Sauti Sol In A New Release With Tiwa Savage

Kenyan hit makers and Africa’s Best Group, Sauti Sol, feature Nigerian queen of pop, Tiwa Savage, in new single: Girl Next Door. Following the success of Melanin, this Maleek Berry- produced track laced in Polycarp’s renowned fancy guitar riffs is the second single off Sauti Sol’s LP titled Afrikan Sauce.

Sauti Sol.

The song was composed by Sauti Sol, mixed and mastered by Supersonic Africa, written and performed by Sauti Sol and Tiwa Savage, co-written by the phenomenal femcee, Fena Gitu from Kenya.

Girl Next Door is a wavy sound into the new year- revolving around a love story between a guy and a girl on the same block (Bien Aime and Tiwa). The music video was shot in Lagos, Nigeria and directed by Unlimited LA.

Tiwa Savage speaks on her first collaboration with Sauti Sol: "It’s been such an honour to work with Sauti Sol as I have been a big fan of their work since their first album Mwanzo back in 2008,” adding, “I am looking forward to us performing Girl Next Door live in Kenya in the near future.”

Sauti Sol's Bien Aime with Tiwa Savage.

Sauti Sol echo Tiwa’s sentiments: “We love this jam so much! We’ve been eying Tiwa Savage for years and we’ve always wanted to work with her. The collabo was seamless and everything we anticipated it would be.”

In 2018, Sauti Sol will unveil a song each month off the Afrikan Sauce LP. In November 2017, they released Melanin featuring Patoranking – a mega hit which has surpassed 4.6 million YouTube views in just one month.

Watch it below:

NRGWave Set To Be Kenya's Biggest New Year’s Eve Party

Kenya’s biggest jump-off party, dubbed #NRGwave is set to take place on December 31, at the Wild Waters in Mombasa. The event, a first of its kind, will provide party people with the ultimate entertainment experience for the night offering a line-up of 12 A-list artistes, 12 top deejays and three unique stages to experience from 6pm to 6am.

This edition of the party, aims to draw Kenyans from all over the country to enjoy a New Years’ party experience courtesy of Coca Cola, Captain Morgan Gold, Safaricom, Little Cabs KE and the County of Mombasa. It promises to deliver an exhilarating experience setting new standards in entertainment. Promising to be a first of its kind, iconic stage design, adrenaline-pumping disco lights and a fireworks display is set to light up the Mombasa night sky.

“We’re pulling all the stops to redefine what a NYE party should feel like. From the NRGized sound, stage and lights setup to the NRGized performances from our star-studded line up of East Africa’s finest music talent. This is the one party you don’t want to miss” the organisers noted.

This year has registered a host of concerts and events that have given our local artistes a platform to perform not only in the country, but across borders as well. In light of this, the #NRGWave team would like to provide supporting platforms to the entertainment industry by promoting local acts.

The line-up will consist Nyashinski, Khaligraph Jones, King Kaka, Avril, Timmy Tdat, Naiboi, Kristoff, Fena, Jonny Skanny, Victoria Kimani, Akothee and Rayvanny. Deejays will consist Bash, Phauz, Shiruh, Space, Wesley, Mura, Hypnotic, Xclusive and Elonn. The event will be hosted by DNG, Gates and Mzazi Willy Tuva.

Tickets to the #NRGWave party are available on Ticketsasa or www.nrg.co.ke/wave

Full List Of 2017 Kalasha International Film & TV Awards Nominees

The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) has unveiled the nominees of this year's Kalasha International Film & TV Awards. During the unveiling breakfast at the IMAX theatres in Nairobi CBD on Wednesday, November 8, KFC announced that it had registered the highest number of entries ever received since the inception of Kalasha.

It said that 237 films were submitted, affirming the credibility of the Kalasha over the last seven years. This year, the Kalasha International has been split in three with the Kalasha International Film Festival set from December 4-8, the Awards gala on December 9 and the Market set for March 2018.

Here is the full list of the 2017 Kalasha Film & TV Awards nominees;

BEST COMEDY

Arnold and Bundi
Waliobaki
Urembo
Hullaballoo Estate

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY

Jela 5 Star - Bilal Wanjau
Mshamba - James Chanji
Waliobaki - Fevan Abraham
Junior - Jamal Nasoor

BEST TV HOST

Teddy Muthusi – Lion’s Den
Neomi Ng’ang’a – Sema Nami
Keff Joinange – XYZ SHOW
Mary Mwikali – Life & Style

BEST TV DRAMA

New Beginnings
Sue & Johnnie
Keru
Maza

BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA

Sue &Johmnie - Marting Githinji
Tumaini senta - Maina Olwenya
New Beginnings - Joed Kariuki
Mama Duka - Alan Weku

