The Koroga Report: 16th Edition

The 16th edition of the Koroga Festival started on a high note with Maqbuli and Wangui Kabala starting it off with a recap of the previous Koroga Festivals. They made me wish I never missed Awilo, Koffi and Mafikizolo. From what I hear Yvonne Chakachaka set the roof on fire as well. I have to confess this was my first Koroga Festival and I barely knew where to go when I got in. The place was packed with vendors who sought to run your pockets dry. There was a St. James Street where I assumed people went to taste all sorts of whiskey. Eddah’s hope was on a warpath against cancer right on the opposite side of the smoking zone. Well played Koroga *slow claps. They were not only selling a wing and a prayer but good merchandise in support of the battle against cancer and the hope that cancer is not a death sentence.

Guest Violinst

Wangui Kabala

Miss Lira

Lady Jay Dee

Nyota Ndogo

Mercy Masika on stage

The Arboretum Gardens was packed by 1. I thought for a second that everyone had carried their chairs from home only to realise that it was actually packed. My consolation was that there wouldn’t be much use for chairs once the music comes on. Everyone ended up on their feet dancing and singing along to Nyota Ndogo, Mercy Masika and Lady Jaydee. The deejay kept the crowd on their feet in between the performances. Meanwhile, this was another excuse for family men to get turnt with their families in the same vicinity having a good time too. Good thing there was a kids section with bouncy castles installed and 1824 was the adult section with the Sunday School filled with spirits that were not particularly holy.

For most, the entire show was spent on the feet. Dancing and chanting to the favourite choruses from the various artists on the stage. Lira unmasked the face of the voice behind the theme song on the famous animation movie, Moana. With that voice, I could see why she has made it thus far with 6 album records and platinum hits. For most, however, Lira was a new face until they could associate her with her accomplishments. The crowd was quick to adopt her style and soon enough the tempo was upbeat.  Just when we thought we had come to an amazing climax, it was revealed that it was Lira’s birthday. A cake was cut as the audience joined in to sing her a birthday song!

Yemi Wants To Marry Me!

The universe has blessed us with new songs this year but a video to Marry Me is all we needed. Yemi Alade and Nyashinski were the perfect combo on the fourth season of Coke Studio Africa judging from the views and the airplay the songs they did got. Marry Me was one of Yemi’s songs that Nyashinski covered and came out perfectly. A harmonious blend of perfectly orchestrated instruments and Nyashinski’s voice that crowned it all. Seeing the video two hours right after Yemi launched it made me anticipate Nyashinski at any point from when it started.  

The song and the video are both good but I secretly wished that they had done it with Nyashinski because the Swahili cover resonated so well with the Kenyan audience. It’s not too late to do a remix though and release a video right after this one! My money would be on Yemi featuring Nyash any day! The video quality is perfect and the choreography well executed. Selebobo did it again and we can now see how why his beats inspire getting down on some serious shoki. Yemi is definitely the queen of African Pop that is relatable internationally. Keep it going Yemi. If she came onto me with that Marry Me vibe on that video it would be hard for me to say no.  

A WALK THROUGH ‘KUTEMBEA NAWE’ – REBEKAH DAWN

Just when am getting used to Gilad singing in Swahili better than I do, in comes the lovely Rebekah Dawn. She is one phenomenal woman daughter to Pastor Don and Amy Matheny parents to other five children. The family has been in Kenya for longer than four decades and they may as well be Kenyans by naturalisation. The family started the Nairobi Lighthouse Church and it has been bringing artists like Kirk Franklin and many more international gospel artists to Kenya. Rebekah Dawn just added more glitter to the family with her song ‘Kutembea Nawe’. Rebekah Dawn has also produced for Bethu and Highest Praise and her sound is significant.

The song has been around for a while and Kenyans and East Africans have been none the wiser about the origin of the singer. I have to confess at first I thought it was a Kenyan we don’t know about that just decided to break the internet and into our hearts. The song without the video can take you to that place where your mind goes in repentance and self-reflection. It is hard not to drift away with The Spirit as you take in the song word by word. The video does more justice to the song than we would have ever imagined.

