CANDID LOOK AT THE MAN, KWAME MUZIK

Hot Secrets caught up with Kwame Rigii who is known by his music moniker Kwame Muzik. Kwame talked about his music, tribute to the late Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai and the little things that make him tick as a man and musician.

Tell me a bit about the Wangari Maathai song?
The Wangari Maathai tribute is a song Mama Africa I did to celebrate an amazing woman, fighter and an amazing Kenyan. I had earlier written a song on environment and the initial plan was to incorporate the late Prof. Wangari Maathai but we never got the chance to meet, so after the sad news that she had passed on, I decided to do some changes on the chorus and sing about her and still talk about cancer on the bridge.

We have heard the release, what is next on your musical releases?
I have been working on my debut album and will be coming out soon, we are working on some few logistics and once that is done, then I will be giving you a chance to listen to NedokaH Music (My Music). I will be releasing/launching my next single, Stop The Stigma,  a song denouncing different forms of stigma against minorities (ethnic minorities, people living with HIV/AIDS, sexual minorities, refugees and IDPs) on December 5, 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the 2011 ICASA (16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection s in Africa)

Are you recording any collabos?
For now I am not but in the future, yes.

What is that one thing your Kenyan fans don't know about you?
That I’m very passionate about kids and women. I am a socially engaged artist, particularly working with kids.

What is the last book you enjoyed reading is…
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

A common misconception about me…
That I’m an introvert and a Rastafarian.

My worst childhood fears were…
Being chased by dogs - and it did actually happen.

My ideal night out is…
Chilling out, in a conducive environment listening to some beautiful music. If at home, cook (Which I love) and meditate.

If I were a politician I would…
Just be me. Work in common cause with people who are poor and those who have been denied their rights to obtain social justice and development.

The best part of my job is…
Listening to what I’ve been working on.

My greatest regret is…
The purpose of life is to live it with no regrets. I never look back and say ‘I wish’.

Historical figure I admire…

Martin Luther King Jr. He never let go or bowed to pressure. He fought for what he believed in, left a legacy, his dream is still alive.

Living leader I admire…

The good and admirable ones are long gone.

My greatest possession is
My attitude.

MUSICIAN ANNIE LENNOX PAYS TRIBUTE TO WANGARI MAATHAI

One of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time according to Rolling Stone, Annie Lennox has paid tribute to the late Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. In her blog, Annie wrote: “Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, sadly passed away earlier this week. She was exceptional, visionary, courageous and inspiring, and I’d like to share a small part of her message to the world, in honour of her legacy.


"She tells a simple story about a humming bird, but the philosophy behind it is powerful beyond measure. Watch, and be inspired.”




Annie is a Scottish recording artist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A. Stewart she achieved major international success in the following decade as one half of Eurythmics. Lennox embarked on a solo career in the 1990s with her debut album Diva (1992), which produced several hit singles.

She is the recipient of eight BRIT Awards and in 2004, she won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Into the West, written for the soundtrack to the feature film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Known as a pop culture icon for her distinctive contral to vocals and visual performances, Lennox has been named "The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive" by VH1.

THROWBACK INTERVIEW: WANURI ON WANGARI MAATHAI’S BIOGRAPHY

I did this interview with Wanuri Kahiu some years back, like in 2009 when she was working on a documentary for M-Net.

Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu is currently working on a new M-Net series called Great Africans where they choose different leaders from around the continent and get filmmakers to tell their stories.

Wanuri is “focusing on one significant moment of Wangari Maathai’s life and how that moment was influenced by different memories, in addition, how other people speak of her will be used as her memory," she said, "It’s like a collection of memories, an album.”

This will make Wanuri, the first Kenyan to do a documentary on the Nobel Laureate winner. “It’s intimidating, I was really scared because I really want more than anything to be able to tell a beautiful story about Wangari Maathai. Something that will inspire people the same way I was inspired when I read her book,” adding, “I’m a tree girl myself, I’m passionate about Eco lifestyle, what she does inspires me.” So far, she is doing interviews "but the professor is really really really busy so whatever she can accommodate we are 120% ready for her."

Other personalities who are featured in the show include Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkurumah, Julius Nyerere, Patrick Lumumba and Wole Sonyika.

The documentary was aired on M-Net on April 5, 2009.

KENYAN ARTISTE REMEMBERS WANGARI MAATHAI IN SONG

Kenyan artiste Kwame Rigii has recorded a song in honor of Nobel laureate professor Wangari Maathai dubbed Mama Taifa. The single has already been released on Kenyan radio and is available on YouTube. has been released. The single lauds Wangari's achievements that are celebrated world wide by the whole world. Kwame, a hip hop artist recorded the single at Click Track records where rapper Jal and Juliani also recorded the yet to be released social conscious single titled Tribalism Is A Disease. The Jal-Juliani single features collaborations with politicians William Ruto and Martha Karua, PR guru Gina Din Kariuki and business magnate Jimnah Mbaru.

Kwame, Ruto and John Mark- Juliani's manager

Here is the single. Enjoy.

PERSONALITIES SEND CONDOLENCES TO WANGARI MAATHAI

The first ever female Nobel Laureate from Africa, environmental activist and former MP for Tetu died Sunday night at Nairobi Hospital of cancer-related complications at the age of 71. Wangari Maathai’s death has been felt by many. Despite Trending on Twitter, thousands of personalities and celebrities have expressed their condolences to the family for this profound loss.



