Boomplay, the number one music streaming and download app in Africa, will celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 this Friday (8^th March) by featuring songs, albums and playlists championed by creative and talented Kenyan women on all sections of its homepage through the “Boom Queens” app takeover and play time campaign.

On International Women’s Day, the Boomplay app will have a feminine look, to showcase, promote and celebrate women in music.

From Fena, Avril, Muthoni The Drummer Queen, Evelyn Wanjiru, Mercy Masika, Akothee, Nadia Mukami, Vivian, Victoria Kimani, Gloria Muliro to Efya, Rihanna and Vanessa Mdee, the playlist will also include leading Kenyan female artists and others from around the globe who continue to inspire and change the narrative one day at a time in the male dominated industry.

Boom Queens Playlist here: https://bit.ly/2H5cuo1

On this initiative, Head of Public Relations Boomplay, Ms Tosin Sorinola said, “The conversation on gender equality and parity is one that is constantly ongoing and on occasions like this, it is important for us as a platform with so much interest in promoting Women in Music, to show our support in the best way possible. This is not a one-off campaign for us, it’s one that started since inception and will continue, a pledge evident in our daily and weekly activities and inclusions.”

Boomplay will also be running a play time campaign for a chance at increasing streaming revenue and numbers for female artistes whose songs will be featured in the “Boom Queens” playlist; a playlist consisting of songs by some of the best female artistes all over the world.

This women’s history month, Boomplay users on Android and iOS stand a chance to win iPhones and loads of Boomplay Essentials across its major operating countries – Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania.

To show support to women in music and stand a chance to win, users will be required to:

1. Subscribe to either the Boomplay daily, weekly or monthly plan.
2. Stream the ‘Boom Queens’ playlist as many times as possible.
3. Post a screenshot of the playlist on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Boombuzz using the hashtags #BoomplayCelebratesQueens 

#BoomQueens #IWD2019 - Remember to tag @boomplaymusicKE in your posts!

This campaign will run from March 7^th , 2019 - March 21^st , 2019. Winners will be announced on the March 28^th, 2019.

Terms and Conditions for the “Boom Queens” app takeover and play time campaign.

1. To participate, you must have an active subscription plan as only subscribed play time will be counted.
2. Winners will be chosen based on play time (how long you stream the playlist for)
3. Winners will be announced on the March 28, 2019
4. This campaign is exclusive to Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania & Kenya only
5. Boomplay staff are not eligible for this promotion

#BoomplayCelebratesQueens #BoomQueens #IWD2019

The Boomplay app has over 42 million users and recently launched its iOS app in December 2018. It boasts of an expansive catalogue consisting of over 5 million songs and videos from local and international acts. 

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's niece Kulthum Abubakar Joho is set to wed tonight.

According to an invitation card seen by Ommy Dallah, Kulthum the first daughter to Abubakar Joho, the Governor's elder brother, will be getting married to Haikal Omar Osogo.

She is named after her late grandmother, mother to the Johos, Kulthum.

The short ceremony (Nikkah) will take place at the Masjid Ummu- Kulthum after the night prayers (8pm).

A close family source has also revealed that there will be a major party on Sunday at the Governor's home in Vipingo which will be attended by prominent people including ODM leader Raila Odinga.

"Tonight is the nikkah, tomorrow there will be lunch but only for Women then on Sunday is when we expect the major party/ launch in Vipingo, at the Governor's home" said the source

Kisasa, a modern day Mombasa based drama, with strong themes on love, maternal death and mental health, revolving around the lives of middle aged friends, lovers and family is expected to premiere on Mother's Day,12th May 2019.

The drama features some of the top acts from Mombasa including Dan Kinyanjui who plays Alan, Mwanaisha Kuwania (Alice), wife to Alan and Winnie Bwire playing Viki.

Other acts includes veteran Kenyan actor Ken Ambani who plays Booker,  Catherine Enane playing Red who is the wife to Booker. 

The drama has been written by Janet Chumbe and produced by Caroline Rita.

Here is the trailer

Foreign artists who have had their songs banned in their respective countries will not be allowed to perform in Kenya, Kenya Film Classification board (KFCB) C.E.O Dr Ezekiel Mutua has said.