The song starts with the keys that build up for the vocals to come in just at the right time. It starts with her lighting the candles on the video and straight to her playing the keyboard. The cymbals augment the feel as they elevate us to the next level of the song where the harmonies come in with and the drum. The song crescendos with an excellent harmony that ends with her kissing her ring and the candle she lit goes out with the video fading into a black. I know I am recreating the video in words but trust me all these things were premeditated and had an end game to them all. The video was shot by Allan ‘Sucre’ who also played the bass and Anna Baita and I must say this is one stroke of genius with the play on the planning and racked focus. On the bass was Allan ‘Sucre’ and Steve Muthiitene. Check it out here and enjoy!

 

Nitulize – Brand New Jam By Brown Mauzo Ft. Ali Kiba

Ali Kiba did it again and this time with Brown Mauzo. The two songsters have released a song that I’d easily describe to be a fusion of Bongo and Lingala. The lead guitar, the bassline, and the drum roll get me every time and take me right into the heart of central Africa via Tanzania. The blend of vocals reigns supreme and I cannot even scratch the surface on how the arrangement of the voices and instruments was mixed to strike a perfect balance. I don’t know whose big idea this was but am slow clapping for Brown for this big tune.

Best Friend – Chris Adwar

The friend zone comes with its unfair share of chest pain so much that it had probably been the muse to Chris Adwar’s song ‘Best Friend’. While in the friend zone, there is hardly wriggling room to have an open mind about the abuse witnessed. For a better part of the friend’s relationship, you hurt yourself relentlessly with the hopes that someday things might get better and that she might see you for the better man you are. In most cases than not, this never happens. You can easily see his boy go around hurting her with impunity knowing for sure that she wouldn’t dare go anywhere despite how rough things might get.

The even sadder bit of it is that you end up hearing all about it from her. Your opinion somehow loses its objectivity because you are somehow for the breakup but at the same time you want her to be happy even if not with you. You become the shoulder to cry on and it eventually gets under your skin and this is mostly doesn’t end in a good way. Chris Adwar brings out the raw emotions of a frustrated best friend in love in this song and in a broad way airs the concerns of most of the good men out there who end up feeling short changed for loving other men’s (abused) girlfriends.

The video explains the storyline and Enos Olik made sure the picture was more than a thousand words. The video quality does the song a lot of justice. Abusive and toxic relationships are not a new thing and I can never really tell for the life of me why anyone would still stay in such a relationship. But then again I think to myself and if I’d make a better decision if I were in the same shoes. This is no new song and neither is the theme of the song. Check it out and feel free to share on the matter in the comment section.

Nigeria Entertainment Awards: My 2 Cents

The Nigerian Entertainment Awards are here, and the nomination list is having me torn among the options they have offered. I, however, have to come to a decision to most, and this is where my money is:

Best Album: Yemi Alade’s Mama Africa takes it all here because half the songs on it have hit across Africa and beyond. Nagode, Nakupenda, Ferrari, Do as I Do and Africa are among many other songs in that album.

Hottest Single: Baba Nla– This song by Wizkid is super relaxed with awesome beats and deserves the award.

Afropop Artist: Wizkid does it for me… am wondering when he will launch that album already because these wild oats in the form of singles are too many. His touch on One Dance is not in any way deniable.

R & B Artist: Seyi Shay is the ultimate RnB sensation from Nigeria with tracks like Murda that had a Dancehall feel and Right Now which can have you balancing tears very easily.

Rap Act: Phyno raps in a way that makes you love African hip hop even when you can barely make a word of what he says. Partly because of the word count per second and in part because of the language barrier. I love his part on Bombay and Temperature. He is irrefutably the best Nigerian rap act.

Dancehall Artist: This is where I get torn apart. I just wonder why I have to choose between Timaya, Patoranking and Burna Boy. Gun on my head, I’d go with Burna Boy because Yawa Dey is just blessings on blessings on blessings.

Best New Act: Ycee takes it here. Jagaban is one fine tune. The lyrics have a nice comic relief and in hindsight, they make a lot of sense.

Most Promising Act: Mr. Eazi’s highlife music just makes you get into a feel good zone and nod your head to his well thought through lyrics. Sample Anointing feat. Sarkodie and Dance For Me with Eugy and feel free to tell me am lying.

Best Live Performer: Yemi takes it all. Her set on stage is always on point from costume to dancing moves. She is the African “Beyonce”. Her energy through it all just leaves you loving her the more.

Music Video: I honestly have no doubt Right Now is the superior music video right here. The emotion weaved into the music and subsequently into the video is just too overwhelming.

African Male: Here is where loyalty and talent get tested. Sarkodie is on the list with Sauti Sol, and I honestly can’t decide. King Sark comes a very close but a significant second.

African Female: Vanessa Mdee is our African “Rihanna”. They are both super awesome, and it would be wrong even to compare them. I think Niroge is what tipped me to her side.

Music Producer: I’d go with Cobhams because that guy has a good ear. He has co-written and produced songs like Jailer and Fire On the Mountain (by Asa) which to date still ring in my head.

African Deejay: Finally among the nominees for African Deejays, I’d go with Joe Mfalme easily because he is the most sought after professional deejay due to his interaction with the audience. He is not the Mfalme (King) for no reason.

 

The Red Acapella Featured By 125 In New Song- Taabu

The Red Acapella band is a Kenyan music sensation that not very many people have heard or know about but their popularity is on the rise ever since their humble beginnings. The Red Acapella name is derived from when they were the source of entertainment around camp fires during the grim and dark period in Kenya when Internally Displaced Settlement areas existed. Overseen by Red Cross, for whom they volunteered, they performed songs from the different Kenyan tribes and dialects in acapella and the songs served as a unifying factor among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) who danced to tunes that were not from their place of origin.

The all male trio with harmonic afro-fused voices has adopted a very unique style of music that has got them accolades and recognition from many organizations and event organizers who do not hesitate to invite them over to their events. Red Acapella have focused on edutainment and it is working well for them. In their song ‘Ka Gava’, they address the issue of drunk driving inspired by real life events that happened to them as well as the contemporary issue of alco-blow that came with the National Safety and Transport Agency recently introduced by the government.

They are among those who have performed at Blankets and Wine (Africa Nouveau) alongside Fena Gitu, Just a Band and many more. They have never looked back since and with their ever improving talent, they get to learn their niche and tap into it. They recently performed at the Sportpesa Festival that was a massive big in Kenya. Well, in case you are wondering the team is consisted of Godfrey Laniogo, Steve Oduor and Linus Onyango.

In this song, they have been featured by 125 who rap very well in their own unique style that I can’t really place a finger on yet. The rhyme comes through very well and there is a message to it after all. They chose to go with a very vintage beat of an all-time oldie by Daudi Kabaka which just gets you in the zone as soon as you join the dots. This of course entirely depends on when you were born or how well exposed you are to retro music.

 

 

Here is the dope jam>

These Are The Maestros Who Jazz Up Africa

When you talk of jazz to most people they think you are slowly losing it but what is surprising is that there are a lot of Africans who listen to jazz now more than before. Be it in high end bars and restaurants or in concerts. Did you know that jazz actually originated from right here in Africa and propagated mostly by those who were taken into slavery? It is more like Negro spirituals with more emotion manifesting itself in the major and minor notes. This way, jazz has woven itself into the lives of those who it surrounds. The Pan-African spirit, through jazz, has spread across the world and more whites are indulging in it and giving us a run for our money. Literally and otherwise.

For a while now Safaricom has been promoting the jazz spirit in Kenya by hosting legendary jazz artistes who have been taking their audience by storm every single time like it is the first time. Afro-jazz has its roots in South Africa where evidently most of the legendary artistes originate. Here is a list of the top 5 African jazz artistes who through time, have been given global accolades. The list is not in any particular order because they are all masters in their own right.

Jonathan Butler:

Butler is a renowned musician and songwriter who started early at the age of seven. He started off with his brothers and sang from one band to the next until he eventually formed his own and dubbed it ‘The Butler’. He rocks the Rhythm guitar among other instruments and since the apartheid in the 60’s, he has been a prolific jazz artiste with accolades from the world over. He recently graced the Safaricom Jazz Festival in Kenya and the crowd was nothing short of grateful. He can do more than sing and play musical instruments and has inspired more to join the jazz bandwagon and even more to fall in love with the genre at first listen.

Hugh Masekela:

Hugh Masekela can be easily proclaimed the father of jazz in South Africa and also the icon of the Pan-African movement though his music. He went to exile in the USA where he joined Manhattan School of Music. His passion led him to meet highly profiled jazz artiste Louis Armstrong. Hugh attributes his success to his father, Trevor Huddleston, who made him learn an instrument at 14 and built up his career since then. Now, he is a flugelhornist, trumpeter, song writer and singer and even at 77, he still rocks hard with the highlight of his career being his opening act for the World Cup in 2010 in Soweto’s Soccer City. This jazz maestro has over 40 albums to his name through his over 5 decade long career.

Kunle Ayo:

While most Nigerians delve into dancehall and afro pop, Kunle Ayo has immersed himself deep into jazz owing to his 7 year long sojourn in South Africa. He has his crowd of the ‘who’s who’ behind him back home in Nigeria and across the world as well. The Kora award winner has made very huge strides in the industry and has released 5 albums between 2002 and 2011. He says that the main reason for his success during live performances is that he doesn’t play for the people but with the people. His philosophy has worked well for him so far and he has a Channel O award to add to the Kora and has performed in a host of other international jazz concerts across Africa as well as worldwide.

Isaiah Katumwa:

 

Jazz is more of a fast growing ‘secret society’ in Uganda thanks to Isaiah Katumwa. Much like Kunle, he has encountered some difficulty in penetrating his local market. Gradually though, most people are converting to listening to and appreciating jazz thanks to him. Katumwa is self-made and describes jazz to be African, smooth and divine hence his gospel twist. He has an album for every year from 2001 to 2011 except 2008. He has been hosted at the BBC and now he has his own show on Urban Tv, Uganda, called Jazz with Isaiah. Besides performing for over 20 presidents across the continent and endorsing a saxophone made by C. E. Winds based in Florida, he also inspires young talent and promotes the spirit of jazz across Africa.

Jimmy Dludlu:

 

 

Dludlu is a high profile Jazz guitarist who hails from Mozambique. He is popular across Africa in the jazz circles and has done well for himself with his performances in international arenas across the continent and the world over. He was named Best Newcomer with the Best Contemporary Jazz album by FNB SAMA (South African Music Awards) in 1998. He has also been crowned Best Male Artiste, won the Best Jazz Album (Tonota) and Best contemporary Jazz album (Essence of Rhythm) between 2000 and 2012 in the same awards.

These are some of the great jazz ambassadors and maestros who have helped inspire, grow and shape the jazz music scene in Africa. More talent and exceptional musicians are out there and we celebrate all of them. Keep jazzing up Africa. The world is your stage.

GILAD MILLO SINGING BETTER IN SWAHILI THAN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE

For most foreigners, Kiswahili is a very intricate language that needs a lot of commitment to master but that does not seem to be the case for Gilad Millo. It is hard to tell that he is not a native Swahili when you hear his popular tune ‘Unajua’ that as the title suggests, he has sung in Swahili. Gilad has been rocking the Kenyan airwaves with this hit and it has been on massive playback from wedding receptions to baby-making preconceptions.

Jaguar and Mafikizolo New Video Alert! – Going Nowhere

Jaguar has veered right off his comfort zone with his latest track featured by Mafikizolo. The track is all about music and dance only with a South African twist laced with a Kenyan touch. We can thank Main Switch and Godfather Productions for that. The video follows Mafikizolo’s ‘Colors of Africa’ song in which the terrific duo from the south featured Diamond, but that is a story for another day!