Month: May 2013

American music star Chris Brown was in Ghana in March ahead of his concert in the West African country. The tour was marred by controversy as the singer lit up a joint on stage during the concert held for the launch of a Technology City Project called Hope City, something that had the authorities up in arms.

However, Chris Brown denied the allegations claiming that the weed was fake and that Ghanaian media blew things out of proportion. Aside from all the marijuana drama, here’s some positive news; we know very few Kenyans attended the concert. If you missed it, don’t worry because Main Switch group was there and caught the action on tape.

For those who don’t know, Main Switch is the recording stable that produced Jaguar’s latest single, “Kipepeo”. Here are the videos from that concert;

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This year’s Big Brother has started with so much energy from the housemates. Yesterday, we saw our very own Huddah Monroe ask for a morning massage from Uganda’s Denzel who readily offered. Well, it appears that opened the floodgates for ‘action’.

Last evening, the first kiss of The Chase was recorded as Ghana’s Selly and Angola’s Biguesas both from the Rubies House wet kissed as other contestants looked on. It all started as a casual game of spin the bottle in the garden which resulted in Selly reaching over to Biguesas for a passionate kiss much to the amusement and applause of her fellow housemates.

South Africa’s Koketso could not match up to Selly’s antics when it was her turn to kiss Zambia’s Sulu. Koketso simply hugged the dreadlocked Zambian and gave him a perk on the cheek.

Sally kisses Biguesas

Meanwhile in the Diamonds House, Sierra Leone’s Bolt and Ethiopia’s Betty also had their intimate moment as they kissed passionately in the dark as fellow housemates slept soundly. The two Diamonds Housemates couldn’t keep their hands off each other early this morning and shared a passionate fumble in the dark.

When things got a little too heated, Bolt jumped out of bed and rummaged through bags, pockets and boxes, clearly searching for something. Whatever it is that Bolt was trying to find proved elusive. The Sierra Leonean then gave up and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Thirsty Betty seemed to appreciate this kind gesture and repaid Bolt in kind.

Bolt kissing Betty

After giving him the smooch of the century, she slipped her hand under Bolt’s shirt and the two lay in each other’s arms, with no care in the world.

It’s Big Brother The Chase and clearly, The Chase is on.

[BigBrother]

Good morning guys. It time for yet another episode of #GhaflaTen. Take a look;

#1 Socialite Pendo In another Scandal! Lesbian Pictures Surface!

#2 Willy Paul Goes To Ngara To Look For Prostitutes

#3 Here’s The Full List of Big Brother ‘The Chase’ Housemates

#4 Busting Huddah! Who Did Huddah Lie To About Her Age?

#5 Huddah Monroe Viciously Attacked! Find out why.

#6 Check out More Lesbian Pictures Of Pendo And… The Video Vixen From “Money Lover”!

#7 Huddah Nominated For Eviction On Day One Of Big Brother

#8 Fast Off! Huddah Asks For A Morning Massage!

#9 Cabu Gah Speaks Out About Huddah Monroe! Check out what he says.

#10 Understanding The Kenyan Representatives To Big Brother ‘The Chase’

There you go. Have an awesome day and remember to keep it here for more scoop.

There’s a festival that Sarakasi Trust has run since 2002. The festival is called Sawasawa festival!

The objective of the event is to develop audiences, bring profile and exposure to Kenyan artists. It also helps to build capacity, in the area of cultural entrepreneurship and festival production. Well this year’s Sawasawa festival, has been pushed from June to December. However since Kenya is celebrating its Jubilee (50 Years of independence), the organizers have moved the Festival to December. From inception, the festival takes place around the Madaraka weekend in June.  

Sarakasi Trust, aims to create a unique festival with an African identity, appealing to the Kenyan public at large. Sawa Sawa festival seeks to promote and stage the performing arts, through platforms like workshops, exchanges between local and international artistes, technical skill and cultural sharing workshops. Others include  community building (theme) activities, jam sessions/studio recordings, media activations and the multi stage multi day concerts. Past Sawa Sawa Festival attracts audiences of over 100,000 people. They apologize for any inconvenience. Now you know. 

If you know you are a Demarco fan or even a dancehall fanatic and you haven’t taken advantage of our half off offer then you are truly a Kenyan! Last minute rush to the core! but anyway, today is the last time you will be able to get Demarco tickets at 50% off!

Log onto www.ghafladeals.com and get your tickets at half price before it’s too late! Remember, the early bird catches two worms at the price of 1!

Do not delay, get you and your mates or you and your girlfriend a ticket so you can go “Steady Whine” all night long.

Remember, this is the last day so don’t delay!

As promised, Smirnoff took its signature ‘Nighlife Experience’ to Tortillas near USIU last Friday and as usual it was a mad party. On the wheels of steel were Dj Rilliance,Real Young Jockey and Dj Locco.

Take a look;

Smirnoff girls were in the house

All systems go…

Leakey Odera was in the house

Smirnoff girls take to the floor

Signature Smirnoff cocktail

Actor/model Ephy Saint was present

The aquarium at Tortillas

One of the Smirnoff mixologists

This Saturday 1st June Nightlife Experience will be in Mombasa Ilcovo club and Embu Izzak Walton Club! Start packing your bags and get ready to party!

Collo is releasing a new song! After Floss na wewe, I’m curious to know what the song is about.

That however is not the raison d’etre for this article. Collo, has today announced that he will be running an online dancing competition in Kenya. The 3 top dancing groups will be featured in his new music video. Start today, 27th  May, the competition will be on. He released his new single “Kudyambo” a while back. You know the drill, to download the song go to Mdundo.com. Read about Floss na wewe here.

Collo explains: “Over the past years I have seen a significant increase in the quality of many Kenyan dancing groups. I think it is only fair to give them a chance to feature in a music video. The industry is often very unfair and success is related to the performers current network in the industry. This initiative is an opportunity for any Kenyan to show their skills, get a fair judgments and a chance to get the attention it deserves. The competition will take place on YouTube, and the dancing groups participating should upload their video to the channel before 26th  June for submission. The Collo team will announce the winners 1st July.”

He elucidated: “My team and I will focus on the quality of the choreography, and we will decide which routine for Kudyambo we like the most. We will be looking at the number of views the video has as well. It is important that the group makes it clear in the video who they are and how we can reach them”.

Get the song on mdundo.com.
Submit the video to YouTube before 26th  June

Include the name of your dancing group in the video.
Winner will be announced 1st July.
Official video will be shoot 14th  July.

These are the profiles of the people performing tomorrow at the Afro Jazz concert going down tomorrow at Phoenix Theatres!

Ricky na marafiki present an evening of Afro Jazz divas edition on the 28th of May. It shall be at Phoenix Theater hosted by the Lovely miss Kenya USA Angela Wambui. Charges are 300sh and performing will be Mishel Muriuki, Edna Arona, Val Ziki and Cece Sagini. Ricky Na Marafiki band includes Steve Munge (saxophone), Mike Okinyo (keys), Kelvin Gashago (drums), Mobutu (Percussions) and Ricky Nanjero (bass guitar). There will be Gift Hampers from Zoe and Unity School Of Professional Studies

Mishel Muriuki

Mishel is a gifted songbird, lyricist and guitarist. Her style is sweet and gentle, like the African sunrise and she believes music is a powerful thing, and she seek to heal the world with my words and melodies. She is also a talented fashion designer.
In music, she is inspired by the desire to put across a positive message. In her own life, she has learned the importance of keeping a positive attitude and wishes to share that with every one of her listeners. She describes the color of her music as white.

Edna Arona

Arona is a soulful singer from Kenya, East Africa. Born and named Edna Ratemo, Arona is her artistic name which stands for colorful, singer, messenger, mountain of strength and shining light. Arona was born in a family that appreciates music which natured her love for it from a tender age. This eventually propelled her to participate in the Kenyan Idols music competition, first of its kind in Kenya, which took place in 2003. It is here that she got to have a televised performance after being shortlisted as one of the top ten from a throng of thousands. Later on, she participated in the East African Cocacola Popstars Music Competition in 2004 where she was a finalist.

