MIMI Fashion Store To Partner With Fashion Bloggers

FASHION store MIMI has announced a partnership with the 2015 winners of the Mimi Fashion Bloggers contest, in a bid to grow industry capacity, engagement and fashion reporting.

                       (Julie Gichuru)                    

MIMI Founder Julie Gichuru notes that the bloggers have enabled growth in the Kenya fashion industry, hence the need for the public to support local stylists in order to sell Kenya as a fashion hub.
“We had overwhelming response to the blogging contest, which indicated that the public is truly interested in fashion. To this end, MIMI will partner with the top 10 winners of the blogging contest to support them to grow their blogs, as they profile fashion trends and the local market.” she said.
In the 2015 competition, Muriuki Kagiri, author of Dapper Brother emerged tops with 25,000 votes out of over 60,000 votes on his blog, followed by Shawn Osimbo of shawnosimbo.com and Sharon Mwangi who blogs in Style by Shari.
Julie noted that plans are underway to expand the user ability of the platform to encourage local stylists to sell their clothes online.

Photo: Dapper Brother blogger and winner of MIMI Fashion Blogger Contest 2015 receives his cheque from MIMI Founder Julie Gichuru during the award ceremony at Mercury Lounge.

“MIMI is engaging in a thorough analysis of the market to position ourselves as a platform for established and upcoming local and regional designers as part of our strategic growth,” Julie added.

Photo: MIMI Founder Julie Gichuru awards MIMI Blogger Contest 1st Runner Up Shawn Osimbo with a voucher.

The next call for entries for the MIMI Blogger contest 2016 will be announced in February. MIMI shop is located at the Green House, Adams Arcade Nairobi and fashionistas can access online shopping via www.mimi.co.ke.

YQ's Collabo Video With Ice Prince For East African Debut

CADILLY Entertainment’s versatile singer, YQ (below), has released new music video for the single That Girl featuring celebrated rapper Ice Prince, and is ready for the East African debut. 

The two have teamed up to produce amazing visuals to the classic summer collaboration and elated to officially drop the jam in East Africa.
Ahead of the East African release, YQ says, “The East African première of That Girl is a thing of joy and blessing to me. I've been working towards connecting with new fans across the African continent, which will ultimately result to an expansion of fan base and reach of my music and sound after my Channel O after party performance in 2010. This is another breakthrough for me and the beginning of a new dawn.”

                                                     (Ice Prince)
Shot by Africa’s highly revered cinematographer, Clarence Peters, the crisp video was filmed by the seaside at a luxurious beach house in Lagos, Nigeria with cameo appearances by Jaywon & label mates, ED iZycs and Rave.

Watch the video here: youtu.be/FJYUP5dsgTc

Elani Speaks About The Ills At MCSK

CELEBRATED Kenyan music group, Elani, has finally revealed why they have been silent over the past couple of months.

The KooKoo hit-makers through a video they shared on social media, disclosed that they stopped releasing new songs after realising that were being conned by the body in charge of remitting royalties to local musicians, the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).According to the award-winning group, MCSK officials have been deliberately "stealing" their monies effectively ensuring that they run into debts and thereby crippling their operations.

The group took issue with the shocking fact they were paid a mere Sh31,000 as royalties for the year 2014, despite the fact that the group had at least five mega hit songs on constant rotation on local TV and radio stations. According to the three-member band, this huge discrepancy led the discovery that something was totally amiss.

Things would later get more confusing after Elani approached the MSCK demanding to see the music logs – documents that show how often music was played on local radio stations. To their surprise, the music group was given two different sets of logs for the same period of time. While explaining this occurrence, MCSK claimed that they don’t monitor all radio stations adding that many stations give false logs.
Elani then decided to go to the radio stations to establish the truth but soon after MCSK got wind of their action, they called the group’s lead vocalist, Brian Chweya and gave him Sh300,000 as compensation.

This shocking turn of events left Elani questioning the transparency of the society that was established to ensure that artistes reap the benefits of their hard work.Elani now joins a long list of local musicians who have expressed their dissatisfaction with MCSK’s operations. Others who have accused the organisation of wrong-doing include Ringtone and Pitson – who shocked his fans after revealing that he was paid only Sh5,000 in royalties for his mega hit  Lingala Ya Yesu.
Listen and watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLONcjTZ9z0

Controversial Nigerian Artiste Threatens To Sue Top American Actress

A famous controversial Nigerian music artiste, Dencia (below), on Saturday, threatened to sue American actress Lisa Raye, for passing negative comments about her beauty products, Whitenicious.

