ETO’O: I MIGHT JUST COME BACK WITH LIONEL MESSI

Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto'o who was in the country last week admitted falling in love with Kenya's wilderness and promised to bring his "best friend” Lionel Messi and other players to Kenya next year.
“Thanks for welcoming me to your family. It is a very beautiful region and I enjoyed my stay here,” the French-speaking player told hundreds of ecstatic football fans through a translator.
Sources whispered to Hot Secrets said it cost the Zeitz Foundation millions to bring Eto’o to Kenya.
Zeitz also brought Jamaican sprinter Usain ‘Boit’ Bolt to Kenya last year.
The Inter Milan striker was staying at the 50,000-acre Segera Ranch which is owned by Jochen Zeitz, CEO and chairman of the German-based sportswear manufacturer Puma AG.
Anyho, Eto’o was guarded by at least five policemen and army officers during his public appearances in Nanyuki. His security easily dwarfed that of three ambassadors present including the head of United Nations In Africa Achim Steiner.

MOURINHO DID NOT SEE A KENYAN WITCH DOCTOR!

A spokesman for Jose Mourinho has strongly denied that the 'Special One' had sought the help of four Kenyan jujumen as he prepared to start his new job as coach of Real Madrid, AFP reports.
"I categorically deny this stupid and unbelievable story...which is an attempt to damage the image and professional credibility of Mourinho," Elado Parames told AFP, adding that the Portuguese was now considering legal action.
"Mourinho never talked to this person," said Parames, who accompanied the Real coach and his family on the holiday to Kenya earlier this month when the meeting with the jujumen is alleged to have taken place.
On Sunday, Mzee Makthub, a reputed Mombasa medicineman, who has acted as a consultant to many politicians and football officials, told AFP that the 47-year-old Mourinho had been to see him and three of his colleagues to ask for assistance.
"He asked us to help him succeed in his new job," said Makthub. "Mourinho said he was taking a tough assignment at Real Madrid and he wanted to earn the respect of the people he was going to work with."
Parames insisted that Mourinho, who led Inter Milan to a European and domestic treble last season, was not the kind of man to seek help from a jujuman.
"Jose Mourinho is profoundly Catholic and he believes in God," said Parames. "In matters that concern his professional life, he believes in hard work and not in the miracles of any old sorcerer."

JOSE MOURINHO FAILS TO COLLECT A GOLD BRACELET FROM KENYAN JEWELER

The greatest football manager branded the Special One, failed to collect a bracelet custom made to his specifications for fear of being hounded by members of the Kenyan media.
Jose Mourinho had ordered a unisex gold bracelet at the Diani Gallery made with Tanzanite gold worth KSh 500,000.
The order was made a week and a half ago but since the members of the fourth estate had caught wind of his whereabouts, Mourinho who was staying at the Almanara Resort opted to keep away from the shopping centre in Diani where the jewelry shop is located.
Mourinho left the South Coast’s Ukunda airstrip on July 10 on a private plane, to Wilson airport to fly back to Europe after a three-week holiday in the country.

JOHN SIBI OKUMU RETURNS TO STAGE

Now that we are done with the World Cup, The Phoenix Players present an original Kenyan production by renowned thespian John Sibi-Okumu Role Play. This play premiered at the Courtyard Theatre in June 2004, and makes its second appearance to the public. The show starts Friday July 16 and runs till the July 31.
To book, please call Naomi at box office on 222 55 06 and 0729 913425 Mpesa accepted.
Tickets Kshs 500/- Adults Kshs 300/- Students. Members Absolutely Free

I TOLD YOU SO! IT’S BIG BROTHER ALL STARS

Today M-Net made a dramatic announcement confirming that the show is set to be a full All Stars version, featuring some of the most unforgettable, outspoken, entertaining housemates of previous editions! Big Brother All Stars will see 14 housemates from 14 African countries come together to compete 24/7 for 91 days in the search for the ultimate winner prize – USD 200 000.
Biola Alabi, M-Net Africa Managing Director, was pleased to make the news public. “We want to thank fans of the show for being so patient with us. We’re completely excited about this show and have wanted to announce the full name of the series for some time but given the logistics required on a show like this, we’ve waited until today to announce the full title of the Big Brother All Stars.” She goes on to say, “All the housemates, both those included in the new show and those who are not on this series, are the true stars of the Big Brother Africa story and we want to celebrate them in all their glory. What better way than to bring back some of the fans’ favourite characters for a second chance at the big prize. So join them on July 18 as they set off on a whole new With the stakes now raised, BIG Big Brother All Stars means that this season will be more strategic than ever before…with all the housemates having played the game previously, they each come into the new season equipped with more insight and knowledge into the world of alliances, conspiracy and tactics. What will happen? Who will survive? And how will they play?

