FRESHLY GROUND FOR KENYA’S JAMHURI DAY CONCERT

South African Afro-fusion band, Freshly Ground, will be performing on Jamhuri Day here in Kenya.
According to their website, they are booked for a show at Uhuru Gardens but the ticket prices are yet to be announced.
The band members are from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They are Zolani Mahola – lead vocals, Simon Attwell – flute, Mbira, Harmonica, Peter Cohen – drums, Kyla Rose Smith – violin, vocals, Julio "Gugs" Sigauque – acoustic guitar, Josh Hawks – bass guitar, vocals and Aron Turest-Swartz –keyboards, percussion, vocals.
Kep it here for more details of the upcoming event.

ALPHA WILL STILL BE COVERED MEDICALLY

After Alpha Rwirangira walked away with the 5 big ones (Ksh5 million) in the finale show of Tusker Project Fame, he was also awarded a medical cover to the tune of Sh10 million by Resolution Health East Africa.
The dilemma is that the company does not operate in Rwanda. Not to panic, Resolution Health East Africa Managing Director Peter Nduati has it covered.
In a press release, Peter states: "We currently do not have any appointed Medical Service Providers in Rwanda but we are in the process of doing this. As a special concession for Alpha and to ensure he receives his prize benefits of the medical insurance and access that would be convenient for him, we shall allow him to be able to have access of medical services to our current network as well as the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali."
The Premium Plus medical package that Alpha bagged includes a Sh100, 000 outpatient cover besides a dental and optical cover.
Peter also explained that Resolution Health has a strong network of hospitals, clinics and doctors with over 250 medical service providers located in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Southern Sudan.
This is the third year running Resolution Health is offering cover for the winners of Tusker Project Fame.

BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATES LEARN TO DANCE THRILLER

The housemates tried to re-creation the King of Pop's Thriller video moves in the Big Brother Revolution house. People, this is how it played out. Please don’t laugh, they really, really tried.


Here is the original video

STL PEFORMS WITH D BANJ AND MO HITS

Enjoy,

MCSK CRACKDOWN MEANS MO MONEY FOR THE ARTISTES

In July last year the Music Copyright Society of Kenya and Kenya Association of Music Producers launched the campaign Usikatisie Ngoma. Here, the society promised to keep the music playing by ensuring the artistes get paid royalties for their musical efforts. At the launch, which was held at the Wasanii Restaurant, MCSK announced they had made collections on royalties of up to Sh42 million for 2007.
Now, MCSK officials are on the streets impounding public service vehicles, which have not complied with the industries regulations of paying for the music they play. The crackdown was also carried out with the help of the police on major city routes.
Millicent Wasonga, an MCSK official said many PSV drivers are flouting the rules yet they know they have to comply, adding that only musicians who have registered are entitled to receive part of the proceeds every month that range from as low as Sh10,000 to Sh80,000 per musician.
“The crackdown is to ensure that the country’s musicians reap from what they sow. The more your music is played, the more you get paid. For instance Nameless received Sh80,000 for his music,” said Elam Asila who was part of the crackdown team.

TOXIC GETS A DAY JOB

Socialite and dancer Juliet Kwamboka (middle), popularly known as Toxic, has secured a day job as a sales executive in a dial up shopping firm. She however stresses that she is not about to quit dancing any time soon.
“Firstly, I am never going to stop dancing. I was born to do it,” she said. About her job Toxic said, “It is a new company formed three months ago. We specialise in deliveries. That's general deliveries of laundry, shopping, cooking gas, mineral water. Our target market are the busy Nairobians who rarely have time to go shopping therefore you either call us or log onto our website www.dialupshopping.com, and place your order. We will do your shopping and drop it at your office or at home.”

WAHU DOESN’T MIND HABIDA COLLABOING WITH HUBBY NAMELESS

Mtv Africa Music Award winner Nameless featured the very hot female act Habida in his single Sunshine.
Like every other person, one would like to know how does his wife, Wahu handle this collaboration to the smashing damsel. Click here if you don't know her.

