Archive for September, 2007
Friday, September 28th, 2007
Some musicians do not need effort to be appreciated and when such musicians disappear, their songs play in one’s mind for long. And yesterday morning, Christabel Dhukuche’s songs, notably Mwari Ariko, played in my mind and I then dug deep to find out where she is and what she could be doing.
In case you have forgotten, Christabel is the gospel artiste who gave us Zvikomborero, Umalusi, Mangwana Ndinhasi, We Depend on You, Simba Idzva, Umangithandaza and Baba Vangu, among others. She did brilliant videos of her songs Zvikomborero and Mwari Ariko, the latter depicting a distraught man who has lost hope and meaning in his life.
And there Christabel is, singing for and to the man about how much God cares and loves him and that for whatever reason, God is there and the man should just accept him. What makes Christabel different is how smooth and unhurried she is and how her voice — soft, alluring and underpinned by easy conviction - keeps on playing even after the song has stopped.
There is something akin to a child’s voice which one cannot ignore and this, coupled with the distinct beat of her gospel music, makes Christabel likeable. Her last work - an eight-track album titled Hallelujah - released in 2001 stood her shoulder to shoulder with artistes such as Ivy Kombo and Carol Mujokoro. But just when all signs were pointing that she would ride high, Christabel disappeared from the scene and unconfirmed reports say that she trekked to the United Kingdom together with others.
Christabel learnt her music strings from her brother Chrispen, who used to play a guitar when she was young. She attended Luveve and Inzwananzi primary schools before proceeding to Columbus Secondary School in Bulawayo.
Initially she studied for a diploma in business studies at the Bulawayo Polytechnic but left to take up a teacher-training course at Hillside Teachers’ College. Her first album High Palace that carries the hit song Mwari Ariko came in 1995 followed by Prevailing Hand that features the song Zvikomborero.
In 2000 she was voted the most promising gospel singer at the Tsama Music Awards. Hopefully, Christabel is still singing wherever she is.
Source: The Herald
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Friday, September 28th, 2007
MY mum doesn’t know how I do it,” Lilian Mbabazi told excited fans who turned up at the Club Beer-City Beat party at the Basement Discotheque on Friday. Only those who attended the party got the feel of what a Big Brother Africa house with the three girls would be like.
It is not clear whether any of them would shower before the cameras, since they are not comfortable with the shower hour. But Lilian stated it clearly that she would not have sex. “Not when my mum is watching because she does not know how I do it.”
Although Lilian’s mum may not know how she does it, Lilian, Cindy and Jackie showed their lucky fans how they do it. Instead of the fans getting to them, they got to the fans. That is how Jackie easily convinced the City Beat editor, Kalungi Kabuye, to get down to the dance floor.
Each of the girls revealed how they deal with the rumour mill, understanding that it is only the stars that are talked about.
But Jackie, who was once married seven times in the seven days of the week, went straight to the point. “Sometimes, those stories touch your soft spot,” she told her fans. And from then, the girls touched everyone’s soft spot, finally leaving the stage to mingle with their fans.
Jackie and Cindi would be the surprises since they cannot predict their actions. For a time, the girls did not mind the audience as they argued amongst themselves on a number of issues. But that is how it has always been with them.
There were also disagreements amongst the winners. When asked who of the three is best, there were as many varied answers as the girls.
The lively chats went on until Cindi’s interruption when she revealed the lowest moment in her career. “It was during the second album launch. I was on stage and all of a sudden I started missing my dad who died when I was only two. While on stage, I just moved towards Jackie and squeezed her hand,” she emotionally told a motionless audience.
In performance, they brought the old and new. With the old, you would not help feeling guilty at the fact that we did not reward the group with any award, while the Kenyans were offering them two awards. When joined by Chagga on Ndibeera Nawe, it brought the lady fans to the forefront, chanting away to the end. Against the very musical backdrop of CDs, the Nsanyuka Nawe rendition was more for the ears (listening) than waists (dancing).
The winners took home Nile Breweries goodies, Blu*3’s Burrn autographed CDs and posters.
Source: New Vision
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
Youssou N’Dour, Africa’s Music Ambassador to the world is in the spot light once again, not for a concert but this time around the release of a new album. Yeah!
According to his record label Warner Music Sweden, N’Dour’s album titled “Rokku Mi Rokka” (Give And Take) will be available on the Music shelves by November 1st.
The Senegalese star, who made his feature-film acting debut in the 2006 historical drama “Amazing Grace,” reunites with the Swedish-born R&B singer on “Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling),” the lead single from his forthcoming album, “Rokku Mi Rokka” (Nonesuch/Warner).
The music and inspiration on this album are from the north, from the desert, from parts of the country that border on Mali and Mauritania. People from those countries will know and understand this music as well as people who come from the centre of Senegal,” N’Dour says.
