Reekado Banks has unveiled his hotly anticipated new EP ‘Off The Record’—out 27th November on Banks Music.

The six-track release is a deep exploration into Reekado Banks’ Nigerian identity, with a global audience in mind.

This coming-of-age EP from one of West Africa’s most adored talents is his most accomplished release to date.

Stream “Off The Record” EP: https://mad.ffm.to/offtherecord

Things open with East African lead single “Mama’’ a highlife-influenced collaboration with Tanzanian artist Harmonize produced by Tee Y Mix, seeing both Reekado and Harmonize reeling off a list of locations before declaring that, ultimately, Nigeria and Tanzania is home.

Reekado says, “My brother Harmonize brought such a vibe to Mama, a very special song on this project. The song is a Pan African sound that anyone anywhere across the continent and beyond will connect with it instantly,”

Adding, “I knew my brother from the East was a perfect fit for this song. He was coming to Lagos often and as soon as we hit the studio, we made this classic!”

Reekado also revealed that he just worked on a song with Kenyan artist Otile Brown set for release soon.

“Mama” follows “Need More”, featuring Afrobeats rising stars Kida Kudz and EO, a blissed-out track that has already amassed more than 1 million combined streams.

Whilst the presence of the huge international hit “Rora” sees Reekado slow things down solo, the presence of starstudded guest collaborators continues throughout ‘Off The Record’, with exciting young singersongwriter Tiwa Savage lending her delicate vocals to the melodic “Speak To Me”, Reekado and Banku music pioneer Mr. Eazi channel a tropical vibe on “People Dey”, among other collaborators.

Reekado shares with fans on the EP, “The vibe is more mature in the sense that the messages touch on different realities, love, life, Africa and more.

Working with the likes of Harmonize, Tiwa and Eazi was great as we continue to move the culture forward and finally giving my fans something to rock before 2020 is over.”

‘Off The Record’ EP marks Reekado’s first extended release in four years, following on from 2016 LP ‘Spotlight’ which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard ‘World Albums Chart’.

Reekado is one of Nigeria’s most consistent hitmakers, racking up over 170 million streams across his back catalogue to date.

 ‘Off The Record’ Tracklist: 1. Need More Feat. Kida Kudz & EO

2. Happy Yourself
3.  Rora 
4. Speak To Me (Feat. Tiwa Savage)
5.  You Dey Mad (Feat. AttiFaya)
6.  People Dey (Feat. Mr Eazi)
7.  Mama (Feat. Harmonize)

MTV Africa and MTV Base announced the return of the continental flagship award show in 2021. 

The Iconic MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda on February 20^th 2021.

The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130).

The repeat show will also be aired on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature. 
 
The ultimate celebration of local African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2021, in partnership with Uganda recognizes and rewards musicians, trailblazers and those who are shining a light on the continent's diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year.

The awards ceremony will feature vibrant performances from leading African and international artists and will also showcase some of the biggest cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
 
The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration. 

The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories.

Additional new categories included are the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year.

These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.
 
The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognize the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world's most challenging social problems.

The Alone Together Best Lock-down performance recognizes outstanding performances that took place virtually by celebrating artists who took to streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 Lockdown.

The category selection criteria is from October 1^st 2019 to October 1^st 2020.

The nominees will be announced in December 2020 and music lovers will have their say by voting for their favourite stars online.

The engaging Q&A discussion included accomplished Ugandan artist Bebe Cool, highly skilled songstress Sheebah Karungi together with talented South African rapper Nasty C.

Commented Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, "We are excited to bring this amazing showcase to audiences across the continent and globally with an innovatively re-imagined awards show and celebration.”

Adding “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, content production has embraced innovation as the new gold and we are excited to take Africa to the World and showcase its immense talent and culture as we stage the biggest music awards show on the continent."
 
On his part  State Minister for Tourism Uganda Godfrey Kiwanda commented, "It is an incredible achievement for Uganda to host the continent and International stakeholders for the MAMA Kampala 2021 for the first time."

Adding "The awards are an extraordinary African cultural experience, and we understand the important role it plays in driving awareness, cross culture education and profiling the continent's rich leisure tourism offerings on the international stage.”
  