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA

Sue & Johnie – Catherine Kamau
Tumaini senta – Nice Githinji
Mama duka – Ruth Ndulu Maingi
La Msingi Mary Khavere

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Sound Man
Imara
The Last Maasai
Lukembe

BEST FEATURE BY A STUDENT

Dilemma
Anti – Riots
Detox
Tangled Web

BEST TV COMMERCIAL OVERALL

Faiba
Betin
Mkulima
Wafula

BEST SHORT FILM

Uyu Ni Mwarigwo
Chebet
Kaleidoscope
Lina

BEST TV DOCUMENTARY

Story Yangu
Matwana Matatu Culture
Eco @ Africa
The Entrepreneur

BEST DIASPORA

Luna
The Call For Life
Tell It On The Mountain
Born This Way

BEST ANIMATION

Ma-Otero
XYZ Show
Tear Gas Oketch
Machismo

BEST FEATURE FILM

Kati Kati
Aisha
Inherited
Kidnapped

BEST ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY

KatiKati – Mbithi Masya & Mugambi Nthiga
Aisha – Arnold Mwanjila
Kidnapped- Serah Mwihaki
Inherited – Mona Ombogo

BEST DIRECTOR

Kati Kati – Mbithi Masya
Aisha – Arnold Mwanjila
Kidnapped – Nick Njache
Inherited – Grace Kahaki

BEST DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Kati Kati - Andrew Mungai
Inherited – Phillippe Bresson
Kidnapped – Wambui Muigai / Likarion Wainaina
Wakwe – Lucky Collins

BEST LIGHTING TECHNICIAN

Aisha – Joseph Gathogo
KatiKati – Siobhan Wilson
Wakwe – Kevin Mutua
Chozi – Bosco Mkindi Soup

BEST EDITOR

Kati Kati – Louiza Wanjiku
Kidnapped – Nick Njache
Wakwe – Hamad Kamole
Joni – Rodrick Ngatia / Emmanuel Otieno

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

Kati Kati

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Kidnapped – Eric Musyoka
Kati Kati – Florian Holzner
Chozi – Alex Mugenda
Wakwe – Khamisi Mohammed

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Aisha – Emmanuel Murabu
KatiKati – Emmanuel Murabu
Inherited – Grace Kahaki
Wakwe  - Shadrack Mwabuni

BEST ACTOR

Kati Kati – Elsaphan Njora
Wakwe – Ayub Bakari
Uyu Ni Mwarigwo – Frank Kimani
Pendo – Maina Olwenya

BEST ACTRESS 

Kati Kati – Nyokabi Gethaiga
Aisha – Joyce Maina
Chebet -  Anita Nthenya Kavuu Ng’ang’a
Kaleidoscope – Melisa Kiplangat

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Aisha – Patrick Gatimu
Kidnapped – Gilbert Lukalia
Kati Kati – Paul Ogola
Maria – Anthony Ndung’u

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Uyu Ni Mwarigwo – Wanjiku Njoroge
Lina – Mumbi Maina
Maria – Mercy Wanjiru
Bait – Millicent Ogutu

BEST EAST AFRICAN FILM

Maria
Breaking With Customs
Kati Kati
Kidnapped

BEST DOCUMENTARY BY A STUDENT

Okola
Gifted  Soul
Unknown Language
The Paradox Of Child Delivery

BEST LOCAL LANGUAGE

Uyu Ni Mwarigwo
Pendo
Torture
Gun Point

Meet Khan, Kenya’s Best Nasheed Artiste And Quran Reciter

Ibrahim Jan Khan Mohamed is one of the most popular Nasheed artistes in Kenya and in East Africa today.

Nasheed is a work of vocal music that is either sung a cappella or accompanied by percussion instruments. Nasheed are popular throughout the Islamic world. The material and lyrics of a Nasheed usually make reference to Islamic beliefs, history, and religion, as well as current events.

Khan is also highly innovative and successful professional musician with a strong expertise in the art of composing original, thematic music and playing covers for live audiences. He is currently working with Nairobi-based production house, Mainswitch Production.

The 23-year-old award-winning artiste and Quran reciter went professional in 2014, and throughout his career, he has recorded several Nasheed including Mama. Recently, Khan released Days Will Come and Go, which is receiving impressive viewership online.

Khans’ singing is exciting and breath-taking. He is noted for his mesmerising and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalises lyrics to instrumental solos. He uses the voice as his instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion. His honesty shines in well-chosen collection of songs.

He speaks four languages: English, Kiswahili, Arabic and Urdu. As a poet, he’s won the prestigious Wallah bin Wallah Award.

