Kilimanjaro Entertainment

Kenya Moja Pamoja

gndege — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:27:22 +0000

Kenya Moja Pamoja is an attempt to bring Kenyans in the diaspora together to network, eat, play and get entertained. Whether you like Kenyan food, music, sports or politics, we have you covered. If you are a Kenyan with talent and want to get heard, we have an open mic talent show with producers on hand shopping for new talent. Winner gets a single professionally recorded and produced by top Kenyan producer Ricy R’Deezy Oyaro. There will be other prices to be won. If politics is your thing, we will be gathering under a jacaranda tree to talk politics. And if you love sports, join the Kenyan team that plays against Tanzania or opt for volleyball. The evening entertainment will include top Kenyan and Tanzanian djs and artists. BUY ADVANCE TICKETS

Read the flyer for dates and details

CLICK ON FLYER TO ENLARGE

Reggae: Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:08:07 +0000

The Reggae music video this time is African Woman by Innocent Galinoma from Tanzania.

Africa: Ghana

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:00:33 +0000

This time around, Ghana provides the featured African music video. The song is My Lady, the artist is Jay Ghartey.

Kenya: Banasungusia

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:18:14 +0000

The featured Kenyan video is Omogusii by Banasungusia

Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music From South Africa

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:33:04 +0000

The 2010 FIFA World Cup has attracted nationalists the world over to Johannesburg, South Africa, for a month-long party, marked by the occasional soccer game and punctuated by everyone’s favorite new instrument: the plastic vuvuzela horn that’s become this summer’s unexpected soundtrack.
A few miles down the road, in the township of Soweto, there’s another South African sound earning international notice — and this one’s a lot easier on the ears. Soweto is one of the hubs for Shangaan dance music, a hyperactive hybrid of the traditional mbira, or thumb piano, and synthesizers that can reach 180 beats per minute. For comparison’s sake, Shakira’s “Waka Waka” World Cup theme song clocks in at 127 bpm. This is the cheetah of African music.
Perhaps not surprisingly, then, Shangaan music — like those who dance to it — is remarkably light on its feet. The bursts of bass frequencies one would naturally associate with dance music are almost entirely absent, the songs making up in speed what they lack in heft. The approach is almost the polar opposite of Soweto’s better-known dance export, the hip-hop-inspired kwaito.
Shangaan may yet catch up to its slower sibling, thanks to the new compilation Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music From South Africa, which collects 12 songs released by the Nozinja Music Productions studio in Soweto between 2006 and 2009 and makes them available worldwide for the first time. The album features six of the most popular Shangaan producers of the moment, including the sister duo Tiyiselani Vomaseve, which won Best Female Artist at last year’s South African Traditional Music Awards.
By Otis Hart
WATCH DANCE VIDEO

Yellowman Beats All Odds; Embarks on N. American Tour

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:04:40 +0000

His fans call him King Yellowman because he was Jamaica’s first Dancehall superstar. He, more than any other artist, is credited with popularizing toasting ? the reggae version of rapping—in Jamaica and around the world. All the contemporary Dancehall superstars, including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Mavado, owe their fame, at least in part, to Yellowman’s pioneering ingenuity outright bravery. In the 80s, Yellowman was one of Jamaica’s top selling artists; he outsold all Jamaican artists but Bob Marley.

BORN IN TO ABANDONMENT AND RIDICULE; BEATS THE ODDS
Born Winston Foster in 1956 in Negril, Jamaica, he was abandoned as a child because he was an albino, a condition that carried a heavy stigma. Thus, he was raised in an orphanage where he was constantly tormented and made fun of because of his skin condition.
The constant harassment pushed him to the point where he had to take control of his own destiny. He changed his name to Yellowman and took up music. He first started as a deejay and worked for several sound systems. Although he was booed at his first performance, he ultimately won over the crowds. It’s needless to say that no producers were willing to give Yellowman a minute of their time. Yellowman fought back with a campaign aimed at transforming him from an “untouchable” outcast to a sex symbol. He showcased himself at talent shows and won over fans with his energetic stage appeal and lyrics that combined “yellow jokes” about his skin with his purported sexual prowess.

YELLOWMAN’S STAR BEGINS TO RISE
In 1979, Yellowman won the popular Jamaican Tastee Amateur Talent Contest and after his victory, the same producers who wanted nothing to do with him, were all over him. Soon after, his music career took off. He later decided to add conscious lyrics to his songs and in 1982, he appeared at the Reggae Sunsplash Festival. In 1983, he signed a recording deal with CBS Records and in 1984, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for best Reggae album.

