The Concours d’Elegance does exactly what it says on the tin – showcase glamorous, elegant cars and motorcycles to discerning petrol heads as well as the public at large.

This year’s event was sponsored by CBA and featured competitors winning prizes with cars and motorcycles that had not in previous years showcased as well as they did this time around!

Most Meritorius Bike – the 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan of Tumaini Muthiga won this award and a was also placed 2nd in the over 1200cc street motorcycles class. Tumaini won the costume prize for bikes.

Entries come from all over the continent and this year the major prizes were scooped by not only Kenyan entries, but also South African and Ugandan teams!

The Concours d’Elegance is an annual event organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club and took place this year at the Nairobi Racecourse.

A 1950 Jaguar Mark V of Steve Parkinson won the overall car trophy and John Wroe was the runner-up with his 1930 Ford Model A – Wroe’s best result since winning at Concours 10 years ago!

Elegant Car – Roger Tanner presents his 1952 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn. This car was declared the most elegant at the event.

In the bike class, Sati Jabal entered his 1958 Norton Racer – a break from his usual entry, his 1925 DKW motorcycle which has already won a number of times. He also picked up a gong for his 1981 Yamaha XT 500.

DJ Adrian won in the 1300cc touring car class with a sexy pearl grey classic 1961 VW Karmann Ghia.

Young faces also made an impact this year, with Nairobi’s Andre Antoine in the up to 1600 street motorcycle category with a 1960 BSA.

Elegant Bike – the 1956 Ducatti 65T of Russel Hughes was declared the most elegant motorcycle and also placed 5th overall in the motorcycle category

Yes, Concours is about competition, but it’s also about spectacle – and despite the extreme traffic on Ngong Road on Sunday afternoon as well as the rain that completely engulfed the city in the early hours of the evening, fans of the event came out in droves to catch some pretty outstanding vehicles. The show may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy the thrill of cars, the beauty of clean engines and the superior craftsmanship of classic cars, the Concours d’Elegance is definitely one for the books!

Images: courtesy Bob PR

The post Glamour And Class Define The 2016 Concours d’Elegance appeared first on KenyanVibe.

“Just a little nudge; a little support…”

That’s really all young people need in life: be they from the most affluent families or whether they come from communities in which they have to struggle that little bit harder to get their voices heard. We all chase self-actualization – that point in our lives where we feel that we are using all of our best qualities to be the finest version of ourselves that we can be.

This is why the Kibera Talent Search is so important. The 2016 edition of the series which strives to give artists from the area a platform to showcase their skill in music and dance, has already kicked off! It is the second year that I have been aware of it and hope that it is a project that can be emulated across the city and in the counties as well.

Featuring Moussa Di Alo, Juliani, Eko Dydda and the Sarabi band 

The initiative by the Kibera Town Centre was looking to provide avenues to help not only uplift the community, but also allow young people to see the immense gifts that they have been blessed with! The talent search accompanies monthly open mic sessions that hand over autonomy to artists themselves to organize themes and perform to real audiences – essentially helping them to ‘level up’ in terms of their wordplay and confidence on stage.

And it’s entertainment for a good cause also: the Human Needs Project based at the Kibera Town Center is looking at building sustainable community centers that will provide slums with clean water and sanitation. By getting young people focused on themselves and their art, they will move away from vices that might distract them within the slums.

Grandpa Records has this year partnered with the Kibera Town Center in the Talent Search 2016 with fresh new talent on scene to audition – artists were literally coming to outperform each other!

Judges for the auditions included Dufla, Ameleena & Ian who found it pretty tough deciding on a top 30 given the quality and standard of the acts. But they got it done,  and those advancing will have to spend numerous hours working on their routines – the quarter finals take place in just under three weeks time (Oct 15) while the semis will be two weeks after that, on the 29th.

Potential is a vague word and relatively tough to measure – but drive,  hard work and the support of a vibrant community means that even those who DON’T make it to the final, are already twenty steps ahead of where they were when they began this journey!

The post Grandpa Records Joins Search For Talent In Kibera Town! appeared first on KenyanVibe.

At any one point in our hustle and bustle, we have hopped on a matatu.  It is the major form of transport around here and employs thousands of youngsters. You will easily note the graffiti, heavy sound system, screens playing music videos and the crew handling the trip is young, hip and suave. Welcome to the Matatu culture in Nairobi.

The culture is so colorful that celebrities are being treated to a “matatu ride” as we saw recently with Trey Songz. The president endorsed the culture when he overruled a proposed law to kill the graffiti. This cements the notion matatus are here to stay and they will impact our lives directly or indirectly.

Trey Songz-in-a-mat

The industry has major components working as a conveyor belt to make it whole. Think about the manufacturing companies that give the “Mat” a stand out structure different from other vehicles. Graffiti artist have their paint and sketches on the body or the inside. Sound technicians give the deserved bass capacity which booms all day. You cannot forget about the lighting, DJs, Saccos, chrome and tyres components. It’s a bunch of key ingredients that makes the culture stand out.

Pimped-out-mat

To capture all this, Ma3 award is a platform set up to show the fans appreciation of the matatu culture. The following are the nominations and you can vote for your favorite Nganya or crew via the shortcode 21797 and use the KEYWORD as your pick.

The post Which Matatu tickles your travel fantasies? Time to vote. appeared first on KenyanVibe.

If you were to type the phrase “African fashion’ into google, it’s likely that at least one image with ankara fabric would pop up. Bold, beautiful and colourful, the fabric has become synonymous with African fashion despite it’s contentious history.

It’s hard to pin point when and how ankara came into existence but it has been contended that the popularity of the fabric on the continent ‘began’ with the Dutch who decided to imitate Indonesian Batik technique. Ankara, then known as Dutch wax Print was manufactured in Europe in the 19th century and was intended for an Indonesian market. How the fabric then landed in West Africa is not known, although there are many theories. What was undeniable was the insatiable appetite for it in Africa, and it soon became known as an African fabric. 