Watch some of his works below:

'Ultimate Comic' Pitch Tent In Nairobi For Final Leg Auditions

Are you funny? Can you tickle a rib? If this description suit you, then you will have to head to Kenya National Theatre (KNT) in Nairobi this weekend, as talent judges Tony Njuguna, Jalang’o and Massawe Japanni will be on the look-out for fresh talented stand-up comedians for the upcoming Maisha Magic East's show, Ultimate Comic.

In the last three weeks, close to 300 hopeful contestants have presented themselves to the judges in Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu, to prove that they have what it takes to be the top comic. The contestants who will be selected in Nairobi will join other selected contestants from the previous auditions for the knock out stages in the coming weeks.

“We are happy with the success we have witnessed so far in the three towns where we have already carried out auditions. We have seen good talent and selected some finalists from each of the regions for the next phase of the competition. The Ultimate Comic show gives comedians an opportunity to showcase their talent even as we give them a platform to build their skills and capacity. At Maisha Magic, we are committed to producing shows that allow us to contribute towards growing our local people and industries,” said Maisha Magic East Head of Channel, Margaret Mathore.

Comedians in Nairobi between the ages of 18-50 can take part in the auditions which will be held at the Kenya National theatre on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14, between 8am and 6pm.

Following the auditions, 36 shortlisted comedians from across the country will then proceed to the knock out stages and live shows, before the grand finale scheduled for March 2018. The Ultimate Comic winner will walk away with a TV contract, one million shillings in cash prize and a brand new car.

The new show will start airing exclusively on Maisha Magic East on DStv Channel 158 and GOtv Channel 4 from November 4, 2017, and consequently every Saturday from 8.30pm.

'Our Perfect Wedding' Back On Maisha Magic East

Maisha Magic East’s reality wedding show, Our Perfect Wedding (OPW), made a return for its second season on October 5, this year. This offers the viewers a chance to walk with couples and experience the drama, excitement and emotional journey that comes with planning a wedding.

One lucky couple will also get the wedding of their dreams, as Maisha Magic East (MME) will once again reward one lucky viewer with an all-expense paid wedding and honeymoon. During the second season of OPW, 26 lucky DStv and GOtv viewers will also win a holiday for two, just by watching the show and answering some trivia.

Speaking during the launch, Maisha Magic East Head of Channel Margaret Mathore said MME remains committed to promoting local content in Kenya.

“Weddings are a large part of the Kenyan culture and African culture as a whole. Our Perfect Wedding is the only reality drama series that revolves around the whole wedding process that we all love! As you all know, wedding planning comes with its dose of drama as well as entertainment and inspiration. This is what we want to showcase to our audiences,” she said.

GOtv Kenya General Manager Simon Kariithi reiterated the company’s commitment towards supporting the local industry in Kenya, in return spurring economic growth.

He said, “MultiChoice is rooted in countries where our customers live and we are very proud of the contribution we are making in our local communities. We have done this through our DStv platforms, that has delivered content that people across the continent for the past 22 years, and GOtv for six years. We also strive to offer our viewers the best local content through having Maisha Magic Channels exclusively on both our DStv and GOtv platforms. We realise that our audiences are thirsty for good quality shows and as the entertainment industry grows, we take the opportunity to serve audiences with more of what they want.”

The new season promises to give viewers a lot of entertainment coupled with drama that goes into planning “the perfect” wedding. The second season will feature 26 couples instead of 14 couples as was featured in the debut season. It airs every Thursday at 8pm on DStv Channel 158 and GOtv Channel 4.

Tippy Toe Remix Is Here!

Rapper Femi One, has released the much anticipated Tippy Toe Remix. The song has featured some of the biggest names in the industry namely Kristoff, Fena Gitu, Timmy Tdat, King Kaka and DJ JR.

"I am so humbled that I got to work with such great artistes on this remix. I have learnt so much from their careers. I admire Fena Gitu and Timmy Tdat's consistency, which is commendable. Kristoff is a genius with feel good music and King Kaka's ability to fit in any type of song is inspiring," says Femi One

"It was awesome working with all these amazing artistes on this great, fun song. We definitely all had so much fun," says Kristoff.

Timmy Tdat: "There was a lot of chemistry going on  on this song, I was so humbled to be a part of the remix."

"It was fun working with the crazy Kaka Empire bunch. I am personally a big fan of Femi One, so it was a pleasure to finally get to do something with her," says Fena Gitu.

King Kaka, "Bomb! Kubwaaaa!" 

The song was produced by Jack Jack on the Beat and the video directed by Johnson Kyalo for Empire Films.

Watch it here: