Ommy Dallah
Video: Blinky Bill Features Veteran Journalist Mambo Mbotela In 'Mungu Halali'
Super talented Kenyan singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Blinky Bill has released “Mungu Halali”,new single and music video, off his highly rated self-produced 2018 international debut album Everyone is Winging it and Other Fly Tales.
The gospel themed “Mungu Halali” is the perfect soul lifter and a declaration of gratitude.
Blinky says, “If you’re going through a hard time or have been over the past, this is your song of encouragement. I felt like I wanted to do something like that.”
From the cool soulful fuse of groove, jazz and funk to marshaling Sage, Sara Mitaru, Wambura Mitaru and Lisa Oduor Noah—his friends in music and Kenya’s top power vocalists; this is Blinky at his best.
Speaking ahead of the release on how personal this is, Blinky says, “A lot of things in my life inspired “Mungu Halali”. Like the times when you feel you are not really going to make it and then somehow it happen that you pull through. It’s a song of thanksgiving. I have just seen the hand of the good Lord in my life even when I thought that I didn’t deserve that shot.”
He adds that the song was partly inspired by his mother. “She is the most prayerful person of our family and that reminds us to be thankful, grateful and spread the joy and be a light in this world everyday.”
With scenes switching between the streets to Blinky’s normal chill zone, always surrounded by vinyl records the music video captures the heart and soul of Nairobi’s diversityfrom religion, family, hustle to legend and more.
Leonard Mambo Mbotela, the legendary Kenyan media guru, of the ‘Je huu ni ungwana?’ popular old school show opens the video, with Mbithi and Dan Muli of Just A Band,Blinky’s former electronic and funk band, closing off in a nostalgic twist.
The video also features Blinky’s parents and an artsy lot of Nairobians like Patricia Kihoro, Lyra Aoko and Wanja Wohoro.
On producing “Mungu Halali”, Blinky describes his soulful collaborators as “Some of the best singers in Kenya,” adding, “I wanted to get the contrast between the song’s up tempo, my voice and their voices, and they came through.” The masterpiece follows the success of Blinky’s new album releases: “No Touch Am” featuring Nneka, “Don’t Worry” and “Showdown” featuring MVROE and Kiwango.
Having released his first international album and getting signed to French label, The Garden, 2018 was trailblazing for Blinky.
His successful streak also saw him tour USA and a couple of European culture spots like London, France and Germany, among others. He also headlined at Blanket & Wine Festival at 10 Years and his own concert “Blinky Bill Live 3”—which saw him officially launch Everyone is Winging it and Other Fly Tales to a Kenyan audience and Day 1 Blinky Fans.
Audio: Harmonize Releases New EP 'Afro Bongo'
Tanzanian Music star Harmonize has finally released his much awaited EP.
In the EP titled 'Afro Bongo' Harmonize has featured several artists from Tanzania and Nigeria including Diamond Platnumz, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy and Mr Eazi.
A release party is scheduled for this evening in Lagos Nigeria.
President Kenyatta Briefed On Preparations For Madaraka Day Celebrations
President Uhuru Kenyatta was today at State House Nairobi briefed by the National Celebrations Committee led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on the ongoing preparations for Madaraka Day celebrations.
At the meeting, attended by Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his Narok counterpart Samuel Ole Tunai, the committee took the President through the ongoing construction works at the Kajiado County Stadium in readiness for the national fete.
The Committee expressed concerns that the Kajiado stadium construction works may not be completed within the remaining three months as earlier envisaged.
Consequently, President Kenyatta directed that this year's Madaraka Day Celebrations be held in Narok County.
By moving celebrations from Kajiado to neighbouring Narok, the Government seeks to ensure that the benefits arising from the hosting of the national event are retained within the same economic block in line with the established trend of hosting some national events in the Counties.
President Kenyatta further directed the Ministry of Sports and Heritage to allocate Shs 100 million to Kajiado County to ensure the on-going works at the stadium are complete to meet the required standards in readiness for hosting national celebrations in future.
Also present were the Principal Secretaries Karanja Kibichu (Interior and Coordination of National Government) and Kirimi Kaberia (Sports and Heritage) among others.
Akothee - The Queen Of Entertainment
No one has finessed the art of entertainment in modern day times like #MadamSumbuaTarrif! Akothee, she now has a new tag line #Calpolis.