YELLOWMAN TAKES ANOTHER BLOW; BEATS THE ODDS, AGAIN.
In 1986, just when his star had began to rise, Yellowman was diagnosed with jaw cancer, resulting in the removal of part of his jawbone. Although doctors gave him 6 months to live, Yellowman beat the odds. Again. As if that were not enough, Yellowman was also diagnosed with skin cancer, which he miraculously recovered from. In spite of all that, two of his albums were Grammy nominated for best reggae album in 1995 and 1997. He continued to sell albums and maintaining one of the busiest tour schedules. Although he has slowed down, Yellowman is still considered one of the best Dancehall performers.
Yellowman will be touring N. America this summer and Kilimanjaro Entertainment is proud to promote his concert in Minneapolis, MN:
Date: Sunday, July 25
Time: 9:00 PM
Cover: $15 advance $17.00 at the door
Where: Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. Minneapolis, MN
TICKETS

YELLOWMAN LIVE IN JAMAICA

Texas-based Kenyan Artist Releases Debut Single

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:46:48 +0000

Anne Thoiti Wachera, who simply goes by Wachera, was born in Nairobi, Kenya and spent her growing up years between Nyeri and Nairobi. She started performing as a singer and actress in primary school. She learnt to play the piano while in primary school and seriously engaged herself in acting, dancing and singing while at Tumutum High School. Wachera participated in the Kenya music festivals in various categories, including solos, traditional folk and dance. In 1994, she won the best actress award for lead role in the play Manoti at the provincial level. The play went on to win the number one spot at the national level.
After high school, Wachera continued singing and acting around Nairobi before she moved to the United States to pursue her studies in music at Emporia State University, Kansas. In the meantime, her music and acting endeavors had to take the backburner for a while. Wachera has been performing in various Kenyan events around the U.S. and has featured in several songs, including Upendo by the group Totally Kenyan, Kumechacha by Msanii and recently collaborated with Daddy V of Kilimanjaro Records in several songs in his album, including the hit Umenibamba.
Wachera released her first single Msichana Mdogo in May of 2010. She wrote, sung, arranged and produced the song. Wachera says she gets her song writing inspiration from social and cultural ongoings. She is busy working on her debut album slated for release in 2011. Listen to Wachera’s new single Msichana Mdogo

George Ndege (Jojo)

Wachilia: The Minnesota African Musical Experience is Texas Bound

gndege — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:40:10 +0000

After several years of entertaining Kenyans and other Africans in Minneapolis, MN, Wachilia hits Texas a the end of this month. Wachilia is a Swahili word that means “release” or “let go.” The Wachilia event is designed to help revelers “release” the daily stress of work, school, parenting and bills, among others. The event starts at 9:00 pm with non-stop African dance music all the way to midnight. This is the only place in Minnesota that customers can be treated to a three-hour non-stop dose of oldies from the 80’s all the way to current music.

Once it hits midnight, the format switches to a mix of Reggae, Old School, African Hip Hop and more African music. This means that there’s essentially two shifts. The first shift is exclusively African music and geared toward those people who are only interested in African music and can then leave at midnight or stay until 2:00 am if they so choose. The second shift starts at midnight and kicks the energy up a notch. A good number of the people who arrive at this time come in from work and need to loosen up and “wachilia” the stress of work.

Wachilia happens on every first Saturday of the month at Blue Nile, 20207 E. Franklin Ave,. South Minneapolis and is hosted by Kilimanjaro Entertainment. Cover is $10.
The next Wachilia is Saturday, August 7.

Wachilia will be at Club Nai 15375 Addison Rd, Addison, TX on Friday, July 30 and at

KYA Hall 701 E. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, TX on Saturday, July 31

A Dream to Empower Diaspora Kenyans, Africans to Excel

gndege — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:11:31 +0000

She is not following the path most Kenyans and Africans in the diaspora do. Her desire is not to become a doctor, nurse, lawyer, professor or accountant.

Lucy Kitavi’s dream job is the opportunity to motivate others to excel. Her passion is powered by the desire to empower Africans in the diaspora to act on their dreams, shape their destiny and not limit their potential to day-to-day survival.