Ankara is 100% cotton and is produced using the dye-resistant technique known as batik, which originated in Java. It is both versatile and relatively affordable (which adds to it’s appeal- and China has recently began manufacturing it at a lower price than Europe). In West Africa the fabric is traditionally associated with fashion forward women, some of whom will travel to Europe to source the fabric. In East Africa, Ankara-locally known as Kitenge is traditionally associated with older women.

A historically complex fabric, Ankara has been incorporated by various  designers around the world; from Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B 2011 spring collection to H&M’s 2012 Marni Collection. The Dutch fashion house Vlisco, which emerged in 1846, is one of the most famous Ankara producers.

In Kenya, Kitenge has been used by fashion brands such as Kiko Romeo and Wambui Mukenyi. But the fabric’s use is    not limited to garments; accessories and furniture have also gained traction. Pieces from Pinkopallino Design located at the Village Market which incorporate the fabric stand out for their contemporary take on African interior design. If you’re into a hipster vibe, check out the cool chic backpacks by Suave Kenya who make one of a kind pieces. Luxury brand Milles Collines also do wonderful handbags that subtlety integrate the fabric. 

Ideal for both fashion and lifestyle pieces, Ankara fabric can add flair and panache when it is creatively infused in contemporary designs.

The post A Dose of Ankara appeared first on KenyanVibe.

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A striking menu. A Black Tie event. Great music. And an opportunity to network with some of Kenya’s top personalities across a variety of industries.

That was what the launch of a new global start up competition in Nairobi dubbed “The Venture” offered. Hosted and supported by Chivas at the Lord Errol in Runda, it was a super posh affair that brought together entrepreneurs, media figures and digital players who would help to disseminate and champion The Venture to their respective audiences. Some of the personalities in attendance included DSTV’s Laura Walubengo, Steve Biko of Soko Directory, Chivas Brand Ambassador Melvyn Rukunga as well as other reps from host brand Pernod Ricard.

The launch was based around a ‘chivalrous whisky dinner’ that offered six courses, all paired with 12 year old Chivas Regal. Fantastic entertainment was provided by the music maestro Chris Bittok and the Image guru Derek Bbanga was the fabulous glue that held the whole evening together.

If you are someone with their own business that works to not only make a profit but also that also strives to make things better for society, then Chivas: The Venture is looking for you!

Since the competition first launched in 2014, over 3,500 social enterprises have applied for the chance to receive a share of the  $1 million fund – including Kenya’s very own WEFARM, a farming platform which took 2nd place at last year’s finals, securing a 200 thousand dollar prize. Not too shabby!

The funding helps to take a little of the stress away from an entrepreneurial project and allows and more intense focus and perfection on the actual product in question.

Young people in today’s society want to do more – we know the world is not perfect and we have ideas and creativity that can help make a difference. That’s what it’s all about.

If you feel that you may have what it takes, head over to The Venture for all the details. Go through the terms and conditions to make certain that you qualify and get your application in before the deadline. Good luck!

Follow: @Chivas_EA for more from the launch event!

All images courtesy: Dennis Mbui

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Almost everybody I have talked to that comes here from a different country says that The Obi is just like New York; busy city, infrastructure, the city lights, street families and the night life.

Knowing that Nairobi was once voted amongst the cities that really love to party, there are people who facilitate this even further by creating an environment that’s… you know… conducive for the turn up.

Kenyan entertainment seems to be heading in the right direction. From hosting more events, having more A/B list celebrities get into the country to having the club scene more vibrant and a developing culture of looking the part even while going out.

There are specific clubs/lounges that have really become popular within a short period of time, despite them being new. So how exactly did these spots become revelers’ faves? That’s not really hard to tell because having been to most of these, there’s just something about walking in and not wanting to leave until after you have nearly cleared your savings and made a fool of yourself… probably.

1. KIZA Restaurant and Lounge

Located on the 8^th and 9^th floors of Galana Plaza on Galana Road, Kilimani, KIZA set itself apart from other clubs by creating a setting where Africans from all over the continent could have a place to enjoy food and music from wherever they want on the continent. If you want a club that will make you feel like the VIP you are, buy a bottle or 2 of some of the most expensive drinks and get your table reserved. If you’re feeling a little extra with yourself and don’t feel like bumping into people or maybe you just like your space then there’s a VVIP section and what makes it even better is there’s a specific entry/exit plan for that area so nobody has to see you walking in and out of the club. Why do you think all the celebrities who come to Nairobi pass by KIZA? Think about it.

2. B Club Nairobi

Who hasn’t heard about this spot? If you’re reading this and saying “me” then it might be safe to say that you don’t have a social life… not even a little. Situated on the first floor of Galana Plaza, Kilimani, B Club is probably the biggest competition that KIZA has. Pretty much the same structure when it comes to food, the VIP/VVIP sections, B Club is also a fave with local and international celebrities. This is the very club where over Kshs. 1 million was spent on one night!

What other club have you seen with a biometric system at the entrance? If you don’t have a B Club budget or you don’t belong, nobody needs to tell you because downstairs there’s a Lamborghini, a Hummer and a Ferrari just for show. Word is, to get a ride in any of these cars; you have to spend over 200K a night at the club.

B Club is the type of club where men clad in expensive suits with the key to their Range (or insert expensive car model here) on their pinky are. These men are often accompanied by girls in short, beautiful dresses, expensive weave and a very noticeable and distinct age difference.

B Club isn’t the type of club you just walk into. If you don’t have the money for it, please just stick to your local.

3. The Yard/Alchemist

The Yard is exactly as it is, a yard. You step into it and you can tell the difference between The Yard and any other club in the city. Unlike other hangout spots the furniture at The Yard, first, is made at the back of the club. This furniture is nature friendly; wooden seats with comfortable cushions so that you can enjoy the drink you’re having or a Mama Rocks Burger in an open air environment.

The vibe at The Yard makes you want to relax. This is the joint you find all the “cool kids”. I’m talking about the guys who live in “uptown Nairobi”, guys who sound like they have been studying abroad all their lives because their English is laced with some sort of American accent.