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 is brought to you by Uganda, The Pearl of Africa in an effort to promote tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage conservation for the socio-economic development and transformation of Uganda.

Craig Paterson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, continued, "The latest edition of the MAMA promises to be our biggest and most innovative yet.

Millions of fans worldwide will enjoy the digitally re-imagined celebration and African music via multiple broadcasts globally.

Always celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the awards will encompass three pulsating Road to MAMA broadcasts featuring MAMA nominees from across the continent.

The MAMA Kampala 2021 brings the much-anticipated music industry workshops in a virtual format for the continent's aspiring musicians, youth upskilling and development.
 
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Anselmo Ralph, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Cabo Snoop, Davido, D'Banj, Diamond Platnumz, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Lira, Lupita Nyong'o, Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah,  Uhuru, Wahu, Wizkid, Yemi Alade,  Zebra & Giraffe and many more.
 
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on February 20th 2021.

The show will also be aired on MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature. 
 

After a successful take off with over 100K users in the UK, TuKo has launched in East Africa ‘The King Of All Apps.’

TuKo is a service and convenience market with an inbuilt digital wallet, ability for customers to track their orders with free calls and without using data. Standard features of the TuKo include like 30 minutes-Emergency response, flexible ‘book now or later’ options, cash, card, or wallet payments, and inbuilt contactless delivery option in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

TuKo helps job seekers find their dream job, while bringing over 1000 services to the palm of their clients hands. Users will be able to order for whatever service they require; food, grocery, medical attention or parcel and have it delivered at their door step in under 30 minutes.

TuKo App CEO, TJ said "Tuko is a new multipurpose app here to revolutionise how people earn and connect with their community,”

“Tuko is the new app of this generation creating opportunity, new business and convenience at your finger tips,” he added

Speaking at the launch, TuKo Business Development Director, Bishop Climate said, “Tuko App is part of our company strategy to partner with ordinary Kenyans and businesses to create jobs and create access to world-class mobility and convenience service to everyone”.  

Speaking about the app’s service providers, TuKo Customer Relationship Director  Ms Patesha assured the clients that;

“All our service providers are fully vetted, professional and set affordable prices. Just order and will deliver in 30 minutes. With more than 500 retail partners and 3,000 brands available on TuKo, consumers and service providers are set to enjoy unrivalled convenience, jobs and connections” she said.

 The Brand ambassador Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki described this app as the future.

“With TuKo we have the future that people have been talking about.  The beauty about it is how clients are getting connected to service providers in a very vast way”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to be part of something that will revolutionize how we acquire services and how we get our products”

The TuKo application is up and running and is available for free for both iOS and Android devices.

Every Friday of this month is a Black Friday, and for the newbies, this is the time and day that brands offer amazing discounts and crazy offers on various products and services.

If you have never benefited from a Black Friday, then this is a great opportunity to grab some realme goodies.

Some individuals have mastered the art of getting great deals from Black Fridays and their pockets have never been disappointed. 

Black Fridays are best suited for buying electronics like smartphones because the kind of discounts you get that most probably only come once.

On Friday, November 27, 2020, Kenyan online platform Kilimall will be having a flash sale on three realme smartphones; realme 6 which will retail at 26,999Ksh, realme C15 (4+64GB) at 14,999Ksh, and realme C15 (4+128GB) at 17,999Ksh.

For the realme 6, the flash sale will be happening at 10 am while for realme C15 (4+64) and (4+128), the flash sales will be at 6 pm and 8 pm respectively.

On this day, during the designated flash sale times, you stand a chance to be a proud owner of one or two of these realme smartphones at affordable prices. All you need is the internet to access the Kilimall platform and wait.

As it makes inroads in the Kenyan smartphone market, realme has been feted as the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the world offering affordable entry-level and high-end electronics that cut across all age-groups from the millennials to the old age.

Among the realme brands that are in the Kenyan market include realme 7i, realme C3, realme C11, realme C15, realme 6, realme C12, realme Band, Air Neo, and Buds Q with the brand saying it is committed to enabling Kenyans to dare to leap through their innovative gadgets.