“America is still a land of plenty of opportunities. We have been putting artificial limitations on ourselves for far too long. It’s about time we unleashed the sleeping heroes in us and followed our dreams. Our attitudes have to change and we should set our bar higher,” says a confident Lucy.
Lucy Kitavi was born and raised in Narok, Kenya to a young Maasai woman. She graduated from Kenya Polytechnic University with a degree in institutional management and is currently the staffing coordinator at Presbyterian Homes in Minnesota, USA.

Lucy has been featured as a motivational speaker by Hennepin County Medical Center, University of St. Catherine and the Uganda Women’s Association. She officially launches her dream of becoming an independent motivational speaker this month and would like to see Kenyans and other Africans come out to support each other’s dreams. The event is free and open to the public with complimentary refreshments.

WHAT: Empower the hero in you
WHERE: McKenna Crossing
ADDRESS:13810 shepherd’s path, Prior Lake, MN 55379
WHEN:Saturday, May 15, 2010
TIME: 2:00 pm
You can reach Lucy via email at lucykitavi@gmail.com or by phone: 651-398-9376

Italy kicks out Reggae Sunsplash Festival, Cites Ganja Use

Kilimanjaro Entertainment — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:52:34 +0000

After 16 years as one of the major summer reggae festivals in Europe, Rototom Reggae Sunsplash, has moved from Italy to Spain because the authorities (in Italy) have accused the organisers of promoting the use of marijuana via reggae music and Rasta culture.

“The excuse is that we facilitate the use of ganja because we are promoting reggae music and Rasta culture. So Rasta culture and reggae bring the people to smoke marijuana,” publicist/art director for the Rototom Sunsplash, Sabrina Trovant Sunday Observer in an exclusive interview after the launch of the festival at the Ashanti Restaurant at Hope Garden in Kingston last Tuesday.

However, this, Trovant pointed out, came as a result of a change in the political climate in Italy. “The far-right conservative party won the election in 2008. They are more closed to immigrants … people who are not Italians. So the festival is the symbol of completely the opposite. It is multi-cultural. We promote peace, love and unity between people. No matter your culture, your religion or your tradition, anything. We are one blood,” she explained.

The Rototom Reggae Sunsplash is a big event wherein more than 100,000 people for more than a week with 120 different nationalities in the same place. “In a place where there is no riots, between them, y’know,” Trovant stresses.

“It’s not just a music festival, it’s much more than a music festival. It’s a reggae university. The singers, journalists, producers come to the festival to meet other people to learn about the history of each other. During the days we do meetings, debates, workshops, picture exhibitions,” booking manager Giovanni Vinci explained.

“It has become a meeting point for intellectuals, politicians. We talk about life”, added Trovant about the sponsor-free event. “Our sponsors are the people. The people buy the tickets six months before and we usually sell around three thousands tickets six months before because the people trust us. It’s more a European congregation of the reggae people than simply a festival of stage production. The movement of a community,” she said.

It was the second time the Rototom Sunsplash was launched in Jamaica. Three years ago, it was launched at Strawberry Hill. “On that occasion we brought European journalist to let them learn the culture of Bob Marley. They spent five days here visiting the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong Studio, Nine Miles, etc. This time, we are meeting with the Jamaican press because here everything was born. For a reggae festival, the centre of the world is Jamaica. Without Jamaica there would be no Bob Marley and without Bob Marley there would probably be no reggae in the world. So, for this reason we came here to meet with the Jamaican media and the minister of culture, Ms Olivia Grange,” Vinci said.

“This year we are changing country and language. This idea that who promote reggae is promoting ganja, so to promote reggae is a crime, is totally stupid. Spain is more opened to integration between different culture, more democratic,” declared Vinci.

The Rototom Sunsplash has been taking place every summer at Osoppo, in the province of Udine, Italy. The new location for the 17th edition will be in Spain in the town of Benicassim, situated on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Castellon.

“Spain is certainly a more liberal and welcoming country. The local authority in Spain is very happy that we are there. And also they also have a different attitude towards the festival because they recognise the festival can bring economic results,” Trovant said about the week-long festival slated to run from August 21 to 28.

The line-up so far includes Alpha Blondy, Aswad, Alborosie, Fantan Mojah, Bob Andy, Big Youth, Glen Washington, Anthony B.

By Basil Walters, Jamaica Reporter