Cece Sagini

Singer/ Songwriter, proud to be Kenyan young black lady with a passion for fashion
She is a 21year old singer/songwriter who is great on the keys. She was first seen in the Kenyan music industry featuring in the song ‘Appointment’ with Jimmy Gait, and is now in the Penya Africa-Sauti Academy which has worked/is working with Sauti Sol,Just a Band, Muthoni DQ, Dela, Dempsey, Elani among other great Kenyan Musicians/Bands. She is growing fast and aims for the Grammy awards. More about this diva here!

Val Ziki

Valentine Ziki hails from the beautiful republic of Kenya where she grew up and discovered her artistic talents.

ZIKI the musician, performer & songwriter started out performing poetry in her formative years. She later on moved on to dance and musical theatre before pursuing a solo music career. Her first single ‘Nenda’ was well received but it’s the follow up ‘Fly away’ that has received rave reviews, with fans of her music eagerly anticipating her debut album, due to be released in 2013.

An outstanding singer & songwriter, Ziki has steadily cut a niche for herself as a versatile performer with a diverse repertoire. She incorporates different sounds to create her own distinct style of Afro-soul & Urban Fusion. She describes herself as a voice of the unspoken, a visionary; curator of expression, time and experiences. A story teller.

If you are a photography buff, or keep abreast with Kenya’s most celebrated creatives, then you know Mutua Matheka.

Not only is he a celebrated photographer and an architect, he is also a founding member of Five Oh One. (5 Oh 1)! Well this week, he is giving out his photographs or wallpapers as he likes to call them! He does this every Monday so you gotta keep your eyes peeled for that. Below are the two pictures being given out as well as the instructions you need to follow.

Last week on Twitter, Mutua announced that he would be giving out 10 prints in total, 5 large and 5 small. He’ll be dishing them out, 2 prints at a time every day until Friday!  Pay attention. Every day, there shall be a contest announced. Each shall run for 24hrs. The winner shall get the large print, and the 2nd winner the smaller print. I have shared the two pictures up for grabs above, so lemmi get to those instructions as well as two pictures from his Facebook page that i absolutely love! 

Today’s challenge: “I need you guys to go to my facebook page (Photography by Mutua Matheka) and if you haven’t, like it. After you do, share the link to the “Wallpaper Monday” App with your friends, on your wall, asking them to download the app for their Android phones and tag my page (the facebook one). If you don’t tag it doesn’t count. Then encourage your friends to ‘like’ your post. The post with the most likes wins a large Nairobi “City of Lights” print as shown in the photo below and runner up gets the “Raging Falls” print.” The two pictures are in the article’s body. Meanwhile below is yet another picture by him that I really love!

Five days left for arguably the biggest gig in Nairobi this weekend, have you gotten your tickets?

Of course I’m talking about Blankets and Wines, and this one is special because it will feature one of Africa’s renowned vocalist Zahara. Others to grace the Blankets stage will be one of music’s best kept secrets from Sudan but based in America Alsarah. The lead Others who complete the epic line-up include vocalists Dela and Prisca. I guess you are wondering who AlSarah & the Nubatones are. Listen to one of their songs below.

These are the details to Blankets that you need to know. ‘Date: June 2nd 2013 Time: 1:00pm-9pm Venue: Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi.

Blankets & Wine will also be commemorating the June 5th world Environment Day under the theme ‘Think.Eat.Save’ as part of our ongoing ‘Up-Cycling’ project geared towards reducing, recycling and reusing waste and environmental pollution.

For the first time since the inception of the event in 2008, Blankets & Wine will also host a craft fair where various local designer will showcase and sell their locally made wares. This is part of Blankets & Wine’s conscious effort to promote other forms of art at the event apart from music. In the process, we shall also give our audience the opportunity to sample the various talents in Kenya and what they have to offer.

