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Pb:Who is Laura Karwirwa? LW: A simple 22 Year Old Christian, family girl, lover of humanity and quite a creative. I'm a singer, songwriter and writer (blog: www.karwirwalaura.com). I'm also a student at Kenyatta University pursuing a degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, heading to my fourth year now. Pb:Tell us more about your Childhood? LW: I grew up in the cool environs of Thika with my parents and younger brother. I'm privileged to have lived in a peaceful and loving home with very ambitious and happy parents and a super funny intelligent brother. I could say we lived a close to average life, fortunate to always have a roof over our heads, food on the table and other basics. I was very shy as a child hence my social life was quite tight and mostly revolved around my family and very few friends. My Dad's job involved being out of town most part of the week so we'd see him oly on weekends for quite a number of years. Right now when I think about it, it amazes me how he pulled it off because I don't remember ever feeling like my father was absent in my life. I was brilliant in school and too basic a child, almost boring because my gifts hadn't budded yet. Lol! I eventually started showing major interest in singing at the age of 8 or thereabout. Pb:When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in Music? LW: I was 16, in high school at the time - Form 2. I was at a place in my faith life where my journey with God met with my passion and ignited something I wouldn't have earlier imagined I'd want to do. From that point on, I started to ready my mind, my parents and whatever else I could for the future that I could quite vividly see.
Pb:Which is your most memorable gig or performance that you got to be part of? LW:That would be the concert I hosted in August 2016 at the Kenya National Theater. It was my first self-organized concert. It was a huge success and a heavy mark to my musical journey because I got to really understand my strengths and weaknesses which gave me a good benchmark to better myself. Pb:Any Album coming out any time soon? LW:Not very soon. Probably next year. At the moment my bigger priority is to complete my degree. I'm in the last leg, finally. Pb:You are currently pursuing a degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, tell us more about this and how you handle school and Music LW:I must say I really love it.I wasn't that child who always knew what I wanted to do but while in high school I developed great interest in matters human health but I didn't really want to pursue medicine. In the long run, I ended up learning more about being a Nutritionist and Dietitian which blew my mind. Interestingly enough, my Mum is one and a good one at that. I'd never have thought my own Mum would end up also being my career mentor. It's a thoroughly engaging course and a promising career. I'm glad I'm here. Pb:Any last words? LW:Love God with all your heart soul and mind. Pursue Him. Love all. Live a good life. God bless you.
Pb:Who do you look upto in the Music Industry? LW: If I start to name names I'll probably never finish because I look up to so many people for different reasons because I pick out traits and values that I admire in different people and try to apply them in my own life and journey. But simply to answer your question, Kambua has closely walked with me and continues to. She's my closest and dearest example. Pb:Where does your inspiration come from? LW: It comes from different things in different seasons. It could be from a Biblical story or concept in application to real life, a real life situation or other people's stories. I believe everything around us is inspiration for creativity.
Interview by Rahab Njeri | Photo courtesy of Laura Karwirwa
@KarwirwaLaura
DJ DEFF MY REAL NAME IS: Deffnate Kadenge Ishao I GOT MY STAGE NAME FROM: My mum when she named me. I LEARNT DEEJAYING SKILLS: from the Funktion Masters. IT’S BEEN HOW LONG SINCE YOU GOT INTO DEEJAYING: in the 2006. I used to play in Clubs like K1 Klub House, Crooked Qs and Kengeles. MY MAJOR CHALLENGE WHEN STARTING OUT: gaining the Trust of major players in the Business World, growth of my Brand to an International Level and getting featured in world class events. MY MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS: was gaining the trust of major players in the Business World, growth of my Brand to an International Level and getting featured in World Class Events. IF I WASN’T A DEEJAY I’D BE: I would be part of the Kenyan seal team six. MY EXPERIENCE AT SAFARICOM TWAWEZA LIVE HAS BEEN: a great, amazing and humbling experience performing at this world class event for a super turned up crowd, been part of a great project of granting the youth a platform to showcase their talents, interact with them, encourage and mentor them. Deejay Deff @deejaydeff
