Bamba Mbaya, gospel group Kelele Takatifu’s latest hit is out. Produced by Producer of the Year at the 2016 Groove Awards, Saint P, the video of the song was shot in Eastlands.

The video of the new hit combines creativity and humour, but fans of the gospel duo will be forgiven for mistaking the song with the hit Ngori, which todate remains the group’s most popular song.

However, according to the group members – Silvanus Otieno aka Didi and James Muhia aka Moji Shortbabaa – Bamba Mbaya is a testimony of how exciting life in Christ is.

The post Kelele Takatifu release new hit ‘Bamba Mbaya’ – VIDEO appeared first on Nairobi News.

Popular gospel DJ and the host of K24’s The Switch, Jackson Kamau, better known as DJ Soxxy, could be welcoming baby number two.

DJ Soxxy has dropped the hint on his Facebook page asking his fans to suggest a suitable name for a baby if you are blessed with one.

“When God blesses you with a child, what is your favorite name,” the DJ posed on his post.

His fans responded positively with numerous suggestions for names. DJ Soxxy and his wife, Ciiru, approved some of the names.

The couple are already parents to baby Eliana Wairumu who is one and a half years old.

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It looks like wedding bells are in the offing for KTN news anchor Sophia Wanuna.

Her boyfriend Sasha Mutai, former Safari Sevens chairman and the Architectural Association of Kenya Vice Chairman, finally toke her for introductions to his family in Nandi county.

PHOTO | COURTESY

PHOTO | COURTESY

The two shared pictures of themselves during the ceremony on their respective Instagram pages.

Sophia wrote ‘your people shall be my people #Lafamillia’, while Mutai wrote ‘lunch with wazee’

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Tanzanian songstress Rehema Chamila, better known Ray C, was on Friday night arrested by police after seemingly losing control on the streets of Dar es Salaam.

In a video, which has been widely shared on social media, the once celebrated singer is seen being arrested and bundled into a police pick up.

The singer, who is said to have been shouting that some people were out to kidnap her, appears distraught and dazed.

DRUG ADDICTION

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Ray C has fallen back to her drug addiction. Other reports have it that the singer’s mother has been looking for her, since she has not been seen at home for a while.

Tanzanian actress, ESha Buheti, expressed her disappointment after witnessing the one-time top bongo artiste traumatic experience.

Ray C has been struggling with drug addiction and in 2012 then President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, offered to pay for her medical bills of the songstress who was undergoing rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation seemed to have been going well and last year she made it to the cover of True love Magazine (April edition) as she recounted her addiction and road to recovery.

The post Songbird Ray C arrested in Dar after losing control – VIDEO appeared first on Nairobi News.

Kenyan singer, Alisha Popat, has attributed her love for Kenya as the reason why she showcases the country’s beauty across the globe.

Alisha has also revealed that her passion for conservation is what informed her decision to shoot all her videos in some of the country’s best known tourist sites.

“What I have to show on my music videos to the world is how beautiful my country. I am so proud of how Kenya keeps its conservation and so I thought I had to do is show the would how beautiful this place is,” Alisha said in an exclusive interview with Nairobi News.

The singer is also full of praise for Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) for what they are doing to conserve wildlife.

“When we set fire to all that ivory (in April), it was such a big stand for us as a country. I’m sure 90 per cent of Kenyans were incredibly happy with that massive gesture. That was Kenya basically saying that we are willing to lose that amount of money to stay true to what we believe in,” she said.

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There was drama at the Disruption Africa tour Nairobi concert last Saturday at the Carnivore.

Just as the show was winding up, a heated argument broke out between model Deliah “Ipupa” Oindi and a woman she had accused of stealing her phone, an iPhone 6.

She had apparently left it charging where the “thief” was seated and when the accused left, the phone went missing.

An incensed Deliah went after the lady and took her purse preventing her from leaving the venue and would only hand it over if she got her phone back.

Luckily, before any cat fights ensued, police at the venue intervened separating the two to hear both sides of the story. Minutes later, the phone was found tucked away in someone else’s purse.

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The Entertainment with Fun for Charity (EFC) Basketball Tournament will next week Saturday hold another tournament for a charitable cause.

This time, they will be shooting hoops in support of a young man who was shot during an Al-Shabaab bus attack last year.

Speaking to Showbuzz, the Chairman of the tournament, Genge rapper Nonini, said it was a worthy cause and that they would try to help him get back on his feet financially.

“He is still recovering but has to go to Kenyatta Hospital everyday for dressing. We want to help him in whichever way we can, even if it means starting a small business to get his livelihood back,” Nonini said.

Two weeks ago, the tournament helped raise money for a young woman’s fees for university education. They managed to raise Sh126,000 for the girl from Korogocho slum who is set to join Kenyatta University.

