Ommy Dallah
New Video: Redsan- Rio
Janet Mbugua Headlines Victoria Rubadiri's “A Girlfriends Confidential Talk”
As women’s history month comes to a close, Victoria Rubadiri hosted Janet Mbugua at a special edition of A Girlfriends Confidential Talk.
Hosted at the Trademark Hotel in Village Market, the event saw a packed house, with over 1,100 women in attendance to discuss how they can find, use, and leverage their voices in order to enhance their livelihoods.
"I built my formidable career through having mentors in the workspace, and being deliberate on mentoring next generation. I encourage you to read more books by “Incredible women” who have faced and broken down barriers," Janet Mbugua said.
The media personality also named Unbowed by Wangari Mathai, Becoming by Michelle Obama, We’re Going To Need More Wine, by Gabriel Union and I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou as some of the best sellers that have shaped her world view.
Janet also encouraged the audience to dismiss the naysayers as they journey to find success and empowerment.
She said, “I have been built by both male and female mentors. I have also equally been ‘brought down’ by both male and female colleagues in the workplace. There is no hard and fast rule that men will break you down and women will build you, or vice versa. It’s about finding your place, seeking out mentors, and those with the right mindset will build you.”
Speaking about being part of the talk, Janet said, "I’ve mentioned this a few times this year, that I’m just not in a space where I want to pour from my cup, which I’m slowly filling up. But yesterday was special because I got to connect with many of you and hear about your own concerns, insecurities and triumphs. It was refreshing and necessary!"
Janet thanked her host Victoria Rubadiri and fellow panelists who included Mercy Maroma, as well as Joy Doreen Biira who shared some nuggets of wisdom.
Kenyan Artists Mourn Rapper Nipsey Hussle
As the Hip-Hop World is still coming to terms with news of the murder of US based rapper Nipsey Hussle, several artists from Kenya have since come out to join fellow artists from across the globe to mourn the rapper.
The Grammy-nominated rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle aged 33 was shot six times outside his Los Angeles clothing store and pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to reports, the rapper was among three people shot by unknown gunmen outside the store Sunday afternoon.
Just hours before his death, Hussle tweeted: “Having strong enemies is a blessing.”
Among the Kenyan artists who have come out to mourn the rapper is Khaligraph Jones.
"Rest Easy King, saddest news ever" posted Khaligraph Jones
King Kaka posted "What a coincidence, I was just listening to your album #VictoryLap"
On her part Victoria Kimani posted Rest in Power".
Mbosso Shows Off His New House (Photo)
Music pays !
Tanzanian artist Mbosso, who has been rocking the airwaves with hits like Hodari, Pepea, Tamu among others has a new house.
Mbosso a former member of the Yamoto Band and currently under Diamond's WCB took to social media to share the good news with his fans.
He was officially unveiled by WCB as a member of their team early last year and has since been releasing hit songs and increasing his fan base.
Kenyan Producer Dorothy Ghettuba Appointed Netflix Manager International Originals
Renowned Kenyan film producer and Spielworks Media CEO, Dorothy Ghettuba has been appointed as Netflix Manager International Originals.
The move comes after Netflix announced last year that it would commission original shows from Africa by 2019.
Dorothy took to her social media to share the news “Telling African stories at Netflix”.
Dorothy who is wife to Oyunga Pala has produced epic programs such as ‘Sumu La Penzi’, ‘Lies That Bind’, ‘Saints and Higher Learning’. In 2011, she was among the Top 40 under 40 Women in Kenya published by the Business Daily.
In 2011, Ms. Ghettuba appeared on the Business Daily's highly publicized list of Top 40 Women under 40.
The New Digital King In Town
New Video: Willy Paul x Nandy - Hallelujah
Willy Paul and Nandy are back with 'Hallelujah'.
This is after their first collabo 'Njiwa'.
Watch the new video below
President Yoweri Museveni In Historic ride On Madaraka Express
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda yesterday made a historic ride on Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Mombasa to Nairobi making him the first foreign Head of State to use the service.
President Uhuru Kenyatta set the pace for the historic journey yesterday when he announced that President Museveni would travel from Mombasa to Nairobi on Kenya’s new modern railway line whose predecessor was christened by British colonialists as the "Lunatic Express".
“Once again you are making history by being the first Head of State to come to Mombasa on the occasion of a State Visit,” said President Kenyatta when he hosted the visiting Ugandan President for a state banquet at State House Mombasa.
“Again, President Museveni will tomorrow be the first Head of State to travel on our SGR from Mombasa to Nairobi. You have once again made history and showed the remarkable partnership that exists between our two countries,” said President Kenyatta.
The old railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu and later to Kampala was built by British colonial government from 1896 to 1906 and was initially named the Uganda Railway after its ultimate destination.
President Kenyatta launched the SGR commuter train christened Madaraka Express on Wednesday, 31st May 2017, 120 years after the British Government rolled out the first rail network in Kenya.
