark Africa, Content, Marketing and Artist manager Ingoma Talent

Blogs & Web: http://wapiunderground.blogspot.com
http://ingomasoul.blogspot.com, ingoma.co.ke, http://archive.baobabconnections.org/country/?country=6 www.twitter.com/itsbuddhablaze www.facebook.com/buddha.blaze

At Work: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=56543513319&set=a.56542878319.65648.650693319

Targets: Radio show/ TV show/ Media & Record Company/ World tour with artist.

Buddha Blaze was the editor of East Africa’s first entertainment magazine PHAT! The first magazine of its kind in Kenya. He provided a platform for young and budding African artists to express themselves and connect with fans, documenting the emergence of an entertainment industry in Kenya. The result is local dailies such as Nation and Standard newspapers in adopting Pulse and Buzz. Through his time as editor of PHAT Magazine, Buddha Blaze interviewed numerous entertainers namely Suzanna Owiyo, Yvonne Chakachaka, Shaggy, Nameless, Redsan, Eric Wainaina, Bamboo, Alpha Blondy, the late Lucky Dube, Mandoza, Lebo Mathhhhosa and Brenda Fassie. Buddha Blaze was the TV host for Channel O ‘On the Streets. He was host of Nation TV’s RootStop. He produced two street DVDs called SHIKA 1 and 2 featuring. Chris Rock.

Buddha Blaze led campaigns through articles to have radio stations start playing Kenyan music instead of only playing international music changing the way radio looks at Kenyan music. In 2002 he was facilitator for the Safaricom Star Search looking for talent. In 2003 he led first group of Kenyan artists to the KORA All African Music Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2004 he was involved in World Bank anti-piracy project Action for Music. In 2007 Buddha Blaze became creative partner at Spark Africa where they designed and managed a global artists movement for British Council called WAPI and set it up in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Malawi http:// www.britishcouncil.org/africa-wapi-lights-up-africa.htm. Through WAPI Buddha Blaze has inspired the careers of many artists such as Sauti Sol, Big Mic, Point Blank, Muthoni the Drummer Queen and Liz Ogumbo. Buddha Blaze is the founder of the major poetry event Slam Africa: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120572724680372&ref=mf. Buddha Blaze manages the UN Habitat movement called Messengers of Truth with Knaan & GURU: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=193895913552 and managed the Your City Summit by UN Habitat in Durban: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=193895913552
BUDDHA BLAZE BIOGRAPHY (2000- )

SELECTED CAREER PROJECT REFERENCES
2000: Head reporter at PHAT! Magazine
2000: TV presenter/ host Nation TV; Rootstop
2001: Organizer PHAT! LIVE Concert
2001: TV Host on CHANNEL O ‘On the Street’ Documentary
2001: Media Rep at LUCKY DUBE CONCERT in Kampala, Uganda
2002: Mobile Phone content provider SAFARICOM 411
2002: Media representative; FESTIVAL MUNDIAL, Tilburg, the Netherlands
2002: Organizer PHAT! Magazine Launch; Johannesburg, South Africa
2002: Event organizer; OKTOBERFEST 2002, Nairobi, Kenya
2002: East African PR for KORA All Africa Music Awards, Johannesburg SA
2003: Radio Presenter, Ethnic Fusion, CAPITAL FM, Nairobi, Kenya
2003: Facilitator; SAFARICOM STAR SEARCH, All over Kenya
2003: Organizer / Host for RAP & VIBE, Nairobi, Kenya
2003: Artist Manager; BIG BROTHER AFRICA Beach Party, Mombasa,
2004: Event Organizer at TUSKER SAFARI SEVENS, Nairobi, Kenya
2004: Spiderman Launch for FOX CINEMA, Nairobi Kenya
2004: Tour Manager for COCA COLA Real Country Tour
2004: Sales Agent of KENYA MUSIC WEEK, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
2005: Organizer of OLIVER MTUKUDZI Tour of Kenya
2005: Artist Liaison, FANTA - Bamboocha Launch, Nairobi, Kenya
2005: Media Rep, United Nations GLOBAL HIP FESTIVAL, Johannesburg, SA
2006: Manager for World Environment Day Concert- ECOFEST, Nairobi
2006 -: Event & PR; WAPI: Words & Pictures, BRITISH COUNCIL, Nairobi, Kenya
2007: Facilitator UN HABITAT; Urban Youth Development Conference, Kampala,
2007: Event & PR for WAPI Tanzania, BRITISH COUNCIL, Dar es Salaam,
2007: Client Service for SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM activation, Nairobi,
2007: Host of AFRICAN HIP HOP RADIO, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2007: Event & PR for WAPI Nigeria, BRITISH COUNCIL, Lagos,
2007-: Editor WAPI TIMES Magazine
2007: Organizer DEAD PREZ show in Kenya - Tanzania
2008: Organizer EMCEE AFRICA 1 & 2 for CHANNEL O – Kenya
2008: Organizer KENYA YOUTH PEACE WEEK (NYVP) for UN HABITAT
2008: Coordinator for US/Kenya Culture Exchange workshop c/o US EMBASSY
2008: Organizer of London’s BLAK TWANG Tour of Kenya
2008: Coordinator BRITISH COUNCIL YOUNG MUSIC ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
2008: Facilitator of BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM – New Stanley Hotel
2008: Event & PR for WAPI Ghana, BRITISH COUNCIL, Accra,
2008: Host/ MC PILSNER rebranding launch for EABL
2008: Project coordinator ONE CITY: GLOBAL YOUTH SUMMIT – Durban, SA
2008: Content Agent: PEACH MOBILE/ MOBILE SAWA (Ringtones)
2008: Project manager KENYA HUMAN RIGHTS EPA Advertising Campaign
2008: Organizer NYAMA CHOMA FIESTA Book Fair, Ngong Road Nairobi
2008: Production Management STANBIC BANK ‘Win out of the Blue’ Ad Campaign
2008: Media and event consultant for JIPANGE Youth Campaign
2008: Organizer SAWA MTAANI at SAWA FESTIVAL Arboretum, Nairobi, Kenya
2008: Project manager for Finnish National Day EMBASSY OF FINLAND, Nairobi
2009: Organizer UNITED NATIONS Governing Council, Gigiri, Nairobi
2009: Coordinator Dynamax Tour for US EMBASSY
2010: Artist, Content & Marketing manager – INGOMA TALENT MANAGEMENT
2010: Host/ MC Nairobi Berlin Cultural Collaboration for GOETHE INSTITUT, Nairobi
2010: Blogger/ Social Networker: SONY Music/ Rock4000/ AIRTEL
2011: Blogger/ Social networker NOKIA Activation Ambassador