With its iconic punchline of Dare To Leap, realme brand says it is committed to ensuring that Kenyan smartphone lovers get the best with every release they anticipate.

Coast Water Works Development Agency Chairman and former Kilifi South Mp Mustafa Iddi is dead.

The former journalist died on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment at the Mombasa Premier Hospital.

According to the family, he died after an asthma attack.

He will be laid to rest on Wednesday afternoon at his Bomani home.

Iddi was among the Coast politicians who ditched the ODM party for Jubilee in the last general elections, he was also one of Deputy President William Ruto's point men in Kilifi and Coast at large.

He lost the Kilifi South seat to Ken Chonga.

Deputy President William Ruto has eulogised him as  progressive leader who relentlessly championed for the empowerment of the people of Kilifi South.

"Mheshimiwa Mustafa Idd was a progressive leader who relentlessly championed for the empowerment of the people of Kilifi South; he was selfless, focussed with an exceptional commitment to public service." reads a message from Ruto.

Adding "Formidable and brilliantly acute journalist with integrity, Idd was a dedicated seeker of truth, indomitable, insightful and a moral enthusiast whose leadership espoused justice for all. We will miss his resolve and drive to improve the lives of the people of the Coastal region".

Social activist Adelle Onyango together with co-author  Lanji J.J. Ouko hosted a preview brunch for their upcoming book.

It documents the voices of survivors of rape, observers, family members, activists, nurses, lawyers and many others, who offer a glimpse of the different perceptions of violence.

Lanji explained, “The book is like none this continent has ever seen as it documents stories of survivors of sexual violence from 1902 till the present times. We are sure that the book will not just amplify the stories but show the work needed to support survivors, ensure justice and ultimately end sexual violence."

Adelle who also co-authors the book, said, “When the book comes out in 2021, we implore Africans to get it, read it, listen to the survivors’ voices and then introspect on if you are helping end or aggravate sexual violence.”

The Sunday brunch was at Kileleshwa Gardens where they previewed the book to people who have contributed to the journey of making the book.

Here, Janet Mbugua who was among the guests also added her voice to the book.

Adelle explains, “Janet Mbugua has been vocal about issues affecting vulnerable communities. Her work in the ending period poverty is exemplary. We picked her because of her genuine fight to make spaces safer for women and as you know, all these issues facing women are interlinked.”

Mbugua is also someone who has directly supported Adelle Onyango in her fight to end gender-based violence. "It is powerful to have women supporting each other especially when it’s for the greater good of other women not only in Kenya but on the continent.”

"This is a powerful book that amplifies stories by survivors of sexual violence. It will force us to confront this issue and demand that we do more to end sexual violence. It may also help other survivors start their healing journey," Mbugua noted.

Kisauni Mp Ali Mbogo has vowed to help residents of Kishada in a land tussle between the community and a family over the ownership of the Kishada playing ground.

The family wants back the ground claiming it's ownership while the community claim the ground is a community ground as it is under the Wakf commission.

The family has since gone to court to sue locals including a coach of the local football team Kishada FC Athman Shee.

Mbogo who visited the ground on Monday evening vowed to support the community.

"Some of us grew here, we played on this ground since we were young so for someone to now come out and claim ownership of the ground is unacceptable" said Mbogo.

Adding "This ground is currently under Wakf commission  and I was at their offices today morning, they promised to get back to me with the right answer concerning it's ownership which we will also use in our defence in court".

Mbogo who was accompanied by former area Mp Annaia Mwaboza who is also part of the legal team called on the community especially the local football team to continue using the ground since there is no court order to stop them from using it.

Mbogo argued "Do not be afraid or feel intimated now that they have gone to court. The law protects us all, so continue using the ground as we gather our evidence for our defence team which will face them in court".

"The lawyer told me we need kshs 300,000 for this but we can just give him kshs 100,000 for a start and today I have come with the money (kshs 100,000) and i will hand it over to the lawyer to start his work" he added.

On his part Annania Mwaboza also vowed to support the locals in the tussle.