Tickets to the event, are available on www.ticketsasa.com for Kshs. 1300 before May 27th and thereafter for Ksh. 1500 on Ticketsasa and at select Dormans outlets. Tickets at the venue will be sold at Ksh. 2,000, while children between the ages of 5-12years pay Ksh. 500 and free for children under 5.

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For a long time now, I have been inundated with tweets, subtweets and snide, catty remarks about Ghafla being a gossip site. What astounded me is the fact that blogs such as PressPlay, Kenya Post ad nauseum got so much traffic from eroneous reports on who was going to BBA!

Ghafla!Kenya was eerily quiet on that subject because we knew that all the stories swirling around were rumours. But as the Akan say, it may not speak but it breathes. Then I finally broke my silence on the matter and guess who was correct?

And what about the story that KenyaPost stole from Ghafla about M.O.G’s girlfriend? The shameless blog didn’t even change my wording or the pictures used. I was right on the money about that aswell. And what about the story I broke about Amina leaving HBR and moving to Capital? Yeah, on the money there aswell.
And the piece about Anita Nderu moving from NTV’s Teen Republiq to Capital? Money shot!

So what advice does Uncle Chim Tuna have for all these other bloggers and sites? Turn Hebrew and follow me like your Moses through the wilderness of false stories and I shall lead you to the promised land of truth! And I’m not even petty about bloggers like Kenya Post stealing my very words either!

So keep ity Ghafla!Kenya to ensure that your stories are true instead of pretending to have the gospel then cocking up the facts so monumentally! And if you run a little blog like Kampus something -can’t remember it’s name- you had better start referring to me as “Mheshimiwa Msema Kweli” because let’s face it, you wait for Chim to post it so you know what is tru and what isn’t.

Like him or hate him, Uncle Chim Tuna is just that guy! The one with all the true scoops! I’m done gloating.

Top of the morning good people! It’s Monday, yeah, the blues and all but here’s something that will kick all that away;

#1 Saddique Shaban Tells Us Why He Has Quit KTN

#2 Nick Mutuma Strikes Back. Find out what he says.

#3 Nick Mutuma Thrown Under the Bus Yet Again! Find out by who.

#4 Check out Jaguar’s Heavy Security Detail.

#5 Here’s Another of Larry Asego’s Gut-Busting Escapade With His Boss

#6 Gospel Artists Having a Great Time in Mombasa (Photos)

#7 Check out this Open Letter to Kenyan Artists

#8 This Is How Mayhem Went Down At Tortillas Last Weekend! (Photos)

#9 Chinua Achebe Laid To Rest (Photos)

#10 Ulopa Ngoma Introduces: Kenya’s Next Big Musical Revelation

There you go. Keep it here for more news.  Have a great week ahead.

Watch Tarrus Riley and Alpha Blondy live at KICC on June 15th

I just shared with you the first part of that story, here’s the second bit of that interview.

Read part one of this interview here. Papergang’s first huge performance was in Tanzania, and that came about as a result of an EATV interview. The presenters really digged their flow and hooked them up with Fiesta event organizers. He has performed in many campus here, almost evry major town in Tanzania as well as a show in Uganda. 

Finally to the gun story, he vehemently denies any deliberate wrong doing! He innocuosuly borrowed a gun from his policeman friend, to shoot the video. He explains that on the ‘fateful’ day, they were policemen there as a formality, and the gun did not at any one point leave the premise. Posting the picture ellicted such a heated debate that he was ‘nabbed’ and interogated for hours! He narrated how he got a call from strangers requesting his assistance because they wanted to pursue a music career.

They turned out to be policemen, who arrested but he was later released with no charges pressed. He edited the gun part in the video thus you shall not be viewing that. That video will be released on the 25th of May. He is now part of the Boomba production company, it’s contactual though. He not only appeared in the Juliani Utawala video, he also shot it. He plans to release a documentary of the arduous journey that has been music. Some of the hurdles he has had to surmount include opposition from his family because he chose to do secular music. Others include music not getting played until you know the industry bigwigs, as well as lacking funds to record when starting out. He says he has taken all that in his stride.