The SGR runs parallel to the old metre gauge railway line. Passenger trains run between Mombasa Terminus in Miritini and the Nairobi Terminus in Syokimau near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
On arrival at the Nairobi SGR Terminus, President Museveni was received by his host President Uhuru Kenyatta who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto among other senior government officials.
During the four hour journey, President Museveni was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Monica Juma and James Macharia.
Otile Brown Speaks Out After His Song Was Deleted From You Tube
Otile Brown has come to explain why his latest video featuring Khaligraph Jones 'Japo kidogo' was deleted from you tube.
According to him, the video was deleted from YouTube due to management issues, which he explained that he is not at liberty to discuss with the public.
“To my loyal fans who have always supported me, I know there’s a lot of speculation going on as to why my newly released project titled “Japo Kidogo” featuring Khaligraph Jones was pulled down from Youtube. The video was pulled down from youtube just 2 days after it’s release due to management issues that am not in Liberty to discuss unfortunately, even if I wanted to. This is what I would like to say though, there’s a lot of hard work, a lot of resources/money and a lot of time that goes into such a project thus my management and I would not just pull down a video just like that. We respect artistry and the craft but at the end of the day it’s still business and we have to respect that. All I promise is we are still going to give you our fans what you deserve which is good music. #BadMan . #WegotnothingbutLove! bless y’all” said Otile
This is not his first video to be pulled down from you tube, October last year, Otile’s collabo with Bong Star Aslay “Nikupe Nini” was also pulled donwn under unclear circumstances and up to date the song has never been re-uploaded.
His collabo with Sanaipei Tande 'Chaguo la Moyo' was once also pulled down from you tube but later re-uploaded.
All Female Finale For Coke Studio Africa
The 2019 edition of Coke Studio Africa has featured Africa’s greatest talents and created career breaks for many of this continents new acts, but what it has been most notable for is a strong commitment to empowering women involved in all aspects of the music and entertainment scene.
Coke Studio Africa consciously tried to empower and celebrate women in the industry by giving them a platform to showcase themselves.
This was done on each episode eculminating in a historical Season Finale that features an all-female cast in front of the cameras and behind the scenes, recording music, styling, choreographing, playing instruments and recording the show.
Uganda’s Sheebah Karungi and Mozambique Lourena Nhate got to remix their songs with Viola, a female producer, and 11 female musicians joined up for the power packed track ‘African Woman (Yelele Mama).
This amazing song represents a variety of sista-soundscapes from zouk, bongo flava and kizomba, to afrobeats, dancehall and hip hop Mozambique’s Shellsy Baronet; Tanzania’s Nandy and Keisha alongside their sister on the rise Mimi Mars, Kenya’s Nazizi; Namibia’s Lioness and Boity from South Africa as well as big break vocalists Nadia Mukami of Kenya and Tamy Moyo repping Zimbabwe.
The track was produced by Kenya’s Viola with female studio engineer Muna in the mix.
Lourena Nhate noted the importance of this season finale in changing prevalent mindsets, and Coke Studio’s support of women acts throughout the season
She said “I think it is not easy for a woman to make it in the music industry, because many people still see women as housewives, so we need to be really motivated, some are luckier than others and treated well, but others are not, depending on the country they are in, but with a lot of dedication, it’s possible.”
After more than 20 years in the game, it was Coke Studio Africa that finally made Kenyan hip hop legend Nazizi feel like it had all been worth it.
“It got tiring being the only woman backstage, the only woman in the battles and cyphers…” She said on the Coke Studio Africa couch, “I was trying to think back to my day, and if I had anybody to inspire me as an African female rapper.” On Coke Studio Africa she finally saw that times had changed when she recorded with Boity and Lioness: “It’s nice for me to sit back and watch and see other female MC’s coming up.”
Mother, Politician and singer Keisha, from Tanzania, was thrilled to appear on two songs in the season finale, ‘African Woman' and a Viola remix of her 2013 collabo with Diamond Platnumz ‘Nimechoka’.
“I am so grateful to Coke Studio Africa. Working with a group of female musicians made me so happy, we connected, we understood each other and we knew what each other wanted, it has been a very good experience for me.” She notes
Kenyan percussionist Kasiva has been a constant throughout the shows recording sessions and live performances.
She sees Coke Studio Africa as “A really important project for female artists, it is a huge brand with a massive viewership, so this just gives women a stage to be seen and a stage to be known and to express themselves musically”
“This season has been really special because we have had more women band members than ever. This is one of the biggest stages for people to see African females killing it and be like ‘Hey women can do this, this is a decent job, it’s a serious career option and it’s ok for women to be musicians.”
This season finale of Coke Studio Africa has shown how a dedication to empowering females across the continent’s music industry is not a hard task at all, and doing so can create not only wonderful music, but also an important shift in the scene and society as a whole.