CALL NOW FOR YOUR CULTURAL CONSULTATION NEEDS: WE TAKE YOUR WORK SERIOUSLY

SPARK AFRICA LTD
Arts, Social, Media Consultancy/ Events, Talent, Relations & Project Management
P.O Box 17960, 00100, G.P.O, NAIROBI, KENYA
Staying Until The Finish Line
Office Landline:+254 020 386 52 33
Cell Lines: Airtel:+254 736 528 116/ Orange:+254 772 045 357
Skype:Buddha.Blaze

http://www.facebook.com/SparkAfrica

BUDDHA BLAZE PRESENTS THE NOKIA X3

BY BUDDHA BLAZE IMAGES BY ZELALEM MULAT

Music plays a very important part of my day to day life, I listen to music to go to sleep, in the morning when I get up, when I brush my teeth, when having breakfast and pretty much the rest of my day. My days do not involved staying in one place so I need a phone that can be charged quick, is light enough not occupy to much space amongst my other gadgets that I carry on me. I own many Nokias but the Nokia X3 is one of these gadgets that is suitable to serve me and somehow hectic and colourful lifestyle. So when Nokia approached me to be on of their brand ambassadors, I obliged willingly because this is the phone for me and many people that have a similar lifestyle – we are many.

In an era that sees new gadgets come and go everyday, our communication needs are rapidly changing and getting the right phone for use is one of the most important decisions that you have to make. The Nokia X3 is a creative entrepreneurs’ phone; it is light and colourful meaning you can take it anywhere. It has the universal small pin charger that is available nearly everywhere. It lights up quick, has super speed when logging onto the internet, has a key pad that’s touch and type screen. When it comes to listening to music I have never had a phone that has such great speakers as this one. The 5 mega pixel camera serves my traveling habit just perfect what more can I ask for?

So as ambassador I go out on the streets and get people to enjoy the phone as they go about their regular phone. My first stop was at a show that I was hosting called Benga vs Bongo starring Kenya’s crown Prince of Benga Dan Chizi Aceda and Tanzania’s boy wonder of Bongo Flava – Mzungu Kichaa. As soon as the event got underway and I announced the availability of a Nokia X3 for the best dancer the buzz started with everyone trying to outdo each other on the dance floor. Everyone seemed to know much about the phone for its swift facebooking ability and use for twitter. They were right on because this one factor that is really important to me and others around me.

At the end of the evening I had to give the phone to the dancer of the night who turned out to be Mkamzee Mwatela http://www.facebook.com/mkamzeem who beat everyone in the room to win this phone. “The phone was so absolutely worth it! Awesome. The touch screen makes it so easy to operate my facebook and the camera is excellent! The most convenient thing for me right now is having the option to have your text messages read as conversations. Cheaters beware! There are records! Hahaha,” said an elated Mkamzee. Keep on the lookout for me as I get around you may just be the next winner of the Nokia X3 it’s a sweet phone so before you see me check the stores too.