Laughing, the MAMA award winner for Best Female Artiste Wahu said, “That is hilarious and a lot of people ask me that.”
Wahu and Nameless have been married for four years and have a daughter Tumiso.
“I think one of our best qualities in our marriage is that we are both in the same industry and I understand what the business is all about I understand this business. I’m not insecure and besides Habida is such a nice chick. I wish her all the best in terms of what she is doing musically.”
Wahu, who has always supported female entertainers added, “I always encourage women, I’m usually like, ‘Yeah, the more women in the industry the better’. As for me understanding the closeness in the video, it is the same way he understood when I did a collabo with Bobi Wine, I’m doing a collabo with AY and Nameless wouldn’t stand in my way or get insecure about that. Because he understands the business.”
So there you have it, all is well in the Kamoni household. You as in, David Mathenge Kamoni and family.

POWER RADIO WILL BE A REGGAE SATION?

Contemporary gospel radio station Power Radio went off air a while back. Now, I hear it will be converted into a reggae station. Anyhow, DJ Moz confirmed the news on the closing down of the gospel station.
“It is just a re-strategising move. We are in the process of coming up with a bigger and better radio brand.”
The process might take a month or less, “we are trying to speed it up as much as possible,” Moz said. However, no one will lose their jobs during the hiatus.
One thing though, does reggae pay? Best wishes for the peoples at Homeboyz.

PRINCE HARRY FOR ROMANTIC SAFARI IN BOTSWANA

Prince Harry has booked an exotic safari lodge in Botswana for his New Year getaway with on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy.
He will treat Chelsy, 24, to several nights at the five-star Shakawe fishing lodge in the Okavango Delta, which is one of their favourite holiday spots.

Harry, 25, is desperate for a romantic break with Chelsy before he has to resume his helicopter conversion training at the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop in Hampshire, where he will remain until next summer.
'Chelsy and Harry went to the same area four years ago when they had just started dating,' said a chum.

'Harry is really hoping that the trip will go ahead, if their schedules allow, because it will be an ideal opportunity to rekindle their affair.
'They are back together, but it's definitely Harry who has been doing all the running. Chelsy hates the media attention and it's one of the reasons they are staying so low-key.'
The Okavango Delta is noted for its stunning wildlife and when the pair last visited in 2005, they stayed with friends on the two-storey Kubu Queen houseboat-and camped on the secluded palmfringed Maswabi Island.

'If they do another water safari it will be totally secluded,' added the source.
'Chelsy is planning to bring along friends from South Africa and Harry wants to invite some of his friends from home, too, so there will be a big group. They are still wary about being seen as a couple so Chelsy is hoping being in a group will dilute scrutiny over them.'


Other romantic get-a-ways in Kenya
(((((===== Cottars 1920s Safari Camp - Jolie and Pitt's hideaway

source

JULIANI FOR COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

Gospel act Juliani is making headway with his climate change campaign dubbed Rauka Ama Hatuta Survive. The rapper who is building momentum with various sensitisation exercises in the country will be giving talks in various workshops during the Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.
He just launched a single to further promote his initiated climate change campaign.
Speaking to me, Juliani said, “For now my main focus is not the conference but informing the youth about the dangers climate change poses whilst mobilising them to do something to change the situation,” Juliani said. “Climate change is a personal issue for me. Take for instance, I woke up today I did not have water in the house and there was no electricity. Just the other day people killed each other in Samburu over a natural resource, this is more than just a Mau Forest issue. All this things are caused by humans not taking care of the resources they have well.”
Juliani will be one of the 8,000 people expected at Copenhagen. The Norwegian Church Aid sponsors his campaign.


More news on climate change
::{{{}}} KENYAN DESIGNER DRESSES GISELE BUNDCHEN

"911" LIVE PERFORMANCE DURING MAMA REHEARSAL

More goss on Cleff while in Kenya
::}}}{{{ BEST WYCLEF QUOTES WHILE HE WAS IN KENYA
::}}}{{{ AKON AND WYCLEF STRIP ON MAMA STAGE
::}}}{{{ WYCLEF AT THE TRIBE IN KENYA

MZUNGU KICHAA WITH JITOLEE

Check this out. Mzungu Kichaa was born in Denmark and raised in Tanzania. For a caucasian he speaks flawless Swahili better than some Kenyans I know. This video was shot on location in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam. The crowd you see are the people doing "business" in Kariakoo market.
He is a natural. He features Professa Jay and Mwasiti in the joint Jitolee. Enjoy and be amazed as i was.

