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30 Established 1961 Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies Fun-loving Bruno Mars divisive in his Grammy glory fter a tumultuous political year, the delivered her autobiographical song “Praying” assistant professor of ethnomusicology at Grammys took a stand for the rights of with palpable ferocity. But Kesha was also Indiana University, said Mars deserved praise Awomen and immigrants-but the top passed over for awards, with “Praying” edged for acknowledging his debt to R&B and funk awards went to a singer whose mind is on sex, out for Best Pop Solo Performance by Ed greats rather than appropriating them. booze and parties. The surprise sweep by Sheeran’s “Shape of You” about putting the At the Grammys, Mars credited towering Bruno Mars has renewed criticism in quarters moves on a woman at a bar. African American songwriters Babyface, Jimmy that the music industry’s premier prizes are out Jam, Terry Lewis and Teddy Riley for inspiring of touch with the wider world, but for fans of ‘Least threatening artist’ him. Many scholars of African American culture the retro R&B and funk star, he is an undisput- Mars won Album and Record of the Year for “actually appreciate that as he draws from the ed talent who provides exactly the type of joy “24K Magic,” whose title track speaks of the tradition, he’s telling us the history,” Jones said. the world needs right now. The Recording sight of hot women “waking up the rocket” in “African American tradition does not always Academy, the group of 13,000 professionals his pants, and Song of the Year for “That’s What have to be protest. Folks who are true to the who vote for the awards, had I Like” about making love in tradition do as Bruno Mars suggests, which is seemed set to change the high style. His victory trig- get people up and moving.” But she said that narrative this year, with hip- gered an avalanche of social Mars’s high-energy dance routines could be an hop for the first time domi- media postings questioning easier sell at the Grammys than Lamar, who put nating the nominations. African American whether Mars really repre- on a symbolism-rich performance with camou- But rap mogul Jay-Z, who “ sented 2017 in music. The flage-clad dancers dropping to the ground to led with eight nominations, satirical site The Onion simulated bullets. Mars “does a palatable music left New York’s Madison tradition does summed up much of the criti- industry performance that folks can digest, Square Garden empty-hand- cism with the headline: where Kendrick Lamar in contrast has folks on ed. Kendrick Lamar, who has not always have “ “Bruno Mars Takes Home edge,” she said. given musical voice to the Coveted ‘Least Threatening Bruno Mars receives his third Grammy for Album of the Year during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards Another possibility for Mars’s victory is Black Lives Matter move- to be protest Artist’ Award.” Justin Vernon show in New York. — AFP that, with multiple hip-hop stars in competi- ment, for the second time of experimental rockers Bon tion, he benefited from a split in the vote. swept the rap awards but Iver, who won the Best New “Despacito” would have been the first non- Hernandez, does not lend to a simple narrative. Recording Academy president Neil Portnow was shut out in the general Artist Grammy in 2012, wrote English song to take a top Grammy since the He is himself partially Puerto Rican and also has hinted at that theory, telling reporters: “When categories. During the tele- on Twitter that while Mars very first awards in 1959. The fate of Jewish, Filipino and Spanish ancestry. The 32- you look at five nominations (in a category), vised broadcast, President had a “fun voice,” the singer “Despacito” entered the political arena, with year-old from Hawaii in an interview last year the math of how that works out and who votes Donald Trump was skewered, stars defended “made a name in the INDUSTRY by making Democratic Senator Bob Menendez tweeting with Latina magazine voiced pride in his Puerto for whom is a little unpredictable.” Whatever immigrants facing deportation and Kesha’s hits OUT of hits of yesteryear.” that the song by Puerto Ricans Luis Fonsi and Rican heritage and suggested that he took a the reason, the Grammys also face another powerful performance punctuated the growing Others faulted the Grammys for snubbing Daddy Yankee was “robbed.” stage name to avoid being pigeon-holed as a issue. Initial figures from Nielsen said that 19.8 #MeToo movement to end sexual harassment. “Despacito,” the most-streamed track in histo- Latin artist. He has rarely spoken overtly about million people watched the show, a drop of The singer, who fought her label to stop ry. At a precarious time for Spanish-speaking Proud