FASHION FRENZY-THE EAFW

On the ninth and tenth of May, fifteen of the top designers from across East Africa captivated an enthralled audience for an evening of non-stop runway action. As an increasingly large consumer of world culture, Nairobi was the perfect place to host the first ever East Africa Fashion Week (EAFW).

Fashion has never been so funky, so hip, so diverse and so accessible. The empty runway was transformed into a rich canvas of colour, texture, poise and style from which it was impossible to look away. 

Speaking to Nick O Junior, the main organiser behind EAFW, one thing that was clear was that this is  just the beginning. “EAFW is going to be one of the largest fashion platforms,” Junior effused, adding: “it’s rare to see such a good crowd at such a new fashion show”.

Junior managed to identify and get in touch with the impressive group of designers showcased at the show, largely by scouring social media. The strategy paid off for him in the end, with designers coming from as far as Zambia to present their work.

And a great success it was. Never before has diversity, ethnicity, culture and style, been shown with such glamour in Nairobi. From flowing evening gowns, hip street fashion, daring bikini outfits and smart casual chic, EAFW featured East Africa in all its colourful glory.

“We get to show what we’ve got and to broadcast our vision of what we think fashion should be,” commented Ian Muigai, designer of the male catalogue of the Zaliko Fashion House Streetwise Collection. Zaliko was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the evening and the up and coming fashion house proudly showed-off edgy street fashion laced with eye-catching African prints.

“Our designs come from our everyday life,” Muigai continues. “We’re living out our youth, working with what we like to wear and what we’d like to see out there”

The same could be said of all the work on display. Whether it’s street fashion or smart suits for men, each designer expressed themselves in a unique, captivating and specific way. The future of fashion in Kenya, if it follows this path, is bright, textured and exciting.

 By Ondi Madete

http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/fashion-frenzy/

TOP 6 BEST PLACES IN NAIROBI TO BUY GUY SHOES

So, you have spotted some Jordans or Adidas sneakers on a music video or better yet, in your latest issue of The Source magazine and you are just wondering where you can get such in Nairobi. As it happens, there are very many shoe shops in Nairobi and more so within the city center. From basketball shoes, to casual wear shoes, to something for your night out, the selection is wide and you are spoiled for choice. Better still, if you look hard enough you can find shoes in Nairobi at amazingly affordable prices… Still unsure?

Well here are a few the UP investigative team’s top leads:

1. World Business Centre (Downtown) – World Business Centre in Nairobi is a very common shoe shopping center even for most Kenyan celebrities. Located along Tom Mboya Street, opposite the famous Odeon Cinema, the World Business Centre in Nairobi houses over 40 stalls half of which deal in shoes. Being strategically placed along a busy Tom Mboya Street in the Nairobi city centre, potential buyers are wooed into the building by the awesome array of displayed shoes on the windows.The World Business Centre in Kenya also houses stalls that sell mean wear too. It is most definitely worth checking out.
2. Jamia Mall (CBD) – There are over 30 boutiques selling clothes and shoes in Jamia Mall in Nairobi. Some of the best sneaker stalls in Nairobi are found along Kigali Road but for the rest, you have to actually get into the mall to do your shoe shopping.
3. “Loud Speaker shoe shops” (CBD) – Well, these have no names. You read right! There is a chain of exclusive shoe shops in Nairobi that have sprouted within the City`s Central Business District with characteristic loud music and speakers at their doorstep. One of the shoe shops in Nairobi is located along Accra Road towards Tearoom in Nairobi. Another shoe shop in Nairobi is located along Ronald Ngala Avenue just off Tom Mboya Street, while the third one is located near Afya Center along Tom Mboya Street too. These shoe shops in Nairobi are always having amazing offers on all types of sneaker shoes. These shops trade in trendy men wear. Shoes here go for as little as KSH 5000.
4. Ngara Stalls – Although these Ngara shops are located a little further from the Nairobi CBD than the other shops named above, they too have some epic and trendy shoes. The shoes are usually displayed for all passersby to see on the Ngara stalls located on Murang`a Road in Nairobi.
5. The Converse Stall at Toi Market (Ngong Road) – As with the above mentioned outlets, the Converse stall in Toi Market does not sell new shoes. Nevertheless if you’ve ever seen how expensive a new pair of Converse is here in Nairobi you might be quite attracted by the idea of a large selection of affordable, almost-new Converse All Stars. To find the stall you have to go right into the middle of the covered market… probably best to ask as you come in!
6. Mr. Price in Nairobi (CBD): Last but not least is Mr. Price. Don’t be confused by the name, Mr Price is not cheap! However Mr Price is one of the best high street shoe and clothes shops in Nairobi and it is located right on City Square.

Again, for those who are a tad too strained on budgets, there are many shoe vendors in Nairobi selling
second hand shoes. Most of these guys usually surface in the after hours on the streets of the CBD, for
fear of being harassed by the Kanjo (city council askaris). You can, however, also get second hand shoes
at the Khoja Roundabout towards Ngara at any time of the day.

By Michael Nzambu

http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/top-6-best-places-to-buy-guy-shoes/

Java's Milkshake Just Got Better

As far back as 1922, a man named Pop pimped out the already famous milkshake recipe by taking a traditional malted milk and adding a couple of scoops of ice cream. Since then, technological advancement has led to the perfection of the milkshake recipe. Or so we thought. Java have taken the next step in the evolution of milkshakes, and produced something life changing. The much-loved Java Milkshake has evolved and customers are crazy about them.

The new introduction to the time honoured Java Milkshake recipe is their very own home made all natural ice cream. This addition “ensures the shake has less fat content, the texture is thicker and denser due to the fewer air bubbles in the milkshake and best of all – the milkshake is richer and has more flavor,” says General Manager for Java, Naima Hassan.

The ultimate remedy to a hot, sticky and exhausting day, few things are as rewarding as Java Milkshakes. The cool, thick, natural flavours course smoothly down the throat after a long day, taking this summer delight and making it even better with the special recipe that amplifies all the things we love about milkshakes. “And you can have it with anything, anytime; lunch, supper, people love coming in and having a Java milkshake for breakfast,” Naima continues. “The great thing about the Java milkshake is it leaves you satisfied without filling you up too much.”

The new Java ice cream is based on classic Italian Gelato, but is made a bit thicker in the North American Style. Using only fresh and natural ingredients, Java offers their celebrated milkshake in a range of flavours including banana, strawberry, chocolate, espresso, mocha, vanilla, pineapple and mango.

http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/javas-milkshake-just-got-better/

Are You Ready For Up Live Part 3

An explosion of rhythm, colour, and creativity, this year’s UP Live III, marks UP’s 3rd-Year Anniversary. Taking place in the antiquated train yards of the Railway Museum, UP Live is a unique blend of art, music, film and great food, providing an aesthetically stimulating setting for the latest in arts and culture in Nairobi.

Rand Pearson, editorial and creative director at UP, describes the annual event as “a convergence and confluence of all the content of UP magazine. We have music, art, literature as well as a street faire.” The musical performance, a big part of the magic that is UP Live, is guarantied to be unique. “There are collaborations between different artists. We’ll get The Old Cambrians Band to back an artist for example – it’s not just band after band, instead it is a production. UP Live is the artistically the best live show in Kenya,” says Rand. Last year The Old Cambrians Band, and the Slum Drummers collaborated with the diverse line-up of headliners including Ayub Ogada, Blinky Bill, Mumala, and Miss Karun resulting in a night in danger of spontaneous combustion. This year’s musical collaboration will bring back a prominent brass section, a choir, and some of the best musicians on the scene today.

Speaking to Zelalem, the executive producer of this years event (and the previous UP Live event), it becomes obvious that we are in for music an aesthetical explosion. “The first UP live at Kenyan National Theatre had a mabati thing going on, UP Live II had the UP fabric collage made of pages from the magazine representing everyone in Nairobi and the urban cultural movement taking place. UP Live III promises the same innovation, ingenuity and creativity,” he says enthusiastically and continues. “We thought about different venues, because initially the idea for UP Live was to keep changing venues, but we all fell in love with Railways Museum so much, we agreed it would be very difficult to beat it as a venue.”

The railway museum is prime location situated at the north-west end of Nairobi station and can be seen from the Uhuru Highway where it crosses the main line. The museum is a perfect symbol of Kenya’s history and past. It was established in 1971 by the then East African Railways and Harbours Corporation to preserve and display relics and records of the railways of East Africa from their inception to the present day. UP Live thus functions as a symbol of the progress that Kenya has undergone since then showcasing the rich diversity and expansive creativity of Kenya’s present. Prepare yourself for a day and night filled with the sounds, lights, and culture of Nairobi’s alternative urban culture.

UP Live III takes place on the 7th of June. It kicks off at 12.00 pm and tickets are KES 1000.

By Ondi Madete

http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/up-live-part-iii/

THE COUNTRYMAN (LIQUOR) THAT KILLED MANY COUNTRY MEN

#ILLICIT BREWS

T

his past week; Kenya’s drunken decadence was put on the spotlight for the world to see. How mind- boggling it was to see some 70 adults killed within 24 hours and each day the number rose. They voluntarily administered upon themselves a lethal intoxicant-the Countryman Liquor as it was dubbed; that ended up sending to the graves the many countrymen.

What a disgusting heavy blanket of de ja vu it was.  Scenes of many wallowing and writhing in pain in battered hospital beds, some gone permanently blind and families left in a suffocating disaster. It is simply pathetic and disgusting.

But was this a new incidence secluded on its own? No, and a big no for that matter. Not at all. We have seen it before. It happened six years ago- so it is nothing new. They say we are a peculiar people who are so fast to forget. But I say we do not forget. The graves stand in the witness stand boldly to deny us and argument and for everyone to see. So, too are those who went blind in the previous orgy.

I laughed at the Senior Government people who came out breathing fire and brimstones. They were angry and made sure their press conferences captured that. They stood to ask what their juniors were doing when these adults freely introduced killer substances into their bodies. I laughed because such is the tragedy of a nation in the grip of clueless leaders who address symptoms when they should be getting to the heart of the matter.

We have become a country that fails to ask the right questions. What drives a mature family and country men and women to the extremes of voluntarily rolling in lethal drinks; knowing very well they are lethal?

Watching the TV; one thing you could not fail to notice from the footage was the victims’ tumble down environment. We saw of their subhuman living conditions in the slum- villages.

They exist in the extremes of poverty and social exclusion; on the fringes of society. With nothing to live for; or even die for- these people gave up on life ages ago.

Let me tell you the harsh truth- when a country man has nothing to live for let alone die for; he is a zombie- a waking walking dead.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso-as inspired by Mr. Barrack Muluka.

M.O.G RELEASE TOSHEKA MUSIC VIDEO

#MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW

Finally after the success of the audio- “Tosheka”; Men Of God (M.O.G) finally released the video this past week and it has been trending and on heavy rotation on local stations. The video is simple but well scripted. Shot at Kaloleni estate; the video scenes are well balanced and transitioned week.

The artiste’s choice of attire worked well and another interesting aspect is the use of the live “Rasta” band which made the video catchy.

The director’s use of black and white images also redeems the video’s high quality. Well it is hit for me! Check out the behind the scenes.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso. 

           

CHRIS ADWAR & NONINI RELEASE MUCH ANTICIPATED VIDEO

#MUSIC VIDEO

After their success last year on a tune to mark Kenya’s 50-year Jubilee celebration-Kenya At 50; Kenya’s genge hit-maker Nonini and Afro-pop star Chris Adwar are back with a new tune dubbed “Lonely At The Top (L.A.T.T.).

A Genge meets Afro-pop tune; the video was shot and produced down south in South Africa; as has been the latest trend with many artists going down south to get that professional touch. Chris Adwar’s music video “Best friend” has also been enjoying massive airplay on local stations. The L.A.T.T video sees Nick Mutuma make a cameo appearance towards the end.

Have a listen and share with us your views on the video.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.