Kenyan Afro-soul queen announces 30^th May 2020 as the release date for her debut album – Kuwe. 

Zulu for “For You”, Kuwe is a gift offering from the Serro to her fans.

The songstress who has been consistently churning out heartfelt singles for the past 5 years, made the announcement on her socials while revealing the Vogue-Esque album’s cover art.  

Speaking on the milestone Serro says, “I honestly can't believe that I’m even announcing this; a labour of love for the last 3 years and I'll finally be sharing it with the world. “ 

In the following weeks, SERRO promises to share the album’s tracklist, inspiration behind each song, the production team and a pre-release performance event to be live-streamed via her socials. The album will be available for Pre-order on Spotify, iTunes/Apple Music, and Boomplay from 16^th May 2020.

About SERRO 

SERRO has built a name for herself continuously as one of Kenya’s top live performers since her days in Sauti Academy. SERRO tells the African story through her trademark Benga and Jazz meshed Afro-soul sounds laced with traditional Kenyan folk instrumentation. She recently caught Kenyans’ attention when her single “Kasyoki Wa Mitumba” went viral.

Afro-dancehall star Stonebwoy has dropped his expansive fourth studio album – ‘Anloga Junction’ out 24th April.

The album drop coincides with the official video release of lead single “Nominate”, featuring Grammy-winning R&B icon Keri Hilson. 

Directed by Denzel Williams and styled exclusively by Tommy Hillfiger in the TommyxLewis collection, the video is set in LA with Stonebwoy and Keri playing the roles of casting directors for a beauty pageant.

NOMINATE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZodeLKQh-U

Stream album here: https://kv-online-talent.lnk.to/AJ20

Download the lead singles: "Black Madonna" feat. Diamond, "Nominate" feat. Keri Hilson & "Bow Down" feat. Nasty C here: https://we.tl/t-WeQ5JFXb4Z

Speaking on the collaboration, Keri explains, “I love the song we’ve done. I’ve always wanted to feel like this! Working with Stone was also a really nice surprise. It was random how we met & I think the best music is made like this.”

The song follows on from the single releases of “African Party”, “Understand” featuring Alicai Harley and “Good Morning” featuring Chivv & Spanker, all of which are featured on ‘Anloga Junction’.

The album itself is an extensive 15-track release that features an array of collaborations with artists such as Hilson, Harley, Kojo Antwi, Nasty C, Zlatan, Diamond Platnumz and Jahmiel. 

Discussing the concept behind the album, Stonebwoy says, “Where do we acknowledge our true roots and embrace our differences in the diaspora?...Why Anloga Junction? Because creativity has taken a spiritual cause on my journey to get to this present day... Anloga (Alakple, Volta, Ghana) is where this journey really started…”

Hailing from Accra, Ghana, Stonebwoy rose to international stardom after winning the BET Award for ‘Best International Act’ in 2015. Also receiving nominations from MTV, EMA and the Grammys, he has since collaborated with a slew of international stars, including Sean Paul, Trey Songz, Burna Boy, Kranium, Chris Martin, Samini, Patoranking, Obrafour and R2Bees.

 ‘Anloga Junction’ marks the next chapter in the story of Stonebwoy—One of West Africa’s most celebrated talents.

Bongo Flava star Alikiba has pledged to donate 200 personal protective equipments (PPE) to the frontline healthcare workers across Tanzania.

According to the 'Dodo' hitmaker this will go along way in supporting the Tanzanian government in it's fight against the deadly coronavirus.

Speaking to a local radio station in Daresalaam (Clouds fm), Alikiba revealed that  he will be partnering with Tanzanian international footballer Mbwana Samata through the SAMAKIBA Foundation in complementing government's effort in fighting the disease through different ways.

Alikiba has been on the forefront in educating and sensitizaling Tanzanians against the disease.

This comes just few weeks after Diamond Platnumz announced that he will pay three months house rent for 500 vulnerable households as a helpful gesture for those struggling to make ends meet during the health crisis.

Diamond also noted  that he was ready to offer his newly acquired hotel in Daresalaam to the government to be converted to a hospital and isolation centre for coronavirus patients and contacts.

Kasha, an East African E-commerce platform for women’s health, personal care, and beauty products is taking great steps to combat the spread of Coronavirus in Kenya and Rwanda where it operates.

Kasha’s platform is available online and offline to ensure the company serves women of all socio-economic backgrounds.

For Kasha, as a social enterprise, Purpose driven collaboration is key in this period to ensure they get essential products and information to the most at risk communities in the safest way possible.

They will provide basic hygiene kits that families need at this time. Customers can choose to donate an essential kit to a family they know is in need and Kasha will make the delivery on their behalf or customers can choose to donate to a low income family that Kasha has identified through the Kasha Agent network.

The essential kits include soaps, hand sanitizers, sanitary pads, face masks and other essential items.

Kasha will also extend this distribution outside Nairobi to Siaya County (Bondo) where it currently has a network of 98 agents that deliver Kasha orders to the last mile.

“At Kasha, we strongly believe we have a role to play in helping people around the country protect themselves from COVID-19. We are focused on ensuring that people in urban and rural areas get access to quality health and personal care products.” - Joanna Bichsel, Founder and CEO at Kasha.

Here are the Steps Kasha has taken to support the fight against COVID-19:

1. We are continuing to deliver orders across the country through our website at kasha.co.ke/ and through our USSD platform *308#, so that customers can stay safe at home and still get the essential products they need.

2. We are ensuring our fulfillment and delivery teams are wearing masks, gloves and are trained to protect themselves and our customers. Work stations and warehouse are also disinfected several times a day

3. In order to practice social distancing and take safety measures, Kasha accepts digital payments only. Payments can be made on delivery via mobile money with M-pesa or through card payments on the website.

4. Kasha has launched a nurse-supported community forum, www.kashacommunity.com, to provide information on contraceptives. During this time of social distancing and with the difficulty of accessing clinics, we want to ensure women have access to information so that they can continue to make informed decisions with regards to their sexual and reproductive health.

5. Kasha is supporting the welfare of its employees by asking employees to work from home and providing necessary support and information to adapt to the new ways of working.

6. Kasha is also giving away free sanitizers with every order purchased through its website and USSD platforms.

About Kasha.

Kasha Technologies Ltd is a company headquartered in Kenya with a purpose-driven business ensuring women of all socio-economic levels have access to the health and personal care products they need.

Kasha leverages a digital commerce platform so that customers can access genuine quality, affordable products for their health and get them delivered discreetly, in urban and rural areas.

Kasha has built a highly accessible ecommerce platform to support consumer demand driven access either online through www.kasha.co.ke or through a basic mobile phone by dialing *308#. Kasha employs Kasha Agents in low income rural communities, who deliver customer orders to the last mile and who serve as the face of Kasha in their communities. It also works with corporates and institutions such as schools, serving as a channel by which these organizations can distribute health-focused products direct-to-consumer, and leverage Kasha’s health information sessions to be delivered to low income students and vulnerable individuals. Kasha Global began in Rwanda in 2016 and now operates across Rwanda and Kenya.

Cases of journalists attack in the country have been on the rise with 22 cases being reported between March and April 2020.

According to Article 19 Eastern Africa, Nairobi and Mombasa are currently the main hot spots with Nairobi recording 13 cases and Mombasa 6. 

Turkana has so far witnessed 4 cases with other counties recording between 3 and 1 cases each.

''These attacks were carried out by security agents, government officials, and organised mobs - including primary school pupils in a manner that clearly demonstrates a sustained effort to stifle and control the press, and limit the free flow of information in 22 Counties'' reads a statement from Article 19 Regional Director Mugambi Kiai.

In the statement, Kiai also noted that the number of attacks on journalists rose from 53 between May 2019 and April 2020 to 59 cases of attacks, harassment, intimidation.

Kiai charged ''Attacks on journalists increased significantly in the first quarter of 2020 with recorded cases reaching 36, this was at the height of Coronavirus pandemic across the country''. 

Kiai also named the coronavirus health crisis, corruption and the 2022 succession politics as the most sensitive stories for journalists to cover in 2020 in Kenya. 

He further called on the government to uphold freedom of the media and to end attacks on journalists carrying out their work noting that most cases of attacks are rarely investigated.

The revelations come as journalists around the globe mark the World Press Freedom Day under the theme of Journalism Without Fear and Favour.

Mombasa County Senator Mohammed Faki and Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali have differed with the county governor Hassan Joho on his approach on the issue of mass testing for coronavirus in the county.

Yesterday, a furious Joho threatened to lock down residents of Old Town after they failed to show up for the exercise. Old town is one of the hardest hit areas in Mombasa county.

Joho accused the residents of also ignoring other guidelines set by the government through ministry of health including social distancing, avoiding places of worship (mosques) and staying at home.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/1514-joho-breathes-fire-over-old-town

On his part Senator Mohammed Faki called on the county government to first address the issue of stigmatisation before subjecting the residents to mandatory mass testing.

''Before we subject the people to the testing we should deal with the problem of Stigma associated with the disease. There is alot of Stigma and many people would rather not take the test than Volunteer and allow your family to suffer'' said Faki.

Adding ''As matter stand now, immediately you test positive you will have to be isolated and your family quarantined and all your contacts are supposed to be quarantined. The cost involved is also prohibitive considering the hard economic times courtesy of the Pandemic''.

In a statement Faki challenged the county government to come up with a counseling program to assure the residents that the virus is not a death sentence.

''So we need to relook the issue of Mass Testing so that we can be able to get as many people to go out and be tested as possible. We need first to have a Counselling Program before you take the test. The Counselling will assure the person that being infected with Corona is not a death Sentence and 98% of the people of get infected and develop symptoms of the disease get cured'' he charged.

The statement further reads ''The Counselling should assure that if there is any quarantine or isolation it could be done at your own home to avoid unnecessary costs or at a Quarantine facility but costs will be borne by the County Government. Finally the test is safe because there is alot of information out there saying that some of the testing kits are not safe''

Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali has also come out to differ with the county chief on the issue calling on him to stop forcing the residents on mass testing

'' We are politicians and when it comes to the health of our people we need to put politics aside, let's leave the issue to professionals. Let's stop threatening the people with this issue mass testing, it is a good idea but we should not force the people'' said Ali.

Ali explained that a number of residents in the county had shunned the exercise because they were threatened that if they turned out positive, they would have to foot their own bills.

"People fear to partake in the test because they will be told to foot the bills once they test positive. Who do you think will turn up for the test if they have to foot the bill on their own?" he posed.

Last night, the department of health announced that has struck an agreement with the Kenya Medical Training College at Port Reitz and Mombasa Campus to release 38 people who were quarantined at the institutions.

According to  the county health executive Health Hazel Koitaba, this is in line with the County’s resolve to come to the rescue of those who are unable to pay the quarantine fees of 2,000 shillings per day to the institutions.

Twenty were due for discharge today at Port Reitz and 18 at Mombasa Campus.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has raised his concern over what he terms as ignorance from residents of Old Town.

According to Joho, this is the major reason for the rising cases of coronavirus not only in the area but county at large.

The governor also raised concern over the low turnout in the mass testing exercise.

''Out of over 28,000 residents only 130 have come out to be tested. If you people continue ignoring the measures we have put in place we will propose for a lockdown in Old Town, no one will be allowed in or out of Old town''. said Joho

He added ''This is very serious business my friend, it is not a joke. We know of cases where neigbours are hiding individuals who are on our contact tracing list, some of them even call their Mp saying they are scared they will be sent to quarantine, you will only be sent to quarantine if you misbehave".

Joho also warned the residents who majority are muslims against interacting and sharing meal after breaking the fast.

Joho charged ''We also have families that we can share a meal with but we are avoiding this because of the current situation so please let's stop this, let everyone break the fast at their own homes. Avoid going to the mosques too or we will take action".

On his part Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo called on residents of Mombasa to avoid the area (Old Town) saying it's now the new hotspot in the county.

"We already have 38 cases of infection and 6 deaths, this is a danger zone and i plead with other residents of Mombasa to avoid this place" said Kitiyo.

Kitiyo also revealed that the government will now be forced to test every resident of the area.

''Mass testing is a must, everyone in Old Town must be tested and i'm directed all the chiefs to come out with a list of all families in Old Town so that we can establish which family is avoiding the testing" charged Kitiyo.

The County Commissioner further said  each mosque in the area will now be manned by police officers as a way of keeping away the  residents.

German promoter and rap act Mattan has steadily built up his momentum within reliability, competence and originality of his events and concerts across the globe, delving deep into the fusion of events and artist booking.

He has recently been on a collaborative spree with African artists including and not limited to Jah Lead and now on to the next one who is going to Nigerian singer Blak-I

Blak-I who adds up as a producer, singer & rap artist has had numerous gigs and music projects both in Nigeria and Germany as the owner from the music label BI Media Productions.

He is currently solely working on the "Da Zukunst" album as the lead producer.

The two (Mattan and Blak-I) have since come together to form a boy band "Da Zukunst” whereas Zukunft means future and Kunst means art, hence Da Zukunst is a combination from the two words future & art, that only works in German language.

In a scene blooming with acts who have found a creative avenue within the miscegenation that music provides, Mattan seems to be at the foreground.

The aim is to unite artists from different countries and draw attention to talented African artists in Europe.

Their hypnotic melodies and swirling textures are a nod to both their African and German musical heritage which borrows from different parts of Europe and Africa. The influences vary from Brazilian Caetano Veloso, Argentinian Atahualpa Yupanqui and Venezuelan Simón Díaz to Colombian cumbia and Ecuadorian duet Benitez-Valencia, among others.

Watch the visuals below:

https://youtu.be/Dc-7SSGzReY

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has defended the ongoing exercise of distributing food aid to vulnerable families in the county.

Speaking during a live interview broadcast on all stations in Mombasa, Joho dismissed claims that the exercise is biased.

