AVRIL: CHAT'S FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

It has been a tough 2010 for Avril after the semi-nude photos leaked onto the net. But her musical success was validated on Saturday when she scooped the Teeniez Female Artistes of the Year award at the Chaguo la Teeniez awards.
Her disbelief and gratitude at winning an award, a coveted award and tittle that was considered a preserve of the veteran female acts in Kenya, was expressed on stage.
If you missed that, have a look see.









PHOTOS/MICHAEL KHATELI

WHEN THE HAPPINESS AMBASADORS WERE IN TOWN

The Coca-Cola Expedition 206 Ambassadors were in the country with an aim of finding out what makes Kenyans happy. The two travelers Tony Martin and Kelly Ferris are on a world tour to visit all 206 countries where Coca-Cola is sold in just 365 days. The trip that began in Madrid Spain home to Coca-Cola Happiness Institute has seen the duo visit 173 countries in 310 days so far.
Along with finding out what makes people happy the ambassadors were out to collect a 300ml Coca-Cola bottle in each country, designed by artists to depict what the believe to be happiness in their country and culture. The winning bottle is to be archived in the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta Georgia.
The winning bottle was unveiled at a cocktail at the InterContinental Hotel. Announcing the winner, was TV personality Janet Kanini who challenged other companies in the country to sponsor such initiatives in a move aimed at recognizing and awarding the underlying talent in the youth. The winner Mary Wangari (Restaurant owner and Art Student) walked away with KSH 30,000.



Her bottle she explained depicts how diverse the Kenyan culture is having combined various artifacts from the many tribes that the country has.
Speaking at the cocktail function to welcome the Open Happiness Ambassadors and unveil the winning Happiness Bottle, Coca-Cola Brand Manager Maureen Sika said that “After 310 days and over 200,000 miles, the Ambassadors have finally landed in Kenya and we hope that they find a lot of happiness and take with them happy memories,” said Sika.



Some of these happy memories will include their trip to the Carnivore Restaurant where they sampled exotic game meat on Saturday evening, before visiting the Nairobi National Park on Sunday morning to see what their previous meal looked like alive.
The ambassadors also got a taste of the wild and wonderful Kenyan nightlife at the Carnivore Grounds during Sepetuka Trilogy, which saw the ambassadors mingle with several young, energetic Kenyans and witness but a few of the things that make Kenyans truly happy. Tony Martin, one of the ambassadors had this to say about his experience “It’s so amazing to see the spirit that people have here, there are so many people and yet everyone is having a good time, its very different back home”.



The ambassadors were taken on a 50 minute scenic drive to the famous Olepolos, which sits on the top of the Ngong Hills. Upon arrival the arrival the ambassadors met with several Kenyan celebrities and entertainers including Avril and Marya of the Ogopa stable, as well as DJ Collo and Eric Mutabari of Jomino Entertainment. It was a fun afternoon in the sun, where both celebrities and the ambassadors got a chance to relax, take in the view and enjoy the sumptuous nyama choma and ugali.

SO, THE SEMI NUDE PIX, WERE THEY FOR A UNI CLASS PROJECT?

On Wednesday night, the social network Facebook was abuzz when someone posted semi nude photos of singer Avril in intimate poses with an unidentified woman.
Apparently, the photos were taken as part of the photography unit in architectural design and development course where students are required to come up with their own presentations of what they consider to be “fetish photos.”



An Architecture Design and Development graduate musician Dan “Chizi” Aceda explained that students were expected to come up with their own ideas for presentation. “I really doubt a lecturer would have suggested such an idea. The assignments are given but it is upto the individual student to come up with their own interpretation. There are no set limits but they must have stretched their interpretation beyond what is required by the course,” he said. The photography unit is also an elective unit for Third Year students.



A friend of the man who took the photos but who did not want to be identified denied he was the source of the leak. “It was school stuff with her classmates at university. The photos were posed in a studio in Rongai. The guy didn’t leak them because there are other pictures which could have got more hype, if it was malice intended.”
At Thursday evening the Mama hitmaker, Avril was in a closed door meeting with Ogopa DJ recording chiefs. She promised to comment on the matter after the meeting.
The singer was recently nominated for the just concluded Channel O Awards.