AKON LIVE IN KENYA

After many years of planning, Akon is finally coming to Kenya. Akon is brought to you by Spartan Group and concert will take place on the evening of Saturday 27th and afternoon of 28th of October, both concerts at Carnivore Grounds. The Saturday night concert will be for grown-ups while the Sunday afternoon the Family concert will be for all ages.

AKON LIVE IN KENYA
Opening acts will be Juliani, Bamboo and Stella Mwangi

The evening of 

SATURDAY 27th October 2012

Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi

Ksh: 2,500/- Main Arena
VIP: 5000/-
Family Concert on 28th: 2,500/- 

ALL ADVANCE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT CARNIVORE & TAMARIND IN TOWN

 AKON PROMO

Akon In Kenya Event Page

WIN! A TICKET

By Simply answering this question.

Before Akon blew up, he first appeared on a song with a famous group.

What was the song, group and album?

RULES: To win this ticket, You must register yourself on this blog and then successfully answer the question.

The winners shall be announced be announced on this blog 12 hours before the concert.

CAMP MULLA WELCOMES YOU TO FUNKY TOWN

Here's the Review I did for Nairobi's Top Cultural Magazine Nairobi Up

Camp Mulla could well be the group that single handedly lifts the face of urban Kenyan music. Made up of versatile rappers Taio Tripper and Shappaman, the amazing songstress Karungari “Miss Karun”, and the multi- talented producer, Marcus “K’Cous” Kibukosya, Camp Mulla is one to watch.

“Funky Town” is a highly anticipated piece of art with a clear objective—to make you dance and have a great time. The title track, “Funky Town”, is a preparation for celebration. Camp Mulla doesn’t deviate from the carnival mood, even when giving a positive message on their rendition of Kenyan 90s group, Zanaziki’s “Papeyo”. A gem, it encourages peers to work hard in life, not to expect handouts, and never to abandon their dreams.

The laid back jam “Feel No Pain” will put you in the mood for a great house party. And you have to bring lots of swagger if you want to keep it “Fresh All Day”, as Miss Karun croons. She solidifies the track iwith “all I know is swagger, put your hands up if you’ve have some.” Camp Mullah’s smash hit, “Party Don’t Stop” (featuring Collo), earned them lots of accolades, including becoming the first East-African artists nominated for the prestigious 2012 American BET.

“Sunday Swagg” is the type of song to play on the drive home after a long day at work. You won’t believe how fast the traffic moves. They team up with Just A Band on the grown-up and jazzy “Where Do You Come From?” Watch out now, you will get addicted to jams such as “End of the Night”, “Addicted” and “Take It to the Floor”. This is followed by the smooth J. Smiles, who teams up with the group for some deep R&B on “Low” and “We Can Go”. And for the big finale, Camp Mullah ends the album with the insightful “Move On”, featuring Bamboo. After listening to this album, I sincerely recommend a trip down to “Funky Town”.

“Funky Town” is available at all Nakumatt and Uchumi stores.

Read More About Nairobi - The Cultural Mecca of Central & Eastern Africa. Read More about this beautiful city. Nairobi Up

CAMP MULLA

NGWATILO AT ARTS ALIVE FESTIVAL - JOHANNESBURG

Kenyan poet Ngwatilo Mawiyoo will be the second Kenyan poet to perform at the internationally known Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg in September 2012. Last year Kenyan poet Wanjiku Mwaurah was the first poet to perform at this prestigious festival which is attended by thousands of music, film, dance, puppetry, theatre, poetry and art lovers from all over the word. Arts Alive is a 10 day annual festival that showcases the best performances from all over the world. The festival is supported by the City of Johannesburg, South Africa Broadcasting Corporation and other companies that believe in supporting the arts. This festival is about lending African artists exposure to the international stage while offering the stage of international acts to local audiences.  This year’s festival will be showcasing Thandiswa Mazwai, Ms Cosmos and Kaboma just to name a few. 

