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:

MaaFleva Partners With The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Entertainment outfit Maafleva Entertainment is set to partner with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kajiado Chapter in a youth programme that aims at increasing youth participation in business.

MaaFleva, which has been undertaking several community led projects, will put to paper the deal, which will seek to promote youth led businesses in the county. According to the unit's CEO Tom Kimintah, while the government and other financial institutions have been pushing for more participation by the youth in business and entrepreneurship, there is little assistance when it comes to capacity building.

MaaFleva CEO Tom Kimintah.

"By partnering with the chamber, MaaFleva Entertainment is able to create a platform where the youth can develop strong business links, leveraging on the expertise accrued over the years, and also given the Chambers specific mission to promote entrepreneurship and increase business membership," he said.

The Search Is On For The Ultimate Comic

Maisha Magic East in partnership with Kenya's comedy king Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki is in search of Kenya’s ultimate comic. The new reality show dubbed Ultimate Comic is a televised stand-up TV comedy show, which aims to find one rib-cracking stand-up comedian between the age of 18 and 50, to perform comedy acts on stage, created by themselves.

The hunt will begin through auditions in four major towns in Kenya beginning in Mombasa from September 22 and 23, then Kisumu City on September 29 and 30. Auditions will be held in Nakuru on October 6 and 7 and finally Nairobi on October 13 and 14.

Maisha Magic East Head of Channel Margaret Mathore says, “The Ultimate Comic is a platform that Maisha Magic East is offering, for local comedians to showcase their talent. We strive to deliver the shows that people love into their hands and their living rooms while using our influence and resources to play a positive role in Africa. We remain committed to helping to grow our local people and creative industries. This show is a continued sign of that commitment by Maisha Magic East.”

Following the auditions, 40 successful comedians from across the country will be shortlisted to take part in the knock out stages and live shows before the grand finale scheduled for March 2018. In the winner-takes-all show, The Ultimate Comic will have a hefty task of not only bringing rib-cracking stand-up comedy to convince the judges of the show that they are the funniest person, but will have to win the love of the whole country to garner votes for the top position.

Judges include renowned comedians Tony Njuguna, Felix Odiwuor aka Jalang’o and radio host Massawe Japanni. The short listed comedians will also receive mentorship by various top personalities among them Charles Bukeko beter known as Papa Shirandula, MC Jessy, Abel Mutua, Sammy Mwangi, Victor Ber, Carolyne Adong’o and Obillo Ng’ongo.

Daniel "Churchill" Ndambuki.

The show aims to grow new talent in the comedy industry and accord a chance for both the young and old alike to realise their dreams. The winner of The Ultimate Comic will not only have the title Ultimate Comic, but they will also walk away with a TV contract, one million shillings and a brand new car.

It will air on Maisha Magic East from November 4, 2017 at 8.30pm. It becomes the fifth of the 15 local shows to launch on Maisha Magic East for the year 2017/2018 in an aim to promote local productions and in turn support local talent in the film industry. The new comedy reality show will air exclusively on Maisha Magic East on DStv channel 158 and GOtv channel 4, every Saturday at 8.30pm.

Kenya's Exclusive Local Content Broadcaster Raia TV Set For Launch

The migration from analog to digital transmission in broadcasting has opened up a new world of possibilities. This has made it possible for many Kenyans to realise their dreams which before was just but a mirage.

Among those who have benefited from this are two renowned producers of local Kenyan content; Ann Hamberger and Henry Lenga. The two are renowned for their exciting and entertaining Swahili movies and series which have previously aired on our local stations and also on Maisha Magic. Out of the limited airplay given to the Swahili local content, the two felt the need to start their own station to bridge the gap.

Raia TV CEO Ann Hamberger and Executive Director Henry Lenga.

On October 6 this year, a new free-to-air TV station that will be airing local Swahili entertainment is set to be launched. Raia TV will be broadcasting 100 per cent pure local entertainment, showing movies, series, soaps, comedies, dramas, reality shows, talk shows and features back to back. The station is aimed at promoting and give opportunity to the local content producers giving them a platform to showcase their talents. True to its name, Raia TV, is targeted to resonate with the normal mwananchi –Raia.

Though broadcasting from Mombasa city, Raia TV will also be viewed in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru and Nyeri, before rolling out countrywide viewership.

"Others will also be able to watch us on the online stream and soon we shall be launching a Video On Demand (VOD) platform," says Hamberger.

This station will increase uptake of local content, and hence, more job opportunities for the youth in Kenya. Raia TV will make it possible for Kenyans at large to enjoy the digital dividend.

The new station is the brainchild of of Ashiner Pictures' Ann and Henry, who are the CEO and Executive Director of Raia TV respectively. The two have been producing swahili local content for over a decade, with TV series shows such as Majaliwa, Cheche, Udhalimu, Almasi, Sumu, Kashfa, Nyota and Utandu, among others. A majority of them have gone ahead to win awards locally and internationally.

Others are movies such as Sakalakata, Nafsi Lawama, Kisase, Haini, Wazuzi, Consequences, Gift from the Curse, Lulu, Taswira and Heart and Soul, which have all aired on Maisha Magic Swahili, and also on Tanzania's Azam TV. It will broadcast on the PANG signal and the channel number will be revealed during the launch.