SUZANNA OWIYO CLINCHES HARPIC AND RADIO JAMBO DEAL!

Afro fusion singer Suzanna Owiyo has bagged two major million bob endorsement deals. The first of which is with Harpic. She told Hot Secrets the deal is worth “some millions. It is a good deal that is why I went for it.”
The singer who is back from filming of the TV ad in South Africa remarked, “It was a great experience and tiring, I have never done something like this before. Yes, I have shot many of my music videos but this is different and it happened right after I had embarked on my music tour. The shoot for the new Hapic ads took one and half weeks.”



Suzanna was on the set of the TV advert production together with Nigerian actress Chioma Chukwuka who in 2007 won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role. Chioma was shooting the same ad for the Nigerian market.
Following the Harpic deal closely is a media deal with Radio Africa’s Radio Jambo where she picked up a SH 22M worth of airtime to push and publicize her Kenyan mini tour that will see her perform In a number of cities in Kenya.
On her music, Suzanna, “This year looks promising for my musicians I start on my mini tours around the country in various towns like Mombasa, Kisumu, Kakamega and Nakuru. A tour to Uganda is also in the works.”
The sponsorship is for her Kenyan tour after the launch of her third album, My Roots, at the Carnivore in Nairobi in May where Zimbabwean legend Oliver Mtukudzi was a guest artiste.



During the presentation of the cheque, the General Manager Martin Khafafa said, “Suzanna represents authentic African talent and her association with the Radio Africa Group under the Radio Jambo banner correlates with what Radio Jambo as a brand aims at achieving; going into the grassroots, the hook and cranny and to the borders to touch everyone at a personal level.”
Suzanna’s first tour date to commences with a show at the Mombasa’s Mamba International disco on July 30. The tour will then proceed to other towns like Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Meru and Eldoret.
An elated Suzanna remarked, “I’m humbled that the CEO of Radio Africa, Patrick Quarcoo supported this noble undertaking. I’m also humbled that Radio Jambo is part of this by supporting local music, which is what the music industry needs. This is just the beginning expect more of the live performances supported by The Stage.”

OLIVER MTUKUDZI IN NAIROBI FOR SUZANNA’S ALBUM LAUNCH

Zimbabwean superstar Oliver Mtukudzi is in Nairobi for Suzanna Owiyo’s album launch on Wednesday 18, May at the Carnivore. Oliver jetted into Nairobi on Monday night for the launch of My Roots, which is Suzanna’s sophomore album.
This comes after Oliver launched his 59th album at the Harare International Conference Centre to mark his turning 59 last September.
The album, titled Rudaviro, was due for release last year but was put on ice after Mtukudzi or simply Tuku to his adoring fans chose to release Cheziya by his late son Sam, Zim media reported.
Anyhow, Olive and Suzanna will be on stage on Wednesday night joined by other guest performers like Jua Cali and Makadem.

Photo/ Monicah Kamau

SUZANNA OWIYO TO TOUR WITH YOUSSOU NDOUR

This year seems to be Suzanna Owiyo’s time to really shine. She has bagged a deal where she will go on a European tour with legendary singer Youssou N’Dour in March.
Suzanna told Hot Secrets, “I met Youssou N'Dour in Spain in 2008 during Africa Territories Festival. He must have been impressed by my nyatiti performance. That was where the idea was born. My manager Dudu Sarr was very instrumental in negotiating and arranging the tour. “I'm scheduled to perform with Youssou in a collaboration tour dubbed New African Voices. The tour starts on March 4, 2011 in Copenhagen then head to other cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Paris, Brussels, London, Besancon (France) and finally in Oslo.”
An excited Suzanna added, “The feeling is way beyond what I would ever have imagined. I first met Youssou in Uganda in 2006. I curtainraised for him during his East African Celtel Tour, little did I know that one day I would share a stage with him but on another level. Youssou indeed is an African icon; to be more precise, he's the best in Africa.“For the first time in my career, I will be engaging myself in a major tour across Europe and I’m excited, I just cant wait for it to start.”
During the tour, she will launch her third album titled My Roots in Oslo on March 13. The Kisumu 100 singer promises that she will launch it in Nairobi too. She said, “I intend to have a major launch at home in August. I have featured Oliver Mtukudzi, Jua Cali, Makadem and Ogoya Nengo. The album was produced by Kirkelig Kulturverksted record label in Norway.
About her album, she said, "My roots is where my music comes from and for the first time I have introduced a traditional African instrument via the nyatiti. My grandfather was a nyatiti player and this album shows it's my way of following his footsteps.”
Joining Suzanna and Youssou during the tour is Senegalese guitarist and singer Carlou D.

SUZANNA OWIYO PERFORMS AT OBAMA’S SISTER BOOK LAUNCH

Afro fusion queen Suzanna Owiyo was in Germany to perform at President Barack Obama’s half sister book launch.
Speaking to Hot Secrets, Suzanna said, “Dr. Auma Obama's book presentation took place at the BMW Welt Auditorium in Munich on Thursday October 14. I feel excited and honored to be part of it, this being my first ever trip to Germany.” According to the programme, Suzanna was the only act.
Auma who grew up in Kenya and studied in Germany will be launching her autobiography titled ‘Das Leben kommt immer dazwischen. Stationen einer Reise’ (directly translated: Life always comes in between. Stations of a journey).
The book follows the life of the two siblings who grew up in two ends of the world but had a common father. How they meet, the exploration of family history and finally the support of his brother on his way to the U.S. presidency.
Some of the guest who attended include Willi Lemke, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Peace and Development and Conrad Robert Tribble, U.S. Consul General.

KENYAN STARS RECORD SONG FOR THE PROMULGATION

On Friday, August 27, Kenya will be celebrating the signing of the new constitution, a milestone in our history.
On the day, a number of Kenyan celebrities will also be part of the promulgation celebrations at Uhuru Park, together with other choirs and traditional dancers.
The celebs who include Jua Cali, Nameless, Amani, Eric Wainaina, Suzanna Owiyo, among others have recorded a song specifically for the day dubbed Oh Kenya, My Kenya.
They were brought together by Afro fusion great Achieng Abura but the idea was conceptualized by Suzanna Owiyo.

SUZANNA OWIYO COVERS PASSION MAGAZINE

This month's issue of Passion features Suzanna Owiyo. In it, she talks why she chooses to vote YES for the proposed constitution.
And for the first time ever, the man behind the popular Man Talk column, Oyunga Pala tells in a candid interview. You will also get to see him, this time he posses for Passion.

SUZZANA OWIYO AND WINYO AT ALLIANCE FRANCAISE

THE PATRICIA SHOW IS BACK

The second season of the Patricia Show started on April 1 and is broadcasts on both M-Net East and M-Net West three times per week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Anyho, the first season Africa's latest and most exciting pan continental TV talk show hosted by Patricia Amira welcomed a number of guests like Suzanna Owiyo, Eric Wainaina, British pop star Jamelia, Ugandan Saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa among others.

This time round, I hear they have gone full Monty and have pulled all the stoppes to get unique quests on the show.

SUZANNA OWIYO COLABOS WITH JUA CALI

It’s not everyday that you find artistes from extremely different genres in Kenya working on a song together. This time however, Afro fusion queen Suzanna Owiyo has worked with the King of Genge Jua Cali on a single dubbed Matatu (Beba Beba).
The single whose video hasn’t debuted or been shot yet will be featured in Suzanna’s upcoming album. For more on Suzanna’s music click huuuuuurrrrrr and Jua Cali’s kindly click huuuuuurrrrr as well.