Speaking in Mombasa at a meeting with the County security team led by County Commissioner Evans Achoki, Mutua also accused Diamond the foreign artists of evading tax.

Dr Mutua revealed that the government will now be forced to conduct raids on clubs which hosts the artists and take legal action on the club owners and the artists.

KFCB officials briefed the security chiefs on the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222 that fights the screening of unsuitable contents.

In the marking and celebration of 2019 International Women’s Day, the 2019 season of Coke Studio Africa announces its upcoming all women finale episode in a powerful statement and a trail-blazing move.

This will be the first time in the history of the Pan African music property to feature an all-female episode, that will include female singers, rappers, music producers, studio engineers, a full band, as well as key behind the scenes crew like, content directors, scriptwriters, editors, camera operators and floor managers amongst others. 

Over the last six seasons of Coke Studio Africa, the show continues to highlight Africa’s great talent and the opportunities for women in the arts and entertainment industry.

Currently, approximately 60% of all the professionals that work on Coke Studio Africa comprise of women.

Top female instrumentalists from Kenya who will be part of Coke Studio Africa All Women Band in the finale episode will include Kasiva Mutua (Percussions), Wendy Kemunto (Vocals), Ivy Alexander (Guitar), Naomi Ziro (Bass Guitar) and Mutindi Tindi Muasa (Keyboard).

Top female artists drawn from across the continent will include Nazizi (Kenya), Lioness (Namibia), Boity (South Africa), Sheebah (Uganda), Nandy (Tanzania), Lourena Nhate (Mozambique), Tamy (Zimbabwe) and music producer Viola Karuri (Kenya), among others. 

Monali Shah, Head of Content Excellence, for Coca-Cola Southern and East African Business Unit says, “We are very excited to announce an all women finale episode of the 2019 edition of Coke Studio Africa. It’s the first time the production is taking such a bold move in the history of Coke Studio Africa to spotlight the amazing talent we have in entertainment"

"The kind of talent and artists we met and discovered during the process was mind blowing and we can’t wait till music fans of the show can watch this powerful episode that will be airing across over 40 countries starting March 29th 2019.”

The Tanzanian media industry has yet again been thrown into a mourning state just three days after laying to rest one of their own and a co-founder of the popular Clouds media group Ruge Mutahaba.

Ephraim Kibonde a former presenter with Clouds Fm died toady (Thursday) morning as he was being rushed to a hospital in Mwanza.

It is reported that Kibonde suffered from high blood pressure while attending the burial of his former boss Ruge Mutahaba in Bukoba. Kibonde was the main MC during the funeral.

Kibonde lost his wife last year.

Ruge who died in South Africa where he was receiving treatment from kidney related complications was laid to rest on Monday, among those who were touched by Ruge's death and attend his funeral service in Daresalaam is President John Magufuli and his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete.

Several Tanzania artists and media personalities have since come out to mourn Kibonde.

"Rest in peace bro" posted Diamond Platnumz

Ay Posted "Nimeshtushwa sana na taarifa ya kifo chako kaka yangu..Pumzika kwa amani kaka yangu EmphraimKibonde...Tumeshirikiana kwenye mengi ya kikazi na familia ..Pumzika kwa amani wakukuja ..tusali sana hatujui siku wala saa..Mbele ni giza ila sala ndio taa".

"R.I.P MY BIG BROTHER #KIBONDE" posted Rayvanny

A section of Mombasa residents have called for the dissolution of the County Assembly.

The residents under the Operation Fagia Bunge are now calling on all residents of Mombasa to append their signatures to a petition which will available from next Tuesday.

Led by Magandi Kalinga and Mary Oyier , the residents said operation aims to have the county government suspended or fully dissolved and MCAs sent home.

Addressing the press outside the assembly, they accused the Members of the County Assembly  of 'sabotaging the good work of the county executive' and especially the intention to impeach three members of the county executive committee.

The three are Tawfiq Balala of Transport, Munywoki Kyalo of Youth, Gender and Sports and Edwin Nyale who is in charge of the Lands and Housing docket

They also accused the MCA's of abandoning their roles.

