Artistes snub Malcolm funeral Few established Coast artistes attended the burial of Mombasa based musician Malcolm P (Malcolm Tunje) at Chonyi on Saturday.
However, a number of budding artistes turned up for the event while the established artistes made excuses ranging from staging a show to being otherwise occupied.
One of the entertainment figures present, the radio presenter Peter Adamz said it was a sad incident that Coast artistes who Malcolm P supported in launching their careers chose to ignore his burial ceremony.
“These are the same people who were all over Malcolm when he was alive through his generosity they launched their careers at his clubs. He spent thousands of shillings on them, helping them to build a name in the industry. How could they abandon him in death?”
Events organizer and promoter Julia Achieng aka Beyonce said “The lack of solidarity is a shame to Coast artistes.” Suzuki, Adamz and Fisherman were among the few artistes who turned up.
“Fisherman had a show to attend in the evening but he still managed to come for the funeral, the rest were just being selfish. No one in the Coast entertainment scene can claim they did not get money from Malcolm, he assisted everyone this was not the way to send him off,” said Beyonce.
Nyota Ndogo was the only artiste who sent her apologies saying she was attending an anti-drug awareness campaign organized by the teens watch organization at the Nyali Cinemax in Mombasa .
The artistes had been expected to contribute sh 1,000 each to go towards the funeral arrangements, however word has it that several are yet to hand in their contributions. View Comments (0)
MauMau film in the making A local film production company has embarked on a grueling journey to retrace the steps of the Mau Mau freedom fighters struggle and their collaborative interaction with the Indian dukawallahs or traders.
The more than KSh 25 million feature film is the debut production of Wide Angle Visions , a local film production company and will feature Kenyan actors Tony Njuguna of the Redykulass fame and Mehul Savani alongside bollywood film star of American descent Tom Alter .
Titled Muigwithania , the film is set on the original Mau Mau strategic locations in Kabete on the outskirts of Nairobi . Speaking when he confirmed the commencement of the movie shoot, writer and director Amit Tyagi said the film is being shot on high definition video format and is geared at telling the positive story of the Mau Mau struggle.
“Muigwithania is a story that sets out to correct popular misconceptions about the Mau Mau by helping the audiences understand the freedom struggle better and for the first time it brings out the role of the Indian community,” Tyagi said. “The film is set in a typical colonial village in Central province and features the inevitable Asian shopkeeper of the time as well as their role in facilitating the struggle.”
“In line with the production schedule, muigwithania will be ready for release ahead of Madaraka Day festivities and will provide a platform for local corporate to channel their support for the production effort through a number of opportunities including product placement.”
Told with a masala twist, the story of Muigwithania is set to make history as the first feature film about Asian migrants to Kenya and their social interaction frameworks that inevitably fuelled and sustained the freedom struggle. View Comments (0)
Wyre is a dad! R&B star Wyre the love child has joined the celebrity daddy club. On Friday, he and wifey Hanifa welcomed their first baby, a boy.
A very excited Wyre told UEG “He weighed in at 4.1 kg. He is a big baby. There is no way to describe it.”
The newborn, whose name the father would not give out, arrived at 3 pm and was delivered at the Aga Khan Hospital .
Wyre and Hanifa were married just over a year ago at a private invite only ceremony at the Safari Park Hotel . The Boxing Day wedding saw Kenyan stars come out to witness the union of their colleague the Love Child.
Meanwhile, Wyre who released his album Ten Years Wiser late last year is enjoying the success of the single Uprising . It is making waves in the music charts not only in Kenya but also apparently in the islands of the Caribbean.
The single was produced by Arif Cooper aka SupaCoop of Fresh Ear Productions and gives a nod to the golden oldies of Kenya’s charts by including on its tracks, the Les Wanyika classic Sina Makosa redone in a dancehall beat. View Comments (0)
ESTHER CALLS FOR HUBBY QUINCY'S FREEDOM The Esther Arunga - Joseph Hellon saga has taken a different tune.On Saturday, the two hosted a press conference at their Runda residence where they revealed the name of their political party and stipulated that without Quincy Timberlake’s freedom their grande plans may not come to be. Esther called for the government to release her ‘husband’ on bond stressing that he is the think tank for their political campaign. “All the plans are hinged on Quincy leaving prison,” she said. “We have plans to go to Hawaii in two weeks before going into launching our political campaign.” Quincy who is being held at Industrial Area remand prison is facing charges of absconding court in a criminal case pending at Makadara law courts. According to the two, CNN’s Larry King is scheduled to beam live from the Runda estate in June, which will offer the much-needed millage to promote their party manifesto. Esther is also planning on meeting former beauty queen and US Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin later on in the year where they can have a sit down and talk about everything politics. The ex-TV queen stressed, “Quincy is the mastermind, who has all the significant contacts from all over the world.” In the same breath she warned all the ladies who are out to get her man. “Keep off, I have fought long and hard to be in this relationship.” Hellon announced that the political party is called Placenta Party because Kenya is in “the gestation period”. He also stressed that the political party will introduce “terminologies never heard before” and he will be going by the political name Vendetta Supernova in addition to a political code name of Crab Nebula . They also asked the government to provide them with security, as they are fearful that their lives could be in danger.
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Alpha & Finger of God controversy
Tusker Project Fame winner Alpha Rwirangira talked exclusively to UEG from Rwanda on his involvement with the Finger of God church and why he quit his management deal with controversial jazz player Joseph Hellon ’s company.
The Rwandese singer with Tanzanian roots expressed shock at reports that the now infamous Finger of god church was a ‘cult’.
“I have heard that and I’m shocked. I had no idea,” Alpha said. The artiste sort to clarify that he is a member of the Jubilee Revival Assembly back in Rwanda.
“I stayed at the house in Runda during the period I was in Kenya, but I did not attend the services. I do admit, however, that I took part in the Starry Jazz show,” Alpha explained. “I was dealing with Hellon’s group manager for the music company, PA Wanja Gachogu , and the reason I quit had nothing to do with the church but with breach of contract from their side.”
The singer who is yet to sign a recording deal with South Africa ’s Gallo Records had signed a one-year management deal with Hellon’s People Music whose group manager at the time was Wanja. The contract between the two included promises of media interviews, corporate sponsorships and paying shows and events for Alpha facilitated by the music company.
“They promised me a lot of things and I believed them. It was my first time in the industry. I trusted Hellon. I had no reason not to,’ Alpha said. “I found it weird that what had been promised in the deal was not happening. That is why I terminated the contract.”
Alpha refused to disclose how much he paid the music company for the shrt period he had hiredthem to manage him. “That I can’t disclose, but I paid them a lot,”
Alpha added that the experience was a good lesson. View Comments (0)
Where is Esther Arunga? Television personality Esther Arunga is with her family and undergoing counselling by a well known city pschiatrist, UEG established yesterday. Family sources who declined to be quoted said: “She is with her family and she is safe.” They disclosed that Esther visited a city hospital for a check-up after her ordeal in the police station and was immediately released into the custody of her family. The sources said that since her return home, “Esther had changed her attitude” but did not give any further details. Human rights lawyer Harun Ndubi , who rushed to the aid of Esther, jazz musician and self-confessed leader of the Finger of God church Joseph Hellon , little known music promoter Quincy Timberlake and five other church members when they were arrested had been in contact with Esther. “I expected to see her in court on Monday together with the others. The last time l was with her was when she recording a statement at the CID headquarters. Since then I have been trying to get a hold of her. The last time I tried to call was Wednesday,” he said. He said her parents were no longer asking questions about their daughter’s absence anymore. “This may be a broad scheme to which we are all unwitting players to disrupt the activities of The Finger Of God church. This is a case of powerful people using the police in Machiavellian ways and the police agreeing to be used,” he said. He said the family should seek other means of helping their daughter. “Assuming she needed psychiatric attention, the family would have sought it through the judiciary instead of doing it at the cost of an individual’s freedom.” Ndubi said it was ‘curious’ that the head of investigation in the Serious Offences Unit had been assigned to investigate what was a “non-crime.” View Comments (0)
Lovers’ Rock Cool Blast @ Mt. Kenya Anxiety mounts as Kenyans on the East Coast of the US wait earnestly for the month’s most anticipated Kenyan event-Jiwachilie Nite , scheduled to take place tomorrow (Feb 27th)at New Jersey’s famed Mt. Kenya club.