The Yard is one of the clubs that has really championed local sounds through their numerous events which are mostly headlined by local acts on the come up, such as the East African wave which is a group of individuals who came together to push the sounds coming out of  “uptown  Nairobi” using the tag #NuNairobi across social media outlets.

Despite the racism rumors, you will find all sorts of races at The Yard, drinking and having the time of their lives for that one night. It’s a pocket friendly club, in my opinion, so whenever you’re in Westlands, hop in, and grab yourself a cold one.

4. Space Lounge & Grill

Located on Ngong Rd, opposite Prestige Plaza, Space Lounge is that place you go to and order your nyama choma, if you wish, as you sip on adult drinks, as I like to call them. Like some of the clubs in Nairobi, there are themed nights, like Karaoke Tuesday, hosted by the beautiful songstress Sanaipei Tande of the Mfalme wa Mapenzi hit song and Hits Friday, with top DJs in the country on the decks. Besides that there are also parties with strict dress codes such as an all-black affair which is popular amongst clubs in the city as well. I mean, who doesn’t have any item that’s black in their closet, right?

Space Lounge is the perfect “I’m going to only have one drink” after work excuse but then you end up spending the entire night there, only to ask yourself what happened and why you make bad decisions the next morning at 6 o’clock.

Just like The Alchemist, Space Lounge is also open air and has a mixture of nationalities going to unwind at the club. There’s no pressure to be extremely dressed which makes it a perfect “local” because after all, your drink won’t ask much from you, right?

5. Privee

There’s a club that was started just the other day that seemed to overtake all the other clubs in Westlands. That club is Privee, which is located on the first floor of Fortis Towers. A night out at Privee is nothing short of a classy affair, which is to be expected since the prices of the drinks are what they probably use to sieve those who come into the premises. Say what you will but this is the definition of a classy and fun environment. You’re not walking into Privee to find the ratchets found in some other clubs that I dare not mention. The ambience is always on point and they have great music because they will have top DJs who have mastered the art of the club and music as a whole on the decks; DJs such as Hassan, Kaffi, Kace, will have you on your feet the entire night, making the ladies forget about the sky high heels they’re wearing and the pain that comes with it, the morning after.

Good vibes keep flowing, great music, lots of space, good food, a wide range of drinks and yes, just like other top clubs in Nairobi, for you who just want to lounge and keep to yourselves, there’s a VIP lounge just for you, with a back door to the rooftop. Need I say that the view of Nairobi from that rooftop is absolutely breathtaking?

There are only a few things that match you having your drink, a bearable breeze and Nairobi city lights beaming at you as you enjoy good music and great ambience. If you need a place to take your plus one, this is it!

The post The Rulers of Nairobi Night Life appeared first on KenyanVibe.

In case you missed it, Artcaffe Grande, Westgate Mall hosted a Pop-Up Fashion X Art event from Tuesday through Friday last week. Artcaffe will also be the sole vendor for the pop-up picnic event “Diner en Blanc” happening on 26^th November.

Pop-Up Fashion X Art Event

Are you now wondering what pop-up events are? Pop-Up events are not something new. These events have been around for quite some time, in fact, as far back as 1997. According to the Oxford dictionary, to ‘pop-up’ means to appear or occur suddenly. In this regard, the dictionary is not far off. Pop-up events are in essence events that appear unplanned or spontaneous that occur for a short period of time, longer or occasionally, depending on popularity. However, do not be fooled by the words spontaneous, or unplanned, because regardless of semantics, a lot of planning goes into creating these events.

According to the eventmanagerblog.com, “Pop-up events are a powerful combination of expected and unexpected. You have to draw a crowd and yet keep it under wraps until the day of the event. You need to make it appear serendipitous, yet plan as seriously as you would a traditional meeting.” Read more at http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/the-rise-of-pop-up-events#0X5P6qBfHYs9bJCK.99

Even though it might seem like an impossible task to keep a pop-up event secret, there’s a lot to be said about the benefits of pop-up events.

1. Pop-up events have the power to create brand awareness.

2. Pop-ups offer the opportunity to impress new customers.

3. Pop-ups help generate buzz for new products, services, e

4. Pop-ups provide a great avenue/way to test new products.

So, how does one go about setting up a pop-up event?

1. Planning

Every successful event begins at the planning stage. Think of this stage as creating a sequence of steps to achieve a goal. You will need to find inspiration and to be creative.

2. Set Specific Goals

Every event needs to be founded in specific goals. The best way to do this is to ask yourself, “what do I aim to achieve with this event?” Your answer could be anything from “growing your following”, to “breaking even”, but these answers will help you decide how to design and price your event.

3. Figure out what your pop-up is

A pop-up could be anything from a shop, a dining experience, a performance to a cinema viewing. Deciding on your pop-up format all depends on what you intend to achieve with the event.

Pop-Up Fashion X Art event

4. Set a budget

Budgets are the cornerstone of any event. A budget ensures that you have enough money to spend on the most important aspects of the event and prevent you from spending money on things you do not really need.

5. Decide on a theme

Once you’ve figured out your goals, budget, and format, you can start organizing your event around a theme. Again, this will all be based on the goal you want to achieve.

The post Pop-Up Events! Planning Your Own appeared first on KenyanVibe.

You know how it goes in this city – one minute, we can’t get enough of a new bar, and the next minute it is so ‘October 2016’.

But although that might be super infuriating for those who’ve taken up their time, money and energy into the planning, execution and marketing of a new venue, it also gives a pretty good indication into the health of the country’s booming entertainment sector. The fact that “Nairobians” love to party, love to engage themselves with new styles and ways of doing things; from music to cuisine to expanding their social circles.

Olive Gachara and Nailantei Kenga step out on opening night

Enter The Tav – an Irish Pub and Eatery which has just received its official launch. And it did so in the manner that all success stories in Nairobi do – through an ultra exclusive launch party – this time featuring G Money and Maqbul as the DJ and MC of the night.