You have to watch this. These two, Radio and Weasel are hilarious in this video. I love, I love, I love...

NYOTA NDOGO'S HAO TRACK

New hot off the studio

AKON MIGHT SOON BE A LANDOWNER IN KENYA

Senegalese singer Akon met Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a blink and miss meeting on Monday (12/10/2009). The meeting held at Raila’s Treasury office saw Akon talking about his visit to Kenya and the just concluded MTV Africa Music Awards.
That said, the I’m So Paid rapper confided that he is planning to buy land in Kenya preferably at the Coast, our source said.
I hear that he might even get it for free from one of his Kenyan handlers if the bureaucracy gets in the way
The late Barry White, you know him, the deep voiced American balladeer made a similar request way back in May 1995. He was in Kenya where he gave a legendary performance at the Nairobi Safari Park hotel.
Akon will join a host of other personalities who own land in Kenya like Italian businessman Flavio Briatore and the powerful Agnelli family who control Juventus Football club through their investment firm.
Flavio owns a resort in Malindi, Lion in the Sun, which is frequented by many celebrities including supermodel Naomi Campbell. Princess Caroline of Monaco and controversial hubby Prince Ernst of Hanover own a house in Lamu. Canadian singer Brian Adams also has a beach house in Lamu.
Stephanie Powers from the TV show Hart to Hart with her late hubby William Holden, actor, once owned Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki.

UGLY BETTY GETS MALARIA FEVER

A UN-backed campaign to raise awareness about malaria – which claims over 1 million lives annually – has a starring role on the season premiere of the hit television comedy, Ugly Betty.
Airing on October 16, the two-hour special will centre on the efforts by the main character, Betty Suarez, a young woman recently promoted to become the features editor at a fashion magazine, to draw attention to the “Nothing But Nets” scheme.
Under that campaign, the UN Foundation seeks to curb the spread of malaria by providing insecticide-treated bed nets, each costing Sh75, to communities in greatest need.
Malaria infects over 500 million people worldwide annually, killing more than 1 million people, the vast majority of whom are African children.
“Our storyline resonated with every member of our cast and crew,” said Richard Heusfrom, the show’s Executive Director.
One of the stars of Ugly Betty, Ana Ortiz, who recently gave birth to her first child, said that being a new mother has opened her eyes to the need to help vulnerable children around the world.
Ugly Betty is the first-ever television comedy series to be filmed at the UN, and its shooting came about through the world body’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI).

FOREST WHITAKER TO BE 50 CENT’S DAD

In news that nearly got me choking with suppressed laughter, Forrest Whitaker wants an on-screen “father-son relationship” with 50 Cent. The Oscar-winning actor is in negotiations to star alongside the rapper-turned-actor in the modern-day adaptation of the 1886 novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’.
Forrest is hopeful he can come to an agreement with movie bosses and get involved with the “interesting” script.
He told MTV News: "We’re still figuring out what we’re going to do, if I am going to be doing that or not. If I end up doing it, I would be playing Jekyll and he would be playing Hyde."

ALPHA’S DAD: HE ONLY HOPED FOR NUMBER TWO

On Sunday night’s finale show for the third season of Tusker Project Fame, Alpha requested for his dad to share the limelight with him. After a chat with his father, Joseph Bizima. After which he gave a speech about how his papa is “a hero in my life. This is the angel God gave me.”
Joseph gave me a short inteview where he said, “I’m very happy that my first born child got such a chance at success, especially in a public forum like this. I can’t believe it. It’s like heaven has opened up for me.
Joseph is a part-time musician and believes Alpha got his flair for music from him. “He told me once that I have ignored the talent I have,” when he was leaving for the TPF3 academy. Alpha told the dad “Dad, I will try and be number two.” In response Joseph told him, “I don’t want to hear of it, I want you to come back a winner. I have seen him grow from a child and now that he has just completed his A-levels and gotten this much success. I’m just so ecstatic.”