Ngwatilo who is known for her gracious poetry in 2010 she published her first poetry book called Blue Mother Tongue. In 2011 she launched the well-received Peusic Project which was a showcase of her music and poetry. In 2012 she has embarked on a Kenya wide tour called This Kenyan Life where she visits families in remotes parts of Kenya and hangs out with them for days, sharing, eating with them and just talking about life. She has performed bot at home and many other countries and this will not be her first performance in South Africa she was on the Poetry Africa Tour with Mutabaruka.

Booked by Spark Africa; Ngwatilo will be performing on the Speak The Mind Sessions stage together with acts such as Napo, Shanelle, Synik, Nancy G from New York, Capetown, Zimbabwe, and Johannesburg.   She will be on stage at 7pm on 7th of September 20012 at Arts on Main, Johannesburg.   

Follow the event on @ngwatilo, @Arts_Alive, @MindSpeech

MARLEY PREMIERES IN KENYA

Bob Marley is an international icon one of the greatest musicians to ever live on the planet earth. After Michael Jackson and Obama his image is one of most popular black faces in the world. He inspired many people differently, - musically, culturally, historically and politically . Even though many didn’t know him personally, his story is one of challenge, tribulation and victory.   Here comes some of the most revealing and personal films about the life of this iconic legend Marley. The film was directed by Kevin Macdonald who also directed Last King of Scotland. It has received critical acclaim all over the word and grossed over USD 1 million in USA. For the first time in a cinema in Africa; Marley will play in Nairobi at Star Flix Cinemas starting September 2012. Keep it here for dates of Premier. Marley - The Film

MARLEY

A Film By Kevin Macdonald

Coming to Nairobi September 7th 2012
9pm

Star Flix Cinema

Prestige Plaza, Nairobi 


I'm giving out a Free Tickets for the Premiere if you can answer at least 2 of the the following questions. All questions must be answered on this blog.

What is Tuff Gong?   

What does the name Tuff Gong mean?  

Where did the name originate from?

After answering, keep checking the blog for who wins the tickets. 

RASTA Premier In Kenya

RasTa: a soul’s journey

Bob Marley's granddaughter Donisha did a film about the Rastafarian movement and how over the years, it has left Jamaica and been embraced all over the world through the continents of South America, North America, Middle East, Europe and Africa. She will launch it today for the first time in Africa, she will host a talk and launch the film in Nairobi – Kenya.

RasTa Premier
9pm, Friday 17th August 2012

STARFLIX CINEMA PRESTIGE PLAZA NAIROBI

Entry: Ksh.400/-

MARCUS GARVEY EARTHDAY

On August 17th 1887, Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born in St. Ann’s Jamaica. He was self-educated and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, dedicated to promoting African-Americans and resettlement in Africa. He was one of the first leaders of African ancestry in the western hemisphere. He has been hailed as the one who started the conscious movement of African in the West and led to the revolutions of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. His name is synonymous to black empowerment all over the world. Read About Marcus Garvey

 

On this day in 2012 in Kenya, Bob Marley’s grand daughter Donisha will lead a group of drummers to play drums and remember Marcus Garvey. At 1pm in the community of Waithaka near Kawangware, Donisha will pay respect to Marcus Garvey with a ONE LOVE MOMENT. This is a day when you can play a good song, sing or hum the song, hug your brother, call a friend, share knowledge, feed a stranger for Marcus Garvey. One Love Moment

MY TIME WITH A MARLEY

In my lifetime, the only Marley I have ever met is Rita Marley many years ago at a lunch. Yesterday I had another special honor of hanging out with Bob Marley’s granddaughter - Donisha Prendergast. Donisha is the daughter of Sharon Marley who is married to well-known Jamaican football referee Peter Prendergast. Donisha is such a chilled out sistren, just being in her presence leaves you with a warm feeling. We spoke about a lot of things happening in her life, music, Africa and of course Damian Marley. 

As you may know most of the Marley’s and extended family members are into music and other businesses, Donisha is the only one who is into film. As a film maker in Jamaica, she is concerned that her country only produces one film a year. She is fascinated with how countries in Africa such as Nigeria are producing over 50 films. So she has embarked on an explorative documentary film in Africa to find out how Jamaica can learn from the African film industry. The documentary is called 50 Days in Africa, the journey started in Kenya and will take her to Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa and Tanzania. She will be interviewing African film makers and meeting different industry folks to get ideas and voices on how Jamaica can learn from.

One of the crucial things I discussed a lot with Donisha; is bringing Damian Marley to perform in Kenya which he is very eager to. We discussed her other movement she started with her grandmother Rita Marley called Africa Unite. With Africa Unite they mobilized the whole Marley family to come together and celebrate Bob Marley’s life while giving back to community. It happened in Ethiopia in 2005, to Ghana in 2006, South Africa in 2007 and Jamaica ever after that. The discussion has begun to bring the whole Marley family to Kenya in February 2013 to coincide with the 50 years of Kenya’s independence Kenya's Independence. Keep it here for more info.

Being a Rastafarian, on Friday 17th at 1pm she together with the One Love Movement will mark the Marcus Garvey Earthday in the Waithaka Community which is a village past Kawangware slums in Nairobi. Marcus Garvey is the legendary Jamaican visionary one of the early blacks to start the first Black Nationalist and pan-Africanist movement in the 1800s. He is known as the forefather of the Rastafarian movement a well-respected historian and community elder. On this day we are all encouraged to be nice to every other human being, give someone a hug, buy someone lunch

 

At 9pm on the same Friday she will premier her film RasTa; a Soul’s Journey. This is a film about the journey of the Rastafarian movement how it left Jamaica and has gone throughout the world. The premier will be held at StarFlix Cinema Prestige Plaza. The launch will feature a discussion with Bob Marley’s grand daughter come one come all. Entry: Ksh.400/-

In September 2012 the same Cinema Star Flix Cinema   will be premiering the internationally critically film on Bob Marley called – Marley. Keep it here for more info. 

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

TUMI LIVE IN KENYA

About six years ago I attended the Global Hip Summit at Baseline, Newtown, South Africa and in the mix was the biggest names in the industry internationally from Knaan, Guru and Zulu Boy just to name a few. In that same summit, I made one of the most important discoveries of my African hip hop research; I met one of Africa’s dopest MCs; Tumi from the group Tumi and The Volume. At the time, I had not witnessed an African MC so lyrically fierce that he could outdo any international MC out there. When I got to listening to his album Music from my Good Eye I was blown away. Tumi makes amazing music for the thinking Africa, the reasonable human. His lyrical wizardry is reminiscent of The Roots’ early days and he prefers music with live instruments; a highly admirable trait.

That aside Tumi is not your average MC he definitely has something to say, he has that African passion to uplift you while he enlightens you. A son of a South African political exile – Tumi was born in Tanzania to return to South Africa after the end of apartheid, his thought is musically universal. He is no doubt international no wonder Tumi spends most of his time on tour in North America and Europe than the African continent. This MC is a musical beast never to be slept on. His whole point of view and artistry is unrivalled by any other African hip hop artist yet. His genius is totally underrated in Africa so I made it my own vocation to have Tumi play in home city of Nairobi one day. Faced with the regular African boundaries setback, I battled on. But as our ancestors once said – “Where there is a will there is a way’.

Six years later with loads of patience, Tumi is finally in Nairobi. He will be gracing the stage at the international festival Blankets and Wine on Sunday August 5th at Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village, Karen. This will definitely be a hip hop lover’s heaven he will be mashing it up with the Kenyan band Yunasi and also on stage will be the international Sauti Sol and Michel Ongaro. You can’t miss this.

More Blankets and Wine Details 

BlanketsandWine

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