Pulser May Issue

may may 2019 2019

L IVE IT UP!

LIVE IT UP!

LEI V EU IPT! U P !

LIV IT

NOT FOR SALE

Queen Sheebah

The diva ruling Ugandan showbiz

MotorMoto

seven Steps to fix that wheel

Wild wonder

Luxury, adventure and discovery in Kenyan wild

REEL WOMEN

With the Cannes Film Festival ushering in the cinema season, we look at Kenyan ladies breaking the barriers in international film Brenda Wairimu Wanuri Kahiu Lupita Nyong’o

+

celebrities • fashion • beauty • machines • food • reviews

CON TEN TS CELEBRITIES, MUSIC AND SHOWBIZ

10.

12.

22-25.

26–27.

28-29.

32-33.

Fashionista and blogger: Silvia Njoki CEO African Elite: Lucia Musau Brenda Wairimu: Film producer/actress Wanuri Kahiu: Film Director/producer Lupita Nyong’o: Hollywood star Queen Sheebah: Africa’s finest

FOOD, HEALTH and FITNESS 18.

20.

34.

42.

44.

Pasta with ‘bacon’ and sage leaves Say cheese Working out in the rain The happy hour Inside Clarence House

FASHION and BEAUTY 6.

Loose change 8. Let’s just Pace it 47 - 48 At home with Jamal 49-51. Going classy, sexy, cool 52 . Kissed by Huddah Munroe RIDES, TOYS AND ADVENTURE 14-15.

16.

36-37.

40-41.

Ciaz gets serious No, Jinx fix it Wild wonder Safari Out and about in Seychelles

LIFE, TECH AND REVIEWS 54. Movies and books 56. Boots and Balls 58-59. Let’s go gaming 62. Horoscope

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THE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER orlando lyomu DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR KIPKOECH TANUI MANAGING EDITOR – WEEKEND/MAGAZINES JOHN BUNDOTICH EDITOR STEVENS MUENDO REVISE EDITORS FERDINALD MWONGELA JUDITH MWOBOBIA

FROM THE DESK

SUB EDITOR WAIRIMU NYINGI

Film, the game changer

MANAGER, PRINT CREATIVE DAN WELOBA CREATIVE DESIGNER JOSECK MUTORO

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.

M

PHOTOGRAPHY HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY JACOB OTIENO PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR MAXWELL AGWANDA DIGITAL NJAMBI MUNGAI KEVIN OGUOKO CONTRIBUTORS TONY MOCHAMA PERIS WAMBUGU ROSE KWAMBOKA PAUL OWERE AHADI WAMBUI BARBARA NYAMBURA FRED KAGONYE TONY AIRO BONIFACE MITHIKA ACHIE OTIGO MARGARET NGENYA WINNIE MAKENA TRACY GESARE PHOTOGRAPHERS ELVIS OGINA

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ay is an action packed month especially on the entertainment and lifestyle front; and that’s why this second edition focuses on the film industry and especially the women putting Kenya on the global map.

A major catalyst of the film sector growth in Kenya and Africa as a whole is the new technologies like the liberalisation of the airwaves that led to increased number of broadcasting stations.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t fully benefited local film makers because issuance of broadcast licenses is done without conditions that would stipulate express provision for local content in the programming by the broadcasting stations. There is therefore need for policy framework that will ensure that Kenya strategically exploits its resources and places itself optimally in an increasingly globalised market for content development. That is what we have captured in our cover story interviews. Industry hitters like actress Brenda Wairimu, filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu and the Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua share insights on where the Kenyan film industry – and the African creative space in general – is currently positioned.

This is coming at a time when the continent joins the rest of the word at Cannes Film Festival this month, one of the biggest annual fixtures in the international film calendar.

It is a time for Africa to tell her stories and film is an important tool to achieve this. And while that remains the new focus, much might not be achieved if the right policies that will help us meet international standards and spur growth in this important sector are not put in place. There have been many questions raised on regulation and exorbitant costs film makers contend with in content production.

But that isn’t all we have. Catch up on the latest in fashion trends, entertainment, sports, health and fitness and much more. This edition is a cocktail of the best in lifestyle and entertainment reads you can get anywhere in Africa.

Enjoy and ‘Live it Up’.

Stevens Muendo Editor

pulser magazine MAY 2019

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loose change - peris wambugu

1 3

2

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Head

over heels 1. Military and denim fur jackets @Sh2,500 (online) 2. Trapper hat @Sh200 (Gikomba, Nairobi.)

3. Bucket rain hat @Sh200 (Gikomba, Nairobi.)

4. Mens socks @Sh300 (Nairobi clothes stores) 5. Stainless steel water bottle (OLX, prices vary) 6. High cut boots @Sh2,500 (Toi Market, Nairobi.)

7.Neck /Head Scraf @ Sh 1,500 (Toi Market, Nairobi) 8. Laptop bag @Sh2,000 (City Market, Nairobi.)

9. Double Layer Cargo Pants @Sh800 (Gikomba, Nairobi.)

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MAY 2019 pulser magazine

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trends — Boniface Mithika

Let’s

e c Pa it

P

ace Focus headphones are the most popular in urban Kenya at the moment with both Pulsers and their favourite celebs embracing them. They are literally the coolest listening experience in town.

First off, the complete pack of these deal is the one you get for just Sh5,000. This comes with a carrying case, Pace Focus headphones, interchangeable 3.5mm audio cable, USB cable and a quick start guide.

Mostly coming in a unique black design with a metallic headband frame and hinges, this trendy gadget comes with soft foam padding.

The sound is easily the best deal the Pace Focus comes with. The bass has good depth while the mids and tremble ranges remain well-balanced, allowing details in vocals and lead instruments.

It is quite an ideal gadget if you want to be hands-off. With a Bluetooth connection, you can hook

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MAY 2019 pulser magazine

up with other devices while maintaining strong connectivity.

If you do not fancy Bluetooth, Pace includes a long 3.5mm AUX cable to keep business going. And with more than 35 hours of battery life, what more can one ask for?

Pace Focus has a younger sibling by the name Pace Mate and what’s more, to-die-for booming portable ‘party’ and ‘adventure’ speakers.

Detective Pikachu

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Suki Waterhouse, Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith, Bill Nighy.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family Directed by: Rob Letterman In Theatres: May 10, 2019 by Warner Bros Pictires.

In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City, a modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world.

The sun is also a star

Cast: Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, John Leguiza-

mo, Faith Logan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Jake Choi.

Genre: Drama, Romance Directed by: Ry Russo-Young In Theatres: May 17, 2019 by Warner Bros.

Pictures.

It is based on a book written by Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything).The romantic coming-of-age story follows two high school seniors, Jamaican-American Natasha and Korean-American Daniel. From the day they meet on a crowded New York City street and shows how they go on to change each other’s lives. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together. A modern-day story about finding love against all odds, The Sun Is Also a Star explores whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe.

Ugly Dolls

Cast: Bebe Rexha, Blake Shelton, Charli XCX,

Emma Roberts, Gabriel Iglesias, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Clarkson, Lee-Hom Wang, Nick Jonas, Pitbull, Wanda Sykes Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Musical & Performing Arts Directed by: Kelly Asbury In Theatres: May 3, 2019 by Empire. pulser magazine MAY 2019

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pulser magazine MAY 2019

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HOT IN TOWN

Lucia & Lucius

- AHADI WAMBUI

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T

he photograph right here was taken last month in Vienna where Lucia Musau and her boy Lucius were on vacation.

Lucia is probably the most travelled lifestyle and showbiz personality and the envy of many in Nairobi.

Having started off as a model, the Masters in Business Administration degree holder has grown to become the go-to luxury lifestyle PR consultant in Africa now holding accounts for some of the biggest brands in the world.

The founder and CEO of African Elite PR firm is the true example of what consistence can do in perfecting one’s skills into a successful career.

Besides, she won the prestigious BAKE award last year proving that she is the lady of the moment. Talk top Kenyan fashion forward ladies and influencers and her name will pop up. Don’t be fooled by her killer body. This brain means business!

motor moto

- TREVOR lAMENYA

Ciaz gets SERIOUS S

uzuki has earned its stripes over the years as a brand that builds reliable and funky mini SUVs, starting from the Jimny to the Vitara. With the vehicle market constantly evolving, Suzuki made the decision to venture into the world of entry-level saloon cars by introducing the Ciaz family.

Now in its second generation, the Ciaz has been refreshed and topped up with new technologies that set it apart.