There have been complaints especially on socia medial that the food does not reach to the intended families but few individuals who are well connected and known to those involved in the distribution exercise.

"There is so much that is being said out there but what i can say is let's encourage those who have volunteered to distribute the food, these people are not paid by the county government. Let's learn to appreciate" said Joho

"We have so many cases of vulnerable families who have received the food, why don't they talk about this"' he added.

The governor also took issue with sentiments that his efforts to help the vulnerable families are a public relation exercise.

He charged "You know very well that am serving my last term, i'm not in a political contest anymore and not after any mileage".

The food aid which aims at helping vulnerable families during this tough times of corona virus targets over 200,000 families.

Joho also urged the residents to shun stigmatisation insisting the corona virus is not a death sentence.

''Covid-19 is not a curse , shame or death sentence, we need to stop stigmatisation,” he said.

He further called for a behavioural change from residents saying this will be the only way to defeat the deadly virus.

By Francis Ontomwa                                    

The more I cover deaths from conflicts and tragic happenings, the more I realize how hard it is! I hate human suffering! I abhor disasters! Extending a microphone to someone who has just lost a leg in an accident or lost a relative-is somewhat the hardest thing to do in journalism!  

Right now, the world is amid the Covid19 pandemic. So many lives have been lost, and the death toll is rising globally. We are fast getting used to a new way of life, what others are now calling a new normal, and journalists are found on the frontline.

Such moments are challenging and present a huge ask! Everyone in the broadcasting business will tell you-reporting about death is tough.

I have, however, listened to people who say journalists have a particular proclivity for negative news. That their world is abstract, and they lack the milk of human kindness. That is not true!

But let’s put this to bed-no matter how difficult it is, someone has to do it! Telling stories about life and death is a journalist’s work to do. It has something to do with creating human connections! It’s part of why journalists exist!

I covered the March 2019 horrific Ethiopian air crash! The saddest story I have had to cover! The crash killed all the 157 people on board, just some six minutes after the plane took-off from Addis Ababa. This happened near a small town called Bishoftu, some 60 km South East of the capital.

I remember that Sunday morning quite vividly. My editor called just as I was about to leave the house for the office. By this time, the news had already started spreading-the world was mourning. She directed that I prepare my travel documents and depart the very day for Addis. There were no two ways about it- this was the biggest story of the day!

We arrived in Addis Ababa later that evening to a grieving welcoming right from the airport to the streets. Information about the cause of the air crash was coming out, albeit in piecemeal, and everyone struggled to wrap their heads around the happening!

We were among the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy! It was terrifying to a degree! Absolute horror! Here was a wide depression on a plateau with everything burnt down to ashes. Ethiopia was shaken to the core by the tragedy, and so was the world! The only things visible were small pieces of computer chips, books, clothes and parts of the plane, all strewn everywhere. Not a scintilla of the human body! Investigators were still combing the area at the time, as some families started arriving to witness the horror.  

Our cameras were rolling. Our mics were getting ready! But here was the hardest test of them all-getting grieving families to speak to us. I have covered enough tragic events, but this one felt different. I was in a dilemma.

Quite often, most journalists find themselves in such spots when covering moments of grief. So, where and how do you get started?

According to The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, how you conduct an interview can impact a subject’s frame of mind, since, in most cases, everything around them has changed dramatically.

Journalists have a high calling to measure how far they can go and make every effort to minimize harm to their subjects and themselves.

The Poynter Institute for Media Studies suggests that for starters, as a cardinal rule-journalists should speak to immediate family members. Not every source is credible; you want only the right people to speak.

Be polite and empathetic. Do not pressure your subjects to remember everything during the interview; they could be dealing with memory loss. This is quite common in such moments.

If you are arriving at an active scene, make sure your subject doesn't need medical attention – Before jumping into questions, first, ask if they need any medical attention and inform them of the ways they can get this attention.

Reporting about death is a hard necessity for journalists. Some psychologists say that journalism plays an important role in mourning and the search for answers, especially in mysterious deaths.

Do some research beforehand. You don’t want to start an interview with awkwardness just because you cannot picture what to ask next. Find invaluable information about the deceased’s birthplace, where they schooled, when they graduated, and suchlike.

Allow the interviewee to take some control in the process. Usually, this is not the practice, but it goes a long way. You might want to allow them to tell you when to stop or take a break.

Also, do not lift pictures of the deceased online, but if you must, get approval from the immediate family. It is courteous and ethical.

Talking about death is uncomfortable.

The Poynter Institute advises journalists not to bottle up their feelings. Covering a traumatic event can affect you, too. Be sure to find ways to talk about the experience with your friends, family, or editor. At this point, a listening ear could make all the difference.

The writer is a Broadcast Journalist and a Communications Trainer.