PHAT!buzz August 2021 Issue #247

AUGUST 2021 Issue: No. 247

Since 2000

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WAKAKE Pb: Introduce yourself: W: My name is Wakake, a musician, social activist I am about experiences beyond the normal. From cultural lifestyle, music, cuisine, fashion and everything in between. I am immersed in exploration of the world and beyond. ​ Pb: How would you describe your style of music?

W: I have played percussion across genres. From Jazz, Salsa, fusion, reggae you name it. However, my music borrows a lot from traditional cultural wealth of Kenya. I deliberately let that be my influence.

Pb: How has COVID-19 affected you as a Creative ?

W: COVID has disrupted our creative spaces so much. It has made us realise that we were too dependent on physical engagements in the creative world. Covid has pushed the industry to the back everything we know and value.

Pb: Any Life Lessons learned during this season that you would like to share ?

W: I have learnt that life has many surprises. However, we should always make good of every and any situation. We should also never be hopeless, because the little talent we have if applied out of the box can still be useful during these period.

Pb: Tell us more about Made in Malindi W: Made in Malindi was founded in 2019 by Wakake Otieno after many years of running the Culture Safari project (TCSP), a music project based on the traditional cultures of the people of Kenya.

Made in Malindi thus became the formal vehicle to run and execute the activities of The Culture Safari Project, expanding into other areas that work in tandem and compliment the project.

Backed by years of experience by the founder, our vision is to create alternatives for the travel and creative industries by adopting culture, history, destination based lifestyles including cuisine and fashion, integrating the same in the supply chain of the tourism and hospitality industry.

MiM intends to harness, create and integrate collaborations between the arts, sports and culture to enhance interactions between our societies (communities) with the rest of the world. We see this as a form of retaining, developing and sharing our arts while safe guarding and encouraging participation in the protection of culture and history while also creating resourceful avenues for the distribution of our arts. As arts practitioners who have travelled the world, we know the importance of guarding against lose of culture, sports, the arts and everything in between.

We hold several advantages in the market due to the experience and practice in these fields of over the years.

To revamp culture, the arts and travel industries, we chose to engage in activities that have been ignored for years, certain of turn around the industry through diversified approach.

To achieve our goals, we had to partner with other industry players with experience in different fields. In pursuing the same, we have made progress in getting absorbed into the market in a very short period.

By expanding markets for the hospitality industry and also contributing in the development of the local creative industry, we are on a path of rapid growth.

To that end, we continue to seek partners who share in our vision so as to bring about the diversity, growth and sustainability to the

travel and creative industry of the coast of Kenya. We are determined to be leaders in innovation.

Pb: Tell us more about Undugu Initiative W: UNDUGU #Tupendane - Creatives for Social Good –This project is a Social Good initiative under the CSR dubbed UNDUGU DESTINY which is a collaboration between Eden Destiny Group Ltd and Made in Malindi to support Creatives. The purpose is to bring together artists from the creative industry to raise awareness about social issues affecting the less fortunate in society through positive messages in their music accompanied by merchandise that we sell to raise funds to support the artists with a percentage of the proceeds going towards selected social good institutions. The initiative also provides capacity building through mentoring and knowledge transfer with an emphasis on Mental Health and Addiction Recovery.

The project entails production of series of Video Documentaries and merchandise which is disseminated by leveraging on digital technology and platforms to engage with audiences and collaborative production of songs and performances by the artists. This includes production of work by Varce Records, a young Record Label under mentorship by established artists including Wakake Otieno, a seasoned and acclaimed percussionist/producer and sound engineer who is also the founder of Made In Malindi which provides opportunities for upcoming artists. The video production and concerts will include Matthew Rabala & Gravitti Band and Juma Tutu both established musicians in their own rights.

The objective is to raise funds and awareness for mental wellness including the production of a series of singles and EPs by the collaborating artists with the first compilation EP released in June 2021. Activities including collective and personalized video documentaries by the support artists, online concerts as well as through Covid 19 safety compliant concerts are also lined up. The songs, planned to be released in phases are in line with aspects of Mental Health and collective approach to dealing with mental health and addiction in the creative industry and beyond.

In addition to the virtual events, there will be videos for each artist for social media platforms and YouTube inclusive of media tours where the artists conduct mental health awareness campaigns to enable the dissemination of messages on mental health and addiction recovery to a wider audience.

The immediate beneficiaries include: Creatives wellness, mental health & mentorship programs Nairobi Little Rock Inclusive ECD Children’s Home in Kibera Compassionate Childrens Home in Githurai There’s also a long term beneficiary, a community in Rabai that is in dire need of water.

In addition to the sale of music and branded merchandise, a continental bike ride by Wakake Otieno is also launching where the public will be invited to purchase Tshirts, waterbottles and related products with the proceeds going towards supporting Undugu Destiny.

Artists working in partnership. Juma, Gravitti, Varce, The Tribe Pb: Any Last words W: We should always Strive to improve our spaces, despite whatever hardships we experience. We can also leave a positive impact in society, however small our actions may seem

Interview by Njeri Kimani | Photo courtesy of Wakake

DJ

AL Deejay Albo @deejayalbo @deejayalbo @deejayalbo

PHAT!buzz:MY REAL NAME IS: Deejay Albo: Albert Mulwa

PHAT!buzz:MY MAJOR CHALLENGE WHEN STARTING OUT: Deejay Albo: Capital to buy the best performing equipment

PHAT!buzz:I GOT MY STAGE NAME FROM: Deejay Albo: Nicknamed by a close friend

PHAT!buzz:MY MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT Deejay Albo: Has made me who I am today

PHAT!buzz:I STUDIED AT: Deejay Albo: Music Technology Academy

PHAT!buzz:IF I WASN’T A DEEJAY I’D BE: Deejay Albo: I would be producing beats - EDM

PHAT!buzz:I USUALLY PLAY Deejay Albo: Commercial Music - All Party Hits

PHAT!buzz:LESSONS LEARNT (Lessons about Covid-19 as a creative) : Deejay Albo: Always be humble*

PHAT!buzz:I GOT INTO DEEJAYING Deejay Albo: In 2008

Since 2000

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