TO ITEN WITH LOVE - KENYAN CELEBRITIES

Over ten local artistes who have signed with the Safaricom Kenya Live programme paid a courtesy call to Iten Primary School in their second last installment of the Safaricom Kenya Live CSR event in Eldoret.

While there, they treated the children to a day filled with music performances and motivational talks on children who aspire to be musicians.  They also presented a cheque of Sh50,000 to the school.

The artistes who called on the pupils included Nameless, Wahu, Allan Aaron, Ally B, Jua Cali, M.O.G, Phonotex Success Band, Redsan, Blavion, Freeman, Kavale and Poqpine. Also joining the artistes on the visit was Safaricom Brand Assets Manager Virginia Wanyanga. 

 

 

The artistes also donated food items to the pupils and joined them for lunch a day before the Safaricom Kenya Live gig in Eldoret. 

The visit was part of the Safaricom Kenya Live CSR programme that sees the artistes interact with children and disadvantaged populations on each tour of their performances.

Now, the finale of the Safaricom Kenya Live gigs take place in Nairobi’s Nyayo stadium on Saturday October 8.

Safaricom Kenya Live shows have also been held in major towns like Bungoma, Mombasa, Kisumu and Machakos.

 

The Nyayo National Stadium is poised to host the biggest live music concert in the country with 25 local artistes, comprising 14 Safaricom Kenya Live artistes and 14 budding talents from various provinces in Kenya are expected to perform.  

“Safaricom Kenya Live is one of our major engagement platforms with the youth, a core segment for us. We believe in involving our youth in initiatives that positively transform their lives,” said Safaricom Brand Assets Manager Virginiah Wanyanga. 

Gates to the concert will open for the public at 4pm while the real action starts at 7pm till dawn. Admission to the concert is restricted to those over 18 years only. 

To access the concert, revelers will be expected to carry an unscratched Bamba 250 Safaricom airtime, while VIP tickets go for Ksh1000.

IT'S OFFICIAL: WAHU IS THE FACE OF REXONA DEO

MTV Africa Music Award winner Wahu was named the face of Rexona antiperspirant which was launched in the market in May. Rexona AP is the leading deobrand in the world
Apparently Unilever conducted extensive research to look for a brand ambassador for Rexona before settling on Wahu. The photo shoot for the advertising campaigns were shot in Turkey. While the TV commercial was done in Thailand and overseen by a top celebrity TV director. As brand ambassador Wahu will appear in all communication including digital and online material. She will also participate in PR activities.

WAHU TO BE ANNOUNCED THE FACE OF REXONA

On Friday night at a cocktail organized by Unilever, MAMA award winner Wahu will be announced as the face of the company’s brand Rexona.
It is not yet clear if she will be endorsing the soap, lotion or the deodorant. Anyho a guy called simonreid1980 tweeted pix from the photoshoot that took place over a month ago in Khlong Tan Nuea, Thailand.




Simon describes himself on his twitter page as an“Art Director at Lowe Mena/ Co-creator/ DJ/ Promoter/ Radio Presenter for Must Have Soul living in Dubai.”
The launch dares you to come and feel the difference on the blue carpet event. On the guest list is the who is who, the glitterati and the members of the fourth estate in attendance.




According to the Global Unilever website: “Rexona gives you the confidence to handle whatever the day has in store because you know your deodorant won't let you down. The Rexona 50ml roll-on deodorant is one of the most environmentally friendly on the market. The moulding, assembly and packaging processes were streamlined and energy efficiency improved, with the resulting roll-on weighing an average 8% less. The new offering uses 1 000 tonnes less plastic a year than the old 50ml roll-on.
It is also quite affordable for everyone via affordable mini-sticks, mini-roll-ons and sachets of deodorant lotions, supported by personal hygiene education programmes.

VALERIE KIMANI ON PAM AWARDS AND COMEBACK

Though singer Valerie Kimani missed out on receiving the Ugandan Pam Award for Best Female Kenya which went to Wahu, the nomination is “rewarding” for her.
The Besame Mucho star told Hot Secrets, “To be nominated is a real honour, and especially to be placed in the same category with heavyweights such as Wahu, Amani and Suzanna Owiyo is quite a reward in itself. The prospect of my music getting into new territory is also very rewarding for me as an artist. And after being
away from the industry for quite some time it's such a wonderful welcome.”
Valerie was one of the performers at the Sierra Jazz Festival at the Bomas of Kenya early this month which was headlined by jazz maestro Jonathan Butler.
“I'm mainly focusing on getting my fans to see and hear more of my work. I'd like them to experience my band and my sound more. I feel I have grown and I'm challenging myself to soar to even greater heights,” she said.

