BERLIN-NAIROBI ALBUM TO LAUNCH THIS MONTH

Nazizi

The idea ‘Berlin meets Nairobi’ was the brainchild of Goethe-Institut Nairobi and electronic music duo Gebrüder Teichmann. It was embodied in a Berlin-Nairobi musical collaboration.


Teichmann

The product of which is a music album that features Kenyan and German artistes. In the Kenyan corner are rappers like Nazizi, Abbas Kubaff, Kimya, Lon Jon, electropop band Just A Band, blind singer/guitarist Michel Ongaro and the Ukoo Flani Mombasa clique.


Abbas Kubaff


Ukoo Flani

From Berlin, Modeselektor, the hyperactive breakbeat-duo, curious electronic producers Gebrüder Teichmann and Jahcoozi, the multicultural star trio composed of Dubstep, Grime Rave and hyper-sonic Electronica.



Jahcoozi

The group of artistes stayed in an apartment in Nairobi, where everyone in the project worked, performed and lived together in the house the christened Mad House. The result of their hard work is the album BLNRB - Welcome to the Madhouse. It is set for a July 8 release.



Have a look at the tracklist

01. Abbas, Kimya, LJ, Teichmann - Goldbreaks Variation
02. Nazizi, Jahcoozi, Abbas - Madhouse
03. Teichmann, Abbas, Kimya, LJ - Dirty Laundry
04. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani - Msoto Millions
05. Necessary Noize, Teichmann - Very Necessary
06. Just a Band, Jahcoozi - Room For Me
07. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani, Radi - Ma Bhoom Bhoom Bhoom
08. Teichmann, Alai K - Everyday Without You
09. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani, Dogs - Living Room
10. Modeselektor, Nazizi, Abbas - Monkeyflip
11. Teichmann, Kimya, LJ, Abbas - Goldbreaks
12. Jahcoozi, Little King, Robo - Take It Higher
13. Jahcoozi, Michel Ongaro, Abbas - Kumbuka
14. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani - Richie Interlude
15. Massai Mbilli, Modeselektor, Just a Band - Kibera Benga
16. Just a Band, Jahcoozi, Teichmann, Michel Ongaro - Away
17. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani - Zamaney
18. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani - Whateverman Dub

DJ KEV WEDS FORMER MISS KENYA

Kenya’s founder of the biggest Kenyan gospel award, Groove Awards wed his sweetheart, a former Miss World Kenya on Saturday 11 at Safari Park.
Kevin Mule known by his music industry moniker DJ Kev said “I do,” to Janet Kabugu in a plush invites only garden wedding infront of over 500 guests of family and friends. Janet was Kenya’s representative in the Miss World competition in 2003. The best man was funnyman Dan “Churchill” Ndambuki and Janet’s sister Liz Wanyoike.
Speaking to Hot Secrets, Churchill said, “I have known Kev for the longest time and our relationship spans years. As his best man, I was happy to see my boy walkdown the aisle, it has been our point of prayer.”









The set up

UNVEILING SOUTHERN SUDAN’S GREY BULL

David Thon Garang a.k.a Grey Bull is a South Sudanese rapper /singer residing in Melbourne Australia. He was born in South Sudan during the civil war that drove many people away from the country in the early 80’s. Like many other Sudanese kids, Grey Bull is not sure or advised on his date of birth. He ended up in Ethiopia at Dimma refugee camp in about 1989 with his family. Grey Bull lost his father to unknown illness and was left in the care of his mother.
He enrolled at a kindergarten and proceeded to primary school few months later. He was trained as a child soldier just like the rest of the students attending Dimma primary school. At that time, the training was the institution’s requirement.
The war broke out in Ethiopia in the 90’s and they were evacuated back to South Sudan. He survived through many attacks and hunger as the war reached its climax. He grew up between the boarders trying to get some little education with the support from his mother.



He started his musical career when he was a teenager at Boma town in South Sudan. His mother tried to discourage him. To her, music was for beggars and school dropouts. Grey Bull kept his spirit up but made his mom didn’t find out he was still playing guitars or drums at the parties. She also turned down a request from one of the local singers who wanted Grey Bull to join his band as a local guitarist.



Grey Bull recorded his first professional song at Scratch Digital Records in Nairobi’s California Estate in Eastleigh in the year 2005 before his migration to Australia in March 2006. He did some short courses and gathered more crucial music ideas to become one of the well-known performers in Sudanese and African communities in and outside Australia.



He also work alongside well experienced artists and DJ’s and featured on some of the local and international radio air shows around Australia, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. He performs alongside well renowned rappers and singers and participates in public events and festivals. He formed S.S.B music crew in 2008 and hosted S.S.B talent show in 2010 in Melbourne and Sydney. Great courage, hard work and perseverance are what have kept Grey Bull going.
His main aim is to become successful in his musical career, promote peace and be able to help the disadvantaged individuals like him to set and achieve their dreams, goals and ambitions.

JUST INCASE YOU MISSED IT

The Tusker All Stars TV show debut on Sunday night saw the reunion of eight former Tusker Project Fame stars on stage.
This is what went down: Hemedi, Ng’ang’alito, Patricia, Alpha, Msechu, Amileena, Davies and Carolyne, performed songs by music icons such as Brenda Fassie, Kidum, Eric Wainaina and Sauti Sol.



Hemedi, Tusker Project Fame season two's “casanova”, performed J- Boog's Let's Do It Again while Season 3's Patricia performed a soulful rendition of Sauti Sol's I'm Coming Home off their sophomore album, Sol Filisofia.



Carolyne, the dancing queen from Uganda, sang Nakupenda by the late musical Icon, Brenda Fassie.



Ng'ang'alito was another pleasant surprise as he broke the mould and performed legendary neo soul track, No Other Love by John Legend.



Amileena performed one of Africa's best loved and renowned songs Jabulani by PJ Powers while Msechu did his own version of Kidum’s Mapenzi.



Alpha showed his versatility by performing Eric Wainaina's runaway hit, Ritwa Riaku . Davis was the last on stage with his energetic rendition of Papa Wemba's Yollele.



Viewers were also introduced to two Tusker All Stars Super Fans; Arjun, popularly known as Vipul and radio presenter Joey Mathenge.



The super fans, both avid followers of previous editions of Tusker Project Fame and keen music fans, shared their views on each of the stars performances while offering support to the stars.
Viewers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda will vote for the top 3 stars during the 8 week reality TV show.



The show’s hosts, Gaetano Kagwa & Eve D’Souza will reveal a weekly score-card that will keep track of what acts or performers came out tops in the popularity polls.

FOOTBALL LEGEND ANDY COLE IS IN NAIROBI

Andrew Alexander Cole who known as Andy Cole is in Nairobi, Kenya for charity. Andy who currently works as a forwards coach at Huddersfield Town under his former Newcastle United and Fulham team-mate Lee Clark.



A former England international, Cole is the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history; in his career, Cole has scored a total of 187 Premier League goals, placing him behind Alan Shearer who has 260 goals. Cole has the distinction of being one of the few players in England to have swept all possible honours in the English game, including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as the coveted UEFA Champions League title. Cole was also capped fifteen times for England between 1995 and 2001, scoring once, against Albania in a World Cup Qualifier. He announced his retirement from football on 11 November 2008.

EXCLUSIVE: TAIWO ATIENO IS DATING EX_SUGABABE KEISHA

Former Harambee stars player Taiwo Atieno who is in now based in London is dating Keisha Buchanan a former member of the UK pop group Sugababes.
Taiwo who is currently a free agent after being released from UK’s League Two side Stevenage is dating the singer who is planning to launch her solo career on July 19. The 26-year-old has teamed up with the Jacques Townhouse to launch her solo debut with a live gig in the the UK .
Intimate details of the blooming love relationship between Taiwo and Keisha are been kept mum but once I get word, you will be first to know.



Born Opiyo Taiwo Leo Awuonda, is the son of Moussa Awuonda, a former Nation Newspapers correspondent, and Bridget Mary Glaisher, and he began his football career at the age of 15 with Walsall F.C. Taiwo has an identical twin brother, Kehinde Roberts, who plays basketball at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
However, Keisha has been linked with Dean Thomas whom she dated for 18 months and even accepted a marriage proposal in 2009. But later broke up their engagement after a TV game show where Dean got every question wrong about their relationship. She was later quoted saying, “It’s true, I’ve put Dean on ice since the show. He blamed his answers on nerves, but he knew nothing about me. It’s sad really.”



Keisha was a founding member of the BRIT Award-winning girl group the Sugababes. With the Sugababes, Keisha had seven number one singles, and two number one studio albums, making the Sugababes one of the most successful British female pop acts of the 21st century.



On 21 September 2009, it was officially announced that Keisha had exited the group, resulting in Sugababes retaining none of its original members. Keisha, who will pursue a solo career with Island Records, was replaced by former-Eurovision entrant Jade Ewen. Keisha revealed on Twitter that it was not her decision to leave, resulting in some journalists described her as having been "sacked".
Critics and fans reacted very negatively to the news, and British broadsheet The Guardian ran an article named "Why the Sugababes' show can't go on without Keisha". Digital Spy ran an article called "Keisha Buchanan, We Salute You" in which they thanked her for her contribution to "incredible pop songs".
She has featured on the song Far Away from Jay Sean's UK edition of All or Nothing.

SAMSUNG ZIKI STAR SETS EYES ON ENTERTAINMENT LAW

Lyra Aoko the winner of Samsung Zikistars talent search left the country on Wednesday June 22 to study Law in Malaysia, a day after her listening party in Nairobi.
Lyra told Hot Secrets that despite her studies, music is her first love, “it has always been my passion, I will definitely make time for it and you never know I might just take entertainment law.”



After her win, Lyra recorded a song with Wyre the Love Child titled Happy, which they performed together on Tuesday night at the listening party held at Galileo.
The video shot by Ogopa DJs has been released. The 18-year-old also earned the title of Samsung Zikistar Ambassador.



She was nicknamed Yvonne Chaka Chaka for her musical dexterity, she attributes her exposure to the industry to Sauti Sol’s Polycarp Otieno who gave her the chance to sing back up for the all-male boy group during their major gigs for a number of months.

DBANJ AND 2FACE BAG BET AWARD

Nigerian musicians D Banj and 2 Face Idibia won the BET Award for the Best International Act: Africa in Sunday’s ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium.

Here are the rest of the BET winners
Video of the Year: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Video Director of the Year: Chris Robinson
Best Female R&B Artist: Jennifer Hudson
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kanye West
Best Collaboration: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Best New Artist: Wiz Khalifa
Best Group: Diddy- Dirty Money
Viewers' Choice: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Best Gospel Artist: Mary Mary
YoungStars Award: Willow Smith and Jaden Smith (tie)
Centric Award: Marsha Ambrosius
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Actor: Idris Elba
Best Movie: "For Colored Girls"
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Sportsman of the Year: Michael Vick



Best International Act: Africa: 2face Idibia (Nigeria) and D'banj (Nigeria)
Best International Act: United Kingdom: Tinie Tempah
FANdemonium Award: Chris Brown
Lifetime Achievement Award: Patti LaBelle
Humanitarian Award: Steve Harvey

FATUMA NOOR IS 2011’S CNN AFRICAN JOURNALIST

Kenyan reporter Fatuma Noor was awarded the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 Awards Ceremony.
Fatuma, who works for The Star Kenya, won for her investigative three-part series on the ‘Al-Shabaab’, which was chosen from among 1407 entries from 42 nations across the African continent.



The series tells the story of the young men who give up their freedom abroad to return and fight for the ‘Al-Shabaab’ in one of the world’s most dangerous places on earth – Somalia.



Fatuma was one of the 27 finalists at the Awards ceremony on Saturday, June 25 evening and was a winner in the category ‘General News Award (Print).’
Fatuma said: “"I want to thank my mum and my boss Catherine, who believed in me when no one else did. There was a time in my life when I thought about giving up, but with this Award I'm not giving up any time soon."





Chair of the judging panel, journalist and media consultant Joel Kibazo said: “The judges were impressed with the high quality of entries to the competition this year, and this intrepid young journalist has shown great courage and determination in going the extra mile to tell this fascinating story. Fatuma Noor’s three-part series on the Al-Shabaab provides a detailed and personalised portrait of the young men who leave their comfortable western lives to join one of the world’s most ruthless militant groups in Somalia.”
The CNN MultiChoice competition is now in its 16th year also saw other Kenyan journlists awarded they include:







ECONOMICS & BUSINESS AWARD, presented by William Asiko, President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.
Winner: Sylvia Chebet and Kimani Githae, Citizen TV, Kenya.
Title: ‘An uphill task’
Judge’s Citation: “The story highlighted the fact that in spite of the millions of dollars spent on ensuring wide coverage, there are still potential profit centres not yet reached. This story demonstrates that the demand in Kenya is there.”



HIV/AIDS REPORTING IN AFRICA AWARD, presented by Sam Rogers, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist, 2010.
Winner: Beryl Ooro, K24 TV, Kenya.
Title: ‘HIV infection among senior citizens in Kenya’
Judge’s Citation: “The story is brilliant and fascinating. For too long, the story of HIV / AIDS pandemic in Africa has been told that one begins to wonder if there is anything new to say. And then, here is a story that throws up an entirely new perspective which shows that an age group (octogenarians) hitherto considered not at risk can also be vulnerable.”




SPORT AWARD, presented by Collins Khumalo, President MultiChoice Africa.
Winner: Kamau Mutunga, DN2 Magazine, Daily Nation, Kenya.
Title: ‘Soccer and Superstition (Animal body parts and snake blood on the pitch)’
Judge’s Citation: “This is an informative romp through the story of superstition in soccer in Kenya. It is elegantly written and while it spans several decades, it moves quickly and with a light touch. A sidebar shows this is by no means only an African issue – it gives insight into all countries from France to Brazil. “

REESE WITHERSPOON WAS ON HOLIDAY IN KENYA

Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon holidayed in Kenya late May. Our sources confirmed that the Legally Blond star was in Nairobi for two days before she jetted out to the Maasai Mara for safari.
The Sweet Home Alabama actress stayed at the Tribe Hotel while in Nairobi for two days. She was booked into the penthouse suite.
The penthouse suite is at the core of the hotel, set at two levels by a mahogany staircase. It has oversized couches, a 60-inch TV in the living room and a 32-inch TV in the bedroom, guest bathroom, double-volume floor ceiling windows, luggage storage and a walk in closet.



It is not yet clear if Reese was traveling with her hubby Jim Toth. Reese is not the only Hollywood star who has silently crept in and out of town. Hot Secrets also found out that Anthony Hopkins is in town.



Our source refused to disclose more details but we are reliably informed that he is staying at the Tribe. Anthony is famed for his role as Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs but he is currently back in the movie scene with his new movie The Rite, directed by Mikael Håfström. Inspired by true events, The Rite follows skeptical seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue), who reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican.
While in Rome, he meets an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who introduces him to the darker side of his faith.