Akothee has the brains of a Tzee entertainer and everyone(Entertainers) needs to take notes if they want to remain relevant in this age and era. She has understood the subtle art of entertainment and she is running with it.
This woman wakes up with calculated moves in her head and she strategizes on how she’ll get everyone talking!.
She calculatedly incorporated Diamond Platinumz and Flavour in her music and this propelled her to the next level both locally and internationally. If you’ve ever attended one of her shows then you know she’s a show stopper! She possesses the moves of an exotic dancer and this compensates her weak points!
Her moves and stunts has seen her become the meme-queen.
Her family of five is not a secret and everyone who follows her on her various social platforms knows that she has three different baby daddies and she owns her truth.
She has become a demigod to most baby mama’s and a source of criticism to her haters but this gunners her numbers and her huge following on social media has landed her several brand ambassador deals ranging from hotels, airlines and phone companies. Look at that!
Her newest ‘sauce’ of entertainment is her stunts at the now famous Malindi show.
The stunts, included spreading her legs and showing her butt, at one point, she threw her legs wide open, with two of her dancers holding each apart this caught the attention of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Dr Ezekiel Mutua who termed it as “filthy and stupids stunts she has to pull to remain relevant". Blogger Robert Alai also reacted to it terming her as a 'disgrace'.
The comments from the two and other online critics did not pull her down , contacted for a comment by a local daily an angry Akothee told the reporter "“Who is Ezekiel Mutua? Nonsense! Where is the media when I want to promote my music? You only look for me when negative publicity follows me. Nonsense!” before she hanging up the move
She has since received backing from Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris who said Mutua owes her an apology over the strong terms he used to describe her. Caroline Mutoko and Nation Journalist Choki Njegge have also come out in her defence.
“Her father and her mother were on stage, very proud of their little girl. That is entertainment, that’s her profession and business.” said Passaris.
Akothee’s entertainment is five star and extremely strategic. She doesn’t do things for the sake of doing them. She knows that entertainment is a business and she will do anything to remain relevant in the present day.
Oscars 2019: List Of Winners
The 2019 Academy Awards, Oscars went down last evening (Sunday) in Los Angeles.
Bohemian Rhapsody won the most trophies, four and Green Book took home the top prize of Best Picture.
Spike Lee won his first competitive Oscar for best adapted screenplay "BlacKkKlansman".
Below is the list of the winners
Best Picture:
“Green Book”
Director:
Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”
Actor:
Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Actress:
Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”
Supporting Actor:
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”
Supporting Actress:
Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Original Screenplay:
“Green Book”
Adapted Screenplay:
“BlackKklansman”
Foreign Language Film:
“Roma”
Animated Feature:
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Sound Editing:
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Visual Effects:
“First Man”
Film Editing:
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Animated Short:
“Bao”
Live Action Short:
“Skin”
Documentary Short:
“Period. End of Sentence.”
Original Score:
“Black Panther”
Original Song:
“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
Production Design:
“Black Panther”
Cinematography:
“Roma”
Costume Design:
“Black Panther”
Makeup and Hairstyling:
“Vice”
Documentary Feature:
“Free Solo”
Sound Mixing:
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Cabinet Agrees On A Roadmap For Addressing The Maritime Border Dispute With Somalia
President Uhuru Kenyatta today chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi, which discussed and agreed on a roadmap for resolving the maritime border dispute with Somalia and measures for safeguarding Kenya’s territorial integrity.
The Cabinet resolution, which will be communicated later today by the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, will also safeguard Kenya’s marine resources including offshore oil and gas exploration acreage in the Indian Ocean.
The Cabinet also discussed and approved the Sectional Properties Bill 2018. The Bill simplifies the process of registering sectional properties and creates an enabling environment for investors and property owners.
The Sectional Properties Bill 2018, which vests reversionary interest on individual unit owners, also guarantees rights of property owners by conferring absolute rights to them.
The proposed law will enhance revenue collection since each unit will be assessed separately for purposes of payment of ground rent and rates.
The Bill also provides for the closure of the mother title or head lease to prevent mischief by property developers.
The formulation of the Sectional Properties Bill 2018 is informed by the fact that the current law is not responsive to emerging market needs such as the growing demand for affordable housing, mixed use and master-planned communities as well as efficient mortgage transactions.
The Cabinet discussed and approved the operationalization of the Kenya Commodities Exchange (KOMEX). The operationalization of the commodities exchange will address the constraints faced by both small holder farmers and consumers by providing an organized market through a single platform where buyers and sellers meet. It will ensure better farm gate prices for farmers.