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From humble beginnings that forced him to start working at a young age, Jacob Otieno aka Jacky B, has risen to become one of the top gospel music producers in the country.

Jacky B’s TamuSana Records has produced, among other hits, Size 8’s Mateke and Daddy Owen’s Vanity which got six nominations in this year’s Groove Awards. The well-established producers spoke to Nairobi News in a candid interview about his life:

1. Briefly tell us about yourself? – I’m a very humble man, a born-again Christian and a producer. When I was young I used to go to a studio and during that time a producer who was mentoring me started calling me Jacky Boy. So later on I changed it to Jacky B because I was no longer a boy; that is how my name came to be.

My childhood was not easy and we were forced to move back to the country side after my parents passed away. Sometimes we had to fend for ourselves, but what helped me was that I was a bright student in school. After my primary education, my high school education was sponsored by a Good Samaritan.

2. Why did you choose to produce gospel music only? – I will not say that producing secular music is bad, but when I look were God has taken me from, all I want is to do is His work as a way of giving my testimony.

I wouldn’t mind producing songs praising your mother, father or wife, but what I will never do is produce for someone who sings vulgar music.

3. What is different when working with established artistes from upcoming ones? – Nothing much, except that, when you are dealing with an established artiste, they already know what they want unlike the upcoming artistes who just walk in and tell you to do everything for them. The established artists are very humble, unlike what the public thinks of them.

4. Did you finally recover your stolen awards? – Whoever stole them disappeared with them without trace. They stole my Grove Award, Mwafaka Award and other awards I had won. One day I was at home and being a Christian I always have artistes come to my house because I also have a studio there and on this particular day while I was relaxing at home, I noticed that my awards were not where I always put them. I tried asking around if anyone had seen them but later I had to admit that someone had stolen them.

5. Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moment? – One day after I had cleared high school I was with a girlfriend after a kesha. We were talking on a balcony of this building and some people thought we were either thieves or we were doing something wrong. Everyone came out and we were beaten up. Fortunately we were both fully dressed up.

6. What’s your secret to making great hit songs? – There is no secret of making a great hit, because you will never know when you are doing it. What I can tell you is that, as a producer, I know a good musician when they walk in my studio. One thing people need to know is that, the best musicians have not been heard yet.

It is very difficult for me as a producer to try and push the music to radio or TV stations, most of these unknown artistes are very talented but their music is never played on air. Most stations always keep asking of the old artistes. That’s why we are stagnant the industry.

7. Advice to any upcoming artist? – It takes perseverance to make it. Do not just come in and tell me that I can sing yet you are not prepared. Try and be humble and brand yourself before you approach a producer.

The post Snappy 7: Jacky B – I will never produce any vulgar music appeared first on Nairobi News.

Diamond Platinumz girlfriend and baby mama Zari Hassan on Sunday penned an emotional appreciation to her ex-husband Ivan Ssemwanga.

On Father’s Day on Sunday, Zari – contrary to last year in which she only acknowledged Diamond – opted to tag her ex-husband in an emotional message to Diamond “and to the rest of the dads playing a great role in their kids’ lives.”

PHOTO | COURTESY

Zari and Ivan had three sons during their tumultuous marriage that ended in 2014.  The three boys live with their mother in South Africa, but frequently visit their father who is also based in the same country.

The two former lovers still keep in touch and are directors of several companies that they started together in South Africa during their marriage.

Zari’s Father’s Day message to her ex-husband came as speculation is rife in Tanzania that she is expecting her second child with Diamond.

According to Tanzanian media, the ‘Utanipenda‘ singer is unhappy with the pregnancy, which he described to journalists as coming too soon since his daughter Tiffah is yet to turn a year old.

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Coast based singer Nyota Ndogo is suing a Ugandan Facebook page that is purporting to have been responsible for pairing her with her Danish husband Henning Nielson.

The Facebook page, called Ugandan Single White Men – Sugardaddies & Mummies, pairs young African men and women with white men at an undisclosed fee.

Nyota Ndogo told Nairobi News on phone on Monday that she got wind of the fraud from her Kenyan friend who lives in Tanzania.

The friend informed the singer that a picture of herself and her husband standing together was being used by the page to attract and also convince clients who might be doubtful.

“On Friday a friend of mine in Tanzania called me to inform me that a dating site has been using a photo of me and my husband on their site, using me as an example of a success story,” said Nyota Ndogo.

“The site asks for money from the people interested, and if they see a client is doubtful, they show them my picture as proof. My husband and I never met on any dating site, we met while I was in was on a music tour in America,” she added.

The picture was posted on the Facebook page on March 9, 2016 and identifies Nyota Ndogo and her husband as “Sarah and Raymond”.

The singer said she has already sent some of her representatives to Uganda who will take legal action against the Facebook page.

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Shirleen Wangari, better known for her character as Shish in the TV series Tahidi High, has decided to switch to behind the cameras and take up a role as a producer.

Nairobi News caught up with her to find out the motivation for the career move.

“I want to be like Brad Pitt acting and producing films at the same time, a jack of all trades,” said Shirleen Wangari.

She now owns Blackwell Film Limited and has recently co-produced a short film titled ‘Confessor‘ that stared Nick Ndeda, Jay A, Eddy Peter and herself.

She was also recently in Tanzania to shoot a documentary.

The ‘Confessor‘ has been nominated for this year’s Mashariki African film festival.

“Acting and producing is what most international actors are doing, and having had my share as an actress and the experience in the field it was only inevitable for me to venture into production,” she said.

‘Confessor‘ is not the only ace on her sleeve. She recently starred in the short film titled ‘Captain of Nakara‘ which was screened at the European film festival, as well as ‘Matriach‘, a short film directed by Dancurf Brown that has also been selected to be screened at this year’s Zanzibar Film Festival.

In addition the actress also won the best screen writer in this year’s 48hr film project.

So is this the end of us seeing her on TV? She gives an emphatic no.

“I am quite flexible. If a good opportunity comes up I will definitely do it, but at the moment I feel that Kenya has a lot of great stories to tell, so I will be doing a lot of production work and screen writing,” said Shirleen.

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More than 20 local and East African artistes have been lined up for a music concert which has simply been dubbed Its Big Concert.

Although the fine details of the concert, whose launch will be at the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, the organisers have been making donations for worthy courses in the run up to the event.

One of the beneficiaries is the Mary Faith Rescue Centre in Dagorretti which received donations in form of foodstuffs, medical kits and clothes for the children.

Among the artistes who will headline the concert is Ali Kiba, Redsan, Radio & Weasel, STL, Chris Darling, Mike Rua among others.

The concert will be held in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kisii and Mombasa counties simultaneously.

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Dynamic duo Amos and Josh have released the second video of their upcoming project titled Contrast. The video to the song, Dansi na Mi, is a sequel to Moto Moto.

Speaking to Showbuzz, Amos said they are already done with the album but are yet to settle on a release date.

“The release date depends on how fans are receiving our material. The bulk of the work in the album is complete; we have already shot five videos but there are five more to go. We shall drop the five then the rest we will unveil when we have an official launch date for the album,” he said.

Amos, however, did not reveal how much the project has so far cost them but said: “It’s unbelievably costly because what we have already spent is crazy.”

In the video, Amos has already found his dream girl… but he declined to comment on whether he has got her in real life, stating. “I usually don’t like putting my private life out there.”

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The world will probably not stop because Diamond and Wema Sepetu have finally called a truce on their beef, but it surely is fun to watch them, through social media of course, make up after all the bad blood and name calling.

Last week on Thursday, Wema Sepetu wished her ex-boyfriend’s mother a happy birthday on Instagram, captioning it: “Happy birthday Mamy Akee,” complete with three “kiss” emojis.

Diamond, on the other hand, had previously extended an olive branch by urging fans to go and support Wema Sepetu and her boyfriend Idris Sultan at their black-tie event. Any bets on how long this will last?

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At 23 years old, Maisha Superstar winner Phyllis Mwihaki Ng’etich, also known as Phy, has just began to blossom after she took a year off to concentrate on her music career.

She has released an album, Phylosophy, and her first single, Ruka, is enjoying good play on the airwaves. Another single on the way.

Phy took time from her schedule to visit Nairobi News and let us know what she has been up to and what the future holds.

Tell us about yourself – I have a shosho name Phyllis, I know please don’t judge. A female and I sing. I was born in Kaplong hospital so I grew up in the country side and I started living in Nairobi a few years ago.

I grew up in Sotik town, so this life of (sic) Nairobi is still new to me. I can milk a cow, I’m a milker.

When did your music journey start and how has the experience been since Maisha Superstar? – It all started when I was young, but I think the reason is that, my grandmother is also a singer and she has three albums out. Just look for Phyllis Mwihaki on River Road and you will know what I’m talking about.

When I was in class three I did the music festival which went all the way to the nationals and I think that’s where everything started from.

When I got to Nairobi I was a struggling musician with a band called Phy and the Band before Maisha picked me up.

I don’t think anything has changed because that struggle really shaped me. If you don’t have it and you just jump in to the limelight like that then you will have a hard time finding yourself.

Talk about your album Phylosophy. How has the reception been? – Phylosphy is my first debut album and it was a joint production collaboration between Tim Rubui and Kaka Empire.

To me it is like my entire life is in there because they say your first album reflects your entire career as a musician because everything you have from birth is in there.

