Sauti Sol Release Collabo With Uganda's Bebe Cool

East Africa’s music giants Sauti Sol (Kenya) and Bebe Cool (Uganda) have released a new collabo. The new song is titled Mbozi Za Malwa, Luganda for conversations that usually take place when friends are having a drink at their local joint. 

Sauti Sol

Written by Yesse Oman Rafiki and Sauti Sol, the song has a dancehall vibe and was recorded in Kampala, Uganda. It was produced by Danz, co- arranged by Sauti Sol and mixed and mastered by Ogopa Inc.

"In many African communities, if you want to know the latest gossip, visit a local bar or high end bar with friends for a drink and all talk will rotate around what is making news in the community," explains Bebe Cool.

Sauti Sol added, "We had an amazing time working with Bebe Cool. Our East African fans have been requesting for this and we hope they will love it as we do."

The two parties have also announced an online dance contest between Kenyan girls and their Ugandan counterparts, in the run-up to the music video which has been scheduled to be released on April 24th this year. Using the hashtag #MboziZaMalwa, the winner/s from each country will get to go head-to-head with each other. 

Bebe Cool

The ultimate winner/s will be announced by Bebe Cool on April 26th and will get the bragging rights of "The Best Dancer/s in East Africa", a chance to hang out with an artiste of their choice between Sauti Sol and Bebe Cool and take home $500 (Ksh50,000). The contest will run from April 17th - April 26th.  

The rules are simple;

Just go to SoundCloud and search for Mbozi za Malwa. Create your own dance video or with friends. Record and upload on Instagram using #MbozizaMalwa. Sauti Sol will repost videos from Kenya while Bebe Cool repost videos from Uganda. Sauti Sol will pick the Kenyan winner/s and Bebe Cool to pick Ugandan winners. One final battle between Kenyan reps and Ugandan reps and the winner takes all!!

ZIFF And Trace Mziki Announce Partnership

The Zanzibar International Film Festival,  in    partnership    with    TRACE    Mziki,    is    proud    to    announce    the    East    African    Music    Video    Award,    a    new    category    that    will    honor    the    directors    and    producers    who    make    East    African    artists    look    so    good.      

The    award    for    best    video    will    not    only    celebrate    East    African    artists    with    the    vision    to    create    quality    music    videos,    but    also    the    behind-the-scenes    teams    that    make    these    videos    possible.    For    a    number    of    years,    ZIFF    has    recognized    that    music    videos    are,    in    fact,    short    films    and    should    be    treated    as    such    within    the    confines    of    the    film    festival.       

   

ZIFF    Festival    Director    Fabrizio    Colombo    explains    further,    “this    award    is    a    way    to    promote    storytelling    development    in    music    videos    and    encourage    the    skills    of    producers    and    directors    who    might    start    out    with    music    videos    and    then    find    their    way    towards    feature    length    films.    Recent    film    like    Oscar    winning    “La    La    Land”    shows    how    much    music    and    dance    are    part    of    the    history    of    cinema.”   

   

TRACE    Mziki,    East    Africa’s    biggest    and    most    popular    music    video    channel,    is    also    committed    to    growing    the    East    African    music    industry    and    encouraging    the    production    of    high    quality    videos.   

   

TRACE    CEO    for    Eastern    Africa,    Steve    Agutu    explains    further: "The    partnership    with    ZIFF    to    start    this    category,    coinciding    with    the    festival’s    20th    anniversary,    was    a    no    brainer.    The    category    will    further    cement    our    long-standing    goal    to    not    only    improve    the    quality    of    music videos,    but    also    to    recognize    the  people    who    work    to    make    this    possible.    The    creation    of    this    category    is    indeed    as    timely    as    it    is    important,    and    as    TRACE    we    will    inject    the    high    standards    in    music    video    selection    that    has    propelled    TRACE    MZIKI    to    its    number    one    status.”    

   

A    panel    of    judges    from    the    TRACE    Mziki    selection    committee    will    select    the    final    nominees    from    all    videos    submitted    and    these    videos    will    be    screened    throughout    the    festival    ahead    of    the    main    evening’s    show    in    the    Old    Fort    Ampitheatre.    A    final    winner    will    be    announced    on    the    closing    night    of    the    Festival.   

   

All    East    African    artists,    as    well    as    video    producers    and    directors    are    encouraged    to    submit    their    videos    via    the    submission    form    on    www.ziff.or.tz    in    the    section    east    African    Video    Music    Competition    and    then    send    the    form    and    your    video    link    to    videos@ziff.or.tz   

   

The    deadline    for    submission    is    30th    May    2017   

   

Please    note:    Videos    must    be    for    an    East    African    artist    and    must    have    been    created    in    2016    or    after.  

STL's Single “WORK” Ranked On Italy's Top 100 Radio Charts

Kenyan-Norwegian artiste Stella Mwangi aka STL is once again breaking new ground, this time in Italy! The fifth single off her super successful self-titled EP, Work, is currently ranked at number 18 on the Italian Top 100 Radio charts. 

STL

Since its premier in Italy in March, the single has been creating a buzz and is on high rotation. The track is still buzzing and as become the Number 1 Dance track from Independent Italy at the moment. 

Earlier in the year, Work was also picked to create promotional material for the TommyLand Concert organized by world-renowned fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and American supermodel Gigi Hadid in Los Angeles. Additionally, it is also the official theme song for Reebok Classics “Free Your Style” campaign, 2017.

Stella Mwangi’s self-titled EP has landed several Hollywood gigs making her one of the most successful East African artistes in the music business of licensing in Hollywood. Her unique and authentic sound continues to spark interest from Kenya to Hollywood to Europe.

STL's other works

Stella Mwangi’s EP is a fusion of songs with high energy and her distinct Hip Hop flow that unites her fans across the globe. The EP’s first single, Big Girl, was leased to Donut Media, an American production that specializes in producing TV and YouTube content on the freshest car, motorsports, supercars, auto news and car and prank videos every week.

STL

Set It Off was featured on Being Mary Jane season 4, with Get Up & Go being taken up as a soundtrack for Rosewood Season 2. Stella is also the founder of Vaa Ki Afrika, a sprouting Scandinavian fashion web store selling Kenyan fashion abroad.

Maliza Umaskini Records Boss Sadat Muhindi Officially Enters Politics

Maliza Umaskini founder and CEO Sadat Muhindi has officially declared his entry into politics. The loaded music promoter, manager and businessman has announced that he will be vying for the Likuyani parliamentary seat come August 8th this year when Kenya's general elections will be held. 

Sadat Muhindi.

The constituency is in Kakamega County. Sadat is setting himself up to upstage the incumbent area legislator Enoch Kibunguchy.

Sadat is known for supporting a number of artistes through music recording (audio/video), marketing, distribution and management. This has been through his Maliza Umaskini Records and Maliza Umaskini Foundation.

He posted on his Facebook page:

"I have officially declared my interest in cupturing likuyani palimentary seat in this year's election . I want to win this seat on behalf of my people i will make sure i take it back to the people where it belongs . Time has come for my people to take charge of their money and decide what should be done as per development . Feel free to talk directly to your son , brother and neighbour No broker this is my mobile no 0722716527 .God bless you [sic]."

Among the artistes signed and managed by Sadat includes gospel singers Papa Dennis and Noushka. However, he is yet to officially declare his party of choice, but in the past months, he has been seen inclining to Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In Photos... Emotions Run High As 100-Bob Wedding Couple Finally Does It Big!

February 14th, 2017, was probably one of the biggest days for a young Kenyan couple who hit headlines weeks ago after they surprised many with their budget wedding. The wedding on January 22 this year, cost Wilson Mutura, 27, and Anne Muhonja, 24, just Sh100.

Anne Muhonja and Wilson Mutura.

However, more was to come as tens of well-wishers were touched by the humbleness of the two and decided to shower them with all manners of gifts. One of which was a proper wedding worth Sh3.5 million. The nuptials were held on Valentine's Day at the Eden Bliss gardens along the Northern Bypass Road in Nairobi.

Read also: In Photos... Memorable Valentine's For Kenya's Sh100-Wedding Couple As Duo Tie Knot In Posh Ceremony

At the wedding, emotions run high for the couple as it was hard to believe that it was finally happening to them. A wedding worth Sh3.5 million!! It was indeed a great surprise for the Mwiki couple. Additionally, the two will be enjoying their honeymoon in Dubai!! 

Below are photos of their glam wedding ceremony:

Photos/COURTESY

Singer Emmy Kosgei Sends Heart-Melting Valentine's Day Message To Nigerian Hubby

Kenyan gospel singer Emmy Kosgei has said that her Nigerian husband Apostle Anselm Madubuko has made her become a "better person".

Emmy Kosgei.

In a warming Valentine's Day message posted on her Facebook page, the 35-year-old Taunet Nelel hit singer showered her heart darling with sweet words, describing him as the best thing that ever happened to her. Kosgei went ahead to say that the man of God has over the years shown her "love and care", a thing that has always made her feel special.

"I love this man.. he is the best thing that happenend to me! Im blessed with a loving and prayerful man,im blessed that i didnt miss my divine moment..  you mean the world to me! Im wiser,deeper in things of God,you've made me a better person! You've shown me love and care.. i feel so special💋💋💋💋💋... Nkem! You are the god i see😂😂..i love you to the moon and beyond..!i dont take this for granted coz many marriages are going thru fire,others have divorced,others are hanging in there, others are heartbroken... i am greatful hun.and i keep them in prayers.. may God bless and keep you for me!may He grant you grace,wisdom,health,longevity and fresh oil as you carry out your apostolic mandate as a General and father to nations! I love you!❤ "Your nubian queen" [sic]," read her post.

Emmy and Anselm.

The two married each other four years ago and not even the false rumours of their "divorce" have seemed to shake them off their marriage.

Sex Comedy Film 'House Of Lungula' Now Available In Three Dialects

Sex comedy movie House of Lungula will from today be available in three distinct languages.

According to its makers, the film (released in November 2013) is set to have Kikuyu, Luo and English versions. House of Lungula, directed by renowned filmmaker Alex Konstantaras, casts among other Kenyan actors and actresses Gerald Langiri, Lizz Njagah, Ian Mbugua, Sarah Hassan, Nice Githinji, Lenana Kariba, Sheila Kwamboka, Gitau Ngogoyo, Helena Waithera and Diana Nekoye.

Co-director Lizz Njagah said today:

"We are releasing House Of Lungula (Full Movie) in Luo, Kikuyu and English (Youtube) later on today.. Somethings sound sweeter in mother tongue..."

House of Lungula featured a number of musical works that were mainly by Kenyan artistes. Ni Sisi Band performed (Give it all to me) House of Lungula, which was the main soundtrack for the film. It also featured Chuom 32 alongside Doreen Nyawira performing House of Lungula OST.

Alex Konstantaras and wife Lizz Njagah.

The movie generally received positive reviews among youths and the younger generation in Kenya due to its humour. It was awarded 11 nominations in the 2015 Kalasha Awards. It won the Best Script award.