After an explosive first: a two-day Blankets & Wine
(B&W) festival, held at the Carnivore grounds during the first weekend of
January 2014, it’s now official – B&W is undoubtedly Nairobi’s number one
monthly music festival and Kenya’s grandest. The first edition boasted over 10
live music acts (including countless DJs) from Kenya, Uganda and South Africa.
They included big names like: The Villagers Band, Just a Band (JAB), Sauti Sol,
Harry Kimani, Mi Casa Music and Mafikizolo among others.
B&W has
earned its high-flying reputation and stood the test of time. The picnic-style
music festival started in Nairobi, five years ago, is now adored by many
(mostly music lovers and trend-setters) and has become a serious crowd puller.
Their first event of 2014 was a celebration of 50 B&W events and Kenya’s 50thindependence anniversary. “We are very proud and
satisfied at our two-day attempt. Nairobi now has a festival that we will work
on till it gets to Glastonbury level. This is the direction in 2014,” asserted
B&W Founder and CEO Muthoni Ndonga, adding, “The festival will be changing
form and taking shape into becoming a world-renowned festival, and the idea of
creating a bigger experience to focus on the African acts pushing boundaries
and helping Africans come together.” B&W continues to impress and break
boundaries. Since its inception, the festival has managed to expand to Uganda
and Tanzania, and according to its CEO; this year intends to expand further
into Tanzania and Rwanda, before venturing into other African countries like
Zambia and Malawi.
She was speaking at a press conference attended by UP held at
Mayfair Hotel, a day after the successful festival. During B&W Saturday
fest, Mi Casa, Sarabi, JAB and Sauti Sol impressed with stellar and energetic
live performances. On Sunday, the sweet-voiced Harry Kimani was the local
breakout star. The former acclaimed “Haiya” singer, fell off the music
scene recently following personal problems. He seems to have started off
this year on the right foot, with his performance including the new single
“Happiness”, backed by his angelic vocalists. The Villagers Band performed just
before Mafikizolo, setting the pace for what would be a volatile and highly
energetic performance (that included a choreographed dance show and crowd
participation) from the South African duo, best known for their singles
“Ndihamba Nawe” and “Khona”.
While at the press conference we caught up with Mi Casa
Music, South African deep house band comprising members: JSomething (vocalist
and guitarist), Dr. Duda (producer) and Mo – T (trumpeter). Just after
completing a tour around 16 African countries including their host, South
Africa, Mi Casa Music made a second return at B&W 50th edition.
Their latest single “Jika” off their new album is currently riding high on
international charts. The three and a half year-old band promises that they are
together to stay. About their diverse sound – lead singer JSomething says,
“Everything about Mi Casa is very natural and not planned. Our sounds will
always be us. Our music goes a lot deeper than house. We try to use live
elements in our deep house (more soulful house) music, using house genre as our
foundation. It’s what we grew up to. Duda grew up on a gospel front, Mo grew up
on the jazz front and I grew upon the soulful side. That’s how we come up with
our stirred up music, and adds “You will be surprised that house music is way
bigger than kwaito in South Africa. House music had a perception that you have
these four chords and a tag line and you’re done. Now we are creating music
within house. That’s that but we are bringing out the musicality to house.
Thank God it’s working and now the majority of house music coming from South
African is very different.”
With such a rousing first edition of B&W January, we await
to see their next course of action and music acts lined up for 2014.
For more on B&W, visit blanketsandwine.com
By Anyiko Owoko.
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