Former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan in a statement sent out this morning said: “Wangari Maathai will be remembered as a committed champion of the environment, sustainable development, women’s rights, and democracy. Her contribution to all these causes will forever be celebrated and honoured. Wangari was a courageous leader. Her energy and life-long dedication to improve the lives and livelihoods of people will continue to inspire generations of young people around the world.”
“Her award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, the first to be bestowed upon an African woman, rightly underscored the important nexus in her work between sustainable development, peace and human security”.
Nelson Mandela’s Twetter page remembered the fallen legend by posting a link to photos of her lecture during the 3rd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on the foundation’s Face Book.Bottom of Form



Other celebrities paying tribute include Sauti Sol who tweeted: “#WangariMaathai, you are a mother and a hero. Kenya and the world at large mourns you. We dedicate to you, 'Awinja'”



While Eric Wainaina’s tweet read: “Today, Kenya mourns the loss of one of her greatest heroines, Prof Wangari Maathai.”
Female MP and presidential aspitrant Martha Karua also tweeted: “We join family and friends in mourning Proff Wangari Maathai a phenomenal woman a friend and role model. You lived, you inspired!”



On American actress and singer Kerry Washington tweeter page, was the message: “… RIP MOTHER OF TREES.”
Maathai, who was divorced, leaves behind three children and a grandchild.

RHODA ONDENG'S TAKE ON KENYAN OPERA SINGERS

Kenyan Opera singer, Rhoda Ondeng now based in Norway will be in Nairobi for the second Safaricom Kenyan Classical Fusion Concert.
Rhoda describes the classical event not only as a wonderful opportunity to share her love for music, but to inspire younger musically talented individuals and encourage a growing well informed audience who will in turn, support the development of the artistic potential of young musicians.
Toward this end, Rhoda currently conducts vocal seminars in Nairobi at least twice a year, for people who want to develop their voices.
She said, “I have a further vision; to be able to catch the talents that would otherwise be lost in the ghettos and slums, for want of timely and constructive help.”
Rhoda has had an impressive cooperation with many classical symphony orchestras and musicians in Europe and particularly Scandinavia. The singer performed at the inaugural award ceremony for Honorable Wangari Maaathai at the Nobel Peace Prize award in 2004. As recently as February, the Kenyan born soprano was honored yet again to sing at the closing ceremony of the annual National Presidential Prayer breakfast in Washington.
She is going to perform at the Nairobi Arboretum with the Soweto String Quartet and on September 26 at the Impala Club Grounds, Ngong Road for the grand concert.

Wangari Maathai on CNN’s Revealed

Revealed follows an inspirational Nobel Peace Prize Winner, the founder of the Green Belt Movement known as "The Tree Mother of Africa." Next on Revealed: Wangari Maathai
Showtimes:
Wednesday 16 December: 0930, 1730
Saturday 19 December: 0930, 1800, 2130
Sunday 20 December: 0630, 1830, 0400

WANURI: I WANT MAATHAI TO SEE MY SCI-FI

Kenya’s first science fiction movie Pumzi produced by Wanuri Kahiu was launched at the opening of the Kenya International Film Festival at the National Museums’ Louis Leakey Auditorium.
After the 29 minute-film was over; it was evident that the audience was wowed. Even Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the chief guest of the night, was “at a loss of words.” He said, “Wanuri is a candidate for a Nobel Prize, she has taken Wangari Maathai’s concept a notch higher.”
To this Wanuri who had earlier on in the night described the making of the movie a “labour of love” said, “I would like Wangari to watch it because she inspired me.”
She dedicated the movie to her young niece Karimi who is part of Kenya’s future generation.
Pumzi is about Kenya at a time when water is a scarce resource and everyone lives inside Maitu community. The lead character Asha, a bald headed girl, works as a curator in the natural virtual museum. She is the only one who dares to escape from the community because she believes there is life on the outside.
Hollywood actor Giancarlo Esposito lauded Pumzi as “creative, very inviting and well shot.”
“The idea of it links a very dramatic idea to a reality of what is happening in the world. I think this is what film is all about. This is why I make movies to raise people from one consciousness to another to allow them to know that you may take for granted the glass of water you have to drink, but you shouldn’t anymore.”

Photos/ Duncan Ndotono

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SOYINKA AND MAATHAI TO ATTEND KENYAN HAY FESTIVAL

StoryMoja Hay Festival will have the privilege of hosting two Nobel Laureates Kenya’s Wangari Maathai and Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka.
The Storymoja Hay Festival will run from July 31 to August 2 at the Impala grounds, Ngong Road. Storymoja is a local publishing company whose sole mission is getting ‘a book in every hand’.
The festival will also play host to Malian prince Seckou Keita, bestselling authors Hanif Kureishi and Vikram Seth, as well as the journalist turned writer Kate Adie and writers Jan Blake, Daniel Morden, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Chika Unigwe amongst others. International filmmaker and director Nick Broomfield will also be present.
The three day festival will feature over 100 events based on 12 themes such as Literature, Environment, Gender, ICT, Health, Diversity, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Gender, Beauty and Self-Development, designed to attract different target groups of different interests.