Lisa Raye (pictured below), who just produced her first movie titled Skinned, threw a shade on the music star while talking about her movie which featured Ghanaian actor Van Vicker, during a radio show on V-103 in the United States.
Lisa disclosed her movie is majorly on skin lightening or bleaching, adding that Dencia’s Whitenicious creams cause skin cancer.

This act took Dencia by surprise as one of her Whitenicious fan sent a message informing her about what Lisa said during the radio program.This message did not go down well with Dencia as she immediately took to her twitter posting several threatening comments to the movie star saying: “Lady you should know better than name drop my brand. See you in court. Ask @Bossip why they took down the stupid posts about @whitenicious #LLAmerica.”

MCSK, PRISK & KAMP To Unveil Medical Scheme For Artistes Ahead Of Planned Demo

THE Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) is this evening expected to roll out the much-awaited medical scheme for Kenyan artistes.

The initiative is a joint project with two other Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) namely the Performers' Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP).
The launch ceremony is scheduled to be held at The Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi, an event to be graced by former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

"MCSK Foundation in partnership with MCSK, KAMP and PRISK is looking to improve the livelihood of artists. They will unveil the first of many initiatives they hope to launch in the near future. This involves: Joint medical scheme in partnership with NHIF that will cover in and out-patient for members and their dependents; Use of short-codes and USSDs which will be used entirely to assist us in selecting the crème of the crème in the music industry by awarding cash prizes to the top artists in the country. The short-codes are exclusive to Safaricom and are meant to build revenues for both Safaricom and the MCSK Foundation so as to empower our artists economically," read a press statement.

The move comes ahead of a planned demo by a section of Kenyan artistes, under the leadership of the Kenya National Union of Musicians (KENUM) on Tuesday morning in Nairobi. The aim of the demo is protest further holding of Skiza tunes royalties by the MCSK and Safaricom Limited. However, the matter is currently a case in court, where determination is awaiting.

Is Bien Planning To Marry Nigerian Girlfriend?

BIEN-Aime Baraza, one of the stand-out members of the award-winning all-boy group Sauti Sol, may settle down with his Nigerian girlfriend Chiki Onwukwe.

The beautiful lass, who made her debut late last year as a fitness instructor and dance choreographer in the sixth edition of reality TV fitness show Slim Possible, has been in Kenya for just over one year now.

For the first time, Bien was spotted getting cozy with her during the Fashion High Tea fashion event in February last year. He also showed up hand-in-hand with her at an edition of the Koroga Festival and later during the group's manager Marek Fuchs wedding in September last year. Recently, Bien posted a sizzling photo of them during a private moment at English Point Marina in Mombasa, which went viral. 

So, are you going to marry her in 2016? We asked him.
“Hahahaaa... The truth is that I already have the woman. And you know her. But I am not talking about marriage for now. You are such a journalist!” he said evading giving a straight answer.

Chiki, who has been practicing dance and dance fitness for 15 years, has previously worked with Weight Watchers and ran the Ministry of Sound dance team in the UK.

Comedian Chipukeezy To Wed Soon

COMEDIAN Vinnie Chipukeezy is all but set to become a husband soon!

The Churchill Show star has put a ring on it and a wedding is already in the plans. Chipukeezy engaged his girlfriend Vivian Kerry on Wednesday last week.

According to the comic, he has dated his fiancée for one year.

He says: “Wednesday was her birthday and we were celebrating it at my place in Buruburu, when I suddenly went down on my knees and I asked her if she could be my wife. We've been having the conversation about marriage, so she obviously in the know that I would pop the question at some point. What she didn't know though was that it would be during her birthday. She cried for about one hour after that!”

How much was the ring?

“The ring was worth it! Hahaa... We have already met the parents from both sides. I would say that the train has already left the station.” 

It's Back To School For Zappy Majirani!

AFTER dropping out of university three years ago to pursue music, rapper Zappy Majirani has decided to go back to school!