The Ciaz was designed to attract a younger demographic, hence its fluid design theme. The teardrop quadrant style headlamps and slated chrome grill gives it

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an imposing look, while the wide track and long wheel base give it an aggressive stance.

For the interior, Suzuki has reworked the Ciaz’s cabin design, with the standout element being the use of light soft touch trim across the dual-tone dash. The Ciaz also comes with the SmartPlay infotainment and reversing camera.

Space is the selling point for this vehicle. Ciaz comes with large comfortable front seats, and a plush rear bench. Legroom in the back will be most appreciated, with adequate headroom for all passengers. The Ciaz also comes with cruise con-

SERIOUS

motor moto

trol, climate control Bluetooth connectivity plus streaming on the audio system and park sensors as standard in the mid-spec variant.

Powering the new Suzuki Ciaz is the K14B 70kW/130Nm 1.4-litre, four-cylinder engine. We’ve come across this engine many times and it is a decent performer, but most of all, it’s efficient. Power is sent to the front wheels courtesy of a 5-speed automatic gearbox that exploits the full potential of this feisty engine while still achieving a fuel consumption figure of 5.4- 5.5 litres/100km.

The Ciaz has decent road manners thanks to a well-tuned front McPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension set-up, that keeps the car planted at higher speed and still has good ground clearance.

The Ciaz also comes loaded with both active and passive safety system including ABS with Brake Assist.

In case all hell breaks loose then you can rely on dual airbags, three-point safety belts and crumple zones to protect you and family from harm’s way.

Verdict The Suzuki Ciaz is packed with features and by looking at its dimensions, it offers good value for money.

It comes with a three-year/100,000 kilometre warranty courtesy of Suzuki by Toyota Kenya, and one can rely on Toyota’s network across Kenya back up and service, giving owners peace of mind while owning the Ciaz.

pulser magazine APRIL 2019

15

MOTORMOTO ‑ Philip Ngotho

F

or many lady drivers, the biggest nightmare is getting a flat tyre.

This happens a lot and worse, on a busy highway during a downpour.

Panic grips and all she can do is call for help.

Too bad, phone calls don’t fix tyres. However, fixing a flat tyre is as simple as ABC. To start off, you need a jack, lug wrench, a fully-inflated spare tyre, and…maybe a vehicle owner’s manual. Common sense demands that you should check your spare tyre’s air pressure regularly as it is your lifesaver. Also in your glove box, at least have a working flashlight, a rain poncho, gloves, wood to secure the jack and wheel wedges.

As soon as you find a safe parking location, turn on your hazard lights to ensure your safety with other road users.

How to fix it 1. The wedges in front or behind the tyres de-

pending on its positioning. This ensures the vehicle does not roll over while you are fixing it. Stones work as well.

2. Use the flat end of your lug to remove the

hubcap. If your vehicle’s lug nuts are exposed, go ahead and start loosening them.

3. Use the lug wrench to turn the lug nuts

counterclockwise. You might need to apply force using your foot. Don’t remove them completely.

4. Place the jack under the vehicle, beneath

the vehicle frame next to the tyre being replaced. Use a wooden piece beneath the jack for good balance and with the jack well positioned, raise the vehicle to a point where the tyre is raised about six inches above the ground.

5. Remove the lug nuts. And now, it is time to

remove the flat tyre by pulling it gently. It is advisable you do so as you grip the tyre by the threads.

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MAY 2019 pulser magazine

6. Place the spare tyre on the hub by lining up

the rim with the lug bolts and push slowly till the lug bolds show through the rim. Put the lug nuts and tighten them using your hand before lowering the vehicle using the jack.

Tighten the lug nuts further with the wretch, turning clockwise with your full weight exerted.

7. Lower the vehicle completely and try to

tighten the lug nuts further before replacing the hubcap.

The process takes between 15 to 30 minutes and once done, ensure all equipment and the flat tyre are placed where they should before you drive away.

RECIPE

­­— FORK N AWESOME

Pasta with ‘Bacon’ and Sage Leaves Ingredients

250 grams Penne Pasta 1 Medium butternut squash 1 Red onion, finely chopped 2 Cloves garlic, minced 5 Fresh sage leaves, finely chopped 6 Sun dried tomatoes 3 Tablespoon vegetable oil 3 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds Chilli flakes to taste (optional) Coconut ‘bacon’ bits 1 cup/100g coconut flakes 2 Tablespoon maple syrup 2 Tablespoon liquid smoke 2 Tablespoon soy sauce coconut oil

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MAY 2019 pulser magazine

Procedure

Peel, de-seed and cut your squash into cubes and boil over high heat until the squash softens. (Don’t throw away the seeds).

Once soft, remove from heat and drain the excess water.

Meanwhile, make your coconut bacon bits by mixing all ingredients together in a bowl then lay the coated coconut onto a lined baking tray. Bake the coconut for 10-12 minutes at 180 degrees celsius or until crisp.

In a small frying pan, add a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot add some whole sage leaves. Fry until crisp on both sides then place onto kitchen paper to soak up any excess oil.

Cook your pasta to the packet instructions or until al dente.

In a large frying pan, over medium heat,

sauté the onion and garlic in oil until soft.

Add the seasoning, tomatoes, chilli and sage leaves.

After three minutes of frying, add the squash and pumpkin seeds. (Turn up the heat at this point to get the squash caramelized, but make sure to constantly toss the pan so the squash doesn’t burn).

Once the squash is coloured and the flavours married well, add the pasta – a couple large spoonfuls at a time. Mix well and add additional salt and pepper if needed.

Serve immediately topped with coconut bacon and crispy sage leaves.

food

Say

Cheese

­­— FORK N AWESOME

P

eanut butter and jelly; Salt and pepper; Spaghetti and meatballs; Bacon and eggs; Burger and fries; Macoroni and cheese. These foods have been together for a long time, we envy their relationship.

But have you ever wondered how food pairings work?

Why does bird meat – chicken and turkey go well with white wine? Fatty meats taste better with bold red wines. Pork works well with a low-tannin red or white wine with some fruit and acidity to match the flavour. Asian food works with green tea. Meat sandwiches goes with a pickle and soda, needless to say goes with chips!

Food pairing theory works on opposing tastes to create a balanced mouthfeel.

Be careful however, not to confuse food pairing with food combining. While food pairing identifies which foods go well together from a flavour standpoint, food combining identifies foods that match from a nutritional or digestive standpoint.

Why wine and cheese?

If you are looking for a bite to go with wine, then most of the time that has to be cheese.

This is because the tannins found in wine, if in concentrated amounts, may result in a bitter aftertaste at the back of the mouth, known as tannic. To balance out tannic, a high fat and high protein food would be the ideal choice, making cheese the perfect food to go with wine.

It is for the same reason we put milk in tea.

The tannins found in tea, results in the chalky, dry taste that hits the back of your mouth when you drink strong tea. Milk softens the taste of the tannins.

How to pair wine and cheese Take a sip of the wine and then take a bit of the cheese. While some of the cheese is still in your mouth, take another sip of wine.

If wine and cheese is your main fill, then it is advisable to do so on an empty stomach with some little bread and water on the side.

Which wine goes with what cheese?

There is always the question of which wine goes with which cheese, a hotly debated topic. However, simply put, one needs to pair wines and cheese with equal intensity. While bold red wine pair best with aged cheeses, sparkling wines are incredible with soft, creamy cheese.

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MAY 2019 pulser magazine

COVER STORY - Margaret Ngenya

Brenda

uncensored

Q

uestion: The juicy photos you have been posting on Instagram lately would suggest you are working on a new project. Is that so?

Brenda: (Laughs) One would think that, but not this time. No. Although I am working on new projects, these photos were just another expression of my creative side. I love transforming into different people and characters. That’s the inspiration behind my pictures. Always aiming to make the shots almost timeless.

Q: Besides acting, you have moved into production as it was the case in Disconnect where you were an assistant producer. Is this part of a move to expand your horizons in film?

B: Yes it was. But if I said I have a blueprint to making it to the top, I would be lying. I am still growing and learning, from my own experience and those of my peers as well as those who

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came before me. Our industry is still young.

When I learn the magic formula, I will be sure to share it.

Q: You have been involved in some top productions in the country from Changing Times, Mali, Skandals Kibao, Kona, Shuga, Subira and many more. Kindly take us through the journey.

B: Changing Times was my first ever TV show.

It thrust me into the limelight in a way I did not anticipate. It was one of the biggest if not the biggest show at the time, and I was so terrible at acting then. Thank the heavens social media was not big at the time, because the comments were brutal. I remember some of them in detail to date. It’s funny how we remember negative things almost to the tee. However, I loved working while still young, with people just as young as I was, and that was my first show that made me a household name so quickly.