Interview by Rahab Njeri | Photo courtesy of DJ Deff
BACCHUS LOUNGE, WESTLANDS, NAIROBI: Wednesday: Spin Cycle Entertainment, with DJ Kaytrixx & DJ Mr. T. Thursday: DJ Mr. Dru. Friday: DJ Grauchi. Saturday: DJ Spin. Free entry. CARNIVORE SIMBA SALOON, LANGATA, NAIROBI: Roaring BBQ Ribs on Tuesday, from 6pm. Entry: KES 990/- Adult & KES 450/- Child. Rhumba Night every 1st Friday, by DJs Wattii, Wikki & Martin; and New Jack Swing, every 3rd Friday. Entry for each: KES 300/-. Cultural Nights, every last Friday. Entry: KES 500/-. CLUB NIXEN (FORMERLY KENGELES), NYAYO STADIUM, NAIROBI WEST: Monday to Thursday: House Deejay's Collection, with DJ Redcap. Friday: Kidum Night. Saturday: Reggae Night, with MC Kot Kot, DJ Dricks, DJ Ray, DJ Steve Junior & MC Badman. Sunday: House Deejay's Collection, with DJ Redcap. Ample Secure Parking. Free entry. CLUB SAMBA, MOI AVENUE, NAIROBI: Wednesday: Live Band. Thursday: Live Band, hosted by Emma Jalamo. Friday: Rhumba Night. Saturday: All Party. Sunday: Soul Night. Free entry. GUAVA LOUNGE, BUFFET PARK, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Reggae on Monday to Thursday, from 11.00am to 7.00pm. Comedy Night, with Freddy, on Monday. Karaoke Night on Thursday, with Erika & Soul Masters. Good looking Friday, with DJ Exotic. Supa Sato, with DJ Symo Mfalme. Free entry. K1 KLUBHOUSE, OJIJO ROAD, PARKLANDS, NAIROBI: Back to the 80s, on Monday. Jazz Nite, on Tuesday, with Mwai & The Truth Band. Wednesday Night Live, with K1 Mixxmasters. One Love Thursday, with Dohty Family. Live Band Karaoke, on Friday. Gogosimo Band, on Saturday. Sunday Soul, with The Spindoktors. Free entry. KENGELES, LAVINGTON GREEN, NAIROBI: Band Night, every last Thursday. Free entry. Networking event, every second Thursday. Free entry. Quiz Night, every 3rd Wednesday. Entry: KES 500/-. MYERS LOUNGE, NAIVASHA ROAD, NAIROBI: Karaoke, with Doryne & Elsie, on Thursday. Ladies Night, with DJ Jacky, on Friday. Steady Saturday, with DJ Ticco, DJ Ben & DJ Davince. Reggae Jamdown, with DJ Vosty & DJ Ticco, on Sunday. Free entry. OFF-ROAD BAR & LOUNGE, LANGATA, NAIROBI: Tuesday to Thursday: Soul Music by DJ Edu. Reggae Friday, with Chris Daniel. Saturday and Sunday: Zilizopendwa, with DJ Edu. Free entry. PITSTOP BAR & RESTAURANT, LANGATA ROAD, NAIROBI: Monday to Thursday: Rhumba Request, with DJ Collo. Friday and Saturday: Uncolonised Rhumba, with DJ Collo and guest DJ Iso. Sunday: Zilizopendwa, with DJ Collo. Free entry. PSYS, T-MALL, LANGATA ROAD, NAIROBI: Monday: Closed. Tuesday: Karaoke, with DJ Fugitive. Free Cocktails for Singers. Wednesday: Soul Music, with DJ Fugitive. Thursday: Buckets and Wings. Friday: Free Party, with Good Music Disco. Saturday: Sports and Drinks. Sunday: Le Femme, by DJ Fugitive. Free entry. RAFIKIZ, LANGATA ROAD, NAIROBI: Monday: Soft Rock. Tuesday: Karaoke, with Kendi. Wednesday: DJ Protege. Seduction Thursday: Punch & Cocktails. Friday: Old Skul. Easy Saturday: DJ Mixes. Free entry. SAILORS’ BAR & LOUNGE, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Monday & Tuesday: Slow Jams. Wednesday: Rhumba Nite. Thursday: Kizomba. Friday & Saturday: Club Nites, with DJ Sting. Sunday: Salsa Nite. Free entry. SAMBA FONTANELLA, MOI AVENUE, MOMBASA: Mix of Rhumba, with DJ King Saddam. Wednesday: Live Band Night, with Amitie Musica. Free entry. 7 DEGREES BAR & LOUNGE, NAIVASHA ROAD, DAGORETTI CORNER, NAIROBI: Happy Hour (Beers at KES 180/-), from 5.00pm to 8.00pm, every Tuesday to Thursday. Karaoke every Thursday, hosted by Didi and DJ Kuch. Friday Mix, with DJ Seph. Saturday Mix, with DJ Kuch. Free entry. SIPPERS BAR & RESTAURANT, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Monday to Thursday: Rhumba and Blues, with DJ Selector. Friday & Saturday: Hutu Band, with Awilo Jamnazi. Sunday: Jazz, with Wakurugenzi Band. Free entry. 24/7, VIEW PARK TOWERS, NAIROBI: Beers at reduced Prices, on Tuesday & Wednesday. Red Carpet Affair, on Thursday. Ace Cards, on Friday. Reggae Nite, by Livity Sounds, on Sunday. Free entry. VASCO’S LOUNGE, NAKURU-NAIROBI HIGHWAY, NAKURU: Free Tonic, with four Tots of Singleton Malt Whisky and our Special Chef BBQ Wings, every night. Wednesday: RnB. Thursday: Soul Nite. Weekend: BBQ & Party Time. Free entry.
N
urdin Bilal betta known as Shetta is a Tanzanian bongo flava, Hip hop artist. Having managed to have a number of his songs reaching peak positions on various music charts in the country and across the African continent, he has come to be known as one of the most successful music artists in Tanzania. Shetta was born at Amana Hospital, Ilala Municipality in the city of Dar es Salaam. He grew up at Ilala Mchikichini Boma and attended his Primary Education at Boma Primary School before joining Benjamin Mkapa Secondary School in 2008. He discovered his music talents in 2009, when he was a dancer in a local group called 'Misifa Camp', which was under a popular singer and producer, Dully Sykes, to whom Shetta became his backup singer later. Eventually, Shetta managed to form his own music a group which was known as 'Dar Stamina'. Apart from graduating from a dancer to a backup singer to eventually forming his own group, Shetta attributes reason to getting into the local music scene as his own talent and having been influenced by a legendary Bongo Flava artist, Profesa Jay. He then released his debut single, “Mi Naplay”, featuring one of Tanzania’s hip-hop legends, MwanaFA. The fact that MwanaFA, who is an early name in the East African country’s hip-hop scene, agreed to work with such a new artist (by then) indicated that Shetta had star qualities, and was going to have a brilliant music career in the future. Like elsewhere in the world, established artists in Tanzania would only agree to collaborate with new artists who show great potentials. In 2010, he officially released another single that introduced him well to the Tanzanian music scene, named “Nimechokwa” featuring one of leading local R&B star, Belle9. The hit song earned him enough credibility and provided him with several opportunities to perform across Tanzania. A year later, Shetta released another hit song, “Mdandanda” featuring two household names in Tanzania’s ‘bongoflava’ scene, Dully Sykes and Tundaman. In 2012, he released another hit, “Nidanganye”, featuring one of the biggest names in African music, Tanzania’s own Diamond Platnumz.
Story by Njeri Kimani • Photo: Shetta
In the same year, he released another single “Bonge la Bwana”, featuring a top local female artist, Linah, followed by another hit song, “Sina Imani” fzeaturing Rich Mavoko. After a short hiatus, Shetta came up with another song in 2014, “Kerewa”, featuring Diamond Platnumz, again. This single was such a huge success that it made its way to the MTV Africa Top 10,[2] the continent’s definitive top ten countdown. The chart is usually frequented by top artists from South Africa and Nigeria, and for an artist like Shetta who had been on the scene for barely five years, it meant Tanzania had now a new force to be reckoned with. A year later, his successes caught attention of music industry executives beyond Tanzanian borders, and he became signed to one of the leading record labels in the continent, Spice Africa, where he got the opportunity to record a song with an international Nigerian music star, KCEE. The hit song, “Shikorobo”, became an instant banger officially introduced Shetta to a larger part of the African continent as it reached peak position in various music charts across the continent. From then on, Shetta became a household name in the African music scene. Shetta still has some big dreams. Among his ambitions is to become an African star, and eventually tame global stardom. If his rapid rise to fame is anything to go by, then there is little doubt that he will soon become one of the most success stories from Tanzania.
@officialshetta
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ART & TRADE EXHIBITIONS DATE: Wednesday 1st til Tuesday 21st. EVENT: LINE - The basic element. VENUE: One Off Contemporary, Limuru Road, Nairobi. DETAILS: Works by: Patti ENDO, Janice ICHE, Mercy KAGIA, Ndeithi KARIUKI |Wanjohi MAINA, Longinos NAGILA, Sebawali SIO, Jonathan SOLANKE, David THUKU, Florence WANGUI & Agnes WARUGURU. TIME: 11.00am-5.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Friday 2nd til September 9th. EVENT: 3rd Dubai & Egypt Expo. VENUE: Sarit Centre Expo Hall, Westlands. DETAILS: With Exhibitors from Dubai & Egypt. TIME: 10.00am to 8.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th. EVENT: Beauty Expo. VENUE: Ananas Mall, Makongeni, Thika. DETAILS: Sampling and show case of beauty products by beauty companies, parade of models-come and find out who is the fairest of them all. TIME: 9.00am-6.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Tuesday 7th til Friday 10th. EVENT: Art Workshops. VENUE: DreamKona, Nairobi. DETAILS: For Children on School Break, for you who needs some artistic expressions & have some fun TIME: 10.00am to 3.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Saturday 14th. EVENT: Art of Fashion VENUE: Westgate Mall, Westlands. DETAILS: a new definition of Fashion, Shopping and Fun Time. TIME: 3.00pm to 6.00pm ENTRY: Free entry.