ATHLETICS KENYA INVITES USAIN BOLT

Athletics legends from as far as 1952 will be in the city for the Nairobi 2010 African Senior Athletics Championships. David Okeyo of Athletics Kenya confirmed that the federation has sent out invites to the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt.
However, he said he wasn't sure he would take them up on their invite.
At a press briefing early this month, the Chairman of Athletics Kenya Isaiah Kiplagat said the entire gold medalist since 1952 will be present at the event.
“We would like to honour all gold medalist since 1952 not only from Kenya but also the rest of Africa,” Kiplagat said.
The visiting legends will be put up at the Jacaranda hotel.
In line with recognizing Athletics champions, Kenyan star athletes have been earmarked to act as ambassadors.
The list includes 005 World Championship 5000m winner Benjamin Limo, marathon ace Duncan Kibet, 2000 Summer Olympics 1500 m winner Noah Kiprono Ngeny, 5000 m World Championships' gold medalist Yobes Ondieki and three time 3000m silver medalist Patrick Sang all of whom were present at the briefing.

SCOTTISH PROF PRAISES TRIBE HOTEL KENYA

Professor Christopher Harvie, a Scottish historian and a Scottish National Party politician was in Kenya and was residing at Tribe Hotel.
Impressed was he, in his article on the South African Sunday Times.

“I have never been against hobnobbing with big businessmen and ambassadors. Even minor royalty. And they all obviously feel quite at home here. After all, Tribe is a world-class establishment geared to top brass in suits – but it is equally comfortable for small change in shorts like me. That’s why it’s so good.
Getting through security at Tribe is like gaining access to Wonderland. You become part of a great illusion. The hotel has 137 rooms and yet you could be forgiven for thinking it had only 30. There’s never a queue at reception. The servers in the restaurant are so genial you feel they’d like nothing better than to shoot the breeze with you all day. The housekeepers are invisible, but your room is always immaculate. And so it goes on.”

NGUGI WA THIONGO RESEARCHING FOR NEW BOOK IN TOWN

Respected literary guru Ngugi Wa Thiongo is said to be in Nairobi from the USA for research reasons.
Hot Secrets was tipped by our good peoples that the 72-year-old based in the States is in Nairobi to do research for his new book.
Ngugi's latest book Wizard of the Crow, is a satirical look on dictatorship.
Here are what some of the critics have said of the book...

Kenyan novelist Ngugi wa Thiong’o “mounts a nuanced but caustic political and social satire of African corruption of African society with a touch of magical realism – or, perhaps, realistic magic, as the Wizard’s tricks hung on holding a not-so-enchanted mirror to his client’s hidden delusions. The result is a sometimes lurid, sometimes lyrical reflection on Africa’s dysfunctions – and its possibilities." STARRED REVIEW Publishers Weekly, August, 2006.

"Ngugi has perfected in Wizard of the Crow an art of radical simplicity, of sharply defined conflicts that, paradoxically, is less reductive than ostensibly more nuanced accounts of Africa proffered by historians and political analysts. At once an epic burlesque of a sick lumbering state and a praise song to the manifold forms of African resistance, the phantasmagoric saga of Aburiria is as clear a view of Africa as we are likely to get for sometime." JAMES GIBBONS, Bookforum, Summer 2006.

"Why should a reader invest in Wizard of the Crow nearly 800-page bulk? Simply because this novel is a literary masterpiece, woven in the rich nuance of Africa’s oral tradition, as real as spilt blood, a mythical dance of great power." SKYE K. MOODY, The Seattle Times, August 27, 2006.

“ …a compelling novel… a first class masterpiece.” Aesthetica, Issue 14, 2006

"A remarkable book, sure to be widely read." Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

"One of the best reads of the year." Essence, August 2006.

MAMAs 2010 IN UGANDA?

Hot Secrets can reliably reveal that this year’s MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) will be held in Uganda. The Ugandan press is buzzing, they claim that with the success of Zain Uganda, which also happens to be the main sponsors of the prestigious awards, an MTV insider happened to visit the country a few weeks back and said Uganda, has all the requirements to organize the awards. Anyhow, our source whispered to Hot Secrets that the award organisers are “scouting for a venue.”
We suspect the most suitable venue might be the Lugogo Cricket Stadium because it fits the profile, as it’s big enough to house the set for the MAMA’s recording session.

BRAZIL’S PREZ IN KENYA

President Luiz Lula Inacio Da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil is in Kenya.
President Lula is an illustrious and accomplished leader of the developing world. He has distinguished himself through great service to his country, which he has diligently served as President for eight years.
He is in the country to meet with President Mwai Kibaki and discuss economic and social agendas, something about the South-South Cooperation and promoting closer international collaboration and understanding based on the principles of justice and equality for all.
Since Brazil is a world leader in the energy field, Kenya stands to gain as it seeks ways of becoming more efficient in our management of the sector. Sigh! All that and sports. I hear, discussions on ways Kenya can partner with Brazil come 2016 for the FIFA World Cup are also on the table.

WARRANT OUT FOR KELMA’S HUBBY

An international warrant of arrest has been issued for a suspected American drug trafficker who escaped from custody before trial.
Kibera chief magistrate Uniter Kidula issued the warrant against Kelma’s hubby Timy Hakim and is yet to be executed by the Interpol.
Hakim broke out of Mathare mental hospital where he had sought treatment for mental illness shortly after being charged with trafficking cocaine worth Ksh9 million.
A preliminary investigation report filed to the court stated Timy was helped by fellow mental patients and people who used to visit him to escape. The report said Hakim used a rope ladder made by one of the patients to scale a perimeter wall at the hospital.
The rope ladder and a hook found at the crime scene have been taken for analysis. The investigations are still on going.

TUSKER REWARDS ROYAL CUSTOMERS

So far the ongoing Tusker 50 milli ya mafans promotion has seen over 30 million Kenya shillings of prizes having been claimed and about 20 million shillings still to be won.
Speaking during a media briefing at K1 Klubhouse, Tusker Brand manager Wanyi Mwaura said that many more people like Mulwa were winning in the current promotion. Winners walk away with instant giveaways which include a free tusker, 200 shillings or 10,000 Kenya shillings.
“This competition is for our ma-fans, they are the people who toil hard for their money and with the current economic situation, it was our desire as a brand to reward many more people as compared to just a few.”
Mwaura describes Tusker as an iconic African Brand and undisputed leader in the alcoholic beverage industry, representing authentic African success that has won international acclaim.
“Tusker is a very social brand, it brings friends together and creates moments of laughter and appreciation of the hardworking Kenyan,” she added “We will endevaour to continue to celebrate our people.”

She adds that the chances of winning are very high and it is easy to enter. Just get your Tusker, look under the crown and sms the digits to 8737.
Thomas Thongori K1 Klubhouse Marketing Manager concurs with her, saying that many consumers have been winners in the competition and have been very excited. He adds that K1 has been in partnership with EABL for over 10 years and the benefits have been numerous with not only improved livelihood to the business but to also its employees.
He adds that many consumers had been redeeming their prizes.
As regards future plans, Tusker is focused on retaining its regional leadership and will continue its ruthless drive to meet consumers' needs. "Additionally, we will continue to develop and update the brand, its communication and activities in line with the consumer preferences.
Therefore continued research and innovation will continue into the future."

SHHH! JOSE MOURINHO IN KENYA

As usual international celebrities sneak in and out of the country without been detected. Well, not this time.
My peoples tell me the coach of coaches Jose Mourinho is in Kenya on holiday. Apparently he is staying at Almanara Mombasa.
Anyho, Almanara is located south of Mombasa, it’s tucked amidst the towering palms and tropical gardens - boasting six fully inclusive villas along with a spectacular Presidential Villa. Complete with personal chef and maid services, this all-inclusive resort provides guests with the chance to enjoy 5-star luxury while experiencing the genuine cultures of Africa.
Mourinho and his family are staying in the Presidential Villa of the hotel and he plans on visiting the Maasai Mara for some wilde beast action.
Here, eat your heart out, this is the Presidential Villa...

BONES ACTOR IN KENYA VISITING WITH RHINOS

The British actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry was in the country. Better known to his Kenyan fans as Dr Gordon Wyatt for his recurring guest role on the crime series Bones, Stephen is also a writer, journalist, comedian, television presenter and film director.
Check the twitter stream hurrr
Anyho, he was at a conservancy visiting with rhinos. Check out the photos he posted.

MORE BLOGGERS MORE FAYA!