Q: Film director Jennifer Gatero who was the writer and director behind the TV show then, right?

B: Yes, and coincidentally I am working with her on a new exciting project.

Q: Right, then followed Mali…

B: Then came Mali. I got the call to audition and join the show because the producer saw me on Changing Times. It was a difficult decision to make, to leave Changing Times and join Mali.

But this was a first in Kenya, a long-running soap opera that aired three times a week. I knew I would be at work six times a week, honing my craft, and also the opportunity to play to a much larger Kenyan and African audience had occurred. It was great, and I had my first full and steady monthly income. A welcome prospect.

Q: How different was Kona?

B: Kona was a lot like Mali, but I also got to work

HOT OF coverstory THE MONTH

Kenyan film producer and actress Brenda Wairimu takes the hot seat. In this exclusive, she dissects the hard questions on the Kenyan film industry

with actors I had only dreamed of before. My skill was sharper, my character got more evolved and mature. I loved it. It showed on MNet and was received marvelously all over the continent. I would not trade that experience for the world.

Q: Then came Skandals Kibao‌ B: Now Skandals Kibao was a lot like the name suggests, long story very short, I ended up not getting paid for work done. Legal processes are long in 254, and in my naivety I did not protect myself enough. So that is a lesson in my books.

Subira was beautiful. I played an 18-year-old in my late twenties. My first love has always been film, so having the chance to do this was almost magical for me. Imagine being years in the industry and having only been in two films!

That is why I say our industry is still young and growing. But I will say that Subira reinforced in

me that I am doing what I should be doing. It even won me a Kalasha Award for best actress, my first award in film and TV. Q: What are some of the memorable moments and characters in your career?

B: Lulu from Mali may be my most memorable character. A certain scene of me drunk on our dining room table had mothers in real life stopping me in the street and giving me life lessons.

It was a bit much! (laughs). My lingerie scene in Disconnected was also a fan favourite.

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing you have done on set?

B: I always try sneak in a nap during the day on set, especially on days with very early call times, and late wrap times. So imagine me being woken up by laughter. I had let out a fart in my sleep. It was a cute one! Like a cute toot. Not a thunderous one! (laughs). Better in than out

,as they say.

Q: How is it like for a young Kenyan to pursue a career in acting in the country?

B: It has its ups and downs, as I suspect all other careers have as well. There are times of abundance and times where the wells are completely dry. This can be because of many factors, not just necessarily lack of roles to play. I know of people who refuse to play certain characters or be in certain shows, because of a plan they have in their heads of what their brand should be, and I find that admirable as well.

Q: So the opportunities are there?

B: Opportunities are many or little depending on who you ask, and at what stage they are in their career. Ups and downs...I don’t know many people who would show you their finance books, but a good product that is marketed and distributed well, or has a great platform

pulser magazine may 2019

23

COVER STORY - Margaret Ngenya

Brenda

‘‘MY JOURNEY’’ 24

may 2019 pulser magazine

coverstory

There was a movie where they built an entire set to depict Mombasa, in a different country because it was cheaper to film there than locally. It’s disappointing.

to be showcased on, has the potential to do so.

Q: Do you believe there is an international recognition of what the Kenyan film industry is up to, positive or negative?

B: Yes. I can speak for Subira that is winning major awards in international film festivals. Same for Supa Modo and others as well. I would love for Hollywood to come to us, and not the other way around. That way, we can tell our own stories, our rich stories, which will more authentically be done here.

Q: As an actress, do you think there are many opportunities to exploit your full potential here in the country or would that be better somewhere else?

B: We have amazing writers, what makes a good movie, a good character, is the script. So I would love to say yes, a thousand times yes. But in my books, reaching full potential also means reaching financial peaks as well, and that can prove difficult here. So if only for that reason, Hollywood can be appealing.

But again, I would love for them to come to us, rather than the other way around.

Q: The progress could be slow but steady. Hollywood is already watching. Kenyan films are in the Oscars…

B: It shows that art has no boundaries or borders. It shows how talented we are to compete on a global scale. It shows we are doing something right.

Q: Every thespian’s dream is to win an Oscar. Is this in your bucket list?

B: It used to be, and I would still love one for the recognition of work put in. However, putting in work is more than seeking awards. It’s about reaching your full potential.

Q: Do we need more sensitisation by the Kenya Film Commission on Kenyan films since, as it seems, Kenyans hardly know where to watch them, ironically as we get celebrated abroad?

B: Definitely, and much more than that. Providing incentives, removing government red tape, and just really making it a conducive environment for filmmakers to work. I feel like this question needs a followup, because a lot more should be discussed.

Q: The Cannes Film Festival is coming up and it’s where the world’s greats in film meet. How can Kenyan industry players secure this to showcase what we have as a film destination?

B: I wish I was participating. I need to make a beautiful film first that I can showcase at Cannes, and I am working on it. I think everyone knows how beautiful Kenya is. It would make for such amazing scenery, if only shooting here was not so expensive. There was a movie where they built an entire set to depict Mombasa, in a different country because it was cheaper to film there than locally. It’s disappointing.

Frankly, before Cannes, the discussion should start here at home.

Q. Talking about getting back home. Rafiki. Do we have a place for creative minds on moral topics like homosexuality in a guarded environment where morality issues are still, as they say, a non-issue?

B: We must have a place for creative minds for all topics, besides why do our creative and beautiful

minds take us there? Film mirrors society. Forcefully closing the public eyes to things won’t make them magically disappear. Period!

Q: As a producer, would you go the Wanuri Kahiu way in terms of creating a buzz around those lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues?

B: I have no qualms with sexual context, as long as it is not an excuse for lazy writing. I hope this won’t be misunderstood. As a producer, I will go anywhere the story needs me to go.

Q: What are some of the societal themes you would wish to address in movies at this time and age?

B: I have always had something for dark stories told beautifully. That is what my next film will be like God willing. So I will let you wait on that, and we can speak more then.

Q: Having watched the new movie US, can you comment on Lupita Nyong’o’s role and what you think of the film?

B: Unfortunately, I am yet to watch it. I know, it’s a terrible thing to admit, but I hope to do so soon. I am sure it’s mind blowing.

Q: You are so passionate about film. Growing up, is this what you always fancied to do?

B: Yes and the endless possibilities it provides. I always imagined the different lives I could lead, maybe that’s why I grew up to be an actor.

Q: Your birthday is in a few weeks’ time. Make a wish…

B: But if I say it out loud, it won’t come true (laughs).

Q: Well, with age comes experience and many other benefits. Share your experience as a mother and the beauty of being single.

B: I know most stories told out loud are about the beauty of it, being single! How big your heart grows, how much you love the little person. However, in all honesty, I’m more anxious now than I have ever been before.

Q: Why so?

B: Quite frankly, I worry about my daughter a lot. I worry if I am raising her well. If she is safe. What better things I can do for her. I am getting more selfless and everyday has become a learning process.

Q: You are saying being single or being a single mother is a tough thing?

B: Being single is well. It is different. I was in a serious relationship for eight years, if not more. I’m slowly learning how to date again. That does not mean I am desperate to get someone. Besides, I am not sure when I will be ready for something serious.

Q: No dinner dates, I mean, no one tickling your buds yet?

B: (Laughs) No! No one. Maybe that should happen.

And maybe this article will get me one!

Q: Besides, your family is really tight. That must be a good reason to be happy still…

B: Family is hectic, it’s loud, it’s in your face! But I always remember that family are the people God chose to be with you through life. That is a fact you can’t change. It’s the best thing I have ever been gifted.

pulser magazine MAY 2019

25

coverstory

- Tracy Gesare

Wanuri Kahiu’s ‘Rafiki’ ban saga has earned praise and scorn in almost equal measure, both at home and abroad.

And after the Cannes nomination, the movie has officially premiered in the uk.

W

ith a standing ovation from the enthused audience, this Kenyan film director announced her arrival at the Cannes Festival as she made history having Rafiki as the first Kenyan film to be selected for the annual showcase, one of the most coveted in the international film calendar.

She was in total disbelief and her tears rolled freely, her two main characters in the movie that had just been banned in Kenya, equally baffled.

“This is not a reason for anyone to get arrested,” she said, obviously reminiscing on the trouble the film had caused her with the law that prohibits same-sex relationships, which the movie was seen to promote. Rafiki, being a romantic film centered around two teenage girls in love, had become and still is the talk in Nairobi where Wanuri is in court having sued the government for banning the movie. She is blaming the government for infringement of freedom of expression.

That was last year and since, Wanuri has won both friends and foes and scaled to new heights of international interest with her latest Hollywood projects: a Sci-Fi series for Amazon Prime, and drama produced

by Reese Witherspoon starring Millie Brown of Stanger Things. Since, her overseas trips have doubled and so has her recognition globally, and as such has 254 was abuzz when word

came that Wanuri was giving a talk to a select audience - a narrative of a young girl with a wish to make an international impact through film. “It is disheartening to have heroes who are nothing like you.

Even more so when you are a mother of two and your children watch cartoons and animations that most of the time don’t look like them, sound like them and are not from where they are. It has the effect of making a person feel invisible and misrepresenting joy,” she says, confidence and alluring determination – one like a fighter’s throbbing through her articulate and punctuated tone.

“I was 16 when I made the decision to become a film maker. I had accompanied my mother, who was a pediatrician, to do a home visit at Raphael Tuju’s (the Cabinet Minister is a former journalist, TV producer and real estate investor) house. I came across a TV

Wanuri: a hate and

love saga

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coverstory studio he was putting together. It had never occurred to me that television could be made. I’d come across doctors, engineers, architects, but never a film maker. I saw that as an option and never looked back,” she recalls.

“I was eager to learn and figure this thing out. Every single holiday after that, I had an internship and I learnt a great deal. I spoke to anyone that had anything to do with film or TV, there wasn’t anywhere I didn’t ask for an internship emphatically,” she says.

Things seemed to fall in place after every move. Wanuri was in Washington DC visiting her boyfriend, when she enrolled at the University of Warwick.

“I pursued an undergraduate degree in Business Management and enrolled for scriptwriting classes, afterhours. I also interned in various film companies with every chance I got,” she remarks.

After completing her degree, she applied for post-graduate scholarships in film and got a full scholarship ticket for a masters in Film Directing at the University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles.

“I was the youngest person at the time to be admitted into the school,” she proudly recalls.

It was while at UCLA where she encountered Hollywood A-lister F. Gary Gray, director of The Fate of the Furious, Straight Outta Compton and Friday, who asked her to be part of their scripting brain trust.

“We would read scripts and give feedback.”

Gray was about to go into production of The Italian Job, where Wanuri also interned.

“I did most of the pre-production part of the film before I resumed school. I then worked with Phillip Noyes on a documentary. I landed these jobs through reaching out to the same people over and over and over again until something came through,” the award-winning filmmaker muses over how hard she had to work to earn her spot.

While working on the adaptation of her book, The Wooden Camel, which was to be adapted for screen as an animation film called the Camel Racer, an opportunity presented itself to be in the midst of Disney and ABC people. That was the beginning of her hunt for Shonda Rhimes.

“I asked if I could meet Shonda. I didn’t, however, I met her business partner, Betsy Beers. I requested to shadow in any of their shows, and wrote an email every month for two years. Years later at a TED talk, I told her about my emails and she asked me to reach out to her on the TED app where I sent her my work and links to my films. Two months later, in 2017, an opportunity came up to shadow on Scandal, the series second last episode before the show ended. Being there affirmed to me this is what I wanted to do for sure,” the 39-year old ambitious filmmaker affirms.

Rafiki is the film that thrust her to the limelight – a bitter sweet tale, as she shared with The Guardian.

“I have seen the vilest comments come out of people I love,” she told The Guardian last month during a London interview. “It’s been incredibly challenging,” the paper reported her as having said of consequences drawn from the controversial movie.

“I think there are more instances of joy than remorse in Africa.

If we don’t see more images of ourselves as hopeful, joyful people, we won’t work towards it. I truly believe seeing is believing,” she told The Guardian revealing why she co-founded Afro-bubblegum, a collective supporting “fun, frivolous, fierce” African art.

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coverstory - Margaret Ngenya

The African film industry is experiencing a renaissance and Kenya is poised to take the lead THANKS TO its innovative youthful population and the analogue-digital switchover

Screening Africa

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coverstory

I

t all started with small traces.

Ambitious young filmmakers and actors like the Oscar-award winning superstar Lupita Nyong’o showed their aggression, filming and telling the African story to the world before Hollywood took notice and embraced the amazing African film.

Lupita and many others might be the talk in Africa from a Hollywood perspective but little is known of the renaissance the African film industry is experiencing, with stars like Lupita focusing on starting up film projects here, back home.

A year ago, the movie star, who features in the recently released Jordan Peele’s US, flew in to Kenya with investors from the United States, investors looking forward to help grow the creative industry in Kenya.

And it is not just a story of Lupita but a film industry whose players are in a fresh spirit to make the industry vibrant and worth of international focus. Other countries that are experiencing robust film industry growth including South Africa and Nigeria, with Nigeria’s Nollywood being the third highest contributor to the GDP of the country.

The film industry is an important vehicle

for social, cultural, political and economic development because a well-nurtured film industry can be a major source of employment and an effective tool and platform for the cultured expression of a people. The industry can promote a country’s potential as an investment and tourist destination and as an advocacy tool and shaper of opinion; film can in itself be used to effectively demystify cultural and ethnic differences by using it to promote integration and unity of people.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Dr Ezekiel Mutua, the Government sees film not only as a tool for information and entertainment, but also as a powerful communications instrument for national integration, for social and economic development and for the exploitation, preservation and further enrichment of Kenya’s cultural heritage.

In Kenya, the sector encompasses the following activities: local film productions; foreign film and video productions; film and video production support services; film funding and investment services, film distribution, and film and television commer-

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coverstory - Margaret Ngenya

Screening Africa cials. Mutua who is popularly referred to as Kenya’s moral policeman, owing to his strong push for clean content, says films must encapsulate the dominant culture and values of the people.

In Kenya, he says, it is imperative that the primary efforts be directed towards developing indigenous Kenyan film industry in order to add value to the cultural and artistic heritage of Kenyans through film productions made by Kenyans themselves.

“There is need to provide Kenyan artists with an avenue to fully exploit their potential and create wealth and employment. To this end, KFCB has acquired the hitherto moribund Nairobi Cinema and turned into an attractive facility for the creative arts,” Dr Mutua says.

“The board has also been at the forefront in encouraging foreign companies to make films in Kenya.

This is to ensure that co-productions become an important source of foreign exchange earnings for the country. This is the reason why Kenya is undertaking key co-production projects with other countries including Tanzania, Nigeria, India, US, Italy and even China,” he remarks.

“As Government we recognise the need to balance between regulation and creative expression. We need to develop policies and strategies that create a facilitative environment for film development even as we protect children from exposure to harmful content,” Dr Mutua notes.

A major catalyst of the film sector growth in Kenya and Africa in general is the advent of new technologies. Yet, the liberalisation of the airwaves and the increased number of broadcasting stations has not fully benefited local film makers since the issuance of broadcast licences is done without conditions that would stipulate express provision for local content in the programming by these broadcasting stations.

There’s therefore need for policy framework that will ensure that Kenya strategically exploits its

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resources and places itself optimally in an increasingly globalised market for content development.

Since film derives its content from the indigenous literature, theatre, arts and music of a people, it is obviously an important medium of expression and celebration of a people’s culture and heritage.

African countries should push for film policies that give a sense of identity and understanding, and communicate to each other and to the rest of the world.

“It’s time for Africa to tell her stories, and film is an important tool for achieving this. Additionally, we must focus on film as an important investment and a commercial product which will create jobs and spur economic growth,” Dr Mutua stresses.

There’s need for film policies that seek to facilitate sustainable development to meet international standards and spur growth in this important sector.

Critical to this, is also the issue of regulation. Are African jurisdictions over-regulating the film industry and what should be the balance between regulation and development?

This question arose during the first ever Think Tank of African content regulators held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March this year.

The protection of the African child, the sanctity of African culture and the rights of African citizens emerged as the top three common factors of consideration in answering this critical question.

The gathering, which was convened by the South African Films and Publications Board (FPB) was the first step towards the harmonisation of content classification in Africa.

A Content Regulation Harmonisation Standard Setting Committee was established with South Africa’s Dr Maria Motebang as the Chair with Dr Ezekiel Mutua, the Kenya Film Classification Board CEO as the first Vice and Mr Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director, Nigerian’s National Films and Video Censorship Board (NFVCB) as the Second Vice Chair.

A global outlook Globally, the film industry is experiencing tremendous growth in the contribution to the global economy. The global box office experienced a five per cent growth in revenue to USD 40.6 billion in the year 2017.

This is expected to grow with the uptake of film as the major communication channel across the world.

