Tanzanian female singer Nandy has come out to assure her fans that she is safe, this is after reports started doing rounds that she was among those seriously injured after one of her vehicles was involved in an accident last night

In a video message, Nandy who was in Nairobi over the weekend for the Choma na ngoma show stated that the vehicle that was involved in the accident was carrying her dancers and instruments adding that the victims are also safe after being treated at a local hospital.

Nandy's entourage was heading to Sumbawaga where she is scheduled to have a show, Nandy festival. Among artists who are also part of the entourage are Willy Paul, Juma Nature, Whozu, Stamina, Nandy, Barnaba, Roma, Billnass and Ice Boy.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) yesterday hosted it's first ever iftar bringing together it's staff members , local leaders and stakeholders.

The event held at the KPA Mbaraki Sports grounds was attended by several leaders including Mombasa Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi, his Lamu counterpart Abdulhakim Aboud, Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, Mps Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Mishi Mboko (Likoni) and Ali Mbogo (Kisauni).

The leaders present praised the KPA Managing  Director Dr Daniel Manduku for hosting the event.

"I have never witnessed an event like this since i was born, this is the first time and we have to thank you for your efforts bwana MD" said Ali Mbogo.

On his part Changamwe Mp Omar Mwinyi noted "We have had different Managing Directors before, some from the muslim community but they have never done this, this is reccomandable"

Adding"Next time you should also consider giving out envelopes (money) to the workers to accompany the iftar"

The leaders also took the opportunity to address the issue on the alleged privatization of the port insisting they are against it.

"As leaders from the Coast region, all 23 of us including Mps, Women representatives, Senators and Governors have resolved not to support this issue and fight it, it will only happen over our dead bodies" said Ali Mbogo.

The 7th edition of the Coast Film Festival is set to take place from September 11th to 13th.

The aim of the event is to recognize local filmmakers, expose and commend them for their work. 

This year's theme  is 'Story Kikwetu' and will feature different categories which include; Animation movies, feature films. Documentaries, short feature films, TV and web-series, Student school’s film and music videos.

Submissions are now open with the deadline being set for July 3rd.

For one to participate your film should:
1. Have been produced between June 2017- June 2019.
2. Have been shot in a Swahili speaking area ie the Indian ocean Islands (including Comoros
archipelago, Mayotte & La Reunion) and/or the candidate is from the same designated zone.
3. All submitted films, if in any other language other than Kiswahili and English shall include subtitles in Kiswahili or English.

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) was the place to be as people gathered to witness the second edition of the Choma Na Ngoma Festival on Friday evening (eve of Madaraka aday), courtesy of Radio Maisha and Standard Media Group.

The musical extravangaza celebrated the diversity of various African cultures from food,drinks and great music.Artists like Hart the Band,Alicious and Sauti Sol did a great job to entertain the over zealous crowd.

The 14th Annual Groove Awards Gala went down on Saturday in a colorful celebration held at Mövenpick Hotel Westlands.

Glam, Fashion, Pomp and Color graced the red carpet with Government Officials, Celebrities, Gospel Artists, Media Personalities and Music Fans bringing the best of fashion.

Kenya film classification board CEO Dr Ezekiel Mutua, Nairobi County Women Mp Esther Passaris and Businessman Gor Semelango were among those who attended the event.

In line with the theme “Better Together,” this year’s awards season was focused on the message of unity in building better relationships, synergies and societies.

Eunice Njeri was the biggest winner of the night bagging the Artist of the Year Award which was the most coveted award of the evening.

A triumphant comeback, Eunice during her acceptance speech noted that it hasn’t been all roses and the wins came as pleasant surprises.

“The last two years have not been easy, I have gone through the most difficult season- but God saw me through”, she noted 

Jabidii, after smashing Groove Awards Nominations record with 11 nominations, topped the list of winners bagging 5 awards;- Reggae/ Ragga Song of the Year, Teens Choice Song of the Year, Collabo of the Year, Dance Style/ Song of the Year and Song of the Year awards respectively.

Other winners from the night were those from the newly introduced categories.

This year saw an introduction of new categories necessitated by continuous insights and changing industry dynamics. Online/Digital Personality of the Year went to the WaJesus Family, Young Groover of the Year award was bagged by Amani Gracious while Benachi bagged the Diaspora Artists of the Year award.