My boy Mosh is blogging. Check out his blog over huuuur

CALL FOR ENTRIES PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

“I AM 20 YEARS OLD IN MY COUNTRY” is the theme for the photography competition organised by Alliance Francaise Foundation in partnership with Courrier International. The deadline for submission of entries is of August 20, 2010.
This international photography competition's objective is to photograph the youth of one’s country “Being 20 years old in one’s country”.
Participation in the competition is free.
A final winner will be declared from the 20 entries selected by the Alliance Française Foundation jury and the 1st Prize will be a one week visit to Paris organized by the Alliance Française Foundation (taking charge of international transport and accommodation only).
Get more info hurrr or visit the Facebook page

TRIBE IS CONDE' NAST TRAVELLER'S HOT LIST 2010

Kenya’s premier boutique hotel, Tribe, has been selected as one of the world’s top 100 hotels and features twice on the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot Lists for 2010.
Condé Nast Traveller, a highly respected global magazine which specializes in covering the luxury travel market, voted Tribe as one of its ‘Hot’ hotels for both its United States and United Kingdom Hot List editions. The Hot List is compiled by Condé Nast Traveller after reviewing thousands of hotels world-wide, and a Kenyan hotel last featured on the Hot List seven years ago.
“Tribe is not even two years old, but we have already earned a reputation for re-setting the standards of hotel customer service and accommodation in Nairobi. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in such a short space of time, but for us, this recognition is a spring-board for the continued development of Tribe, and the continued growth of tourism in Kenya,” said Hooman Ehsani, Director and Chief of Development.
The magazine cited, among other things, Tribe’s elegant interior design, saying “the hotel mixes contemporary city glamour with carefully placed African art and artefacts.” CN Traveller also singled out Tribe’s “superb” standards of service.

“From the very initial drawing board stage of design our benchmark has always been the global hospitality industry, and this accolade establishes Tribe as one of the top properties in the World, an achievement we are extremely proud of,” said Mehraz Ehsani, the hotel’s architect.

Set in the leafy suburb of Gigiri, Tribe is located at The Village Market, ten minutes from Nairobi city centre, and offers convenience, security and unparalleled shopping and entertainment options both for tourists and business people visiting the city. The hotel has quickly established itself as the destination for discerning travelers, hosting amongst others, luminaries from October’s MTV Africa Music Awards, including former Fugee, Wyclef Jean.

“A huge amount of work has gone into making Tribe the success it is today – right from the design stage through to the brilliant service that our staff provide day-in, day-out. It is immensely gratifying to see this work being recognized with Tribe being singled out as one of the world’s hottest hotels,” said Mark Somen, the General Manager.

In a congratulatory message from the Kenya Tourist Board, Jake Grieves Cook, Chairman of KTB said, “This prestigious list of the finest new hotels across the world features only the very best which successfully blend style, service, technology, and a special aura. Tribe is helping Kenya’s hotel industry to be ranked at the very top level in the world and is setting high standards for our other leading hotels to emulate. Well done in achieving this well-deserved recognition and best wishes in maintaining your world class ranking as one of the hottest properties!”

SOME AFRICAN WOMAN, ANYONE?

Kenyan fashion designer Kondakis is on the cover of "African Woman" magazine this month - on the streets now! Okay not exactly on the cover but mentioned on the cover.
Get a copy to see some of our new fab. Parachute and Dead Wood designs.
Kondakis'grey "upside down jumpsuit" on the cover and a glamorous 16-page spread of goodies inside the magazine.
To view more covers of the African Woman and read up on them just click here.

THE PATRICIA SHOW IS BACK

The second season of the Patricia Show started on April 1 and is broadcasts on both M-Net East and M-Net West three times per week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Anyho, the first season Africa's latest and most exciting pan continental TV talk show hosted by Patricia Amira welcomed a number of guests like Suzanna Owiyo, Eric Wainaina, British pop star Jamelia, Ugandan Saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa among others.

This time round, I hear they have gone full Monty and have pulled all the stoppes to get unique quests on the show.