SAFARICOM PREMIERS ITS KENYA LIVE CONCERT IN BUNGOMA

Bungoma County last Saturday hosted the first of the Safaricom Kenya Live music concerts with thrilling performances from leading artistes in the country.
After a weeklong training at the Kenya Live Academy in Eldoret, established and upcoming artistes from the region headed to Bungoma’s Kanduyi Stadium braving the rains to keep the crowds on their feet.



Kenya Live is an initiative by Safaricom to nurture music talent among youths across the country by using established artistes in knowledge sharing academies.
The initiative is also looking at enhancing the artiste’s lives music performance as opposed to over-reliance on play-back which has been a common trend in the local music industry.





Under the arrangement, Safaricom will help the artistes in marketing their productions through its online portals in what is expected to increase earnings from the trade.
Among leading artistes who performed at the Bungoma Concert are Juacali, Wahu, M.O.G, Eko Dyda, Redsan, Size 8 and Doggy G. Others are the Webuye Jua Kali Band and the late Jacob Luseno’s Phonotex Band.





“Safaricom will continue partnering with communities in initiatives aimed at improving their standards of living. This exercise is aimed at ensuring that local artistes not only gain fame from their performances but make a decent income out of it as well,” said Virginia Wanyanga, the Safaricom representative at the academy.






The music promotion campaign will see similar concerts held in major towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nairobi.
“We wish to play our part in creating a Kenyan music industry that is professionally-run in all aspects. We want to turn music into a career out of which our people can earn a decent living, not just pride and fame. With our 16 million-plus subscriber base and one of the country’s most popular portals, we have an unbeatable medium to advance Kenyan music. The possibilities are infinite.” Said Safaricom Head of Strategy and New Busines Nzioka Waita during the luanch of Kenya Live in Nairobi last week.





He gave the example of Skiza, Safaricom’s popular CBRT (caller ring back tune) service, which only a year after launch had gained vast acceptance, becoming a new and major revenue stream for some Kenyan musicians.
Kenya Live joins a growing music portfolio at Safaricom which includes the recently-held Kenyan Classical Fusion and the CHAT and Groove Awards, which are both headlined by Skiza and a number of sponsorship opportunities, spread across Kenya.

NAMELESS AND SAUTI SOL GET AMA NODS

Three Kenyan artistes have been nominated for the UK based African Music Awards (AMA) that will be held Friday October 15th 2010 at the Wembley Arena, London. Nameless, Sauti Sol and Amani have all placed in highly competitive categories against other African acts. Amani got one nod in the Best Female Artist a category Wahu won last year.



Sauti Sol has been nominated for Best New Artist/Group and Best Group where as Nameless is up for the African Song Of The Year, Sunshine which features Habida and East African Artiste Of The Year.
The AMAs is Europe’s premier annual awards ceremony for African musicians and music makers. The main aim is to achieve mainstream recognition for big selling African artists who have sold millions of records in the African market, yet remain under-exposed to the Western world.
Eric McKaiser, CEO and founder, said “The AMAs are changing the perception surrounding African music. We aim to bridge the gap between the West and African musicians. Congratulations to all the 2010 nominees, and in my eyes you are all winners”.
The hosts for the awards are Nollywood's favorite actress Genevieve Nnaji and English singer-songwriter and actor Simon Webbe.
Voting on your favorite artists can be done between the September 6 and October 10 on AMA`s site.

WAHU REPLIES TO ABBAS’ DISS ON MTV MAMAs FAVOURING HER AND NAMELESS

Rapper Abbas has been spewing vitriol saying Nameless and Wahu were favoured by the just concluded MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain.
Abbas raised questions on why members of the same family got nominated and won awards two years running. This is not the first time the rapper has directed his hate at another artiste. Last year he ranted about Jua Cali performing on the same stage with rap maestro The Game, saying Jua Cali is no rapper.
Commenting on the attack, MAMA’s Best Female Artiste Wahu said, “We handed in our nominations like everyone else and I don’t know what MTV was looking for. It feels bad that a colleague can feel that way about the awards. We had nothing to do with the nominations or the winning, Africa voted. Actually it is not about the Kamoni family but about Kenya.”

WAHU DOESN’T MIND HABIDA COLLABOING WITH HUBBY NAMELESS

Mtv Africa Music Award winner Nameless featured the very hot female act Habida in his single Sunshine.
Like every other person, one would like to know how does his wife, Wahu handle this collaboration to the smashing damsel. Click here if you don't know her.

Laughing, the MAMA award winner for Best Female Artiste Wahu said, “That is hilarious and a lot of people ask me that.”
Wahu and Nameless have been married for four years and have a daughter Tumiso.
“I think one of our best qualities in our marriage is that we are both in the same industry and I understand what the business is all about I understand this business. I’m not insecure and besides Habida is such a nice chick. I wish her all the best in terms of what she is doing musically.”
Wahu, who has always supported female entertainers added, “I always encourage women, I’m usually like, ‘Yeah, the more women in the industry the better’. As for me understanding the closeness in the video, it is the same way he understood when I did a collabo with Bobi Wine, I’m doing a collabo with AY and Nameless wouldn’t stand in my way or get insecure about that. Because he understands the business.”
So there you have it, all is well in the Kamoni household. You as in, David Mathenge Kamoni and family.

THE OFFICIAL MAMA PERFORMERS

Nairobi, 5 August 2009: MTV and Zain have set the tone for the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain, revealing news of the first performers signed to appear at the glittering Awards ceremony. Guaranteed to set the stage alight at the Kasarani Indoor Stadium, Nairobi on 10 October and representing the best urban music on the continent will be 2008 Best Female winner, Wahu, South Africa’s Afro-soul queen, Lira, Nigerian rapper M.I. and Ghanaian dancehall superstar, Samini. Many more artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

WAHU AND AMANI GET CHANNEL O AWARDS NOD

The nominees for the 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards were announced at a press conference at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg on Tuesday 14 July.
Three Kenyan acts got the nod. Singer Amani topped the list among Kenyan nominees. She is up for four awards, Best Female Video, Best R&B Video, Best African East and Video of the Year for her song Tonight.
Wahu follows closely with two nominations for Best Ragga Dancehall Video and Best African East for her song Sweet Love.
Coast rapper Cannibal is the only Kenyan male artiste nominated. His song I Wish has been nominated for Best African East.

To vote, viewers must SMS their category number to +27839208400 (International SMS rates apply) or vote on www.channelo.tv (web) or O boma.net (mobile). Voters can also win big as there is a thousand US dollars up for grabs weekly (spread over 12 weeks) and there is the grand prize of a trip for two lucky Channel O viewers to the awards from anywhere in Africa!

The 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards, brought to you by Amarula Cream, take place on Thursday 29 October at Carnival City in Gauteng and DStv audiences can tune into channel 320 to see their favorite artists and whether they win.

Nazizi And Her Puppies

The first lady of hiphop, Nazizi has a passion for puppies. Here she is, outside The Loft on Museum Hill with her puppies.
This was during the MTVbase press meeting calling for artistes to submit their music videos.
Nazizi revealed that she gave one puppy called Picasso to Prezzo as a wedding present.

Nazizi and Wahu talk dog

Abbas: From one dog to another

Nazizi and her pup

Abbas, Wahu and Wairimu chat outside The Loft


At the press conference held on Tuesday, Zain’s corporate communications director Mike Okwiri, MTV Networks sales manager Lisa Amenya and singer Nameless urged the music industry players to hand in their videos to beat the June 30 deadline for the MTVbase Africa Music Awards.
This move was in a bid to ensure that the Kenyan acts have their music on circulation on MTVbase so that they have a better chance to get nominated for the MAMAs that will take place on October 20 at Kasarani as well as ensuring that the number of Kenyan acts that get nominated are higher that last year.

Wahu and Nameless Working On Collabo

Kenya’s first celebrity couple Mr and Mrs Nameless or if you like Wahu and Nameless
are working on a collabo.
The two are working on an official duet that will be featured on Wahu’s forthcoming album.
“It’s true that we are working on something. We will record two or three songs and release the best out of them. We are currently working with producer R Kay but we will try and see other producers. I hope to release it in a few months but we will play it by the ear. I can’t tell you what it is about, you will just have to wait and see. But there is a lot of pressure and expectations,” Wahu coyly confessed.

Wahu Beefs With Nameless in Public

This is a step by step of how Kenya's celebrity couple Wahu and Nameless, quickly made up after a mini-second altercation on the dancefloor. This incident took place at Blue Times Lounge, Museum Hill during the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) party a while back.
What happened was, Wahu found Nameless dancing with Nike Kondakis - the chic who designs dresses from used and old parachutes.
Wahu went over to him and whispered something in his ears after which the paps started clicking away. After, some push and shove the celeb couple, Wahu and Nameless posed for the paps. Crisis Averted. Period.