October 2019 Free Copy No. 225
Since December 2000
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Pb: Introduce yourselves and releasing original music. We also hope to collaborate with W: Wanavokali is a group of six young Kenyan musicians: Chep, some of the big names we worked with during Safaricom Twaweza Lenah, Mellah, Riki, Ruì and Ythera. We share a passion for Live, and with other artists Regionally and Internationally. expressing ourselves through music and seeing the Kenyan music industry thrive and become better. Pb: You have been doing covers, any original stuff we should expect? W: Yes. Definitely. We started out with covers because they were Pb: How did you guys meet and end up as Wanavokali? familiar to us, as Background Vocalists to some of the country’s W: We met in 2018, during the Safaricom Twaweza Live Tour as biggest local artist, we already had the ready repertoire. We Background Vocalists, performing live music on stages across have recently been writing original music with the hopes of Kenya with some of the best musicians, producers and dancers releasing it with the New Year. that the country has to offer.
Pb: From Background Vocalists to Wanavokali, how did you Pb: As individual artists, how is it working as a group now? end up making this Decision? W: Group dynamics are challenging but we have a firm foundation W: Throughout the tour, we got to experience music, and as friends and a healthy respect for each other. We also have especially Kenyan music in a different and unique light. While an understanding that we shall continue to pursue our solo still actively pursuing our solo careers in the music industry, our careers. experiences as Background Vocalists prompted us to get together as Wanavokali . Pb: Where do you see yourselves in 5 Years? W: We hope to see Wanavokali go international as a Kenyan brand. Pb: What are your future plans? We believe that Kenyan music is beautiful and deserves a wider W: We plan on growing the Wanavokali as a brand by writing audience
@wanavokali @wanavokali @wanavokali Wanavokali
Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of Wanavokali ALPHA BLONDY
Seydou Koné better Knows as Alpha Blondy was born on 1 January 1953 in Dimbokro, Ivory Coast. He is the First Son of a family of 8 children and was raised by his grandmother. In 1974, Seydou moved to New York where he majored in English at Hunter College because he wanted to be a teacher. In New York he met Rastafarians for the first time, and was also able to see concerts by Jamaican artists such asBurning Spear. Seydou was involved in multiple altercations in New York and returned to the Ivory Coast, where he got into even more trouble until he met up with one of his childhood friends, Fulgence Kassi, who had become a noted television producer. This was the beginning of his real career as a musician, and he began to use the name “Alpha Blondy”. After various TV shows for Kassi, Blondy recorded his first solo album in 1982, entitledJah Glory. This album was to have enormous success and would become later a symbol of resistance because of the song “Brigadier Sabari,” which documents his experience of being arrested in Abidjan in the 1980s and his subsequent mistreatment by the police. Soon, the fame spread to Europe. Following the success of an EP entitled Rasta Poué, he went to Paris in 1984 to make his second album, Cocody Rock, with the label Pathe Marconi. The “Bob Marley of Africa” travelled to the island of Jamaica and recorded the title track of this album with Marley’s backing group, The Wailers. Back home in 1985, Blondy went into the studio to record “Apartheid is Nazism”, a call for the end of apartheid. In 1986, he recorded “Jerusalem” at Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica, again with The Wailers featuring legendary Aston “Family Man” Barrett. Blondy tried to promote unity between the religion of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. That same year, he sang in Hebrew during a concert in Morocco. At this point, he was continuously touring. His new album: Revolution; had a lighter, gentler sound; this album featured veteran Ivory Coast singer: Aicha Kone. The album also included Jah Houphouët parle, a long speech by Ivory Coast president Félix Houphouët-Boigny with only the most minimal beat behind it. In 1998, with a new album: The Prophet; Convinced his label was too focused on the international market, he decided to create his own label. Since then he has recorded albums and singles, such as Yitzhak Rabin, in memory of the Israeli prime minister who was assassinated in 1995, the single Journaliste en Danger from his 2000 album: Elohim. Alpha Blondy celebrated 20 years as a recording artist with the 2002 release of CD MERCI, featuring Ophelie Winter and Saian Supa Crew, which earned him a 2003 Grammy Award nomination for “Best Reggae Album”. Alpha Blondy was the headlining act at the 27th edition of Koroga Festival, on Sunday, September 22, 2019, at Two Rivers Mall Grounds, Nairobi; and gave a spectacular performance.