FIGHT FOR MAKMENDE

For a band that wanted absolutely nothing to do with the limelight, a character they have created for their latest video release is forcing them to come forth and hog the fame, albeit unwillingly.
Just A Band is made up of Dan Muli, Bill Sellanga and Jim Chuchu and their aim was to share their new style of music.
“It was never our intention to feature on any of our music videos because we cannot make a good video and still act in it,” Bill said.
Asked why good-looking men such as themselves are camera shy, Bill, popularly known as Blinky Bill, the lead vocalist for the group said, “On the contrary we are not camera shy, we are also giving other people a chance to build themselves.”
True to their style of music, Just A Band has created a number of different characters in their videos. Their first release, Owinyo Piny (directly translated, rotating the world) was an animated video, whose character was a young African man who repeatedly walks round the streets.
Their second release, Hey, featured hand puppets with the lead character called Boflo and his love interest Katumbe.
Other videos like Usinibore and If I Could, which featured Tusker Project Fame contestant Patricia Kihoro, also managed to stay below radar till now.
The trio is still amazed at the publicity Makmende has given to their three-week-old music video Ha-he. Released on March 14, Blinky Bill said three days later, the hype that began on Twitter spread to Facebook.
“All we wanted to do was make a good music video and we are amazed at the reception it has received. The song Ha-He is mildly macho and we needed a strong character to bring out the macho in the song,” the band’s vocalist said.
Blinky describes Makmende as a character just like the British-franchised action man James Bond. He stressed that Makmende’s fame doesn’t take anything away from the band’s image and loyal fan base.
“People who know us know the band and what we are all about, Makmende is just like any character but he doesn’t affect how we do what we do although we admit we are a bit surprised at all the attention he is getting.” He added that unlike all their other singles, “Ha-He’s release has gone fairly easy and hasn’t struggled at all.”
He termed Makmende as “one of our most successful characters.”
The band denies starting the website Makmende.com but own up to starting the trail that is now blazing.
“On releasing the video, we posted the links on Twitter and Facebook but it caught first on Twitter before it spread over to other social sites.”
The video has drawn more than 32,997 views on YouTube and the fan page has 23,234 fans.
Fellow band member Jim Chuchu is the genius behind Makmende; he is the one who came up with the idea of creating an action hero. Chuchu was assisted by Mbithi Masya.
The video was shot in February and they did not hold a casting session for the lead role.
Makmende who is played by former reality star Kevin ‘K1’ Maina is a close friend of Just A Band. He might have failed to win the coveted prize in KTN’s The Presenter as a news anchor, but now he says he can’t leave the house without being hounded by fans who recognise him from the video.
Makmende has spun into a phenomenon. The band has now copyrighted the character and other slang words used in the video. In a press statement the band wrote: “Seeing as there has been a lot of discussion about us, Makmende and what we are going to do now that the Ha-He video concept has spun off into something massive, we'd like to set a few things straight. We have obtained the sole rights to the Makmende character likenesses.”
The copyright also includes the characters and slang words used in the music videos like First Bodi, Big-G, Wrong Number, The Askyua Matha Black Militants, Black Sahara, Nyoyo na Uji Films and Finger of Nebula among others.
“This means that any copying or reproduction of any of the above characters for commercial purposes without permission is prohibited by law. Violators will be subject to criminal and/or civil action.”
They however credit the name Makmende to “popular culture”, admitting they did not create the name.
But they stated, “Our copyright covers our representation of Makmende and the other characters/brand names in the video.” As for Kevin "K1" Maina who plays the tough action figure, the band asked fans to be kind to him but stated firmly he won’t be making any public appearances as Makmende.
With the copyrighting of Makmende the character and a list of other slang names used in the Ha He video, a rap duo called Boomba Boiz are accusing the band of stealing their idea.
The duo Nascent (Moses Kilonzo), a single parent and blind, and Labcy (Patrick Muteti), an orphan, narrated how that happened.
“We met Just A Band a while back and they listened to our singles Tumefika and Pastor Joh and they enquired why we haven’t done a video for the latter. We then told them we will be releasing Umaskini Kwa Mtaa first and explained the story line.”
Lead singer for the electro pop band, Blinky Bill denied that Just A Band ever met the two, saying there is no “ounce of truth in those claims.”
The video story line for Boomba Boiz was allegedly themed Makmende Amerudi just like in the Ha He video.
“Our video showed the life of Makmende, a Kenyan hustler who earns his living through criminal ways. In the first verse of the song, Makmende goes job hunting but isn’t dressed like a conventional job hunter should.
“He runs low on luck and when he doesn’t get the jobs he has done interviews for, he turns to the life of crime. The law catches up with him when he is netted printing fake currency,” the duo said.
They say Makmende later turns on a new leaf and regrets his rebellious lifestyle.
The duo go ahead to criticize Just A Band’s new Video Ha He. “The video and the song idea contradict. This clearly shows that these ideas came at different times with the video idea coming in the last. So why did they have to combine two contradicting ideas?”
Despite the copyright, Nascent and Labcy say they will release their video Umaskini Kwa Mtaa featuring their own Makmende.
Boomba Boiz started their musical career late 2004. Their first single Ngeta recorded under Southwest records was followed by Tumefika done in Ogopa DJs studio. In late 2006, they took the social awareness angle and recorded 4WD, a song that talked about use of condoms not being an alternative to fight HIV/Aids. Late 2007, they recorded 4WD the remix. Then last year they recorded Pastah Joh! and Umaskini Kwa Mtaa, both of which they hoped would make them mainstream acts.
For more go to Thinkatuni

As published on The Star