of roots politics, instead explaining that he sees music’s more than one quarter from last year and the working with a producer she says raped her, immigrants as well as hurricane-hit Puerto Rico, But Mars, whose real name is Peter power to excite and unite. Alisha Lola Jones, an lowest in a decade. — AFP OSN launches new Octopizzo: Rap king from Nairobi lifestyle channel slum inspiring Kenyan kids et OSN entice, inspire and motivate you with a veritable smorgasbord of lifestyle programming premiering on its newest channel, OSN Living HD. ike most youngsters in Nairobi’s largest slum, Henry L Ohanga grew up believing he would never amount to Whether you’re a travel-junkie or food fiend, design anything. Making it big, even leaving Kibera: these Kenyan hip hop artist obsessed or hooked on home-improvement, OSN Living L Henry Ohanga (aka HD offers a great range of shows that will help you get weren’t things that happened to an orphan who once robbed people to buy food. Now 29, he is Octopizzo, one of Octopizzo), who hails from your lifestyle fix. Available in glorious HD, the channel is Kenya’s largest slum set to launch tomorrow. OSN Living HD will be live East Africa’s most recognised hip-hop stars, and is using his success to break down stigma around the slum and inspire Kibera in Nairobi, looks out streamed on OSN Play, with catch-up shows available over the slum from a on OSN On Demand and OSN Play, so you can watch kids in a world devoid of successful role models. Clad in a black Adidas tracksuit, with bling in his ears, a gold- garbage mound during a when you want, on-the-move and on any device. Be visit. — AFP photos inspired by some of the world’s best chefs, watch as coloured watch on his arm and a large dazzling pendant of British chef Jamie Oliver invites us into his Essex home Jesus around his neck, Ohanga gestures over the undulating to discover his best kitchen secrets on Jamie’s Comfort hodge-podge of corrugated iron roofs where he grew up. Foods; while the more adventurous can dive into “It’s everything, everything I rap about... I feel like if I Chuck’s World, following wasn’t born here I probably wouldn’t be a rapper,” he told the Canadian restauran- AFP in Kibera, where most of his friends and family still live. teur as he travels across Kibera stretches over an area of about 2.5 square kilome- the globe to discover ters (one square mile), a poor ethnic melting pot wedged new cuisines. Those looking for a sugar rush can get their teeth into Sugar Showdown, a fun and intense competition- series that celebrates all things sweet and deli- cious; while the hugely popular Bake with Anna Olsen is sure to hit the ‘Changing the narrative’ But the opportunity never came his way. His father died spot. Also coming soon While he describes himself as more “socially conscious” when he was 14, his mother a year later, and he ended up is a special show hosted than political, it has been hard to avoid tough topics in the living with a friend and joining a gang, robbing shops and Jamie’s Comfort slum, which is often the first place sparks fly when political people. “I never regret being part of that, I never killed any- Foods on OSN Living HD. by actress Pelin Karahan (best known for her role tensions rise. During Kenya’s 2007 post-election crisis, when body,” said Ohanga, who has an entire song dedicated to as Mariam in Hareem al Kenyan hip hop artist Henry Ohanga (aka Octopizzo) speaks in he recalls having to walk everywhere with a machete for pro- gangsters and drug dealers-the only ones to help him when Sultan). The show will be fully dubbed in Arabic with a recording studio in Nairobi. tection as the slum was torn apart by ethnic violence he he was down and out. Through his own foundation, and English subtitles, and will feature different chefs cook- blames on politicians, his anger spilled into his first recorded work with the UN refugee agency, he wants to help youths ing various regional delights. There will also be plenty among richer areas of the Kenyan capital where its resi- song: “Voices of Kibera”. However his big commercial break realize their potential through the arts. In 2016, artists from of Arabic flavour coming to the channel including more dents work, mostly as casual laborers. The slum’s popula- only came in 2012, through an arts program at the British the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps who were trained localized lifestyle shows so stay tuned! tion is subject to heated debate, with the old NGO slogan Council, which launched other successful artists such as afro- and mentored by Ohanga released an album called For those that love beautiful homes, artful architec- of “the biggest slum in Africa” challenged in recent years pop band Sauti Sol.

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