@ALPHABLONDY @Alphablondy
@alphablondy.official Alpha Blondy DJ MANTIXX
MY REAL NAME IS: Barnabas Otieno Okello
I GOT MY STAGE NAME FROM: From Dj Mantell
I STUDIED AT: Heritage Entertainment
I GOT INTO DEEJAYING: 12 years ago
IT’S BEEN : A sledded journey
I USUALLY PLAY: Kenyan (local), Raggea, Ragga, Rnb, African, Dance & House
MY MAJOR CHALLENGE WHEN STARTING OUT: Was that my parents didn’t like anything about music
IF I WASN’T A DEEJAY I’D BE: A soldier
Deejay Mantixx @deejaymantixx1
@DjMantixx deejay Mantixx TV
Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of DJ Mantixx CARNIVORE SIMBA SALOON, LANGATA, NAIROBI: Roaring BBQ Ribs on Tuesday, from 6pm. Entry: KES 990/- Adult & KES 450/- Child. Rhumba Night every 1st Friday, by DJs Wattii, Wikki & Martin; and New Jack Swing, every 3rd Friday. Entry for each: KES 300/-. Cultural Nights, every last Friday. Entry: KES 500/-.
GUAVA LOUNGE, BUFFET PARK, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Reggae on Monday to Thursday, from 11.00am to 7.00pm. Comedy Night, with Freddy, on Monday. Karaoke Night on Thursday, with Erika & Soul Masters. Good looking Friday, with DJ Exotic. Supa Sato, with DJ Symo Mfalme. Free entry.
K1 KLUBHOUSE, OJIJO ROAD, PARKLANDS, NAIROBI: Back to the 80S, on Monday. Jazz Nite, on Tuesday, with Mwai & The Truth Band. Wednesday Night Live, with K1 Mixxmasters. One Love Thursday, with Dohty Family. Live Band Karaoke, on Friday. Gogosimo Band, on Saturday. Sunday Soul, with The Spindoktors. Free entry.
KENGELES, LAVINGTON GREEN, NAIROBI: Band Night, every last Thursday. Free entry. Networking event, every second Thursday. Free entry. Quiz Night, every 3rd Wednesday. Entry: KES 500/-.
MYERS LOUNGE, NAIVASHA ROAD, NAIROBI: Karaoke, with Doryne & Elsie, on Thursday. Ladies Night, with DJ Jacky, on Friday. Steady Saturday, with DJ Ticco, DJ Ben & DJ Davince. Reggae Jamdown, with DJ Vosty & DJ Ticco, on Sunday. Free entry.
RAFIKIZ, LANGATA ROAD, NAIROBI: Monday: Soft Rock. Tuesday: Karaoke, with Kendi. Wednesday: DJ Protege. Seduction Thursday: Punch & Cocktails. Friday: Old Skul. Easy Saturday: DJ Mixes. Free entry.
SAILORS’ BAR & LOUNGE, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Monday & Tuesday: Slow Jams. Wednesday: Rhumba Nite. Thursday: Kizomba. Friday & Saturday: Club Nites, with DJ Sting. Sunday: Salsa Nite. Free entry.
7 DEGREES BAR & LOUNGE, NAIVASHA ROAD, DAGORETTI CORNER, NAIROBI: Happy Hour (Beers at KES 180/-), from 5.00pm to 8.00pm, every Tuesday to Thursday. Karaoke every Thursday, hosted by Didi and DJ Kuch. Friday Mix, with DJ Seph. Saturday Mix, with DJ Kuch. Free entry.
SIPPERS BAR & RESTAURANT, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Monday to Thursday: Rhumba and Blues, with DJ Selector. Friday & Saturday: Hutu Band, with Awilo Jamnazi. Sunday: Jazz, with Wakurugenzi Band. Free entry.