SIR ELTON JOHN VISITS AFRICA TO FIND BOY TO ADOPT

Sigh! Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt adopted a black baby, then Madonna followed suit. Now, Sir Elton John has extended his search for a child. The musician's civil partner, David Furnish, told a British newspaper the Daily Telegraph that the couple have considered adopting a boy in Africa.
"We were in Africa for the [Sir Elton John] Aids Foundation and met a boy, and immediately thought about adopting him," the film producer disclosed at the launch of Stephen Calloway's book Gosling: Classic Design for Contemporary Interiors, at the Ritz. Unlike Madonna, who adopted David Banda, a Malawian boy still in touch with his father, Furnish, 46, said they decided not to proceed.
"When we found out he had a maternal grandmother, and brother and sister, we realised it wouldn't be the right thing to take him away from the family he had there," he said.

JESSICA SIMPSON STANDOFF AT ENTEBBE

Early this month, American singer Jessica Simpson and her entourage had a disagreement at Entebbe International Airport when the airline they were using rejected their credit cards.
The I Wanna Love You Forever star was in Uganda to shoot her new reality show dubbed The Price of Beauty.
According to New Vision, there was a prolonged standoff as the sceptical airline staff rejected the card as a preventive measure to fraud, demanding she pay cash or walk away. It took the intervention of authorities to assure the airline that Jessica and her team had enough money and could not commit credit card fraud.
The series will debut sometime in 2010.

JESSICA BEIL TO SCALE MT KILIMANJARO

Y’all already heard that American actress Jessica Biel might have broken up with long time boyfie Justin Timberlake. Well, I don’t really care about that, all I know is the couple are in serious training for their trek up Mt Kilimanjaro.
They will be joining a group of celebrity climbers, including actress Isabel Lucas and singers Lupe Fiasco and Kenna, for the ‘Summit on the Summit’ expedition in January 2010.
The-27-year-old said, “I want to help any way I can in order to raise awareness toward the life-threatening clean water crisis happening not only in Africa but around the world.”

BEST WYCLEF QUOTES WHILE HE WAS IN KENYA

Wyclef is without a doubt the most sober celebrity who knows how to get himself talked about in the media. Forget the strip tease he did on the set of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain that is child's play.

For instance he pulled a ‘Kanye’. He went down stairs (at Kasarani) and pulled the head chef out of the kitchen and brought him on set of the MAMA stage. “Hey y’all this is not scripted. I went and took a chef who has been cooking for all of us. We can’t ignore the drought situation in Africa. I want to ask the chef what kind of aid Kenya needs because when the aid is sent the people of Africa are not seeing the money.” The Chef replied, “What we need is a sea so that we don’t have to rely on outside food.”

His eloquence and wit did not stop there. After a short blackout that interrupted the sound when nameless was performing, Wyclef had to redo the introductory part where he introduces Nameless. Just as the set up was going on he filled the silence by talking to music guru Jerry ‘Wonder’ Duplessis, who was standing behind him. “Yo, Jerry you need to stop smoking weed, you are loosing too much weight.”

And the finale shot from Wyclef is when D Banj accepted his award for artiste of the year. He told him, “Stay level headed, don’t go crazy on me like Lauryn Hill did,” while throwing in a little marketing for himself, “My album comes out in March 2010.”

TPF2’S MAGDALINE TO PREMIERE FIRST VIDEO

Another Former TPF contestant Magdaline Muckoya will be premièring her first video from her yet to be released debut album Prayer this month.
“I already shot the video for my first single No Wonder and distributed it to various TV stations,” said Magdaline, “I’m four songs away from completing my album.”
Magdaline who is in her final semester of her Bachelors of Arts in Communication course said she works on her album “every other weekend when I’m scheduled for a studio session”.
Unlike most artistes, Magdaline hasn’t featured any well-known entertainers because “I want to launch myself as a solo act. To prove that I’m much more that what people say.”