China The country has the largest number of screens in the world since 2016, and is expected to become the largest theatrical market by 2019. With a population of about 1.386 billion people, the country has been a force to reckon with in the film industry as its population provides a ready market for its content.

To cope with demands of an increasingly wealthy population, the number of cinema screens expanded more than four times from 2007 to 2013. The African continent is home to approximately 1.3 billion people and by the end of the century that number is expected to jump to 4.2 billion. The continent will probably overtake Asia and be home to the world’s largest labour force as early as 2040.

Nigeria The Nigerian film industry, also known as “Nollywood,” produces about 50 movies per week, second only to India’s Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood.

Although Nollywood’s revenues trail those of Bollywood and Hollywood at the global box office ($1.6 billion and $9.8 billion in 2012, respectively), Nollywood still generates, on average, $600 million annually for the Nigerian economy, with most of these receipts coming from the African diaspora. It is estimated that over one million people are currently employed in the industry (excluding pirates), which makes Nollywood Nigeria’s largest employer after oil and agriculture.

The Entertainment and media outlook :2018-2022 An African perspective by Price Waterhouse Coopers provides an in-depth the An in-depth analysis of the trends shaping the entertainment and media industry in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania.

The report indicates that the Kenyan entertainment and media market was worth USD 2.1 billion in 2016, up 13.6 per cent in 2015. Revenue is also expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent over the next five years hitting the US$3 billion mark in 2020, and totalling to US$3.2 billion in 2021.

South Africa According to the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa.

In 2017 a total of 222 films were released, of which 23 of those films originated from South Africa. In 2017, the market share for domestic films was four percent, the market share for South Africa produced films in the first half of 2018 was three percent.

— Source of data : Entertainment and media outlook: 2018 – 2022 An African perspective

From posting nudes online to releasing mega hits, this former Obsessions singer who has since gone solo is easily Uganda’s female music act of the moment

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er members- then Sharon and Jackie- struggling.

“Looking at my journey, it has been such a long distance getting here, so way far back that I can’t go back there,” she says.

“I left school because we were struggling as a family and I wanted to help my mother,” she adds noting that she has no regrets for dropping out at such an early age.

“Back then, Obsession was the best girl group in Uganda and rising through the challenges, we became a regional outfit hosting major shows in almost all the big cities in East Africa. This was a dream come true as my biggest dream, growing up was that I would become a professional dancer and singer like Beyoncé ,” exuding pride, she remarks.

“I am always determined to make it in life no matter how hard the task is. When I started off as a dancer, people did not believe me.

Now see how far this has taken me,” the HiPipo Music Award Artiste of the Year and Best Female Artiste remarks, adding that she is grateful that fans across the region embraced her even when she was only singing in her local dialect.

“I am not saying that I never get nervous. I do especially when I am trying out something I really love. I keep reminding myself it can be done,” notes the 29-year-old who is commonly known as Queen Sheebah in showbiz circles. Describing herself as a God-fearing person and a go-getter, the rather happy soulful singer says that there are so many misconceptions of who musicians are. She admits that sometimes, she feels people misunderstand her.

“When you are doing your showbiz thing on stage, that is work. You are doing that for the business. Outside the stage, I am a different person. I have a life,” she defends.

“While on stage, I bring the sexy out. This is like my office and as we all know, we have two different sides. I am allowed to wear those costumes, right? And don’t my fans love them anyway,” she concludes.

The latest trend among women is mixing laxative tea with the master cleanse diet

Queen

S

he is as controversial as they come and she owes no one an apology for her rebel tendencies.

For Sheebah Karungi, since the days when her group Obsession released Jangu, life is never good without spicy moments.

With no chills, she lives it up.

In her latest song Replace Me, featuring John Blaq and Grenade, she brings out the attitude without fear of reproach reminding one her last year’s parting shot when she said no man in Uganda deserved to be her lover.

It was just months after the government had singled her out as ‘bad influence’, warning her for her indecent dressing.

“I saw a picture of Sheebah and she was naked. She was only wearing a net with a swimming costume, but even the costume was transparent. Those are some of the people we are going to go after,” warned Uganda’s pornographic control committee chairperson Annette Kezaabu.

“We need to wake up and fight this monster. Porn is a monster,” she added, alluding that Sheebah had pushed the envelope too far. It wasn’t the first time the Ice Cream singer was creating a buzz with her dressing. In 2015, her nude photos leaked. She was breaking the Internet with the posting that showed her in a room wearing knickers and bra only.

She repeated the same last year arguably to garner more online following for continental fame, which she got after she was shortlisted for join Coke Studio Africa for the second time.

Together with Tanzania’s Harmonize, she did a hit cover of Follow Me and since she hasn’t looked back. She is the only East African female artiste who has released a stream of songs with Mummy Yo, Beera Nange and Weekend (featuring Runtown), all released last year.

Having started off as a dancer and actress, Sheebah quit school for her love of dance. At 15, she joined a dance group that was called Stingers before joining Obsessions. However, she quit the group years later leaving the oth-

Sheebah

hot in africa

‑ Pulser writer

hot in africa

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FITNESS

— Philip Ngotho

fact that the rain and chilly season is here does not mean you should send your fitness regime into hibernation.

W

hen the rain or chilly season sets in, many have a tendency to put a stop to outdoor exercise. This should not be the case.

Outdoor workout is healthy. It is important both for the body, mind and soul. This practice also helps us reconnect with nature, getting us out of confined workout spaces such as gyms where everything just sounds innovative and digital. I mean, we can be more creative, right?

Here are some simple rules that can help you perfect outdoor exercise during this season.

Always ensure your workout gear is dry. Fitness therapists will tell you the easiest way to lose body heat is to get wet. Water is a good heat conductor that moves heat away from the area of highest body concentration to the lowest, cold air outside. If you are cold and wet, you are at risk of hypothermia.

Skip exercise outfits made from cotton – as they soak up sweat and rain and holds in all the moisture. Instead go for synthetic fibres such as

nylon and polyester. Research shows such fibres wick away moisture about 50 per cent faster than cotton.

It is recommended you layer up. This is not a contradiction of the sweat-wicking clothes. Put on a thin base layer made of synthetic fabrics to help you pull sweat away from the skin.

If it is wet and cold, wear a middle layer for extra warmth then add an outer layer to protect you from the wind and rain. This can be a windbreaker or waterproof jacket.

Some body parts such as ears, nose, toes and fingers are affected mostly by cold temperatures and so to keep these parts from freezing, wear a hat or headband and gloves or mittens. Thick socks also help.

Besides, you can always take them off once you get warm. It is recommended that these add-ons be wool or synthetic, rather than cotton to help keep sweat off your skin.

To block out biting winds, consider keeping your face covered with a running mask or scarf.

Also, go for bright colours as it can get really dark around this season causing dangers of poor visibility as this makes it hard for others to see you, especially if you are sharing the road with motorists.

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rain

TRAVEL

‑ Margret Ngenya

It’s been said, Kenya offers the world’s most wild safari, with beautiful scenaries and out of this world animal species.We give you a glimpse into what to expect of a Kenyan tour, where to go and how much it costs.

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TRAVEL

F

rom witnessing astonishing views of Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro, watching the magical flamingoes and over 450 species of birds in Lake Nakuru to exploring the phenomenal Masai Mara to see the Big Five, Kenya serves one of the best wild adventure anyone can ever dream of.

A good safari full of adventure, thrills of nature, wildlife and history takes approximately six days. The highlights of the splendid outing mostly involve a trip to Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli National Park. This tour starts at Masai Mara, one of the most fascinating reserves in Africa lying in the great Rift Valley. Mara is iconic with fast landscapes that presents drama of nature.

From Mara, you move to Lake Nakuru National Park that has a large reserve of over 400 species of birds - ideal site for bird lovers. The park is home to the

rhinoceros and the giraffe.

After Lake Nakuru National Park, the safari moves to Amboseli National Park known for its savannah grassland that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzanian boarder right at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This is the one place in Africa where one gets close to free-ranging elephants and other wild species. With the low scrubs vegetation, it is easy to spot wildlife easily. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalos, zebras, giraffes and a variety of antelopes are found here as well as many bird species.

It is important to note that this tour can start in Nakuru, then Maasai Mara.

Guide Mara: Two nights Nakuru: One night Stop in Naivasha: One day Amboseli: One night Then‌drive back to Nairobi Costs One can hire a tour van that comfortably accommodates seven people.

It is approximately Sh15,000 per day.

This is inclusive of driver’s fee, fuel, park fee, water and car fee.