""Majority of the MCA, if not all, have been frustrating this effort through issuing petty sermons and creation of impeachment of executive members who do not heed to their calls. As if that is not enough, MCAs are also at loggerheads with the sub-county administration through interfering of the performance and delivering of duties by the administration" said Oyier

"We are also aware of an MCA in Changamwe Sub County who following the transfer of ward Administrator in that area to another capacity shamelessly took time and hired a public address system just to inform residents that he has kicked out the administrator' added Oyier

The group with a representation from each ward  said they are targeting 200,000 signatures from residents across the six Sub Counties..

Kalinga charged “We are suffering because our representatives are engaged in perpetrating atrocities against us, we are sure the president will find our petition meritorious and initiate the dissolution process,”.

This comes just days after the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho  warned MCAs that he will mobilise residents to send them home before their terms end accusing them of painting his administration in a bad light to hurt his 2022 presidential bid.

"We are ready to go back to fresh polls if your MP and MCAs are not serving you well. I will mobilise for the necessary signatures to send all of them home.” said Joho.

Over the past weekend, Coke Studio Africa was ablaze with the mash up of the season, as Kenya's Ethic music group of the "Lamba Lolo" hit fame joined Mr. Eazi in the live performance of "Keys To The City (Jogede)".

The two acts knew of each other before but never knew that they could have been paired together at new season of "Coke Studio Africa 2019' .

The surprise pairing, and mash up of "Lamba Lolo" and "Keys To The City (Jogede)" produced by Daddy Andre (Uganda) has been received well by most of music fans across Africa. This is Ethic's biggest opportunity yet.

Their unusual rise to fame, straight out of YouTube thanks to their blazing hood hits like "Instagram Bae" has made them popular among Kenyans and beyond. Ethic also met with Nigerian music producer Krizbeatz who produced "Panaa" from their Coke Studio Africa stint and they have produced a new track "Nitolee".

Rocky Dawuni, the international music star/global ambassador and humanitarian activist, releases his highly anticipated 7^th studio album Beats of Zion on March 8,2019 with Six Degrees Distribution. [Pre-Order: https://rockydawuni.lnk.to/beatsalbum]

The thirteen-track set follows the GRAMMY nominated album Branches of the Same Tree, (“Best Reggae Album” in 2016) and expands Rocky’s “Afro Roots” sound to include the diversity of the Ghanaian music scene and its current global outreach.

Although Rocky’s music has had CNN naming him “Africa’s Top 10 global stars” and Ziggy Marley stating “Rocky’s music is creative inspiration that knows no boundaries,” it’s only one part of what drives his mass appeal. Dawuni’s eloquence, cultural diplomacy and passionate activism have led him to become a moving spokesperson for various global causes.

Recently, Rocky was designated a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for Africa at a beautiful concert at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2018 at the Global Landscapes Forum with dignitaries from all over the world.

This is on top of the social campaigns and activism he’s done including work with Product (RED), ONE, UNICEF, The Carter Center, Clean Cooking Alliance and the United Nations Foundation. Additionally, with UNESCO’s recent designation of Reggae music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Rocky Dawuni represents one of the leading African global voices of Reggae.

Rocky’s travels around the world helped shape the new album Beats of Zion. He elaborates, “Beats of Zion was born out of my desire to use my diverse global musical influences and exposure to various traditions to paint a multi-cultural musical vision of the world that I perceive.

"The beginning of the year saw me visit Ethiopia and India. In Ethiopia, I visited Lalibela, witnessing ancient Christian rites and my journeys in India also exposed me to its diverse spiritual culture and the shared similarities I saw to Africa.” he said

He adds, “The title Beats of Zion is inspired by a vision of the drumbeat of awareness and elevation of consciousness; a musical call to arms for my audience to be proactive in this day and age as to each person’s responsibility to be an active instrument for positive change.”

The album was recorded in the span of almost 2 years in various studios in Ghana - Accra, Nairobi - and Los Angeles, California. In LA, Rocky was gifted studio time at the legendary Village Studios that has recorded the most influential artists including Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, and Fleetwood Mac. Rocky ended up recording in the same room as Fleetwood Mac and created the magic of the title track “Beats of Zion” and “Wickedest Sound.” Rocky found out that Fleetwood Mac visited Ghana in the 1970s which made the experience more special and inspired the Ghanaian traditional highlife song “Kyenkyen Bi AdiMawu” as a homage to his heritage.

These 3 tracks recorded at Village Studios kicked off the entire album making process.

The title track and lead single “Beats of Zion” came out well from the Village Studios session, but was missing something on the drum tracking. Rocky states, “We travelled to Zanzibar for a concert shortly after the recording session.

At the time, I was still wanting the full African tribal effect that I had imagined. On the eve of my concert at the amazing SautizaBusara Festival, we saw Batimbo Percussion Magique of Burundi mount the stage and blow the minds of everyone in the audience. I turned to my manager; Cary Sullivan who was also watching and we thought the same – ‘these are the guys for Beats of Zion’ and so the story unfolded.” The lead single video debuted with PopMatters who stated, “Rocky Dawuni aims to re-energize the forces of love and hope.”

“Wickedest Sound” is another song that speaks volumes, featuring Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy. 

The track combines elements of modern Afrobeats with Reggae music. With production paying homage to the organic recordings of classic Highlife music, it also combines a groove driven melodic approach with the traditional call and response style of singing. “Kyenkyen Bi AdiMawu” features Ghanaian hip-hop star Sarkodie and is a sprawling remake of the Highlife classic originally recorded by Ghanaian maestro K. Frimpong which is all sung in Twi. “Let’s Go” fuses pop sensibilities, Reggae and the grooves of New Orleans to create a feel-good anthem of forward mobility and positive vibrations. The hand claps add an organic Gospel feel to this exhilarating song. PRI of The World caught up with Rocky Dawuni to talk about the song and video that supports a bicycle program for girl child education initiatives in Ghana..

Other tracks that show more dimensions to the album include the Reggae Cumbia track “Freedom Train” featuring Argentinian Dancehall queen Alika who joins Rocky with her powerful Spanish raps and “Burn One” a homage to the social transformative power of the legalization of marijuana in the spheres of medicine, recreational use and as a primary tool for economic emancipation.

There will be videos coming out for many of the tracks on the album including “Elevation” which was shot on location in southern India.

It is an inspirational groove filled with a message of hope and uses the traditional Rastafarian Nyabinghi sounds. “Champion Arise,” a track that easily fits into the current Roots Reggae revival sound, paints a spiritual picture with biblical imagery and inspirational lyrics about spiritual warfare for the upliftment of all people. “Sunshine Day” is the 1970’s Ghanaian pop group Osibisa classic song re-imagined as an up-tempo Reggae song with featured Ghanaian artist the “Young Lioness of Africa” Wiyaala.

The diversity and features found on the new album are in step with Rocky’s vision of constantly evolving the boundaries of his sounds and expanding its global palettes and reach.

In a time when divisive rhetoric is on the rise and the political climate prefers to build walls over bridges, Rocky’s album Beats of Zion is a refreshing message about global unity and a worldview of oneness. Rocky passionately states, “We live in a time when the elements of international morality need to be proclaimed as a guiding principle for how we engage and deal with each other, between individuals, between communities and among nations.

It is a time for global mobilization for action on challenging socio-political issues like the environment and the refugee crisis. Beats of Zion is the drumbeat of war against apathy and re-energizing the forces of love and hope.” He concludes, “Beats of Zion is the rhythm of change beating from a distance and getting louder to awaken positive consciousness.”

“Influenced by sounds from across the African diaspora – everywhere from Dawuni’s native Ghana to the Caribbean – and beyond, the artist cements his role as a central voice in the contemporary African reggae scene by expanding its very scope.” – PopMatters

"Rocky Dawuni is one of Ghana’s best-traveled musicians these days. He lives between Los Angeles and Accra, but his signature “Afro Roots” sound—a blend of reggae, highlife, Afrobeat and more—brings him to concert stages and recording studios in places like Zanzibar, Nairobi, and Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as throughout Europe and the United States." AfroPop

“What a tremendous performance from international reggae star Rocky Dawuni. It has been a joy to watch his maturation as a writer and performer, and this Ghana-based video shows him at the absolute height of his powers, chanting an irresistibly danceable melody that expands the range of his syncretic powers. First rate and a pure joy!” -Roger Steffens, author of the award-winning “So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley"