WHEN TANZANIA’S “NGOLOLO” DANCE MET NIGERIA’S “SKELEWU”

After all the hype about a major collabo between Tanzania’s Diamond and Nigeria’s Davido; finally the “Number One” remix is out! It has made into my phone as the ringtone but I am seeing it being my 2014 song of the year.

Davido starts off with his verse then Diamond and they mix “Ngololo” and “Skelewu” dances from Tanzania and Nigeria.

Many have argued that the video under director Clarence peters; is a good job on picture quality but zero content. In fact; word on the street is Ogopa Videos did a better job on content on the first video shoot in South Africa.

What is your take? I want to bet that this remix will be one that we will be hearing for along time!

here are the recent photos of Diamond in Kenya...

BABY MADAHA AT CANDY N CANDY LAUNCH (THE PHOTOS)

Tanzanian music artiste, actress and model Baby Madaha has confirmed to reports that she has fallen in love and is dating  a Kenyan man who loves and takes care of the “squeeze me tight” hit singer.

The “Ray of Hope” movie star; which won the Best Swahili Film award at the 2013 Africa Movie Viewers Choice Awards hinted out to the claims that she was in love with a Kenyan man.

The pre-production for the second movie at Candy Film Production will start next month; even as she looks forward to cement her position as a formidable actress in East Africa. Here are the photos for the “Gal Bladder” movie launch by Candy Films and Baby Madaha…

photos by-http://www.kenyabuzz.com/galleries

DAVIDO MELLOWS SWAHILI ON DIAMOND'S NUMBER ONE REMIX

BLANKETS AND WINE AT 50 REVIEW

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 50^thindependence 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 50^th 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.

http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/blankets-wine-at-50-review/

Premiere of "House of Lungula"- THE PHOTOS

HISTORIA FILMS are proud to announce that our adults only comedy “HOUSE OF LUNGULA” after a successful premiere is NOW SHOWING at 7.15pm and 9.15pm daily at Century Cinemax, the Junction Mall, Ngong road! November is officially a Lungula Month!

TICKETS : 300 KSH (Available at the door)
Advance tickets available through MPESA 765948

CAST
Lizz Njagah, Ian Mbugua, Sarah Hassan, Gerald Langiri, Nice Githinji, Lenana Kariba, Sheila Kwamboka, Gitau Ngogoyo, Lydia Gitachu, Helena Waithera, Diana Nekoye and Director Alex Konstantaras!

http://tpf5.blogspot.com/2013/08/house-of-lungulasoundtrack-reunites.html

https://www.facebook.com/events/581916421898659/

PHOTO CREDITS: http://www.kenyabuzz.com/galleries/premiere-of-house-of-lungula

MEETING NICK ODHIAMBO: THE MAN BEHIND THE KEFF JOINANGE VOICE ON XYZ SHOW!

A couple of days ago, I had a great chance to attend the XYZ studios as the Go-Down Arts Centre in South-B’s industrial area. XYZ isn’t a comedy show; “it is a satirical show!”

Visiting the set; one thing you can’t separate is the fun and hilarious bits. It is a funny in a clever way show. It satirizes politicians and allows us to laugh at them every week.

It remains the first satirical puppet show in Africa; with over 200,000 ‘likes’ on facebook, over 41,000 followers on twitter and some 3 million views on facebook.

One man, Nick Odhiambo, who by day is a presenter with Radio Africa; plays Jeff Koinange on the show; where they have coined his name to Keff Joinange. His voice is as deep as his and that helps a lot.

The hard work and attention to detail led to the show winning the 2013 African Magic Viewer’s Choice Award for Best Television Series in Africa; at a ceremony in Lagos in March.

I ha d a chance to meet Neo-soul artist Anto Neo-Soul and Capital FM’s; Amina too. The XYZ show; Nick and the whole team have mead us laugh heartily. More than entertain us; they have exposed the underbelly of our democratic space and the media freedoms that we enjoy. Oh hail to the XYZ team!

Here are a couple of our best scenes. We are asking you to tell us some of your greatest hits on our blog and Facebook page: Nairobi’z Blogazine.