G-Money and Maqbull ensured the energy stayed up!

It’s branding itself as an ultra modern pub and is located at The Mirage, Chiromo Road, in Westlands.

A number of celebrities were in attendance for the high profile launch event that took place between 6 and 9pm before the doors were opened up to the public. Some of the evening’s attendees included: the Kenya’s 7’s dream team member Biko Adema, Michael Makori of KTN and the ever stylish Olive Gachara behind Couture Magazine.

The bosses! Directors Njuguna Mugo and Christina Rodriguez

The Tav is not trying to make just a small impact. It is promising an all round experience for those who choose to take the plunge – from both the food on offer to the beverage list. Of course, the taste of Ireland is expected to come through in spades – and here’s hoping it stays as authentic to that vibe as it says it will!

Eddie Gitau and the graffiti artist bankslave also stepped out

It accepts both credit cards as well as MPESA payments and stocks a full bar with a capacity for sport screenings and the main thing? Free wifi. Because what’s nightlife without that.

Link up with The Tav twitter for details on special offers and events.

The post Is ‘The Tav’ Nairobi’s Hottest New Spot? appeared first on KenyanVibe.

Although he has many talents, Ali Hassan, better known as Alvin Juma to his friends decided to focus more on art, particularly portraits. Alvin Juma came to Nairobi in January last year with nothing but hopes to make it in life. He cleared high school a few years back, but due to lack of fees he never enrolled for higher education. He started drawing and posting his work on electricity poles all over the different estates Nairobi. A few weeks later, someone got in touch requesting for his service. It was then that doors opened for him.

Henry, the guy who had called him, introduced him to another artist by the name Ronny. Apparently, the two worked together at Mim’s Creations where Ronny drew and Henry was responsible for marketing. Ronny having been in the field for some time was able train Ali, making him a better artist. Afterwards, he started getting jobs and get some pay. The pay was however too little and after sometime, Ali decided to quit Mim’s Creations to create his own lane. He turned to social media (facebook and Instagram) for marketing and after a while started getting his own clients.

“I once went to an acting audition but I didn’t make it through. I had carried samples of my art with me and while at the auditions, a guitarist called Melissa saw it and really liked it. She worked with Jalang’o and she introduced me to him. I got an opportunity to feature on Jalang’o show which airs on KTN and since then it’s been uphill in the art industry for me.”

Ali has been to different media houses marketing his art. He also does portraits of celebrities and has them market his art on their social media. “I gave myself a stage name YMA which stands for Young Man of Art. I chose this name since I have many other different talents in the field of art such as music, to which I was introduced by Prezzo, comedy and even acting.”

His take on the art industry in Kenya; “The industry is quite young and a bit unexposed and therefore it gets a bit hard for one to market their art and get people who actually appreciate it. It does pay, but it’s a challenge getting clients and one must hustle really hard. But when you do something you enjoy, it’s a bit easier. As for me, art is my life.”

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Decem-Bar is here,I see the summer bunnies starting to trickle in. As we celebrate throughout this festive season, epic New Year’s Eve parties have been planned. Keep it locked for regular updates on the NYE events set to take place across the country.

Kilifi New Year is a radically creative two-day explosion of musical mayhem and tropical beach culture set on the gorgeous banks of Kilifi Creek. Performers from around the world will unite to turn the beach-side playground into an extraordinary exhibition of colors, lights, installations and stalls of mind-blowing diversity and proportion.

The Line up for Kilifi New Year is amazing. Firstly,there’s Bengatronics, who are currently redefining the future of Benga music. Secondly,The classically trained violinist Seth Schwarz returns after his Kilifi New Year debut last year. Thirdly, Electrafrique Band, who add an electronic futristic twist to African rhythms.Also set to perform is Electrafique pioneer DJ Cortega, whose performance at Kilifi New Year represents something of a homecoming.Also joining the roster are; Be Svendse, Umojah Sound System, Luke Redford, Umoja,Pete Rowbots, Dread Steppa, Lucky Birdi, Enchan and Chucky. Finally, the trio of Gregg Tendwa, Eddie Grey and Makadem are coming together for what is sure to be an unforgettable set.

All things considered, if that line up doesn’t get you excited to head to the white beaches of Kilifi for the New Year, maybe the selection of food stalls, along with vegetarian options and a fully stocked bar will.

“The Kilifi New Year Festival is an opportunity for us to show some of the world’s best electronic performers to a Kenyan audience as well as showing the world some of the best Kenyan electronic live acts.” says festival director Tom Atkinson

Moreover, Kilifi New Year is created within a conscious social and ecological context. The organizers encourage everyone to party eco-responsibly and invest in the local community.

Grab your tickets at www.kilifinewyear.com

Follow Kilifi NYE on Social Media for updates

Facebook: Kilifi New Year
Twitter: @KilifiNewYear
Instagram: @KilifiNewYear

The post NYE Party Plan: Kilifi New Year appeared first on KenyanVibe.

The Kibera Talent Search has grown to become a major force for change in an area that has been marginalized for a long time. We first wrote about the skill, the determination and the creativity of young people living in one of Africa’s largest slums, and now the dreams of a few have been met – and for other, the opportunity to really have something to reach out for in the arts.

The search is now over, and a new crop of faces have the opportunity to record with the massive Grandpa Records and hopefully change their destiny for the future to come.

The competition at the 2016 event that took place recently was intense – with judges Dufla, Ameleena and Ian having some really tough decisions to make.

A crowd of over 10 thousand people were in attendance at the finale and cheered on for their favourite artists who have been competing over the past three months and building solidly on their favourites.

MC Willy M Mtuva alongside MC Jah Hill and MC Jiji Spice from Kibera were in charge of getting the crowd amped up –with the Coca Cola Foundation, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, and Co-Founder of Human Needs project – the Hollywood star Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, The Devil’s Advocate)

This year’s event has been a definite success and growth on the humble beginnings of what really just a dream a couple of years ago.

