Translating Hip Hop Street Party

By Buddha Blaze

Translating Hip Hop Roundtable in Nairobi

Translating Hip Hop was put together The World Centre of Cultures in Berlin and the Goethe Institut. I was briefed by the Director of the Goethe Institut: Mr. Yohannes Hossfeld an arts enthusiast and a supporter of hip hop – his message was clear - lyrics, lyrics, and lyrics – why are they so important? Translating Hip Hop was not only a project but my hip hop journey and a big opportunity to engage and officiate a process that I really believed in. I am one of those hip hop heads that has for so many years listened to hip hop for its lyrics and message rather than its beats and melody. This was my turf.

MCs in Kibera slums

For the whole week, I engaged MCs from six cities - Bogota, Hamburg, Berlin, Beirut, Manila and Nairobi all locked in at the Goethe Institut, discussing their lyrics. The MCs would later make music together as an initiative of getting to know each other’s reasons’ for the lyrics. The week also included an expansive tour of Kibera slums to show the visiting MCs the environment that makes Kenyans MCs’ lyrics. Regardless of what city and cultural background any of the MCs were from the most outstanding feature about their lyrics was of crying out against inequality and injustices in the communities.

Goethe Institut, Nairobi

The power of hip hop lyrics was revealed as most important feature in the art form that we speak about. The whole week I spent translating hip hop with the rest of the visiting rappers such as the animated Mad Maxamom from Hamburg, tech hip hop lady Anne Khan from Berlin, queen of Arabian hip hop; Malikah from Beirut and Resty from Manila, Philippines and the laid back Colombian MC Melanina. They were hosted by their Kenyan counter parts in Translating Hip Hop - MC Kah and Nazizi. Guest local MCs were Moroko, Octopizzo, Wanjiku Mwaurah and L Ness.

Colombian MC Melanina

The Translating Hip Hop concert was packed to the maximum by 8pm and the energy on stage was something unimaginable. Noted was MCs performing in different languages but receiving the same amazing reaction from the crowd. Emcee Africa King Big Mic started it off with an energetic freestyle that culminated into a battle. Miss poetic Wanjiku Mwaura held her own with some soothing poetry. Anne Khan’s techno hip hop was a charged performance. The highlight of the night was Colombian MC who was a ladies favourite and Arabian queen of hip hop – Malkia. Keep it here for more.

THE FASHIONIST KENYA WITH LIZ OGUMBO

By Buddha Blaze

It has been a long time since an artist captivated me in a way that I can relate to. Either the music is industry is tapped out, getting tired or the artists are just lacking fresh creativity. It is really about being able to come in the industry with a whole fresh angle that nobody else has attempted. Then here comes the elegant Liz Ogumbo who many of you may know as a fashion designer who runs Imani Models and Imani House of Fashion http://imanimodels.com but I have known her a soul singer always singing at any opportunity given. It’s her turn now to enter the music industry and she is not coming in without haute couture.

Liz Ogumbo

Liz Ogumbo has recently finished her album Ken Soul on Gallo Records http://lizmusiq.com/site/ and is ready for the games to begin. Now based in Cape Town South Africa running her fashion boutique Orange, she was back in Nairobi to launch and promote her music at her event dubbed Music Meets Fashion at the Fashionist. The Fashionist is an international fashion event held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. Introducing Ken Soul to the Kenyan crowd and using her fashion as a vehicle makes her uniquely relevant in an industry that has not done anything of this design.

Buddha Blaze the MC

As MC of the event this was the first time I had done a fashion event and I have to say I will never again look down upon fashion models. These girls work hard and to be able to stay elegant at all times while cracking a smile. I know now that when you see a runway full of models strutting down what the mums gave them do not for once think that it is easy to do. The sequencing was up to par, the change over was quick and at the end of day the elegance is maintained. Models are some of the hardest working individuals in the entertainment industry and behind the pretty bodies are amazingly beautiful souls.







The crowd kept glued to Liz Ogumbo’s fashion pieces which is made up of elegant casual dresses made from the kanga, jeans cuts a mixture of modern and traditional style as she belted her Ken Soul songs such as ‘Awete’, ‘Big Nyash in Blue Jeans’, ‘Maro Pamore’, ‘Mambo Jambo’ which quickly turned into a chakacha contest putting ladies in the crowd against each other for who was the best in shaking their waist Swahili Coastal style – what a spectacle to behold. Of course the winner went home with a brand new Mi-Q5 Dual Sim Qwerty www.mi-fone.mobi. Fashion really met music at the Fashionist to the delight of the audience who didn’t miss a beat.

