IAN KAMAU AT CHOICES

For those who missed Ian Kamau's performance at Kwani last night don't be sad. He will be at Thursday Nite Live; Choices Pub doing collabo performance with Maasai artist Tetu Tutuma. It’s free entry. Starts at 8pm-11pm

Choices Pub is on Baricho Road, Nairobi. Off Uhuru Highway take a left at the Nyayo Stadium/ Nairobi West Roundabout first left is Baricho Road

 DIRECTIONS TO CHOICES BARICHO ROAD

BEYOND THE MUSIC: A TALK BY JULIANI & IAN KAMAU

BEYOND THE MUSIC

  

A great musician is not just one who sings but one whose work affects people beyond the speakers and headphones.  Here are two musicians involved with their community one from Nairobi - Kenya and the other from Toronto - Canada. Two different places but the same passion for life. In Kenya, rapper Juliani is known not only for his popular songs but for his love for his community. He was raised on the community moved called Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and even as he went solo he has demonstrated a strong community leaning with his movement KAMA SI SISI (If Its Not Done by Us Who Else Will?). This is an attitude change campaign towards the youth to be responsible and accountable to themselves, community, and their surrounding make it better than they found it; Politically, Economically, Socially and Spiritually. Take care of yourself by taking care of others."

  

Ian Kamau is a social activist and you can hear it in his music but he goes beyond that. His love for his community sees him very concerned about the way his government and local authorities treat the issues of crime in Toronto. He is vocal in the treatment of young people of color in his community and passionate about using hip hop to uplift.  “My creative life extends to my work in community development, specifically with arts-based projects for young people. From painting murals in downtown neighborhoods in Toronto, to volunteering with youth hip hop projects in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Nairobi to working with the Royal Conservatory of Music. That side of my life has always run parallel to my artistic life and reminds me of the importance of expression, inspiration and opportunity,” say Ian Kamau. See more of his thoughts here: IAN KAMAU

 Tonight 8th August at Pawa 254 Hub on State House Crescent Nairobi Kenya, which is the base of rapper Juliani, he hosts Canadian MC Ian Kamau for a talk open to the public to talk about Beyond the Music. Tha talk begins at 4.30pm and ends at 7pm. Come join us as we give you knowledge of what it means. 

 

DIRECTIONS: Map To Pawa 254 Hub

BEYOND THE MUSIC ON FACEBOOK

IAN KAMAU IN KENYA

One of the freshest artists to come out of hip hop in the last ten years is Toronto bred MC/poet Ian Kamau. It may be a forgotten fact but those who know the roots of this movement know that hip hop started out as a community and was all about each one - teach one. The foundation of hip hop established by the early greats such as Cool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Zulu Nation was based on a notion that the movement was for the benefit of the people other than the rappers themselves. This is one thing you notice about Kamau in all his music is that he is about the community. His music is powerful; it’s evident that Kamau is a scholar and a great conversationist who listens to the voice within.

His Trini parents named him Kamau a Kenyan Kikuyu name meaning ‘Silent Warrior’; perfect name for a poet MC that listens a lot. He has opened shows for K'Naan, K-OS, Saul Williams, The Roots, Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Ursula Rucker, Talib Kweli and Shad as well as collaborating with the likes of K-OS, Tumi (from Tumi & the Volume), Shad and many more. His connection with Africa is special to him and he loves spending time here performing and connecting with people.  His desire is to put his experiences into the world so that he may enter a larger conversation with people in different places. Early this year released the album; One Day Soon and embarked on a South African tour: Ian Kamau

VIDEO: The Village

Spark Africa and Kwani Trust have put together their energy to enable his presence in Kenya in the first week of August. He performs at Kwani Open Mic on August 7th. During this performance he will be supported by Kenyan poets Wanjiku Mwaurah, Number 8, Dembede Mido and Githuku Ndungi. He will be doing a lot of other interesting things such as doing music with Kenyan artists such as Juliani, Octoppizo, Bamboo just to name a few.  Keep it here for more.