The Kibera Town Centre and Grandpa Records collaborated in the Kibera Talent Search 2016 to create a platform for the amazing talent from Kibera and these platforms are so necessary when it comes to showing young people that there are alternatives in slums – and that instead of wasting energy on negative vices, you can instead enhance your time and harness your talent and creativity towards the greater good.

The winners of the competition:

Number 1:  Mtu Very

Number 2:  Kapedo

Number 3:  Pretty Racheal

Archie Dancers were crowned the cream of the crop – beating out other dance troups to take home the title.

The winners won cash prices, a production record sign up with Grand Pa Records, wardrobe allowances and other gadgets.

The post Grandpa Records Takes On Kibera’s Brightest Stars! appeared first on KenyanVibe.

This weekend will see Kisumu city reap the real benefits of local and regional tourism as it gears up for a massive show at the Kisumu grounds and Impala Sanctuary. The People Of The Nile festival is a three-day event scheduled to kick off Friday 9^th December all way till Sunday 11^th.

10 Countries, 100 cultures meet up for a 3day extensive mind boggling music, art, dance, culture and food extravaganza. Among the countries to show up include Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Congo and the melting point of all these rich cultures is Kisumu Kenya.

The festival as the name suggests aims at bringing the various cultures that enjoy the benefits of The Nile River as a ‘timeless Lifeline’. Issues of caring for the river, managing the ecosystems and creating harmony among citizens will be discussed at the cocktail session.

Issues of climate change will be tabled such as prolonged drought and floods which pose a threat to human life. Four of the Nile basin countries are facing severe water scarcity yet populations projections hint to double up in the next 30 or so years.

The acts involved will leverage each other’s musical and arts strengths while unearthing the unique sounds so diverse.  The food which you can expect will vary from roast meat, smoked beef and fish, matoke, gnut saucers and all types of culturally prepped meat will be on the menu.

As You know Music is the universal language and it will definitely be the highlight of the event from traditional cultural acts to contemporary artists who are causing waves on the continent.

Top Acts to be expected at the festival  from Kenya include award-winning group Sauti Sol, Hitmaker Timmy Tdat, gospel acts Willy Paul and Bahati, Avril, Kisumu’s Biggest act of the year VicMass LuoDollar, Octopizzo, Songstress Suazanna Owiyo, Janet Otieno, Benga star Makadem,  coast’s star Susumila, and the Burundi artist who since lives in Kenya Kidum will be live.

The former member of Blu 3 from Uganda Cindy Sanyu will be present. Bongo Flava star Ommy Dimpoz from Tanzania will hit the stage as well. Baby One from Sudan will present as well.

Tickets are available in various categories of 1 day or 3day both regular and VIP online

The schedule of the events line up is also available here

The post People Of The Nile Festival Is Here appeared first on KenyanVibe.

Alliance Française is gearing up for the culmination of 2016 arts events with the inaugural Poetry Slam Africa festival from 9^th-10^th December. The event will delve into recognizing and showcasing the best of spoken word poetry with some of the best seasoned and fast rising poets. This event has attracted some heavyweights in the poetry arena from the region including Swahili Ally and Vitali Maembe from Tanzania.

The two-day event seeks to not only give budding acts a platform to showcase and compete amongst themselves, but also educate on branding and guarding intellectual property. We know the government is out here trying to stifle and control creatives as they find a way out of this space which is in its birth stage. So such events serve as a perfect networking opportunity for the key players.

There will be dedicated sessions of artist workshop, performance class and discussions around performing and pushing the art to the next level.

The slam organized by Crea8ive Spills (a creative company who seek to mentor upcoming acts, talent management and publicizing artists centered on performance poetry) will give women a greater boost on the women slam category, catering for all female-assigned or identified individuals living their lives as women or as gender non-conforming individuals.

Preliminary round winners Socratess and Mgeni Roger will face it off with Rozet, Jaaziyah Saisi, Becky, McElfra and Mumbi on the grand Slam. Whoever emerges the winner from this list will be the champ for the year and automatically qualify for the pre-selection of acts to represent the region in the grandiose Cup Of Africa Slam. Slam poets from various parts of Africa come together on this major fete and are joined by Women of world poetry Slam WOWPS.

At the event, you can expect a special appearance from alumni such as El Poet, Mordecai (from Hart the Band) Mufasa among other ill spoken word, beat boxing and freestyle artists who endeavor to live for the culture.

They say music is a stress reliever but poetry is an emotional reliever, so be sure to pass by Alliance for a glimpse of the action.

Tickets are trading for 1000 bob at the gate and 1500 for the two-day event.

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It’s been three years since the digital media company  What’s Good Studios first popped up on the scene hoping to disrupt the game – and the plan is to grow even further over the next 12 months.

They recently hosted Nairobi’s their anniversary event which doubled up as a platform to announce some of the new partnerships they will be moving forward with.

It went down at the Treehouse with the Cosmic Homies, Nu Fvnk of New Wave and Taio Tripper performing to an audience of industry figures and major players in entertainment and media in Kenya and the surrounding region.

What’s Good Networks has acquired one of the pioneer entertainment platforms in Kenya, ‘Niaje.com’ with founder David Mugo commenting that this means heightened reach for young urban audiences across East Africa.

Other announcements made during the cocktail included partnerships with Sportpesa and Pambazuka lottery as well as other lifestyle brands from the region – Bongo 5 from Tanzania and Chano 8 from Uganda.

Other new partnerships include Yummy TV and the ongoing extension of True Love and Drum magazines into digital formats to create True Love TV and Drum TV by WGS.

According to Tilo Ponder the CEO and co-founder of WGS “Kenya is the gateway to Africa so it was a natural step to expand into the region to move into the continent. You gotta’ make it here first – and it’s our first priority,” adding, “There is a lot of cross cultural relationships ongoing in Africa and it’s a way of living that we are accustomed to. We have exciting new brand partners and dynamic talent whom have already made our expansion in the region seamless for us! We can’t wait to share with you all.”

In addition to wgLIVE TV you can now find unique content including on-demand radio via wgRADIO.fm that includes Kalekye Mumo’s Live & Direct radio show among a range of dedicated channels offering music, entertainment, lifestyle, campus, style and sports, among the best content experiences for young Africans.

You can find out more about WG Studios is up to by following them on their various social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

All images: courtesy WG Studios

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Last year’s edition was billed as one of the finest urban showcases of art, music, dance, graffiti poetry and photography – and now the PAWA Festival is back for its second year in a row.

The Nairobi PAWA Street Festival will be taking over Koinange Street on the 18^th of December will be hoping to convert and inspire those who attend to think bigger – and to allow themselves to gain more insight into what makes young people in this city tick.

And engaging with creatives is really not a bad way to spend a few hours on a Sunday.

It’s dubbed ‘Unity Through Art’ and will include performances from an artist lineup that includes spoken word artists Teardrops and Mufasa; Kenya Dance Academy, Gravitti, Zikki, among others. How possible is it to break down the barriers that separate us both geographically as well as demographically? Not a bad way to find out.

Nairobi County Deputy Governor, Jonathan Mueke dubbed it a great milestone for Kenya – with arts and music being industries that are growing at a frenetic pace: “…the festival platform will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to promote their businesses in our quest to support local entrepreneurs in the country…I call upon everyone to come out in large numbers and support the event. Together, let’s make it big.”

PAWA’s General Manager Njeri Mwangi said that the event helps to bring the art out of galleries and allow members of the public to familiarize themselves with it, and immerse themselves in it: “…we hope to do is to bring peoples experiences and hopes and creativity together to infuse togetherness. Building up on last year’s success, we are expecting thousands of people to come through to witness the showcase…”

It is the hope that with events such as PAWA’s Street Fest and other similar initiatives, regular exposure for those involved in the  arts and culture in general will enable them to be embraced by the mainstream which will essentially help to support their growth.

Last year’s event attracted 2000 people. This year could possibly go all the way and beat that. Will you be there?

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We all know the prime role of the media plays in terms of informing, educating and entertaining us. We also get a lot of our knowledge watching  TV, reading newspapers and the internet.

Africa, in the past has always been tainted in a negative light by international media and has been painted as a disease ridden war-zone with famine and poverty taking most of the headlines. As Africa’s people and its economies rise and start to change perceptions, there seem to be a lot happening on the continent, be it in arts, music, and culture. Kenya, is one of the countries whose headlines in music and culture having changing such perceptions, here are a few of the headlines that featured in 2016:

Sauti Sol.

2016 MTV Best Group (MAMA’s) band have been creating major ripples throughout the world, appearing on CNN’s African Voice narrating their story. African Voices is a feature that seeks to highlight individuals who are pushing culture, breaking grounds and using their craft to propel themselves to a greater height. The boys narrated their journey from recording late-night ‘fellowship’ to sending Cds to the White House and dancing with president Obama. They also featured on The BBC World Report to speak about their come up, what they stand for and their journey so far.  Sauti Sol have been a remarkable export of New age Kenyan Music.

In case you haven’t listened to it yet, here’s the link to our feature on @bbcworldservice #WorldBusinessReport https://t.co/ueR7gpXCND pic.twitter.com/qGgeMB9PBe

— Sauti Sol (@SautiSol) December 9, 2016

Boniface Mwangi

The photographer turn Activist is well known within 254 Circles as the guy who is front in line protesting issues of corruption, bad governance, generally, the guy parading normal citizens to stand up and fight for their rights. Well, Boniface was featured on CNN as well. He explains his journey of covering the news to making the news. His trouble with the law enforcers and what his daily life looks like.

Brian Wanyama Of Matwana Culture

Matatu culture is alive and vibrant in Nairobi. If you are not familiar with the culture, it’s basically ‘Museums on wheels’-where you see graffiti, hear music, custom designs, crazy lighting and the biggest form of transport in our city. The government issues threats now and then which can see matatu culture fade into the dark, Brian comes in as a guy shooting and documenting this culture every day. He is covered by CNN doing what he loves best, from boarding a matatu, enjoying the on-board services like free wifi, alighting at different stages, filming and later uploading his work on Facebook and Instagram. Brian tells his story why he does it and why he is passionate about this unique Kenyan culture.

Jim Chuchu

He is a man in multiple caps, film director, photographer, songwriter and a visual artist. His recent work of art – The Bones Remember– an exhibition that examined the evolution of African Spirituality was covered and had some traction by BBC Africa. The exhibition by Chuchu had a goal to make Africans aware of their lost spirituality. Raising pertinent questions of where we fit, what color is God or Angles made Chuchu get the spotlight on his art piece.

African people are always doing great things and if the international media keep focusing on the good, who knows, the world might view us differently.

The post Kenyan Voices Changing the Narrative In International News appeared first on KenyanVibe.

There have been plenty award shows this year and Kenya Buzz is probably the one that was the second last of them this year, the last one being Kenya Radio Awards.

While I applaud all these shows, what’s really the essence? How credible are they? How are the nominees vetted? Of what benefit to the winners are these awards?

After going through this category by category, I’ve learnt there are people that I need to check out since they’re worthy of a nomination while there are nominees I do not agree  with.

Here’s the full list of Kenya Buzz Winners and thoughts about some of the nominees/winners.

Event Organizer of the Year
UP Nairobi – WINNER
Wanny Angerer in Moving Cultures
Good Times Africa
Hoodwink9
Hopnotch Entertainment

Event Venue of the Year
The Alchemist Bar – WINNER
The Hub Karen
Ngong Racecourse
The Carnivore
Michael Joseph Centre

The Alchemist has really supported the entertainment scene this year. Kudos!

Night Club of the Year
Privée Westlands – WINNER
SkyLux Lounge & Bar
Persia Resto Pub & Sheesha Lounge
Gallileo Lounge
Tree House Nairobi

The  Alchemist? KIZA? B Club?

Female Kenyan Musician of the Year
Dela – WINNER
Akothee
Nazizi
Wangechi
Reema Doshi (of Murfy’s fLaw)

Dela did a great job this year.  She definitely deserved this win. Nazizi hasn’t been enough in the scene for me to think that she was definitely one of the females who represented.

Male Kenyan Musician of the Year
Nyashinski – WINNER
Khaligraph Jones
Blinky Bill
Tetu Shani
Gilad Millo

Nyashinski has had an incredible year since his comeback but Khaligraph Jones has been holding it down while hhe was away so I think he deserved this one.

Kenyan Music Group of the Year
Sauti Sol – WINNER
H_art the Band
Amos and Josh
The Kansoul
Cosmic Homies

New Kenyan Musician of the Year
Phy – WINNER
Noni
Vereso
Third Hand Music
Gin Ideal

Music Event of the Year
Live and Die in Afrika Tour – WINNER
Mi Casa Live at The Alchemist Bar
Estelle Live at Blankets & Wine
Jameson Connects Kenya With Tinie Tempah
Mafikizolo Live at Koroga Festival

Nightlife Event of the Year
Earthdance Nairobi 2016 – WINNER
Brew Oktoberfest 2016
#MombasaRocks Festival
The Juniper Kitchen Pajama Party
Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless: The Disruption

Kids Event of the Year
Kids Festival – WINNER
Kenya National Spelling Bee Championship
Arty Party: The Bremen Town Musicians
Little Miss Kenya and Miss Teen Kenya 2016
Little Einsteins Holiday Camp

Theatre Event of the Year
The Jungle Book: A Musical Safari – WINNER
Tinga Tinga Tales The Musical
Fatuma’s Voice
Rent-A-Diva Opera Show
Annie The Musical

Art Event of the Year
ArtFest: Art in the Wild – WINNER
Wall to Mall Street Art Festival
Zebra People: An Art Exhibition by the Zebra People and Mia Collis
Hop on the Art Bus
Wine & Canvas

Food & Wine Event of the Year
Nairobi Restaurant Week 2016 – WINNER
Chill N Grill
Italian Food Festival
Jack Daniel’s Brothers of the Grill Festival
Le Dîner en Blanc Nairobi

Fashion Event of the Year
Nairobi Fashion Week 2016 – WINNER
Thrift Social
Fashion High Tea 2016
FAFA Market
Miss India Worldwide Kenya 2016

Festival of the Year
Brew Oktoberfest 2016 – WINNER
Beard Fest
Jack Daniel’s Brothers of the Grill Festival
Yetu Festival
2016 Brackenhurst Harvest Festival

Exposition of the Year
The Magical Kenya Travel Expo – WINNER
MX2016 Movie Expo
ONGEA: The Eastern Africa Music Summit
#WhatsNext
Nairobi Comic Convention (NAICCON) 2016

Sports Event of the Year
2016 Rhino Charge – WINNER
Kilifi 4X4 Challenge
2016 Shompole Wildlife Marathon
10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge
Safaricom Lewa Marathon 2016

Most Interesting Writer
Grace Muriuki (mismuriuki.wordpress.com) – WINNER
Owaahh (owaahh.com)
Jean Wandimi (thewineandfoodreview.com)
The Magunga (magunga.com)
Aleya Kassam (chanyado.wordpress.com)

Photographer of the Year
Tatiana Karanja – WINNER
Mutua Matheka
Osborne Macharia
Katie G. Nelson
Victor Peace

YouTuber of the Year
Our2Cents (Susan Wong & Sharon Mundia) – WINNER
Simon Says
Kangai Mwiti
Getaway Planet
Mandi Sarro

I’ve  definitely gotta watch more Kenyan You Tube content.

Instagrammer of the Year
Truthslinger – WINNER
2manysiblings
Alexisnereah
Sunnydolat
Lafrohemien

Twitter Personality of the Year
Sam Gichuru (@SamGichuru) – WINNER
Nadia Favre (@NadFavz)
Aleya Kassam (@aleyakassam)
Shamit Patel (@just_sham_it)
Lemouris (@majani_)

Snapchat Storyteller of the Year
Joy Kendi – WINNER
Shaq TheYungin
Huddah Monroe
Vera Sidika
Snappp 254

What are the nominees selected here (Instagram,  Twitter and Snapchat) based on? The followers?  Reach/Popularity? Content? Were there any stats reviewed?

Comedian of the Year
Mamito – WINNER
Aman
JB Masanduku Junior
SLeepy David
Chipukeezy

Radio Personality of the Year
Adelle Onyango – WINNER
Nadia Favre
Larry Asego
Mwafrika
Talia Oyando

*shakes head* I don’t get it.

Radio Show of the Year
The Score on Kiss 100 – WINNER
TerenTeren on B&W Radio
The Hump Show on WgLive
Hiphop With Ace & Kace on Unverified Radio
Sheng Talk on WgLive

What’s going on here? Except the winner of the category, all the other shows are on online platforms. There are so many great shows from leading urban stations that aren’t featured here and deserve to. I’m aware that some attention has shifted to digital platforms but let’s face it, we’re still using the good old frequency at the moment so why not have “Radio Show of the Year” and “Leading Online Station”?

Kenyan Entertainment Website of the Year
kenyabuzz.com – WINNER
ghafla.co.ke
upnairobi.com
tuko.co.ke
omgvoice.com (Kenya)

How does the organizer nominate themselves and then go ahead to win? What criteria was used to vet these nominees? Did they also campaign like everybody else or was that win automatic ?  I’ve got questions.

Most Informative Website

nation.co.ke – WINNER
capitalfm.co.ke
standardmedia.co.ke
citizentv.co.ke
kenyans.co.ke

Movie Theatre of the Year
IMAX 20th Century – WINNER
Century IMAX Garden City
Century Cinemax The Junction
Planet Media Cinema Westgate
Fox Cineplex Sarit Centre

Best Movie of 2016
Deadpool – WINNER
Doctor Strange
Suicide Squad
Captain America: Civil War
Finding Dory
Fantastic Beats & Where To Find Them
Star Wars: Rogue One

Why have a category for “Best Movie” and then not nominate any Kenyan/ African films? So Deadpool won, what next?