Click the linx below to read more on what former TPF contestants are up to
::>>>>> TPF 1 contestant beaten up in bar brawl
::>>>>> Esther Nabaasa’s long-awaited album released
::>>>>> One on One with Nakaaya
::>>>>> Nakaaya and M1 in secret wedding ceremony
::>>>>> VALERIE KIMANI AND LUPITA NYONGO IN MTV SERIES

TUSKER PROJECT FAME EVICTEES FORM BAND

The first three evictees for the just concluded Tusker Project Fame Academy have gotten together to form a band. The members, Kenyan’s Eric Waturu and Raphael Sipalla hooked up with Ugandan Davis Hillary Ntare to form RED, which comes from using only the first letter of their first names.
They may have missed out on the Sh5 million cash prize but they seem to be making the best of their few minutes in the limelight.

JUA CALI’S DANCER OFFERED A BLUE MOVIE ROLE

One of Jua Cali’s dancers Cynthia Nyagothie turned down a chance to say to some dubious director “I’m ready for my close up”.
Cynthia is seething from anger after some stranger offered to pay her well to act in a blue movie. The offer was made to her via Facebook by a person calling themselves “Mick” offering “a lucrative amount” to star in his next porn movie.
“He inboxed me, asking if he could use my photos for the cover of a porn DVD after I starred in it, and that he would pay a very good amount for it,” Cynthia said.
“I replied, telling him I could press charges. I asked him how sure he is that he is not even propositioning an underage girl” Cynthia raged. “Mick” then apologised saying ‘he was just doing his job that is where he gets his bread from.”
Cynthia and Toxic make up the Intoxicating Dancers the official dancers for the King of genge, Jua Cali.

TINA TURNER IN DAR?

I saw this poster in on of the TZ blogs and i thought to myself, how good it would be to have a legend in the East African vicinity.

Holla to Tina's Manager/ handlers, bring her over to Kenya as well... Mafans ni wengi.

TUSKER PROJECT FAME AFTER PARTY

Unless you have live under a rock, y'all should already know that Rwandan singer Alpha won the East African third edition of the Tusker Project Fame.
Anyho, here are some scenes from the Sunday night after party at the Carnivore.

AKON AND WYCLEF STRIP ON MAMA STAGE

Boys will always be boys. Akon and Wyclef striped on the set of the recording of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain (MAMA) on Saturday night in Kenya.
What? You don’t believe me?
Here see for yourself.






Photos/JP Chess

KENYA SHINES THROUGH AT AFRICA AWARDS

It will go down in history as the most spectacular event Kenya has seen to date. The MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain was well organised and the gala show that was recorded at the Kasarani Stadium went on without a hitch.
As predicted, the West and South of Africa dominated the awards show with nine awards going to those particular areas. The eastern part of Africa walked away with three awards all of which went to Kenya. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) walked away with one, My Video Award.

Kenyan singer Nameless walked away with two awards for Best Male, Listeners Choice Category for his song with Habida, Sunshine. Amani won the same award previously won by Kenya’s Wahu, Best Female.
Nigeria as usual hogged the awards with a total of five awards going to the country’s ‘superstars’. Four-time MAMA nominee 2Face won the Best RnB Award, his fellow Nigerian and triple 2008 MAMA winner D’Banj took home the coveted Artiste Of The Year award.

Pint sized Nigerian rapper MI (Mr Incredible) walked away with two awards for Best Hip Hop Award and Best New Act. P Square who won the Best Group Award couldn’t collect it due to a previous engagement.

Also from West Africa, Ghanaian rapper Samini was awarded the Best Performer Award. South African rock band Zebra & Giraffe took the Best Alternative Award, while rapper HHP represented with the Best Video Award.
This year the Mama Legend Award was given to the late Lucky Dube for his efforts in the anti apartheid fight.
The MAMAs were created last year to celebrate the best African contemporary music.

Photos/Getty and JP Chess

STILLS FROM USHER’S TRADING PLACES

Usher premiered his music video for The Trading Places on October 7. Here are some stills for all those Usher loving fans.

For the latest on your boy Usher just click over huuuuurrr