What’s your style? – I would like to call myself edgy because I like colours. I don’t like to look like anyone else out there. I wouldn’t like to look like anyone out there, I would prefer to be my own style. Head scuffs are my favorite and I have been stalking a few companies to see if we can do business together.

What is your most embarrassing moment? – One day when I was performing, one of my inner garments decided to show and I thought the audience was appreciating what I was doing but I later realized they were laughing at me.

Have you ever performed outside Kenya and who would you like to collaborate with, either locally or internationally? – I haven’t yet performed outside the country but I know there are plans under way for it to happen. I would love to do it and just see what is out there and may be try a few cuisines out there.

Locally Nyash is around and he should hit me up, he was my childhood crush back in the day.

Internationally, Lauren Hill, Pharell and Torry Kelly who we share the same back ground.

What advice would you give to upcoming musicians?- Find joy in what you do and beauty in what you do, and you will forever be grounded. Be curious if you have an art of it and try to learn from the greats. It is one thing to be born with the the talent and another thing to refine it.

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Disgraced pastor Eric Omba has joined his ex-wife and celebrated gospel musician Gloria Muliro in mourning the passing of her father, David Muliro.

The Groove-award winning musician announced her father’s demise on social media on Sunday, although she did not reveal the cause of his death.

“It is with great sorrow that I inform you of promotion to Glory of my dad! We will always miss you. May your soul rest in Peace Dad,” she posted.

Following the announcement, fellow celebrities, friends and fans filled her social media platforms with condolence messages, and the pastor joined the list.

“I sincerely convey my heartfelt grief to my family, Words cannot express my sadness for the Loss of my father in-law, My Hero Mr David Muliro. My deepest condolences. May your soul rest in peace papa. I will miss you forever,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Gloria had travelled to their rural home on Friday and had been attending to her father and taking care of other family duties.

The post Gloria Muliro’s ex-husband joins her in mourning appeared first on Nairobi News.

Flamboyant female singer Akothee has managed to wow her fans with the lyrics of her new song Yuko Moyoni released last week on Friday.

The song praise the virtues of a black woman who regardless of all the stigmas and what is said about being black, has been able to capture the heart of a foreigner who does all he can to marry her.

“Love is a beautiful thing, begin with loving yourself. Black is Beautiful, Black is Gold, Call it ebony, an expensive and priceless color. Love You for You, Your partner will come at the right time,” wrote Akothee on YouTube.

Akothee shows her mastery of Kiswahili by flawlessly using words that flow, and with double meanings – wenye uchungu, mwende maternity sisi musitupange, maana chungu kimepata mpini wacheni akitwange – so goes one verse in the song.

LOVE STRUCK

The video was shot in South Africa in a jungle where the foreigner who poses as a tourist sees Akothee and is love struck.

Amazingly, despite being three months pregnant at the time of the video shoot, Akothee still showcases her dancing prowess with some very difficult dance moves.

However, as good as the song and video are, some of her fans could not overlook the fact that the singers vocals are still letting her down.

Other are of the feeling that she sings with an open voice that makes her end up shouting, not to mention that the fact that in all of her songs she has to talk at the end.

The post Akothee releases video to latest hit ‘Yuko Moyoni’ appeared first on Nairobi News.

Charity organizations in Kenya stand to reap huge benefits from the proceeds of the 4th Annual Face of Kenya UK was recently held in London.

During the event, more than Sh1 million was raised by the participating beauty ambassadors for various charity organisations based in Kenya.

This year’s event brought together 13 Face of Kenya UK ambassadors representing different boroughs in the UK and different Kenyan communities.

Each of these ambassadors was required to pick a charity of her choice with a connection to Kenya for which they fund raise for through the networks they build.

Miss Ann Wainaina being crowned the winner of the 4th annual Face of Kenya UK. PHOTO | COURTESY

KENYAN CULTURE

Over 400 Kenyans including Cllr Elizabeth Kangethe, Mr Juvenal Shiundu and Friends of Kenya in the UK attended the event where an array of Kenyan culture was showcased.

According to Mrs Janet Wainaina, founder and director, Face of Kenya UK, the initiative has so far raised 65 ambassadors who are actively championing charitable courses and mentorship programmes in Kenya.

This year’s winner was Miss Ann Wainaina a 23 year old professional in the pharmaceutical industry, whose charity of choice is St Ann’s Baby and Children’s Home (Sabach) in Gilgil, Kenya.

The 1st runner up was a community champion, Maryann Kamau, who raised money for Transform a Person Africa (TAPA) located in Kibera, Nairobi.

TAPA seeks to address the plight of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC), parents and caregivers (some living with HIV/AIDS). Her campaign was on bringing the community together in activities.

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