Best season For the best offers, June is the best time to do this

safari. This is because it is just before the high season that starts with the wildebeest migration. That means to get this, you should have done or be doing your booking now.

Information source: Gameland Tours Contact: Sheila Kinyua, Gameland Tours, Tanzama Art Gallery, Gigiri lane, Gigiri. Telephone: +254 722 795 145. Email: info@ gamelandtours.co.ke.

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A self-taught prodigy, Aulgah Nato is an award winning Kenyan High Fashion Designer. Fifth born in a family of six and a lover of Fashion and design. Her vision has always been to celebrate a woman’s body and give her beautiful unique option that guarantees her to stand out. She loves effortless and easy style.

The story behind her work expresses the progression of a woman becoming aware of herself. It is a journey a woman undertakes from childhood to when she blossoms into who she is created to be.

Location: Hurlingham Plaza | Tel: 0727 120 292

Name of the Collection: Girl of Now Inspired By A Woman Who Wants More

out & about

- peter muiruri

Scintillating Seychelles

the Kenyan coast is world-famous, but the archipelago of Seychelles, made up of 115 islands, is a tourism haven every side you turn. Pulser spent a week there and gives you 11 reasons to visit

1. Visa free

S

eychelles is one of the few visa-free countries in the world.

Just arm yourself with a passport, some airfare and you are good to go. Don’t forget to take your yellow fever vaccination certificate as it may be demanded upon arrival. Kenya Airways has scheduled direct flights several times a week.

2. Turquoise blue waters True, Diani, one of the best beaches on the continent has blue waters too. However, Seychellois make deliberate efforts to keep their waters clean. No shred of waste gets its way into the ocean unnoticed, thanks to a populace that has been tuned to a clean environment. As testimony to how serious they take conservation matters, their president, Danny Faure just made a live broadcast inside a submersible to create awareness for cleaner oceans.

3. Truly public beaches Hotels in Kenya’s coast have extended their property beyond the terrestrial boundaries by demarcating private beaches. Some have gone ahead to lay claim on national waters! In Seychelles, all beaches are for public use.

One can traverse an entire coastline, hop-

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ping on and off nearby hotels for an occasional drink without a care in the world. And while our beaches are full of the beach boys looking for a wandering old mzungu lady, there are no hangers-on in Seychelles beaches. Just find a quiet piece of the sandy beach and snooze.

4. Rock, rocks… and more rocks It might be a phenomenon unique to the beaches, but granite rocks dot the entire coastline.

In fact, rocks seem to be the key features in all of the Seychelles Islands. Some are said to be remnants of tall mountains that could still be hidden below the surface of the waters. In any case, they give the islands a Jurassic Park feel.

5. Smart transport Some islands such as La Digue seem to have quite some distaste for motorised transport. Don’t expect Uber or any such online taxi-hailing systems here. It is government policy to ride on electric buggies or ox-drawn carriages that cause little harm to the ecosystem. And almost all hotels here have a bicycle renting arrangements since cycling is given priority over other modes of transport.

The inter-island ferry service is akin to a mini cruise ship and always on time. Otherwise, most important joints within the

out & about

Getting there: Seychelles is a visa-free country. Visa is one financial headache off your back. The archipelago is accessible through a number of global airlines including Kenya Airways that has several scheduled flights each week.

Where to stay: Despite being a niche tourism destination, there is a place for the budget traveller as well. However, accommodation needs to be booked in advance. Hotels tend to be a bit more expensive than family-run guesthouses, self-catering bungalows or chalets. Expect to pay Sh7,500 to Sh15,000 for bed and breakfast.

Getting around: There are public buses that ply the main island of Mahe. A ride around town costs 5 rupees (Sh300). The fast and reliable Cat Cocos ferry service between the three islands costs around Sh10,700 for a round trip.

Meals: Apart from the abundant fish, most food items are imported so prices can be higher tha what we are used to. A typical meal of fish, steamed rice and vegetables cost about Sh1,750. Self-catering is a cheaper option as you can buy foodstuffs from the local market. Takamaka Rum and Seybrew are brewed locally and thus affordable.

smaller islands are accessible on foot!

6. Vallee de Mai This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some of the unique plants on the planet. According to our guide, the forest here has remained intact for eons before the first person settled on the islands. Old trees fall to the ground and rot, perpetuating more vegetation. So tranquil is Vallee de Mai that some have actually contested that it may be the site of the original Garden of Eden.

7. Coco de mer This is a fruit of legends. For starters, it is the largest nut in the world that mainly grows on Praslin Island’s Vallee de Mai nature reserve. It takes 25 years for the tree to mature and determine the sex of the fruit (yes, there are male and female coco de mer plants). Then another seven years for the fruit to mature and fall to the ground. However, it is the shape of the female nut that will put you on edge. With the outer skin off, the nut resembles… well… the female pelvic. The male, on the other hand, has the longest male flower in the world. Your guess is as good as mine as to the shape of the male flower.

8. Lush tropical gardens Over 50 per cent of Seychelles is under conservation. This means that every home, hotel or public structures are surrounded by lush vegetation. Again, conser-

vation seems to be everybody’s business.

With the hot, tropical climate, such vegetation does well to cool the environment.

9. Small is beautiful A hotel with 20 rooms here is considered big. This is to ensure little footprint over the fragile ecosystem. This ensures that all rooms are full all year round. If you intend to visit Seychelles, then book far in advance for room availability can be an issue, unless, of course there is cancellation. And don’t bank your travel on the low season; there is none here. For the small hotels, however, the interior décor makes up for any lack of large space.

10. Sea food everywhere For islands surrounded by the ocean, sea food is obviously on the menu in almost every establishment. The Creole or Seychellois cuisine will in most cases consist of red snapper, jobfish, jackfish and the parrotfish. Rice is a common accompaniment. Don’t forget top wash down a meal with the popular, locally brewed Takamaka Rum in all its varieties.

11. Friendly people The population of about 100,000 is perhaps the best asset in all Seychelles.

Seychellois, as they are known, are humble and friendly. Having gotten used to foreigners, they are helpful to strangers.

Clothing: This is a tropical coastline climate – hot and humid. Pack as you would for a holiday in Kenya’s coast.

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eatout

- FRED KAGONYE

The happy hour plan

Monkey Business Sh500 - Sh850

Flavoured Latte Sh350-Sh500

H

ave you have had a long day and your spirits could use a little pickme-up? Here is where we come in; �with a solid happy hour plan.

Popular at the CafĂŠ Deli restaurants in Nairobi, the happy hour cocktail offer has become a new trend among Pulsers. Kicking off at 2pm till 8pm, with a buy-one-get -one free offer, this is the perfect time and place to catch up with your buddies as you take in the sights of the town.

The wide assortment of cocktails ranging from hot lime ginger to the Long Island alcoholic version will quench your tastebuds. But just to be sure, we sampled a few of them and they sure lived up to the hype.

Open: 6:30am to 10pm Serves: breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks.

Sunset Sh500 - Sh850

Hot lime &Ginger Sh220- Sh320

Mind Eraser Sh500 - Sh850

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Mercy Littah Sh500 - Sh850

hotspot

- FRED KAGONYE

Inside Clarence House al tur f c e t hi bo arc subur ular g n bi d nni pop stu Nairo se is ort an d n afy u f a o le ing co m eH ng pos n the arenc xury, piri on s m i l i n u i n ign ati s, C ed l an nd mmod nferdes stland rivall a y co et lit co We its un q u i i ts a c a s t h e n t l y s u i n r a a fo lc m ell f tr l eg e o gn fro t as w s an e inenta hapm i o it nt ha es . ing ran acy e ep ve d tau use d co ook , is priv t is th creati nd res ce Ho ish an live c ugh ally I n ngl n a f . o r e r s r o e h od sE st eci nd ron , ba C l a ble ilities lities. t offer ltra-m f pat ulser is esp cele y one P o i a t r d a fac e fac t tha n is u light o th rth ol, gf enc tauran kitche he de r thin urant as bi e po joying h t a h s e a re . Th h to opul rest suc . By t till en s e c tp s s d n u as e t e i l i n i s s m mos ar a part even y wh yline. at it h ng n e b i t n il k p h The oftop ockta uatio ve par robi s t is t iscern ith o d lusi Nai w d o c r p a s r r s e t the ed fo and g n exc f the t the or th ishing he-ar t f n of-t d. r sui tions ave a iew o abou shes u te edf bra also h ular v eauty r fini re an stat onnec facil r c e o h n i u b c t t a r i t i a t i r ba e c s w s t a y n s u se urn pec the int a s ne o ated ade f blend ts to ave e a hou O tic e h s t ot is tom-m e tha e gue oms eatur e n sh r p a f l o so , c u s h e m n a b i o n r a n d ne ion t e dat from a ver, if eye lour gy to odat ished o m o ot ct m we a c hnolo commly furn y. cco x p e . H o h t n c tec he a lavish alcon and a ould e oods is mig T re g b als ne w of w ty, th r o s, a i n i n m e k i it e adjo inks, nt as e nec ool pa a n d h e d r o r b i ta t h es a n d p T x in gr a s e e n t st a not lishm to ho r it . tab want ace fo you the pl be

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in my closet

- AHADI WAMBUI

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r e pp a d mal Ja

in my closet Q: What is your favourite shoe brand?