He did throw in an intersting fact, that he performed with Camp Mulla before anybody knew who they were. And he does co-own a clothing company that dresses celebrities in Nairobi. Despite my incessant nagging, he declined to name the police station where he was held, he says that is behind him. His future projects include opening his own video production company, he however has no interest in being a music producer.

Here’s that picture again.

Have you heard of Rio D? He was the guy that posted a picture of himself with a gun, and had policemen after him. 

He posted a picture of himself with a gun, and literally had cops looking for him! More on that story in part two. When I saw that picture I actually thought it was a joke, but apparently it sparked such a raging debate on social media that police got wind of it. He was here earlier today to clear the air on the fiasco that he was embroiled in. Decked in tattoos, it twas one of the thing that I had to ask. He said as a hiphop artist, tattoos are part of that culture and each one he has holds a special place in his ‘heart. There’ll be a Ghafla video posted soon.

Two are of his name, a g-clef which indicates his love for music, as well as 100%. That peeps out of his chest. That he says describes his describes his indefatigable spirit and unquenchable urge to go ham in life. R.I.O are the initials to his real name, the first being Robin. Rio-D is a jack of many trades and a mastes of them all! He is a fashion designer, rapper, model, student, videographer and until recently a journalism student. He was in Zetech collge. He began music when he was 13 years, but recorded his first song in form 2. That was when he started performing, something that led to him going to three different high schools. Music was the bane of his high school life, and a bone of contention. His first video though unofficial was released when he was in form two.

After high school in 2011, he overheard that Prezzo’s MMG was looking for a team to work with. He sent prezzo his song hoping to collabo with him, but his team ended up getting signed. The team is called Papergang comprising of himself, Lyon Cash and Maggie who flew out to the States before they were signed. She records in Zone 11 and sends hooks. Zone 11’s producer happens to be Rio-D’s cousin, and he also sends them beats once ina while. His new song is one such collaboration. Their first song was lyrical pastor although paper chase was their ‘official’ release. Unfortunately, they parted ways after one and a half years, due to directional differences. That explaisn why they didn’t appear in the my city my town song or video, now you know! Wait for part two of the interview in a bit.

Heard the song Na wah for you? Ever wondered who was behind it?

Once in a blue moon, a singer checks into the scene just following his heart’s passions, oblivious to the infuluence his workd wiill wield. He checks into the booth, records a song, releases it and in one feel swoop conquers the nation! That, is the story of Scepta. His song na wah for you made him a darling of gospel fans not only in Kenya but as far as Doha Qatar .

That he caused ripples is no rumour. Scepta who is currently at Groove Camp Mombasa left an indelible mark! Meet Maxillar Mumo Vundi also known as Scepta the African Eagle. He hails from a small village called Ilalu in Migwani district, Kitui County. He describes himself as a gospel artiste doing music with an African touch. He holds on to his heritage, because he believes that is the only way to become to conquer the international market. Scepta began doing music at a very early age, and played/owned my first guitar at 15 years. He made a choice to go professional in 2005. He however considers his actual breakthrough into mainstream music to be in 2011. His debut album Ndoto zangu, which in Swahili means my dreams. In 2012, he released his sophomore single, dubbed No kululu no kalala. The song garnered massive rotation on local radios stations, making him a crossover artist in the secular music landscape. The song was named after one of the languages from Zimbabwe, and means that you can’t be on the fence about life, you have to 100% sure about what it is you are embarking on. he wa stalking about following Jesus.That song swung open many a door new door, propelling him to heights hitherto unreached.

It culminated in him joining Systems Unit, a deejaying outfit cum music franchise that deals with identifying music talent and nurturing it. In the able hands of Dj Mo, he began receiving calls to perform all over the country. Some of them include TSO by K-krew and Groove party by Mo-sound crew, two of the most attended gospel concerts every year. Very coveted slots for any singer worth his salt. The sea of humanity chanting your songs is a sight to behold!