“The announcement of the winners followed a rigorous process of reviewing over 900,000 Online and SMS votes that the public casting.,” said Groove panel Chairman Charles Kairu.

Adding “We are truly honored to be in a position to shape culture, recognize and celebrate today’s talented artistes and their contribution to the growth of the gospel music industry.” 

The Awards, which were first launched in 2004, are held annually to celebrate gospel artists both in Kenya and in the region, and have over the last decade grown into a highly anticipated feature of the gospel industry calendar.

Among the highlights of the night were performances of some of Kenya’s biggest gospel hits by Pitson, Eunice Njeri, Makena, Timeless Noel, Moji Short Babaa, Jabidii amongst others. Other performances that carried the night included Mash ups of 2018 big songs, throwback hits and a cypher to amplify the theme of the season-Better Together. 

Winners in each category were selected based on number of votes by the public, a two weeks long process that began soon after the Groove Nominations Night in May.

To protect the integrity of the voting process, all votes were assessed by leading audit firm EY.

The 14th Annual Groove Awards was produced by MoSound Events and was proudly sponsored by NRG Radio, Coke Studio, Little Cab, M-Akiba, Bonfire Adventures, Coca Cola, Pace Africa, Vivo Energy, Intercontinental Hotel and Safaricom.

Congratulations to all Nominees and Winners.

Here's the full list of the Groove Awards 2019 winners.

Artist of the Year - Eunice Njeri

Song of the Year: Vimbada - Jabidii, Moji Short Babaa

Music Video of the Year -  Nifanane Nawe - Wahu Kagwe

Young Groover of the Year - Amani Gracious

Reggae/ Ragga Song of the Year - China - Jabidii

Teens Choice Song of theYear - Vimbada - Jabidii, Moji Short Babaa

Collabo of the Year - Vimbada - Jabidii, Moji Short Babaa 

Dance Style/ Song of the Year - Vimbada - Jabidii, Moji Short Babaa 

Outstanding Contributor - RKay

Diaspora Artist of the Year - Benachi

Hypeman/ MC of the Year - Timeless Noel

Song Writer of the Year - Pitson

Online/ Digital Personality of The Year - Kabi and Milly for the WaJesus Family

Video Producer of the Year - Steve Mugo

The Audio Producer of The Year - Gideon Kimanzi

Breakthrough Female Artist of The Year - Emma Omonge

Breakthrough Male Artist of The Year - Baraka Musiq

Breakthrough Dj of the Year - Ken the Dj

Media Personality of The Year-  Syombua Mwele

Praise and Worship Song of the Year - Eunice Njeri Zaidi na Zaidi

Nyanza Counties Song of the Year - Conquerer - Fenny Kerubo

Rift Valley Song of the Year - Kapchi - Mum Cherop 

Eastern Counties Song of the Year - Stephen Kasolo

Coastal Song of the Year - Nakupenda - Eve Bahati

Central Song of the Year - Mutheani - Phyllis Mbuthia and Sammy Irungu

Western Song of the Year - Lwanda ni Yesu - Timothy Kitui and Ali Mukhwana

About Groove Awards

Since 2004, Groove Awards has celebrated excellence in gospel music in Kenya and across Africa.

The awards, entering their 14th year, are Kenya’s most prestigious and recognized gospel awards with a regional resonance and relevance. Groove seeks to promote gospel music as a message of hope and an avenue to address issues affecting young people across the African continent with a key focus on its main objective - Shaping culture through positive content and entertainment.

Groove Awards has seen over 2,500 artists/groups nominated and 900 Groove statuettes presented to gospel musicians in Kenya and East Africa region.

Otile Brown has gifted singer Jovial a brand new car. Jovial is Otile's first signee under his label, Just In love Music.

This comes just few weeks after Jovial was signed under the label.

Otile took to social to show the new car presented to Jovial praising her for her vocals.