Here’s hoping that in 2017, there will be award shows as glamorous as the Grammys, shows where,  even if the artist doesn’t get a cash prize, it will boost their career in one way or another by reinforcing  their credibility and probably increasing their worth.

The post Here’s The Full List of Kenya Buzz Winners appeared first on KenyanVibe.

We love to hate them. Characterized by rims, lots of art and sometimes referred to as “moving museums”, matatus are loud, they’re fast and they definitely don’t have friendly personnel (please read as makanga)… well, most of them don’t. Most Kenyan matatus have graffiti on them and drawings of popular singers both from within Kenya and abroad. Octopizzo once said in an interview, that having his image drawn on a namba nane matatu was definitely one of the highlights of his career because that means you have street cred; that you’re now a force to reckon with.

By the year 1999, matatus were the only form of public transport in Nairobi, the mini buses started being used in Uganda in 2008 and at the moment, from 2014, there are more than 20,000 individual matatus in Kenya. I’ve just discovered that it’s possible the word “matatu” may be used in Nigeria as well!

Legend has it that the word matatu (originally wagons before Kenya’s independence) actually came up because passengers were supposed to pay 3 cents no matter the destination, in the early 1960s. Another explanation is that they used to be fitted with 3 rows of bench seats. The real story behind the word isn’t known but there are rumors that its origin lies in the Kikuyu Language.

Before the late Michuki passed law that all matatus need to be fitted with safety belts,  speed governors and a yellow line if it was a public service vehicle, matatus were often associated with criminality or reckless driving; with majority of Kenyans  viewing them as thugs who exploited and mistreated passengers and participated in gang or mafia-like violence.

Well, after strict measures by the government things changed which led to driving within speed limits and more caution on the roads. Matatus that ply the 1960 (Kayole), 125 (Rongai), 8 (Kibera) routes etc are known for extravagance when it comes to the public system, fitting them with rims and screens in a bid to attract more customers.

On his Kenyan visit, Trey Songz said that riding in one was a thrilling experience as he had never been able to do that and it also showed the Kenyan culture, which he loved because there really isn’t much of that in the States.

If you’re wondering just how popular our “regular” transport system is, you probably know that, a Saudi Sheik recently made a bid to buy a matatu that plies the Rongai route, the phantom. The same matatu that killed a man by crushing him to death but soon after, on the same day, it won the Nganya award. Snoop Dogg also tweeted a picture of a matatu with his face on it causing the internet streets to go crazy with some tagging his “nephew” Wiz Khalifa, matatus with pictures of him and others with pictures of Wiz and Snoop. Now, Robert Knepper has done the same thing!
You might not know him by his government name, but perhaps you’d recognize the name “T Bag”, a character off the popular TV series Prison Break? Yeah, that’s his name. Robert Knepper.

He shared a picture of the matatu on his Instagram and Facebook page and it caused quite a stir. The caption read “Apparently, this is a bus in Kenya.” Well, Mr. Knepper, it is!

It seems to me that the simple things we take for granted (like matatus, in this case) are really fascinating to people who don’t understand them or people who haven’t experienced just how crazy riding in one can get.

Looks like soon, it will be a requirement for every tourist who comes into the country to get a ride on a prestigious, souped up jav. Why not?
Check out Robert Knepper’s post:

Apparently, this is a bus in Kenya…

A photo posted by Robert Knepper (@robert_knepperofficial) on Dec 19, 2016 at 11:35am PST

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What a time it is to be young and African – the world is our oyster and there are so many ways in which we can make an impact – whether it is in the field of politics and governance, whether it is through art and the digital sphere or through entrepreneurship – there are numerous stories of success to be told in Africa and numerous reasons to believe in the power of young people to change what has been a false narrative of the continent.

The Africa Youth Awards the continent’s most coveted awards for young people has announced its 2016 winners – picked from over 170  shortlisted nominees, and and which received participation from over 145 countries worldwide.

Two Kenyan entries managed to bag awards – Gakii Biriri who took home Social Enterprise of the Year and City Rydes

Check out the full list of winners:

Ilwad Elman, Elman Peace and Human Rights Center (Somalia) – African Youth of the Year (Female)

Albert Kusi – LEC Foundation (Ghana) – African Youth of the Year (Male)

Mohammed Ibrahim Jega, Emerge Tech Africa (Nigeria) – Entrepreneur of the Year

Souhila Ben Lachhab (Algeria) – Musician of the Year

Teacher Mpamire (Uganda) – Discovery of the Year

Christopher Seagateng, Botswana Jobs for Graduates (Botswana) – Award For Youth Empowerment

Zixtech Organisation (Cameroon) – Social Enterprise of the Year

Manasseh Azure Awuni, Joy 99.7 FM (Ghana) – Journalist of the Year

Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi, Osei-Kusi Foundation (Ghana) – Special Recognition Award

Gakii Biriri (Kenya) – Social Entrepreneur   of the Year

City Rydes Limited (Kenya) – Startup of the Year

Nana Diaby, Phiphi Plus (Mali) – Media Personality of the Year

Olalekan Ayodele Sipasi, L’afrika Integrated Farms (Nigeria) – Award For Agriculture

Nuhu Ibrahim Alabura, Indian Dental Association (Nigeria) – Health Personality of the Year

Muhire Jean Claude, Young African Leaders Forum (Rwanda) – Leader of the Year

Adyne-Africa Diaspora Youth Network Europe (Somalia) – Civil Society of the Year

Dirboga Bakoh (Irenee), Sukuvi (Togo) – Award for Education

Sylivia Kakyo, Kakyo Girls Initiative (Uganda) – Advocate of the Year

The awards themselves will be taking place during the 2017 Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa.

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