In 2013, he released his biggest hit yet Na wah for you. This song with a pidgin title, earned him his first international tour to the middle east, Doha Qatar to be precise. This was courtesy of Talanta Awards. He says that the fact that the fans were from far flung places like Nigeria, Kenya, Thailand, UK, and Doha was a ‘baffling’ occurrence. His acknowledges that being interviewed by Qatar’s was one of the highlight of that tour.

Scepta takes up-to 3 months to record a single song. His heart has to be at peace before he releases any song. That he believes is what has helped his cement his place in this industry which is very cut-throat. His parting shot, “I love what I do and music is my life, my passion and my means to the end. Music feeds me, clothes me and houses me.” His song Na wah for you is a duet featuring DK Kwenye beat. Dk Kwenye Beat is best known for being the mega hits furi furi dance with Gospel superstar Jimmy Gait, as well as Sari Sari with Afro-fusion star Anto Neo-soul. The song has been played in Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, UK, USA, Australia, Ghana and Doha-Qatar. He is signed to Sterling Entertainment.

Exclusively here at Ghafla! We’re offering you the tickets at HALF price!

This evening, Rabbit will be in Eldoret performing!

Dubbed Freaky friday, it will be at Moi University student centre, from 7 pm

He’ll be performing alongside Jay A with dancers battles from blazers Iconics and Spin Kids. Entrance is only 100 bob! Djs on the decks Dj Jr, Andie, Kev, Rough and Dj Hassan! Oh have you ‘met the lady that sang Waiting with Rabbit?

And if you want to download all of Rabbit’s songs, click on this link here. 

While I was looking for Rabbit’s pictures I came across this post he shared, very touching!

“Today I met a woman aged 53yrs, at some coffee house, she walks to my table and asks if iam him (Rabbit), she says she loves Swahili Shakespeare, and she has a kid in class 4 who can recite it from the beginning to end. so we make a call home, and its true. That moved me. Upto date, I am told that this made history, this changed most things, changed how people view music, and it gave me a new niche.
thanks to every fan who believed in me from day 1.” And yes I just learnet that adisia means to add in sheng. 

This evening, how about you join me at One Fm!

As is the norm every week, I shall be on air discussing in detail some of the biggest stories this week. Incase you are wondering what shall on the plate, read ten things.

The show is hosted by Tina Kaggia and Jb Masanduku! Oh speaking of JB, read this ‘expose’on him here.

A while back I shared with you an event called the art of luxury.

That event held at Skylux Lounge, and featured among others Nick Mutuma and Sarah Hassan! Read about that here!  Well this evening, There’s another “Glow in the dark party”, Friday 24th May 2013 at Skyluxx Lounge who are the official sponsors of this event!.

The host is Daniel Peter who seems to be doing a lot of events recently. Read about another fashion event where he was the emcee. Should you be among the first 50 to purchase tickets, you get glow in the dark pieces! Sadly those pieces are possibly over, it is after all a hot event happening at Skyluxx! What else do you expect? Two very talented Djs who sharing the same decks, spinning at the same time, throwing at each other songs! They don’t miss a beat. Imagine the synchronization. Wow.All this for only, I reiterate, only 300 bob! Tonight, this is what you need to remember,

A red Glow stick:- Taken!
A Blue Glow Stick:- Complicated but can Kiss and Not Tell!
A Green Glow Stick: Very Single and is a Member of The Yolo Fraternity!

The event is by Teddy Kasich, Calvin Sèwê, Caltar Bryant, Robbie Webox, John K. Mbindyo and Amor Thige. Tonight by the way, you shall be celebrating the birthday of the C.E.O of BEAT International Caltar Bryant and Samuel DjStretch Mwangi. 300 bob, Skyluxx Lounge, two deejays on the same decks, glow in the dark Merchandise courtesy of Glow2guys. The end!