Other benefits of KOMEX include providing access to proper storage and warehousing especially for primary producers, miners, and farmers during bumper harvests. It also provides for stability in product price and quality hence guaranteeing better profit margins and reduce risks associated with lending to the agricultural sector.
The Cabinet also discussed and approved the hosting of the 12th Commonwealth Women Affairs Ministers (WAMM) meeting by Kenya in September 2019. The event is expected to attract over 1000 participants from across the Commonwealth and globally including 53 Ministers in-charge of gender and/or women affairs and their delegations.
The WAMM meetings are held every three years since 1985 in regionally rotating venues to ensure equitable opportunities for hosting among Commonwealth countries. The meetings provide a platform for delegates to strategize on emerging issues, share experiences and lessons, and forge common positions on topical gender issues.
Relief For Wema Sepetu As Tanzania Film Board Lifts Ban Over Explicit Video
Former Miss Tanzania and actress Wema Sepetu has been given the green light by the Tanzania Film Board to continue make films.
This is after the board imposed a ban on her October last year following some explicit video she shared online.
Wema came out and apologised to her fans and members of the public after the video went viral on social media promising not to repeat the act.
Joyce Fissoo, The Film Board representative explained that the ban was lifted on the basis of an agreement between them and the actress and that she had satisfied 75% of the requirements they had put out.
The scandal also saw her arraigned in a local court, Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court but was later released on a TSh10 million fine.
Wema who has been nominated for the Sinema Zetu film festival as Best Actress welcomed the move promising her fans more movies.
“Miezi sita haijawahi kuwa kipindi kirefu katika maisha yangu kama kipindi hiki nilichokuwa kwenye kifungo nilichopewa na Bodi ya Filamu Tanzania" posted Wema.
She added "Wanasema Yaliopita si ndwele tugange yajayo… Sitokaa na kukumbuka yaliopita maana yameniumiza kwa kiasi kikubwa, nitakachofanya ni kujipanga upya na kuwa imara zaidi… Sina mengi ya kusema kwakweli maana nina furaha iliokithiri".
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta Trains With Journalists As She Gears Up For Marathon
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta was today morning joined by journalists drawn from local and international media houses for a training session as she gears up for the 4th edition of the Beyond Zero Half Marathon slated for March 10.
The training session which started at 6.30 a.m with a warm up session was led by athletics trainer and former marathon world champion Douglas Wakiihuri and included an over 10km jog around State House Nairobi grounds.
Briefing the press after the training session, Wakiihuri said the First Lady has been training consistently for the last three weeks and, is fit and ready for the marathon.
While urging more people to sign up for the forthcoming run, Wakiihuri said that in order to run the half marathon with ease, one has to be disciplined and observe a strict training regime.
He said that First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has maintained as strict training regime over the years which she has accelerated in recent weeks ahead of the March 10 Beyond Zero marathon.
“You have to do endurance, speed, strength and at the same time take care of the wear and tear of your body,” Mr Wakiihuri said.
“All this, combined with proper nutrition, puts one in a good stead and fit enough to run the half marathon, ” he added.
Peter Gacheru, the CEO of IMG Kenya who are the event managers for the 2019 Beyond Zero Half Marathon, said that besides the traditional 21km, 10km, 5km categories, a special 2km walk for pregnant women has been included so as to raise awareness on maternal health.
The organisers have also incorporated paralympics to take care of athletes living with disabilities.
“We have also incorporated Paralympic games this year. We will have a wheelchair and tricycle 21km race. And for the first time in any of the road races in Kenya, we shall have three categories of the visually impaired – T11, T12 and T13 – participating in the 21km marathon,” Gacheru said.
In addition, Gacheru said there will be a 10km special run for the Beyond Zero sponsors and corporate teams.
He said 25,000 participants are expected to take part in this year’s Beyond Zero marathon.
Beyond Zero coordinator Angella Langat said that the Beyond Zero Half Marathon is the anchor fundraising and resource mobilization platform for the First Lady's child and maternal health interventions.
She said that the resources raised through the marathon will be used to expand the coverage of Beyond Zero's health interventions to cover more Kenyans in need especially those in hard to reach parts of the country.