"I also played on this ground during my days, so this case is personal and as a former Mp and lawyer I will work closely with the defense team to win this war" said Mwaboza.

Megan Thee Stallion releases her highly anticipated debut album, Good News, alongside a brand new video for ‘Body’, a body-positive anthem for women everywhere.

‘Body’ celebrates women taking ownership of and proudly enjoying their bodies, in all sizes, shapes and heights. With a fiery voguing runway-inspired video starring Megan, the ‘Body’ video also features a host of incredible women including Taraji P Henson, Jordyn Woods, Blac Chyna, Daren Kyle, Asian Doll, Bernice Burgos and Maliibu Miitch.

Here to brighten up news cycles for fans everywhere, Good News takes its title from Megan’s ethos  that in the midst of everything negative going on in the world, we all have the ability to make and become our own good news.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Good News is here to inspire listeners everywhere and to bring fun back into the everyday. 

With features from none other than City Girls, Da Baby, Lil Durk, SZA, Popcaan, Mustard, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Beyoncé and Young Thug, Good News is packed with incredible collaborations, as well as numerous solo tracks from Thee Stallion, including the gold-certified smash hit ‘Girls in the Hood’, which has garnered over 152 million streams to date. 

The announcement of Good News follows Megan’s five BET Awards, including Hip Hop Artist Of The Year as well as an MTV VMA Award for ‘Savage’, GQ’s Rapper of the Year and an honor by TIME in the TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Megan Thee Stallion is also set to perform at the 2020 American Music Awards, where she will be performing a new track from the album. 

GOOD NEWS TRACKLIST:

1. Shots Fired

2. Circles

3. Cry Baby ft. DaBaby

4. Do It On The Tip ft. City Girls & Hot Girl Meg

5. Sugar Baby

6. Movie ft. Lil Durk

7. Freaky Girls ft. SZA

8. Body

9. What’s New

10. Work That

11. Intercourse ft. Popcaan and Mustard

12. Go Crazy ft. Big Sean & 2 Chainz

13. Don’t Rock Me To Sleep

14. Outside 

15. Savage Remix ft. Beyoncé

16. Girls in the Hood

17. Don’t Stop ft. Young Thug

Members of a family dominated this year’s Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] annual golf tournament played at the weekend at Nyali Golf and Country Club in Mombasa county.

KPA Head of strategy at the Kisumu port Inland Container Depot Yobesh Oyaro, his wife Truphena Oyaro and his son Brandon Oyaro scooped awards at the end of the one day tournament in Nyali constituency.

Brandon won the overall trophy after he posted 41 points during the tournament which attracted 200 golfers played under the COVID-19 pandemic health guidelines and protocol.

Playing on improved 17.7 handicap he scored 18 points on the first nine holes and 23 points on the second nine holes before winning the overall trophy.

Mombasa Golf Club member Peter Kimanga who was playing on 12 handicap won in the men’s category after posting 39 points.

He scored 20 points on the first nine holes and 19 points on the second nine holes to win the trophy in the category.

The runners-up trophy went to Ushwin Khama after he scored 38 points with the third award being won by Brian Bringloe after scoring 37 points on count back.

Oyaro’s wife Truphena was crowned winner in the ladies’ category after she posted 38 points.

Playing on improved handicap 13.9 from 14 handicap she managed to score 18 points on the first nine holes and 20 points on the second nine holes to win the trophy.

Mary Mwiriga won the ladies’ runners-up award after she posted 37 points during the one day event.

In the KPA staff awards, couples carried the day at the end of the tournament which is the first to be held this year after the outbreak of the deadly disease.

KPA officer Charles Odoo won the staff trophy with 38 points and his wife Terry Odoo was the runners-up with 36points.

Yobesh Oyaro won the third staff award after he scored 30 points on count back with Japheth Obonyo winning the fourth award with 30 points.

KPA board chairman Gen [Rtd] Joseph Kibwana graced the brief awarding ceremony conducted in line with pandemic protocol.

Others in attendance were former KPA managing director Brown Ondego and Nyali County Golf Club captain Ameen Dhanji and former Alego MP Edwin Yinda.