The event will be hosted at Mt. Kenya and promoted by Umoja Entertainment and Shashamane International .
The occasion will grace legendary reggae maestro Papa Bingi and Nairobi’s legendary DJ Jack . There will also be a feature appearance by local whiz DJ BJ .
Preparations are underway to accommodate reggae fans from Delaware, Connecticut, DC, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York , and hosted by the home fans from New Jersey who have vowed via a social network group to brave whatever weather for the reggae reunion.
New Jersey’s veteran events promoter Lloyd Osunga posted a link to one of his social network pages reading:
“If There Iz A Nite Tht U Got 2 Hit Mt. Kenya Thiz iz it.This Sato Feb 27th This Man PAPA BINGI Live Eff Serato..This Guy Puts The Needle On The Record , No Serato, No Financed Apple Computers..Its All About Crates after Crates Of Muzik.Classic Old Skul Dj Mixing. " Lovers Rock Jiwachilie Nite " Umoja ENT”
A popular event flier making its way round Facebook is portrayed below:
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Big Kev hospitalized Popular events organizaer, MC and musician Big Kev is hospitalized at Nairobi Hospital . The Tru Blaq CEO was hospitalized on Monday after undergoing an operation to remove a tumor from his head. The operation was successful and he was moved from High Dependency Unit (HDU) to normal ward from where he will be recuperating for a few days.
He is responding well to treatment.
Big Kev failed to turn up for CEO’s birthday bash last Saturday at Crooked Q informing him of his condition.
UEG wishes Kev a quick recovery. View Comments (0)
Chameleone faces arrest! Superstar Jose Chameleone faces arrest for appearing on stage in police gear during his 'Basiima Ogenze ' album launch at KCC Grounds last Friday even when Police Chief Kale Kayihura had ordered him not to, UEG can exclusively reveal. And what has even shocked and annoyed the Police chief is the fact that while on stage, the singer attacked police, at one time referring to some of them as 'lunatics'.
During his performance, Dr Chameleone roared: “You shoot once, twice, thrice, four times and five times. You are crazy. I am warning the IGP Kayihura , control your mad men.” Chameleone also revealed he decided to dress like a cop to show support and love for pal Bebe Cool who was shot five times by Alfred Akikang , a policeman, on January 30.
However, a Chameleone source insists that the uniform the star wore is not for the Uganda Police. Now we have reliably learnt that Kayihura has instructed the Regional Police Commander, Moses Kafeero , to investigate the whole matter. We can also reveal that days to the launch, Chameleone approached Kafeero requesting to be allowed to wear police gear for his launch.
A puzzled Kafeero contacted IGP Kayihura about the matter. Kayihura then personally phoned Chameleone and told him that he wouldn’t be allowed to. However, Chameleone defied the IGP and somehow acquired police gear complete with a baton and handcuffs and hit stage for a mouth-watering performance. During the show, he revealed he decided to dress in cop attire to protest police brutality. His pal Bebe Cool was shot five times by a police officer.
A police source now tells us Kayihura believes Chameleone could have gotten the police attire from a friendly police officer. What has even angered the Police chief is the fact that Chameleone defied the police head himself.
“The IGP is mad Chameleone disrespected him. He personally told him not to wear police gear but he didn’t listen. He won’t get away with it,” a police source confirmed.
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Teens declare Esther Arunga a role model!
Former KTN anchor Esther Arunga has topped the list of Chaguo la Teeniez (CHAT)Awards in the Role Model of the Year category. Esther grabbed media headlines in the past week after she quit her job, broke her engagement to fiancé Wilson Malaba , and was arrested on charges of belonging to an illegal society.
However, David Ngaruiya , the co-founder of the Teen Awards, said the list making the rounds in the internet is not the final list.
“The final list will be released on March 2,” Ngaruiya said, adding “The nomination took place in 2009 from January to December.”
Meanwhile, Esther is set to run for Vice President come 2012 alongside Joseph Hellon who has declared that he will be running for the top seat. View Comments (0)