World's leading streaming entertainment service, Netflix released the trailer for it's first African original series 'Queen Sono'.

Among those featured in the sound track is popular Kenyan band Sauti Sol. Also featured on the track is Sho Madzoji from South Africa popular for her song ''John Cena'.

“Queen Sono” was created by multi-hypenate comedian-turned-director Kagiso Lediga and is being executive produced by Tamsin Andersson.

The series stars  veteran South African actress Pearl Thusi who plays the role of a spy devoted to protecting the people of Africa. However, during one of her dangerous assignments, she unknowingly uncovers shocking details about her own mother’s death which subsequently leads her on a mission to uncover the truth.

Watch the trailer below.

Award winning gospel singer Mbuvi has dropped a new single #Lulundutu.  

Directed by GK Macharia the song talks about how Christ cleanses our feet in readiness for the Great Commission, Soul Winning! He cleanses away all filth and dirt, even Jiggers.

The audio was produced by Ihaji D and Docta Eddie and is done in Kamba Kikuyu English and Swahili -Lulu and Ndutu mean jiggers in Kamba and Kikuyu respectively.

Watch Lulundutu : https://youtu.be/M6xDX6r1-04

Speaking on the inspiration behind the song, Mbuvi Said “I composed Lulundutu with an aim of winning more souls to Christ. Soul winning is the heartbeat of Jesus Christ and as His children we are mandated with making the gospel much more intentional and focused on the heartbeat of Jesus.

The Kwata Kawaya singer is celebrating 20 years in the gospel industry and is keen on supporting upcoming gospel talents through Panache Plume. He is currently working on an album that will feature 20 of his best songs released and unreleased.

Tanasha Donna has just released her song featuring Diamond Platnumz.

The love song is titled ''Gere'' and has been produced by Producer Lizzer classic.

The song is off Tanasha's EP 'DonnaTella' which was launched last month in Nairobi.

The two, Diamond Platnumz and Tanasha Donna are currently dating and have a son.

Watch the video below.

On Valentine’s Day , the #FormNiGani movement crowned the winners of the recently concluded Ideathon challenge, followed by a concert that featured reggae band Gravitti, Sol Generation acts: Kaskazini, Teardrops the poet and Ugandan artist turned activist Bobi Wine, among other performers.

Out of the top 5 finalists, Ahenda Owal emerged first for her C Word App idea, taking home the grand prize of Ksh. 100,000.

The 4 runners up took home Ksh. 25,000 each.

Team Madikizela emerged second for their Community security approach on contraception idea, Dollaman Fatinato was third for the Family Planning Service E-Scorecard idea, Campus Magazine took fourth place for the “Kuwa Wise Campaign” and Team Film Club was fifth for their idea on Incorporating Reproductive Health in curriculum development.

A selection of the top 20 shortlisted entries also received Ksh. 5,000 each.

The event brought together entertainers, thought leaders and progressive young Kenyans in one setting, to explore the role of youth in contraception access in order to make the future of Kenya brighter.

The Ideathon challenge(November 2019 - January 2020) tasked all Kenyan youth, including a cross section of university students, to bring their fresh, youthful ideas to help chart the right path for Kenya, by generating positive solutions sustainable and equitable development in Kenya with contraception as central.

This contest is off the back of the launch of Form Ni Gani’s Kenya in 2030: Young Voices on Future Scenarios and Contraception report, which identifies contraception as key to unlocking Kenya’s future.

Drawing from insights and aspirations of young Kenyans and data from prevailing trends, the Kenya in 2030 report analyses a number of key drivers of contraception in Kenya, including socio-economic status, the health system, global influence and the market system to paint a picture of the state of Kenya in 2030 in four plausible scenarios – Upendeleo, Ukaidi, Utegemeo and the optimistic and ideal Uwakilishi.

The event also featured a photo exhibition - shot by Boniface Mwangi spotlighting portrait images of Kenyans from all walks of life, including creatives of this movement, looking at 2063 and their plans for the future.

The exhibition is part of #FormNiGani creatives movement creating awareness on contraception and future planning.

‘The Rockstars’ nominations 2020 are in following a Pan African announcement tour seeing several African countries each reveal a set or part of the nominees for this year’s historic 1^st ever African influencer awards.

From East Africa, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz takes the lead with a total of 9 nominations alongside fellow artist Vanessa Mdee who landed 8 nods, followed by renowned Tanzanian media personality Millard Ayo, who received 6 nominations.

US-based Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o received 7 nominations with both Kenyan world record holder Eliud Kipchoge receiving 6, with Khaligraph and Nyashinki featuring in the Hip Hop category.

Ugandan singer Vinka and Tanzanian hitmaker Alikiba are nominated in 5 categories with Halima Aden (Kenya/Somalia) and Ommy Dimpoz (Tanzania) receiving 4 nominations.

Kenya’s Wanuri Kahiu, Tanzania’s Wema Sepetu and Uganda’s Zari also received 3 nominations.

Global voting opens to the public online from Monday, 17^th February at www.TheRockstarAwards.com

Among ‘The Rockstars’ 2020 nominees, Maître Gims from the Democratic Republic of Congo and France, had the most nominations at 16, including nominations in the two big categories of the major overall global African ‘Rockstar’ category, the ‘StarBoy’ category.

Nigerian superstar Wizkid received 15 nods, with fellow Nigerian superstars Davido and Burna Boy each receiving 14 nominations.

South African sensation Sho Madjozi who’s just had a massive year with her global viral smash hit ‘John Cena’ got 13 nods.

East Africa’s total nods are at an impressive 150.

The countries with the most personalities nominated across individual categories, in order of most nominations is as follows: Nigeria 159, South Africa 146, Tanzania 62, Kenya 47, Uganda 32, Ethiopia 6, Rwanda 3, Angola 37, Senegal 27, Ghana 25, Democratic Republic of Congo 22, Namibia 18, Mali 14, Eritrea 13, Zimbabwe 11, Egypt 9, Cape Verde 8, Benin 7, Morocco 6, Somalia 6, Cote d’Ivoire 5 and Cameroon 3, with the rest of the nominee pool spread across the other African countries of origin.

‘The Rockstars’ aka The Rockstar Awards is the 1st Africa Continental awards in history for recognizing the most powerful, highly acclaimed and most influential personalities from the African continent.

The award ceremony also recognizes personalities from across the rest of the world, with influence on and relevant to audiences on the African continent.

‘The Rockstars’ recognize the most influential personalities of African origin on the planet across music, entertainment, gaming, film, content, social, media, sport, environment and conservation, sustainable fashion, beauty, arts, business and innovation.

Global voting opens to the public online from Monday, 17^th February at www.TheRockstarAwards.com

‘The Rockstars’ will broadcast and livestream LIVE in September 2020 and will reach audiences in more than 180 countries and territories across the African continent and worldwide.

You can see the full Rockstars’ nominations 2020 announcement list below, and online at www.TheRockstarAwards.com and www.RockstarTelevision.com

A section of muslim clerics from  Mombasa have joined the anti- sgr campaign being spearheaded by the Fast action business community.

Speaking to the press after meeting officials from the Fast action movement, the clerics called on the government to address the plight of truckers who according to them have now been rendered jobless after the government directed all goods from the port of Mombasa be transported by the SGR.

According to the clerics the county's economy has heavily been affected since the government issued out the directive.

Fast Action Business Community Movement [FABCM] chairman Salim Karama said the weekly protest will still continue.

The two groups also vowed not to support the building bridges initiative (BBI) being championed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga

"We are not going to support the initiative (BBI). Our weekly protests will stop continue" said Karama.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta today set the ball rolling for this year’s Beyond Zero Half Marathon by flagging off a 100-men run at Karura forest.

The men only run, under the tagline ‘I will Run For Her’, is a precursor for this year's Beyond Zero Half Marathon slated for Sunday, March 8^th.

The event was held to coincide with the Valentine Day and the men were running to show solidarity and harness their engagement around issues of maternal and child health that affect their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and the girl-child.

These include the repair and reintegration of women living with obstetric fistula, championing the country validation for the pre-elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis by 2021, promotion of good nutrition for all children, and advocating for social inclusion of children living with disability for equal access to health and education services among others. 

Unlike in the past editions of the marathon, participants will this year pick an intervention area they support within the broad maternal and child healthcare. 

The intervention areas include zero maternal deaths, zero child death, a healthy lifestyle for the elderly, zero new HIV infections and zero child marriages.

Others are zero Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early screening for cancer, inclusion of persons with disability and better nutrition for all children.

The First Lady, accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed, Sicily Kariuki and Margaret Kobia as well as her Chief of Staff Ms Constance Gakonyo, National Aids Control Council CEO Dr Nduku Kilonzo and members of the Beyond Zero Secretariat, joined the men in a warm up exercise before the kick-off of the ‘men only’ run.

Among those who took part in today’s run held at  Karura Forest were Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko and Attorney-General Paul Kihara Kariuki. 

Also in the group of 100 men who participated in the morning run were Jubilee Insurance CEO Dr Julius Kipng’etich, Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei and Citizen TV sports journalist Mike Okinyi as well as his Capital FM counterpart Alex Isaboke among others.

The First Lady, who received the participants at the end of the run, later planted a tree at Karura Forest to signify the importance of the event and her commitment to environmental conservation.

Proceeds from this year’s Beyond Zero Half Marathon will be used to host Medical Safaris, a large-scale outreach program conducted collaboratively with the county governments and over 15 medical service providers. 

The Beyond Zero initiative provides free healthcare services at the medical safaris. So far, Beyond Zero has held five successful medical safaris in Nairobi, Nyandarua, West Pokot, Kisumu and Narok counties.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has assured the Art of Music Foundation of her total support.

Speaking when she met the foundation's board members at State House, Nairobi, the First Lady thanked the Foundation for its role in the improvement of the lives of underprivileged children in the country through music and the arts.

The officials who were led by their chairperson Ms Rachel Gota and the foundation's founder Ms Elizabeth Njoroge briefed the First Lady on the various activities their organization is undertaking to inspire the youth to realize their dreams and transform their communities.

Ms Njoroge was accompanied by the foundation's vice chairperson Dr Julius Kipng’etich, board secretary Peris Thiiru as well as board members Irene Mukiri, Judith Njonjo and Duncan Wambugu.

The First Lady, who is the patron of the foundation, assured the officials of her continued support saying, "you can count on me to be part of your initiatives".

In her brief to the First Lady, Ms Njoroge pointed out that since its establishment in 2008, the organization has grown from the first batch of 14 beneficiaries drawn from Korogocho slum to reach over 1,500 youth spread across the country.

She said, the organization has partnered with other well-wisher institutions and individuals to start a school's initiative through which it teaches music to 50 students in primary schools in Nairobi, Kiambu and Mombasa counties.

“ we use the transformative power of music to break barriers and catalyse change. Our students have been able to attain diplomas and degrees in music, with some being employed in some of the prominent education institutions in Kenya such as St. Andrews Turi and in Arusha to teach music,” Ms Njoroge said.

Kevin Obara, one of the beneficiaries of the foundation's music training programme, recently came back from Germany where he attended a sponsored training on the repair of musical instruments.

He is  currently a freelance technician of musical instruments as he plans to set up a fully fitted workshop in Nairobi.

From his little earnings, Mr Obara has built his mother a house and is educating his siblings.

“The students once they excel they work hard to support others in same circumstances. Self confidence and selflessness amongst the children encourages us so much to continue with this initiative,” Ms Njoroge told the First Lady.

Ms Gota commended the First Lady for her passion in helping the underprivileged in society especially children in slums saying her support has continued to be a source of encouragement to many.

On his part, Dr. Kipng’etich said the foundation is seeking to expand its activities so as to benefit many more  children across the country.

He expressed hope that the government will partner with their institution and help scale up the programme through the new Competence Based Curriculum  (CBC) currently being rolled out.

“The transformation that we find in building confidence is great. To learn music one has to be disciplined in training," Dr Kipngetich said.

He added: "With the track record of Ghetto Classics we expect to get more well wishers on board to support our programmes.”

Dr. Kipng’etich said the role of the First Lady as the patron of the institution has inspired confidence in its stakeholders and called for stronger linkages between state institutions and social workers so as to successfully improve the lives of the less fortunate Kenyans.

Apart from Ghetto Classics, the Art of Music Foundation runs a musical and leadership training programme as well as the National Youth Orchestra of Kenya, which is a musical group that brings together talented young musicians from all walks of life.