"Mtoto mkali na anaimba ajabu.. i bless you with this small moti to help carry you around.. they ain’t ready for you .. And by the way @jovialmusic_ is kenyan , born and raised in Mombasa .. let’s support her #zichune ft @jovialmusic_ link on YouTube #justinlovemusic #wegotnothingbutlove" he posted 

In a previous interview with Ommy Dallah, Otile's manager Noriega revealed that they will soon be revealing more of their plans 

"Otile has alot of plans and projects he intending to do, we will tell you more when the right time comes" he said

Afro-pop star Ashleye Scarlette is back with one of her most vulnerable releases to date,“Nikuamini”.

The song is a standalone single from the singer based on her personal experiences.

The new track, her first of 2019, is an impactful dance-tinged ballad that puts the emphasis on Ashleye Scarlett’s expressive vocal tone as she flits between airy breathiness and powerful, sweeping belts.

Lyrically, the song relays the artist’s sense of assurance and focuses on a relationship that might end in sorrow despite her putting her trust in it -- “Nifanye Nikuamini,” she sings -- and shares how the singer wanted to hold onto it even though she knows that it was something she needed to turn away from.

A deep Afro-pop track, “Nikuamini” is a tempo-shifting dance song that puts the focus on her synergy as a vocalist. It seamlessly flits between the breezy tones of the vocalist and her gruffer deliveries to create a vibrant soundscape soaring with shimmering synths and groovy beats.

The music video for the song bring even more focus on the theme as portrayed in the lyrics with the director capturing scenes of the singer having a conversation with the said lover then back solely onto the star, doing away with the flash and flare often associated with the world of pop and instead pans over the normal union of a couple in argument.

Watch the music video for the new song "Nikuamini” below          

President Uhuru Kenyatta today presided over the launch of new generation currency notes for all denominations with an announcement that the old 1000 shillings banknote will be withdrawn by October 1.

The President presided over the rollout of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shillings notes that have been issued in accordance with the 2010 Constitution.

Central Bank Governor Dr Patrick Njoroge who took the President through the profile of the new notes at Narok Stadium said the CBK was guided by the constitution in choosing the features and elements depicted on the banknotes as well as input from Kenyans through an elaborate public participation programme.

“The Central Bank of Kenya has now completed the process of producing the New Generation banknotes, in accordance with the Constitution and all applicable laws. I confirm that the New Generation banknotes were issued yesterday, May 31, 2019, by a Gazette Notice. They are now legal tender,” Dr Njoroge said.

The Governor announced that the old 1000 shillings banknote will be withdrawn by October 1 to deal with illicit financial activities including reported cases of currency counterfeiting.

“We have assessed the grave concern that our large banknotes—particularly the older one thousand shillings series—are being used for illicit financial flows in Kenya and also other countries in the region,” the Governor said.

He said the issues concerning the 1000 shillings note raised grave concerns that would jeopardize proper transactions and the conduct of commerce in Kenyan currency.

“By a Gazette Notice dated May 31, 2019, all persons have until October 1, 2019, to exchange those notes, after which the older one thousand shillings banknotes will cease to be legal tender. More details about this will be provided,” the Governor said. 

All the other new banknotes except the 1000 will circulate alongside those previously issued but not withdrawn.

The launch of the new notes, witnessed by Deputy President Dr William Ruto, was conducted immediately after President Kenyatta read his speech to the Nation during celebrations to mark the 56th Madaraka Day.

“The launch of the New Generation banknotes at the Madaraka Day celebrations underscores that the history of the Central Bank is intertwined with the history of our country,” Dr Njoroge noted.

The new banknotes bear significant aspects of the Kenyan nation and will serve as a means of passing knowledge, conserving culture and promoting the country’s global uniqueness, the CBK boss said.

All banknotes bear the image of Kenyatta International Conference Centre, one of the most iconic and recognisable landmarks in Kenya.

The banknotes also embody each of the big five; nyati, chui, kifaru, simba, and ndovu. Each banknote has a unique theme to showcase the richness of the people and nature in Kenya.

The fifty shillings notes showcase green energy, one hundred shillings (Agriculture), two hundred shillings (social services), five hundred shillings (tourism) and one thousand shillings has the governance theme.

“These are the drivers of a Newly Reborn and Prosperous Kenya,” said  Dr Njoroge

The new banknotes bear features that make them more accessible to the visually impaired members of the society.