The Hivo Ndio Kunaendaga hit-maker dropped out at the University of Nairobi where he was pursuing a degree in Criminology, a course he disliked because “it was forced on me by my parents, especially my dad who works with the Kenya Defence Forces as a Navy soldier”.
However, the rapper – who records with Grandpa Records under promoter Refigah – says that after dropping out, he vowed to never ask his parents for college fees to rejoin campus and pursue the course he liked.

"Music was my passion but they (parents) never understood me. I am now in a position to pay for my own college fees and I am joining Moi University in Eldoret this February to do a degree in Information Technology. In the short span I have been in music, I have realised that I need something extra to back up my music business.”

Musically speaking, Majirani feels that his comeback, which he marked with the hit Tukumbukeko, has been remarkable.
He says: “Studying will not hinder the incredible response I have received for my music. I am already in studio and new music is coming out soon.”
Follow the link for his latest video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xP9RpgZcs8
   

Kenzo Credits Late Mum For Music Influence

SINGER Kenzo has attributed his progress in music to the inspiration he acquired from his late mum Margaret Aoko Onyango.

The singer has just released a tribute reggae song titled Mama, dedicated “specially” to his mother. He says that it was her who taught him that “nothing is impossible in life”.
"I hold my mum in very high regards because she managed to raise four “men” without any man's help or a good job. She was just a surbordinate worker at Kenya Polytechnic. But she did what she had to,” he says.

“She taught me that people will always try to pull you down, make life difficult or even discourage you, but that nothing was impossible in life. She encouraged me to work hard. She taught me self-reliance and insisted on humility, kindness and love.”For his music influence, Kenzo says that his mother taught her nothing less than respect for women.

He says: “My mum has a lot of influence in my music, in that she taught me how to respect women, hence most of my music is always about appreciating women's beauty and their efforts. My brothers also loved mum and they are always instrumental when I am composing any song to her tribute.”
Here is the link to his new video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIB5kK6FVU8

Anto Neosoul Storms Class To Surprise Childhood Teacher!

SINGER Anto Neosoul today surprised his childhood teacher at Lavington Primary School in Nairobi, when he “stormed” her class!

This is what he wrote on his IG (verbatim) with the photo-grid below: “19years ago a week like today, I met the lady who was going to change my life forever. I met my class 4 Teacher, Mrs Owino in Lavington Primary School. She moulded my talent. Pushed me to sing, to be presentable, to perform and to fear God.Today, I surprised her in class, we had lunch together, spoiled her a bit as she protested because as ever, she remains humble in all she does.
Today I told her thank you. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for the great memories. Thank you for the discipline you instilled in me. Thank you for pushing me to be one of Kenya's greatest vocalists. No apologies. Like you always said.
Today I shed a tear, because I saw in her eyes that after 34 years of teaching, her kids never forget her.
Thank you Mrs. Owino. You are my icon today and forever.”

DJ Joe Mfalme To Tour Australia This Feb!

ONE of Kenya's best spin masters, DJ Joe Mfalme, is set to kick-off his Australian performance tour dubbed Joe Mfalme Live in Australia. 

He will be performing in different Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, starting February 5-13. 

Netflix Is Now Available In Kenya

On Wednesday, Netflix launched its service globally (including in African countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa) simultaneously bringing its Internet TV network to more than 130 new countries around the world. 
As reported by Netflix Media Centre, the American worldwide provider of on-demand Internet streaming media company made the announcement during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at CES 2016.

“Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Hastings. “With this launch, consumers around the world -- from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo -- will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously -- no more waiting. With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.”

For one monthly price, members around the world will be able to enjoy Netflix original series including Marvel’s Daredevil and Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Narcos, Sense8, Grace and Frankie, and Marco Polo, as well as a catalog of licensed TV shows and movies. In 2016, the company plans to release 31 new and returning original series, two dozen original feature films and documentaries, a wide range of stand-up comedy specials and 30 original kids series -- available at the same time to members everywhere.

While largely available in English in most new countries, Netflix today added Arabic, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.

“From today onwards, we will listen and we will learn, gradually adding more languages, more content and more ways for people to engage with Netflix,” said Hastings. “We’re looking forward to bringing great stories from all over the world to people all over the world.”

Netflix will not yet be available in China, though the company continues to explore options for providing the service. It also won’t be available in Crimea, North Korea and Syria due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies.

Since Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, the service has expanded globally, first to Canada, then to Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to include 60 countries.