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PARTIES & CONCERTS DATE: Thursday 9th. EVENT: Thursday Nite Live. VENUE: J’s Fresh Bar & Kitchen, Westlands. DETAILS: A performance by Kenyan singer, songwriter,composer and instrumentalist: Chemutai Sage. TIME: 8.00pm to 10.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Sunday 12th. EVENT: Maxi Priest Live In Nairobi. VENUE: Ngong Racecourse, Waterfront, Ngong Road. DETAILS: An afternoon that will feature live performances from one of the most successful R&B and Reggae Fusion acts of all time. TIME: 12.00pm to 7.00pm. ENTRY: KES 2,500/-. DATE: Sunday 12th. EVENT: Art of Jazz. VENUE: Karengata Park, Marula Lane, Karen. DETAILS: An Art showcase featuring The Pitch Benders Band performing live, bringing deeply rooted Jazz Musical influences from the continent and beyond. TIME: 12.00pm to 7.00pm. ENTRY: KES 500/-. DATE: Saturday 11th. EVENT: After Glow. VENUE: Tree House, Museum Hill, Westlands. DETAILS: With a performance by: Ryan Williams, Avom, Konrad Phil, Wariara, Sanja, Nemar, Prue, Just Matt, Jaycub, Barasa, Simba, Cairo Kid, Kjay, Ashton Laurence, Iv Reign, Swa K, Morsel, Jeremihdj Afrorylee & Mc Barny Mboya. TIME: 7.00pm to 6.00am. ENTRY: KES 800/-.
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PLAYS & THEATRE DATE: Thursday 2nd. EVENT: Books Launch: The Gusii Soapstone Industry & Untold Story. VENUE: Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi. DETAILS: Gusii Soapstone Industry: Critical Issues, Opportunities, Challenges & Future Alternatives by John Akama & Mallion Onyambu TIME: 4.00pm to 9.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Thursday 2nd til Sunday 5th. EVENT: Shadow of Doubt. VENUE: Alliance Francaise, Nairobi. DETAILS: A Rib Harming Comedy Play by Heartstrings Entertainment. TIME: 6.30pm Thursday, 6.30pm + 8.30pm Friday, 3.00pm, 6.30pm + 8.30pm Saturday & 3.00pm + 6.30pm Sunday. ENTRY: KES 599/-. DATE: Friday 10th. EVENT: Poetry Spot Kenya. VENUE: Alliance Francaise, Nairobi. DETAILS: Listen to various artists sharing their life stories from a Christian perspective and couple this with musical interludes. TIME: 6.00pm. ENTRY: Free entry. DATE: Saturday 11th. EVENT: Strange Voices. VENUE: Kenya National Centre, Nairobi. DETAILS: Diary of a Divorced Woman with Dr. Zippy Okoth. TIME: 3.00pm & 7.00pm. ENTRY: KES 1,000 in Advance & KES 1,500 at the Gate. DATE: Sunday 12th. EVENT: Because You Said So. VENUE: Nairobi Arboretum. DETAILS: an Improv Comedy by Jason Runo, June Gachui & more. TIME: 10.00am to 6.30pm. ENTRY: KES 2,500/-. DATE: Friday 17th til Sunday 29th. EVENT: Cenjia Ngia(Change Gears). VENUE: Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi. DETAILS: What is that one thing that you wouldn’t like to lose? See what happens when such a thing is at stake. TIME: 7.00pm Friday, 3.00pm, 6.30pm + 8.30pm Saturday, 3.30pm & 6.30pm Sunday. ENTRY: KES 600/-.
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PHAT!buzzTM is a Monthly youth-orientated Wazup Guide, featuring quality and authoritative stories of Africa’s Hottest Musicians, Deejays and a reliable Entertainment Reference. PHAT! which is an acronym of Pamoja Hip Afrika Tunawakilisha!, harnesses the Hope and Creative Expression of Young Africa, to inspire Cultural Pride and Global Confidence.
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