J: That has to be Gucci and Alexander McQueen.

They could cost an arm and a leg but count on me to save up and but the new releases in stores.

Q: A man should always carry with him‌ J: A nice cologne and a pen. If he has a little bit of hair, he should also carry a small comb. The smell of good fragrance speaks of good etiquette and grooming while a pen is a

symbol of organisation.

Q: How do you stand out on the red carpet?

J: Be unique, simple and elegant. Never wear something that makes you conspicuous. Stick to the theme and be modest.

Q: The most expensive thing in your closet is?

J: My watch and Alexander McQueen sneakers. Those ones are items I can take to the bank and secure myself a sizable loan.

Q: What wouldn’t we find in your closet?

J: Bermuda shorts.

Q: What is your favourite cologne?

J: Has to be Issey Miyake and Davidoff.

Q: Where do you shop?

J: Abroad, Zara. Locally i shop at Jamia mall.

Q: The one fashion quote you live by is?

J: Life might not be perfect but your outfit should be.

C

elebrated showbiz TV host and MC Jamal Gaddafi is a man of class and style.

Whether he is hosting a show on the red carpet, presenting on TV or just chilling with his boys, this hunk is always on point. No wonder girls have always wanted a piece of him.

His style has won him multiple fashion accolades across the continent; most notably the ASFA Awards Best Dressed Male Media Personality in East Africa (2016) and Best Dressed Male Media Personality in Africa (2017).

The TV host of Maisha Mzuqa and Mzuqa Bomba on KTN Burudani allowed us into his closet as he shared his style secrets and what really makes him tick. pulser magazine MAY 2019

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fashion FASHION

PERIS - perisWAMBUGU wambugu

BIO Claudia Tindah is an international commercial model. She is an entrepreneur, social influencer and the blogger behind Tindah Diaries (www.tindahdiaries.com).

Signings Claudia has worked with international brands, top designers, renowned makeup artistes and photographers for works that have been on display across the globe. She makes special appearances in international beauty pageants.

STOCKISTS&PRICES Hair @myextensionske Outfits @Tanja His and Hers Shoes Various brands

THE CAREER QUEEN Pant suits may be office clothes but it does not hurt to add some pizzaz to the look. She paired her dark green suit with a sequin top and added a clutch bag to add some edge to the outfit.

Tops Between Sh 6,500 and Sh10, 000 Suits Between Sh20, 000 and Sh35, 000 Shoes From Sh 80,000 Hermes bag Price on request Photographers Dharshie Photography Njeri Photography Shoot location Kenya - Nairobi Australia – Canberra Italy – Milan Photos: Courtesy of Claudia Tindah

I

f there is one fashion trend that the ladies are into this season, it is definitely the pant suit. There is something about suits that gives the ultimate power girl vibes. That could be the reason why most ladies are rocking this look both as a day and evening look

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ba

fashion

THE PARTY LOVER Pant suits are great, but the blazer dress is magnificent. They are great for weekend outdoor events , cocktails with the girls and whatever fun flirty time a girl wants to have.

The best part is you will have endless styling options.

boss

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hotspot fashion

- peris wambugu

TRENDY CHIC There’s always that one trendy girl in any group.

And she will be wearing mustard. Mustard is the biggest colour of the season and nothing says it like this pant suit.

CLASSIC LADY A fedora speaks class, elegance and sophistication. Add a long blazer and matching thigh high boots and you will be sure to beat the cold classily.

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BOSS LADY Nothing is sexier than a lady in command at work and with an unbeatable sense of style. Bring out the sequins to play and ditch the formal blazer for that ‘fun but in control’ look.

COCKTAIL LOVER What better way to embrace the fanny pack trend than pairing it with this two-piece outfit.

Choose a playful colour and you can wear it to any occassion.

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the glow

- Margaret ROSE KWAMBOKA Ngenya

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Huddah Cosmetics made a first recently by becoming the first African product to give a native social commercial experience to its customers through the Mula Social Commercial – a simple and convenient online shopping experience.

Mula is a collaboration between Facebook and Pan-African Payments company, Cellulant, which plans to capitalise Augmented Reality (AR) in online sales experiences.

The Mula Shops will enable the customers to try products before buying them and that means you can in fact try the wide Huddah Cosmetic range before you settle for a favourite – absolutely for free.

KISSED by Huddah

C

reated particularly for the edgy, gorgeous, independent, free-spirited African woman, Huddah Cosmetics are some of the top glamour on-demand beauty products in the market.

The products come in a diverse range and shades and you will be spoilt for choice if looking for bold coloured lippies. The most popular lippies include Girl Power, Star Girl, Sinner, Powerful, The Queen, Royalty, Purple Haze and Vamp. The metallic shades are three; Copper, Midnight and Sinner.

In a beauty industry flooded with foreign brands, Huddah has cut a niche with their uniquely pigmented hues as well as attractive prices with most products retailing at Sh1,000.

entrepreneurship game You can now purchase the beauty products on Facebook, through Jumia and if you live in Nairobi, they can be delivered within a day after purchase. The products are also in beauty stores.

Word on the street is, there’s much more to come from the business savvy socialite Huddah Monroe.

BEAUTY TIPS

- XYXYYYYXYXYX

movie

Detective Pikachu

— wINNIE MAKENA

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Suki Waterhouse, Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith, Bill Nighy.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family Director: Rob Letterman In Theatres: May 10, by Warner Bros Pictures.

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Godzilla 2:

King of Monsters

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Cast: Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure Director: Michael Dougherty In Theatres: 31 May, 2019 by Warner Bros.

Pictures

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n epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. Following the global success of Godzilla in 2014 and Kong: Skull Island, last year this new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch.

Its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.

When these ancient super-species thought to be mere myth rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging on the balance.

may 2019 pulser magazine

n a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened.

Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery.

The Sun Is Also A Star Cast: Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, John Leguizamo, Faith Logan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Genre: Drama, Romance Director: Ry Russo-Young In Theatres: May 17, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

It is based on a book written

by Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything) - the romantic coming-of-age story follows two high school seniors, Jamaican-American Natasha and Korean-American Daniel. The books follows the journey from the day they meet on a crowded New York City street and shows how they go on to change each other’s lives.

Sparks immediately fly between the two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love?

With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deporta-

tion as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel.

Ugly Dolls Cast: Bebe Rexha, Blake Shelton, Charli XCX, Emma Roberts, Gabriel Iglesias, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Clarkson, Lee-Hom Wang, Nick Jonas, Pitbull, Wanda Sykes Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Musical & Performing Arts Director: Kelly Asbury In Theatres: May 3, by Empire.

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye.

Here, the free-spirited Moxy (Clarkson) and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. In this all-new story, the UglyDolls will go on a journey beyond the comfortable borders of Uglyville.

Aladdin 3d Cast: Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith, Marwan Kenzari, Nasim Pedrad Genre: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy.

Director: Guy Ritchie In Theatres: May 24, by Walt Disney Pictures In this animated Disney adventure, street urchin Aladdin (voiced by Scott Weinger) woos Arabian Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) by pretending to be a prince.

He gets help from an exuberant blue genie (Robin Williams), who grants him three wishes.

But before this story ends happily ever after, Aladdin must tell Princess Jasmine the truth about his identity, and defeat evil royal adviser Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) who is hell-bent on securing the lamp for his own sinister purposes, neither one an easy task.

BOOTS AND BALLS

‑ fred kagonye

Going by stats, only Spain has enjoyed success in Europe both at club and the national level, and England seems to be headed the same way, atleast on the club level.

In a long time the three lions of England can be heard roaring again courtesy of the clubs from arguably the most competitive league in the world.

The good results follow the success of the national team last year that saw them almost bring it home! This looks like it; this is the season that England will have it home again.

Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all made it to the semi-finals of European competitions, having been in an amazing run of form.

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Is it

home?