MC Kah Speaks about his visit to Colombia

By Buddha Blaze
When it comes to hip hop in Nairobi, no other place is known to embrace this art form more than the inner city slum neighbouhood of Dandora. The home of hip hop pioneers Kalamashaka, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji and Ukoo Flani Mau Mau. Dandora is a nurturing ground for many stories and many MCs as a matter of fact it has the biggest concentration of MCs in Kenya every other young male is a rapper, a retired one or an aspiring one. It is the home of one MC Kah who is the younger brother to Kamah; one part of Kalamashaka. MC Kah is from a school of hip hop that is all about lyrics, its all about making sense and seeing how hip hop today is never about lyrics he may be one of those MCs that inwardly frustrated by his counterparts who are all about stunting.


Kah has been rapping since his teens and all he has ever known is positive lyrics. So being chosen to participate in this Translating Hip Hop project was not far fetched. He knows first hand the power of lyrics because he grew up around Kenyan hip hop pioneers Kalamashaka and later on as his own artist, he was involved in major projects such as he was part of the song ‘DANDORA L.O.V.E’ that was a hit in East Africa, he also participated in the human rights album Kilio cha Haki – Cry for Justice. Kah knew that going to Colombia to translate hip hop would be a challenge due to language but having performed in Europe for crowds that didn’t understand Swahili he knew well that hip hop doesn’t have a language barrier and that wouldn’t stop the fun.

The long journey to Colombia from Nairobi did not stop his enthusiasm after all he was probably the first Kenyan MC to ever visit Colombia a place that is known more for its medicinal export than its hip hop. On his way to Colombia he had been warned about his security but when he got to Bogota everything seemed fine, after all his home neighbourhood of Dandora is not a walk in the park. He loved the city of Bogota and he notes that there’s a lot of hip hop, reggae, salsa. Bogota had a similar hip hop vibe as in Kenya and he noticed how Colombian music had a lot of historical influence to African music probably through slave trade. He noticed that Colombians were quite interested in Africa and world affairs in general.




In Colombia hip hop artists seemed to enjoy a certain level of freedom to say whatever they need to say and censorship didn’t seem to be a thing they worried about that much. Like in many developing countries Colombia is plagued by youth unemployment, lack of resources for proper education, proper health facilities and an internally displaced population that is highly reliant on drugs for their daily survival. The rich drug barons seem to control the local economy with politicians being the vehicles for corruption and moral decays. Yeah we’ve heard that story way too many times. Most Colombian hip hop artists addressed these vices in their music. Their unique blend of hip hop laced with reggae and salsa is cool sound that is unique to Colombia.



Colombians have a big love for art and its encouraged throughout the society unlike Kenya. He enjoyed the Seventh Street – Septima a street in Bogota that’s dedicated to the arts every Friday. MC Kah enjoyed doing the translation with Colombia’s hip hop big wigs DJ Benny, Dianna Avella, Falco Flow and Melanina. His whole experience in Colombia makes him understand that many countries have more to offer than they are known for. He noted that he had heard about the kidnappings, drugs in Colombia but nobody ever told him about the great food, music and determination of Colombians to fight these vices.

On 25th of March to over 15 MCs including Nazizi, Malikah and Rayess Beks will converge in Nairobi to network and perform at TRANSLATING HIP HOP a workshop and concert featuring Big Mic, Octopizzo, Sharama, Wanjiku Mwaurah, Deejay Zaq, Deejay Steel just to name a few. Be there come witness. To find out more go to: http://www.facebook.com/buddha.blaze

NAZIZI SPEAKS ABOUT HER TRIP TO BEIRUT

By Buddha Blaze
When first asked by the Goethe Institut to go to Beirut for the Translating Hip Hop project the first lady of Kenyan hip-hop – Nazizi was hesitant. After all Beirut is not known for its hip hop; it is known as a battle ground for opposing ideological, cultural and political standpoints. Still it wouldn’t have hurt for Nazizi to go see what type connections she would link up in this Middle Eastern cultural melting pot. Two weeks ago, she embarked on her first visit to Beirut anticipating racism like in other Arab countries she had been to, but was surprised by her overwhelming reception. To add to it, the Beirut architecture reminded her home on the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa. With warm weather at play, she already felt at home. Although people did not know where Kenya was, they definitely knew about Africa, she was ready to start Translating Hip Hop.


Beirut after the War
At the start of the Translating Hip Hop workshops, she was blown away by the similarity between the Lebanese, hip hop scene and the one back home. It was still gritty, organic and developing. She simply loved how rappers spit in Arabic fusing their Middle Eastern instruments in (reminds me of Slick Rick’s verse on the Auditorium with Mosdef)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT-hYXqTN38 This got her wondering why African hip hop artists never use traditional sounds in their music - Arabs are proud of their strong heritage and culture. Through the process, she learnt how Swahili is deep rooted in Arabic. Hip hop is a very important tool of communication in Lebanon as a vessel of spreading messages. Lebanese hip hop artists are a conscious lot and their lyrics are mostly about issues about the civil war. They are in tune with what’s happening in their neighbourhood and politics.