King Kanja Releases 6- Tracked EP 'Muchoki'
Multi-talented U.S based Kenyan artist King Kanja , the 2017 AFRIMMA Awards nominee has released a brand new EP titled “MUCHOKI”.
This new project follows the release of his hit “Mambo Ni Leo” featuring celebrated American R&B veteran Bobby V famed for hits such as “Slow down” and Kenyan - Seychellois rapper Petra.
Released through his label imprint Kanja Empire, the 6-track EP blends sounds from around the world delivered by Kenyan urban producer Ulopa Ngoma, U.S based producer from the U.K Lucky G and Nigerian hit-maker/producer Samklef.
Speaking about this new project, Kanja says, “The MUCHOKI EP is my follow up release to my last EP “VIBES”. I wanted to get more personal with my audience on this project so that my fans can get a deeper understanding of me as an artist which is also the reason behind the name".
Adding, “I had an amazing time working with a diverse group of artists and hope my fans vibe with this EP.”
Kanja is also the executive producer of the EP which features songs such as “Faraway” - an Afrobeat jam dedicated to everyone who left their home country to make a better life for their families produced by Samklef who also produced “Yo Daddy”.
Other tracks that make up “MUCHOKI” EP include: “Pressure” featuring U.S based Kenyan songstress Naomi Wamboe which shows the growth of the two artists since their first hit “Shorty Say Ey” that won a competition on B.E.T’s 106 & Park. On “Only You”, Kanja brings that dancehall vibe on this collaboration with Craigy-T formerly of award-winning Jamaican group T.O.K. produced by Lucky G. “Around the World” features Kenyan songstress Kelmah Shiko and is produced by Ulopa Ngoma.
Since the release of his “VIBES” EP in 2017, King Kanja has gone on to launch a number of stellar music videos in 2018 among them, “Weekend” and “Cathy”.
He is best known for dabbling a career in Kenya and US, spending his time in both countries in between projects, performances and tours. His love for representing Kenya in his music led to his 2016 ‘Entertainment Icon Award’ by The Kenyan Diaspora Leaders in honor of his efforts in uniting Kenyan communities through entertainment.
FOR MORE
MUCHOKI EP: https://empire.lnk.to/MuchokiEP
MUCHOKI EP on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kingkanja/sets/muchoki-1
VIBES EP on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1287318422?ls=1&app=itunes
Photos: Khaligraph Jones Takes Rudeboy Back To His Hood - Kayole 19/60
When a guest comes to town surely you show them only the great and the glistening and glamorous in your city, right? ,especially if he is one of Nigeria’s hottest hip-hop stars and an Afrobeat legend and has come all the way from Lagos to see you.
But sometimes people get better insight into who you are if you show them where you have come from. And that was exactly the approach of Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones when Nigerian artist Rudeboy came to town: “We needed a good introduction to each other.” And that introduction was his hood.
For those who don’t know, hook master King Rudy a.k.a Rudeboy was once part of P-Square, the group that put urban Nigerian sounds on the worldwide map and laid the foundations for the global force that is now Afrobeat.
Kayole is far, far away from the red carpet swag of the music scene (He won Best Rap Act at the AFRIMMA’s in Dallas, Texas, USA last year) and it was there that respected rapper Khaligraph Jones not only visited his old school and former place of employment as a Chapati seller.
A key visit was Big Beats Studio, a tiny studio in a small shipping container gave Rudeboy an unexpected flashback.
“This takes me waaaay back to my struggle and hustle and makes me think of where I am today,” he explains. Nodding his head and playing out his very first track Khaligraph Jones says: “This place is very special to me as it’s where I laid my foundations as a musician.”
As they joined youth in the streets bumping his tracks and chanting the chorus of Khaligraph’s latest hit, it was hard for Rudeboy to believe that a mere four years ago this was where his new Kenyan friend lived.
“I saw where he used to stay, you can tell this guy went through a lot!” said Rudeboy
As the two stars climbed onto the roof of the building and the sun set over the hood, the great energy and inspiration of their day out sunk into their heads, and the melodies, street slang and topics that will make up their Coke Studio Africa track started to come…
Next Sunday 24th Feb 2019, catch rising Kenyan star Nadia Mukami make her debut on the Big Break segment, alongside King Saha (Uganda) Yared (Ethiopia) , Shellsy Baronet (Mozambique) and Jux (Tanzania). Watch all episodes via www.youtube.com/cokestudioafrica
Check out some photos below