Netflix is available on virtually any device that has an Internet connection, including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and game consoles, and automatically provides the best possible streaming quality based on available bandwidth. Many titles, including Netflix original series and films, are available in high-definition with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and some in Ultra HD 4K. Advanced recommendation technologies with up to five user profiles help members discover entertainment they'll love.

For a full list of countries and territories where Netflix is now available, see here. Photos from the Netflix CES keynote can be downloaded here. A video showcasing Netflix original content is available here.

About Netflix
Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 70 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. 

Try Netflix for free for one month by signing up at www.netflix.com.

Lady Nanaa: Age Doesn't Define Anyone!

SINGER Lady Nanaa is bumbling with her new single titled Nieleze with singer Qty.

"Nieleze was a song inspired to tell women you don’t have to be treated lesser of a person. The bible says woman be submissive but nowhere is it written and husband mistreat your women," she says.

Nanaa adds that our respect for one another should be mutual.
"I respect older people but to me age does not define anyone. My bucket list is a daily one and I am never afraid to do what my heart feels. My wisdom tells me we should all treat each other as we would love to feel personally," she says.

The video was made by Peterwan Flicks Empire under Mchege.
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIrKGETv6vA 

DJ Joe Mfalme Joins Anti-Hunger Drive For Children

POPULAR Kenyan disc jockey, DJ Joe Mfalme, has joined an anti-hunger drive dubbed #40ForAPlate.

The initiative is targeting to raise funds to feed millions of school-going children who find it difficult paying attention to their studies due to hunger.

He says: "Millions of children go to school on an empty stomach everyday making it hard for them to concentrate and learn. Give #40ForAPlate to provide @food4education and ensure that 1000 school children don't learn while hungry this year. You can give via MPESA Paybill 596428, A/C:40."

Denise Gordon Pays Tribute To Natalie Cole

SOULFUL Jazz and Blues singer-songwriter, Denise Gordon, has paid tribute to the departed American singer, songwriter and performer, Natalie Cole.

"The year also ended on a sad note with the loss of the lovely voice of Natalie Cole at the age of 65. This Will Be will forever be her signature. Please click on the video Believe of her and Earth Wind and Fire. Cant Find Love...," says the Kenya-based US artiste (pictured above).

The Pink Cadillac hit-maker died on December 31, 2015, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, due to congestive heart failure.
She was the daughter of the late American singer Nat King Cole. She rose to musical success in the mid–1970s as an R&B artist with the hits This Will Be, Inseparable and Our Love. 

After a period of failing sales and performances due to a heavy drug addiction, Cole re-emerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's Pink Cadillac. In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won her numerous Grammy Awards. She sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Bien-Aime Baraza Flaunts His Girlfriend!

WHEN she made her debut late last year as a fitness instructor for Slim Possible, where she hosted her segment dubbed Kuruka with Chiki, little was known about Chiki Onwukwe.

That was until Bien-Aime of Sauti Sol was seen with her for the first time at Koroga Festival and later during Sauti Sol’s manager’s wedding. 
Recently, he posted a sizzling photo of them during a private moment at English Point Marina in Mombasa which has caused quite a buzz on social media.

Chiki has been in the country for a year. She is a qualified fitness trainer and has been teaching dance and dance fitness for 15 years. She previously worked with Weight Watchers and ran the Ministry of Sound dance team in the UK. 

Sauti Sol Release “Relax” Music Video

MULTIPLE award-winning group Sauti Sol has released the music video to their new jam, Relax.

The song is the seventh single off their new third album: Live and Die in Afrika, which was released on November 21, last year.
Relax is a bona fide feel-good track and a dedication to all Sauti Sol fans, and music fans worldwide.

The video features behind the scenes video clips of the group's 2015 shows, tours and events, summing up what was a successful year for Sauti Sol. 
From Rwanda to USA, they include Sauti Sol’s debut at Kigali Up Festival, Global Citizen Festival, Sauti Sol Road to BET American Tour that also saw them attend BET Awards as nominees in the Best International Act - Africa category, among others.

The song was written and produced by Sauti Sol, while the video was produced and directed by Michael Rainin (RAINPIX). It was edited by Joseph Remerowski (Pictures in a Row) and executively produced by Sauti Sol Entertainment.
Live and Die in Afrika was added in BBC Africa’s Top 10 tracks of 2015 and Okayafrica’s Top 15 Albums of 2015, with the group listed as Billboard Africa’s Most Promising Music Group.