24/7, VIEW PARK TOWERS, NAIROBI: Beers at reduced Prices, on Tuesday & Wednesday. Red Carpet Affair, on Thursday. Ace Cards, on Friday. Reggae Nite, by Livity Sounds, on Sunday. Free entry. ART & TRADE EXHIBITIONS PARTIES & CONCERTS PLAYS & THEATRE
DATE: Friday 4th til Sunday 6th. DATE: Wednesday 9th. DATE: Saturday 12th. EVENT: Baby Banda Pregnancy & Baby Fair. EVENT: Wadada Wednesday Moi Day Special. EVENT: Comedy Show Concert. VENUE: Sarit Centre Expo Hall, Nairobi. VENUE: Muze, Bishan Plaza, Mpaka Road, Westlands,. VENUE: TradeMark Hotel, Village Market, Gigiri, Nairobi. DETAILS: A meeting and learning space for mommies and mums-to-be with fun DETAILS: Umojah is back with an all-nighter celebrating Moi day DETAILS: With, NOTINN R MIRANNI; with Proceeds going into building 50 Classroms events, health experts, and your favourite baby brands under one roof. TIME: 7:00pm til Dawn. for Vocational training Centre, M.A Math Trust. ENTRY: Free TIME: 8:00am to 5.00pm. TIME: 6:00pm & 8:30pm ENTRY: Free ENTRY: KES 7,000/- V.V.I.P, KES 5,000/- V.I.P & KES 3,000/- Regular DATE: Thursday 24th. EVENT: Thursday Nite Live. DATE: Saturday 5th. VENUE: J’s Fresh Kitchen, Muthangari Drive, Westlands. DATE: Friday 4th til Sunday 6th EVENT: Karen Flea Market. DETAILS: Featuring the pop power trio of: ELANI EVENT: Cat and Mouse. VENUE: Tamambo Karen Blixen Coffee Garden, Karen Road. TIME: 8:00pm til 11:00pm. VENUE: Nairobi Cinema. DETAILS: Bringing together SME’S who are focused on made in Kenya in order to ENTRY: Free DETAILS: A wild funny comedy play by: Heart Strings Entertainment. maximize their reach and sales to consumers. TIME: 7:00pm Friday, 3.30pm & 7:00pm Saturday and 3:30pm + 7:00pm Sunday. TIME: 10:00am to 5:00pm. ENTRY: KES 699/-. ENTRY: Free DATE: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th. DATE: Friday 18th til Monday 21st. EVENT: All I Ever Wanted. EVENT: Horse Of The The Year Show 2019. VENUE: Braeburn Theatre, Gitanga Road, Lavinton. VENUE: ASK Showground, Jamhuri Park, Ngong Road, Nairobi. DETAILS: A socio-political satire by: Walter Sitati. It is easy for a judge to rule on a DETAILS: The Horse Of The Year Show or HOTYS in short is the HAK’s yearly case until it is one that involves the closest of people. In such, skeletons Championship show where riders both from Kenya and neighbouring leave the closet and integrity is put to test. countries compete in Dressage, Show jumping and Showing to decide TIME: 5:00pm Saturday & 4:00pm Sunday. who is the best combination in each discipline for 2019. ENTRY: KES 1,000 in Advance and KES KES 1,200 at the Gate TIME: 9:00am to 6:00pm. ENTRY: Free DATE: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th. EVENT: Too Early For Birds. DATE: Sunday 20th. VENUE: Visa Oshwal Community Center Auditorium, Westalands. EVENT: Nairobi Black Food Festival. DETAILS: A series of storytelling shows that has been retelling Kenyan History in VENUE: J’s Fresh Bar & Kitchen, Muthangari Drive, Westlands. a fresh, funky style. Since 2017, we have narrated the stories of Wangari DETAILS: The Black Food Festival was born out of curiosity for international cuisines Maathai, The Nyayo House Survivors, Zarina Patel, Timothy Njoya, Field and the experimental nature of culinary minds across the globe. To pay Marshal Muthoni Wa Kirima, Otenyo Nyamatere, Syokimau, Paul Ngei, homage to those who prefer to take the road less traveled: the risk William McMillan, the resistance at Lumboka and Chetambe, amongst takers, the innovators, the trailblazers, there will be a panel of gastronomy many others. And now, One of Kenya’s most mind-boggling mysteries can professionals on the look out for the most creative and finest products. be distilled into one question: who killed Tom Mboya? And why? Okay, TIME: 11:00am til 9:00pm. those are two questions. Both necessary. ENTRY: KES 500/- TIME: 2:00pm & 7: 00pm Saturday & 11:00am, 3:00pm & 8:00pm. Sunday. ENTRY: KES 1,000 Early Bird, 1,500 in Advance and KES 2,000 at the Gate DATE: Thursday 24th til Saturday 26th. EVENT: East Africa Chef Expo. DATE: Thursday 24th til Sunday 27th. VENUE: Sarit Centre Expo Hall, Westlands. EVENT: Sarafina. DETAILS: A great celebration of the remarkable contribution chefs have made to VENUE: Nakuru Players Theatre. the hospitality industry. It is also an opportunity for suppliers of food DETAILS: A Play by Nairobi Performing Arts Studio with: NICE GITHINJI. ingredients and kitchen equipment to meet chefs, network, sign business TIME: 7.00pm Thursday, 3:00pm + 7.00pm Friday & Saturday and 5:00pm Sunday. deals and synergise in the hospitality industry. ENTRY: KES 1,000 in Advance, 1,500 at the Gate & KES 6,000 for a Group of 7 TIME: 9:00am til 5.30pm. ENTRY: Free
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