MAKE A CHOICE ARTISTES TELL YOUTH

They call themselves Kenyans for Change. They have united to record a song to urge the youth to read the proposed constitution then make an informed choice.
Headed by Achieng Abura as the chairlady, Kenyans for Change, 2010 (K4C10) the group of artistes will be touring the country in a series of concerts.
To further enforce their stand the group launched their theme song dubbed Amua on Thursday, July 1 at The Alliance Francaise.
It features Sauti Sol, Juliani and Suzanna Owiyo while the video also features cameos of other personalities such as Nonini, Dennis Oliech amongst others. The theme song is for the referendum in August 4, for the Committee of Experts civic education campaign.

CELEBRATING MADARAKA DAY THE PATRIOTIC WAY

A new event is being born on Madaraka Day 1st June (Madaraka Day commemorates the day that Kenya attained internal self-rule in 1963). Kibera Good Governance Festival will be held Just outside Kibera (one of the poorer parts of Nairobi), on the DC's Ground in Makina, starting with local artists performing from 12 noon. Headlining artists include Juliani (KE), Abbi (KE), Mzungu Kichaa (TZ/DK) & VQEE (KE/DK).
The event will also include talks about the proposed constitution. Both the current and the proposed constitution will be available also free of charge.

A local CBO, Kibera Community Development Agenda, is organizing the event while neither musicians nor Event Sound & Entertainment who supplies stage, PA and instruments are charging any fee. The Royal Danish Embassy is supporting the event.

ATEMI SIGNED TO UK LABEL

Gatwitch Records, a UK-based label, founded by Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal, has signed Kenyan neo-soul and Afro-fusion artist, Atemi Oyungu.
The label that operates in London, Nairobi and Juba, is also home to gospel rapper Juliani and Sudanese world music artist, Nyaruach.

Afro-diva Atemi released her first solo single, Happy, in 2004. In 2008 she launched her debut album, Hatimaye.
That said, she is not new to the music scene. The singer made her mark on the music scene with the defunct all-girl group, Intu.
In 2003 Atemi joined Eric Wanaina, as an assistant vocal harmony provider for his Mapinduzi band. Together with the Eric and the band she performed in Zimbabwe, Ghana, Zanzibar’s Sauti Za Busara Festival, Holland’s Festival Mundial and North Sea Jazz Festival, on Big Brother Africa, in South Africa and at the Annual German Ambassadors Conference in Germany.
She also played a major role in Wainaina’s musical stage production, Luanda, and later in Wainaina’s biggest theatre production yet, Mo Faya.
Atemi who has been hosting an all-Africa TV show, Africa Rising, since 2009, not only gets a recording deal, the label will provide marketing, distribution and event organizing for her.
Gatwitch Records recorded Juliani’s 2008 hit album Mtaa Mentality.


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

KENYAN RAPPERS CAMEO ON MTV SERIES

Ten Kenyan rappers will be part of the MTV Staying Alive Ignite TV series dubbed Shuga. The three from P Unit, Nonini, Nameless, Juliani, Jimmy Gait, Madtraxx and DJ Adrian have all made cameo appearances in the drama series.
P Unit and Nonini play friends of lead character Skola (played by David Omwange), appearing in scenes where they hang out in a parking lot with Skola, his buddy Kennedy (Antony Mwangi) and Sindi (Valerie Kimani) and indulge in a little freestyling.
Triple-MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain nominee Nameless features in a nightclub scene shot while radio and club favourite DJ Adrian puts in some hot deck action during the same scene. Both Nameless and DJ Adrian agreed to do the shoot because of their personal commitment to promoting safe sex.
Gospel singer Jimmy Gait appears as himself in a gospel choir scene in which he freestyles a song that he wrote on set – a moving track entitled “Just Let Him Know” - which ultimately encourages Eva Kanyang’onda’s character, Virginia to reveal her most intimate secret.
Madtraxx features in a powerful scene where he appears as a guest (playing himself) on Skola’s radio show, Campus Radio, discussing condoms and safe sex.
Juliani appears in a cameo role as a student pitching for a job, rapping a verse from his hit song Biceps during his pitch.
Funded by MTV Staying Alive, PEPFAR, HIV-Free Generation and UNICEF, the series is to motivate sexually active youth and young adults under 25 to modify their sexual behaviour. It will premiere on MTV base (DStv Channel 322) and on terrestrial TV stations Citizen TV and Nation TV in November 2009.