Beirut Now
Nazizi visited Beirut a time when there’s a lot of revolution talk in the Middle East, we have seen the youth in Egypt and Tunisia hold successful revolutions in the last one month. “Lebanese youth are also speaking out and I could hear it in many conversations that they want change and they want to be heard. They are fighting for peace in their region. There were a lot of discussions about peace revolution in Beirut,” says Nazizi. You would’ve thought she would be scared for her life being around Beirut but she took memories. “I love Beirut, it’s close to my heart, it was the last place I thought I would ever be so attached to and I definitely want to go back. My overall experience was really inspiring for me to go out there and see for myself what Beirut was like, I will definitely go back and keep in touch with the artists there. It was an eye opening experience.

“I am blown away by the idea of this Translating Hip Hop and I’m really happy to be part of it. It is important because as an artist to sit and understand other artists’ perspectives of their lyrics and translating it to my own language,” says the enthusiastic rap scholar. While Translating Hip Hop she met Beirut’s biggest rappers - Malikah and Rayess Beks whose lyrics are quite political and have been subject to censorship due to sensitivity of their lyrics. For example there certain countries such as Israel which are not recognized in Lebanon and so cannot be mentioned therefore so Lebanese artists have to be smart in their lyrics and they use a lot of parables. They are currently working on a ground breaking and collaboration album that will be released at the end of the Translating Hip Hop project. It’s about to get really hot Swahili and Arabic hip hop.

On 25th of March to over 15 MCs including Nazizi, Malikah and Rayess Beks will converge in Nairobi to network and perform at TRANSLATING HIP HOP a workshop and concert featuring Big Mic, Octopizzo, Sharama, Wanjiku Mwaurah, Deejay Zaq, Deejay Steel just to name a few. Be there come witness. To find out more go to: http://www.facebook.com/buddha.blaze

TRANSLATING HIP HOP

By Buddha Blaze
Don’t you just love hip hop? I know I love it because I am always on the move. Hip hop is so genius that you can do many things with it. You can rhyme it, you can talk it, you can spit it, you can perform it, you can elaborate it, you can experience it and better than all you can translate it. When Goethe-Institut asked me to moderate this project I was more than elated to accept and cancel any other travel plans I had for these dates. Its projects like these that make me proud to be a part of the hip hop community. Always getting creative and close to out answers is what I need in my quest for truth, life and purpose. Translating Hip Hop is a hip hop project by The House of World Cultures in Berlin, Germany and its back ground is very interestingly creative.

Buddha Blaze Moderating
Translating Hip Hop comes from the need to understand hip hop lyrics. On ‘Renegades’: Jay Z asks “Do you fools listen to music or do you just scheme through it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot9LhcVWF2s Translating Hip Hop seeks to address that. It is about the content. Anyone who wishes to understand hip hop lyrics must not only be able to decipher the diverse sub-cultural codes on which the language of the rappers is based – above all, what is needed is deep knowledge of the language in which the rapping is done. As part of a series of workshops in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut in the four cities of Beirut, Bogotá, Manila and Nairobi, lyrics are translated into the languages of participating rappers.

MC Kah
Based on these lyrics, the participants from Berlin, Beirut, Bogota, Nairobi and Manilla will draft songs in their own languages which address the original subject but also infuse it with their own experiences and interpretations. Thus, a variety of different versions of the same song are created through different languages, gestures and individual styles. The musicians then perform the songs together on stage. Eventually, Translating Hip Hop will lead to a festival in Berlin in autumn 2011. The chosen artists from Kenya are my favourite rappers Nazizi and MC Kah who have already toured Bogota and Beirut in the last month. Their accounts of those trips are following soon.

Mad Maxamon from Berlin
The Nairobi module takes place on the 24th of March where rappers Anne Kahn and Mad Maxamon from Berlin, La Melanina from Bogota, Restly Perez from Manila, and the lady of Arabic hip hop Malikah from Beirut will all converge at Goethe Institut Nairobi to translate the lyrics of Nazizi and MC Kah. The highlight of the Nairobi Translating Hip Hop project will be a concert with major Nairobi hip hop and poetry names such as Wanjiku Mwaurah, Big Mic, L Ness, Octoppizzo, Sharama of Ukoo Flani, Moroko at the Goethe-Institut Nairobi on 25th March at 8.00 pm, which will be moderated by Buddha Blaze. This is one concert that you do not want to miss out in any way possible.
More about Translating Hip Hop: Visit this page: http://www.facebook.com/buddha.blaze

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.