At the same time, the Spanish league has had seven and six winners in the Champions League and Europa League, respectively. And the Champion’s League list might grow to eight this year if Barcelona wins.

coming

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s the rise of English football finally here? After years of fluke wins and attempts to dominate, the quality of the premier league this season seems in favour of the English Premier League (EPL) team.

Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all made it to the semi-finals of European competitions, having been in an amazing run of form. Despite some embarrassing losses, the bounce-backs have almost been magical.

While United were knocked out by one of the current best teams in the top five leagues, Barcelona, City on the other hand had the VAR curseagainst English opposition. On the other hand ,Liverpool have had a scintillating run in the Champions League. Now they need to go past Barcelona to reclaim last seasons’ success.

In the Europa League, Arsenal knocked out Napoli easily.

Making it to the semis sees Unai Emery face his former side Valencia. For Chelsea there isn’t much to say. They have been awful this season, but somehow they have managed to pull off some encouraging results, and making it to the Europa semis is one of those. They can easily beat Einthracht Frankfurt and have a London derby final at Azerbaijan.

In the last decade, only two teams from England have won the Champions League or Europa. Chelsea won the two in 2012 and 2013, respectively, while Manchester United won the Europa in 2016.

GAMES - boniface mithika

A Plague Tale: Innocence

T

his is an action-adventure game, which follows the story of two siblings, Amicia and her younger brother Hugo, fighting to survive during first phase of the Hundred Years’ War and Great Plague.

The game is a series of survival puzzles, mostly consisting of strategies to scare away or distract the hordes of hungry rats, or direct them towards murderous knights. The main method of scaring rats off is use of fire as rats will seldom enter within a radius of burning torches and braziers. The player controls Amicia, a sling-thrower who can throw rocks to break drawbridge chains or stun guards long enough for the rats to ambush them. She can also craft special ammunition and supplies, which include fire-starting sulfur stones that ignite braziers. The two younger brothers can be directed towards specific tasks when Amicia is busy.

Rage 2

The game is a first-person shooter where the Players assume control of ranger Walker, who is free to explore the game’s post-apocalyptic open world. Players are given control over some of Walker’s attributes, such as their gender, skills, or attire.

Walker is able to wield various firearms and tools to fight against enemies, including returning weapons such as the wingsstick. Players can further develop Walker’s skills with Nanotritebased powers and as soon as enough energy is collected, activate a mode called Overdrive. As a result, Walker’s

May we Game?

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GAMES guns do more damage, enemies drop more energy and he gets healed constantly - providing players with an aggressive way to mow down enemies. Nanotrites from the first game, which act as special powers and ability boosts, can also be used to increase combat efficiency. The game also features vehicular combat, including trucks, buggies and gyrocopters, with the player being able to drive any vehicle in the game’s world.

Team Sonic Racing

This is a 2019 kart racing game and a spinoff from Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog series. Controlling of one of 15 characters from the series’ cast, players compete in races using sports cars thematically based on locations from the franchise. They view gameplay from a third-person perspective while performing tricks, drifting, and collecting power-ups through efficiency rather than speed.

Game modes include competing to earn points, time trials, customising the racing rules, and a story-driven campaign that serves as a tutorial.

Four teams of three compete for a total of 12 racers at a time. Any character can be in a team; the player also has the option for each teammate to be the same character. Working together causes an “Ultimate” metre to be filled.

When full, it can be activated to gain a temporary burst of speed. The metre’s duration can be extended by hitting competing racers.

Life Is Strange 2 – Episode 3: Wastelands

This is a graphic adventure played from a third-person view.

The player takes control of Sean Diaz, who is on the run from the police with his younger brother Daniel. Sean can interact with the environment, obtain objects, and talk with non-player characters via dialogue trees.

Decisions that were made in t h e

game demo, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, will carry over into Life Is Strange 2. Captain Spirit was reintroduced in the second episode. Choices in Life Is Strange 2 will lead to different branches in the storyline and affect Daniel’s behaviour

World End Syndrome

This is a romantic visual novel that will be available to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 where the characters are set in a “picturesque seaside town and discover a nightmare that seems to recur every 100 years.” During gameplay, players will make choices in dialogue with the other students. These choices will put the player down a route of the game’s many endings. The trailer depicts wonderfully drawn characters in hastily and creepy settings that statics through scenes from the game and characters to watch out for.

Total War: Three Kingdoms

This is a turn-based strategy real-time tactics video game and the 12th mainline entry in the Total War series. It starts just after the collapse of the Han dynasty, in the chaotic warlord versus warlord royal rumble period that eventually became three competing empires. It’s a perfectly poised scenario for a Total War game, though a hard one to grasp right away because of the sheer number of competing interests at work on the campaign map.

It is intensely character-driven where every hero in your faction has a detailed stats page, gear, traits, and loyalty to manage. You can keep them happy by appointing them to senior positions and by giving them ‘assignments’. Good administrators can provide very useful boosts to food production and mustering speed if you put the right hero in the right place.

Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa

Welcome to Fujisawa Academy – an educational institution where nothing is as it seems and every pupil hides a secret.

Having enrolled as a transfer student, everything feels pleasantly familiar. The pupils are friendly, the staff attentive, and all the ingredients for a successful academic career. But you’re not here for a quiet life. Having made a pact with Mon-chan, a sarcastic demon fox, you wield the power of Kotodama – a means of coercing the truth from those who seek to lie to you. It’s not a power to be used lightly. Tasked with infiltrating the secretive Fujisawa Academy, it soon becomes apparent that uncovering the sinister goings-on behind the seemingly normal smokescreen may give you more than you bargained for.

Resident Evil

Resident evil is a survival horror game, which was developed in 1999 but the remastered version of ‘Resident Evil Zero,’; ‘Resident Evil 1,’ and ‘Resident Evil 4’ are all hitting the Nintendo Switch in May.

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HOROSCOPES

— tony mochama

Dark

romance

TAURUS – April 20 – May 20

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ou have to be very careful in the month of May, Bull. Otherwise you will find yourself caught up in a lot of trouble, as per your star sign for the month. Be careful what you sign up for at work, or commit to at home – lest it comes back to haunt you.

GEMINI – May 21 – June 21 The stars are lined up in a diamond formation in your constellation this month, Gemini. Which is a good sign that you will come into good fortune before Madaraka Day. Be prepared to take advantage of the situation.

CANCER June 22 – July 22 The first three weeks of May will have you deep in the doldrums, and for some crabs, life may even begin to look dull and not worth living. But by May 22nd, the dark clouds around your mind will begin to clear – even as the weather gets chilly.

LEO – July 23 – August 22 You are at your most aggressive and progressive form, in this month of May. Some lions may find that they are putting in even 11-hour days at work, and going in weekends. Just make sure you take a break in June, to recharge those ever-ready batteries.

VIRGO – August 23 – September 22 The black hole at the centre of our galaxy is still located in your constellation, Virgo.

Which means, especially if you are in business, that there is a threat! If el nino comes, or you are in Budalangi, watch out not to be swept away by the raging waters.

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LIBRA – September 23 – October 23

As for you, Libra, the Astrologer feels that your raging feelings are all in your head this month. You need to let it all out, through something like meditation. If you can avenge yourself, you will feel even better. Often, revenge is the best dish one can serve.

SCORPIO – October 24 – November 21 Suddenly, Scorpio, everyone is seeking either your approval or advice, which you are glad to dispense – like a water cooler at the corner of a sweltering office. Just don’t let the ‘fame’ get to your head. Stay standing straight, but be humble.

SAGGITARIUS November 22 – December 21 There is a strong pulsar star shooting off beams/quasar in the constellation of Saggitarius. This means you will find your mind full of bright ideas, and lucid dreams. You will be magnetic to the opposite sex, but don’t do lurid deeds.

CAPRICORN – December 22 – January 19 This is not the month to try anything new, Capricorn. Due to that pulsar next door in the neighbourhood of your home constellation, even travel to new places may prove dangerous. Just lie easy on your patch of corn – and chew a cob till June.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 – February 18 The Water Sign is strong in the skies, and unlike Capricorn, this is the time to test out new ideas. Be careful how you do it, and try not to cross a Leo (they will crush you) or double cross a Virgo romantic partner.

PISCES – Feb 19 – March 20.

Here’s a joke, Pisces. What do you call a fish without an ‘eye’? Fsh! Here’s what not a joke. The Astrologer has truly NO idea what will happen to you. At least not in May. ARIES March 21 – April 19 Feeling stuck in the same old rut, old goat/young buck? Well, this is the month you will come unstuck. Respect the stars, and they’ll love you right back.