“Some people might think Senegalese music means mbalax, which is Wolof, the most important language in the country, everybody speaks it. But all my life I have been saying that this is not the only music we have in Senegal, we have a wide range of sounds and rhythms. When it came to writing the songs for this album, I wanted to use different sounds.
“Sometimes you will hear a little blues on the album, a little reggae, a bit of Cuba. In Africa, we get excited when we hear these rhythms, because we feel them, they are ours, but they left Africa with the slaves a long time ago. Rokku Mi Rokka means ‘You give me something, I give you something’ and that’s the message of the album: we have received a lot from the developed world, but remember that we brought a lot, too.”
N’Dour is renowned for his vocal range and songwriting abilities. He and his band, The Super Etoile, have toured the world for 20 years, picking up elements of the world’s musical traditions along the way. At the base of his sound is mbalax, Senegal’s traditional griot percussion and praise-singing music, filtered through Afro-Cuban, pop and rock sensibilities.
Visit Youssou N’Dour’s Website
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
She is touted as the new icon of Contemporary Ghanaian Highlife Music who will carry Ghanaian music overseas. She is probably the only Ghanaian musician of her time to do a record with South African Music icon Hugh Masekela.
Her first single spotted the No. 1 position on the chart shows of most radio stations in the capital city of Ghana, Accra. Her name was virtually the talk-of-the-town when her single “You Lied to Me” hit the airwaves.
She currently has a deal with Printex, one of Ghana’s leading names in textiles manufacturing, to promote their brand for a year.
The name is Becca!
She set the boomerang Night Club on fire last Saturday as she officially outdoored her new album titled “Sugar”. The occasion which also marked her 23rd birthday saw award winning musicians like Kwabena Kwabena, Ofori Amponsah, Praye, Tinny, Mzbel, Kwaisey Pee and Nana Fynn joining her to thank her numerous fans for patronizing her music all this while.
Dressed in an all white attire, Becca welcomed her guests with a spectacular performance of her hit single “You Lied to Me” after which she announced the party officially started!
The Album
The 12-track album, with a classic combination of English and Twi tracks has been packaged not only for the Ghanaian market but the entire African continent and the world at large.
Becca’s album has hit tracks like “U Lied to Me” which features Kwabena Kwabena, “I love you” featuring Hue Masekela, “Why”, “Hey baa” and “Sugar”.
Talk of lyrics, arrangements, instrumentation and sound quality, and the album is second to none.
Interestingly, though Becca does English tracks perfectly, the young lady is still conscious of her cultural background and maintains her chic Afro-centric image.
The album was produced by great sound engineers in the Ghana like Kwame Yeboah at Kiki’s Studios and Nana Fynn.
She is under E.K.B Entertainment with Emmanuel Kiki Banson as the CEO and managed by Paa Kwasi Holdbrook-Smith of Hamattan Management.
Who is BECCA
The beautiful, simple and young looking Becca is an old student of Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and Croydon College in London where she attained her certificate in Child Care and Education is back to her motherland Ghana to prove what she is made of.
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
More and more talent in the music industry is mushrooming. One of the latest to join the booming industry is Bejoy, also known as Joyce Ben. Bejoy has released her first offering, Seanamarena, which she says has sold 10, 000 copies in South Africa in just two months of its release.
She says that it is an African album with lyrics in Setswana, Zulu and Shangaan, produced by Phumi Maduna, Condry Ziqubu and Harold Khoza. She also revealed that she helped compose some of the songs in her album.
Bejoy says the whole album is packed with hits including Izembe, Setoki, Bejoy, Seanamarena and Teza. Bejoy also says that she intends to go a long way in the industry and believes hard work and determination will see her through. She added that she is proud to be African, which is why she would include other African languages in her lyrics for future albums. She further says that her stage performance is influenced by none other than her favourite divas Janet Jackson and Phumi Maduna.
The album was released by Condry Ziqubu Productions and distributed by Cool Spot.
Born in Gaborone in 1970, Bejoy started school in Kanye. Like most musicians, Bejoy says she started singing at school, at home and church. She grew up listening to her childhood stars of the 80s, Maduna, Rebecca Malope, Patricia Majalisa, Zizi Kongo, Condry Ziqubu, Brenda Fassie, and Mercy Pakela.
Bejoy, who worked as a hairdresser and a pharmacy assistant in Gaborone, says she moved to South Africa to study nursing and computer course. She says that she then became friends with the divas, Maduna, Malope, Majalisa and Fassie. “These ladies of song, like my friends back home, encouraged me to record an album but I felt I wanted to learn more about the industry and instead worked as a back-up singer, driver and secretary for many of them,” she says. She adds that she decided that 2007 would be the turning point - a year in which to try her luck and headed to the studio.
“And as luck would have it, all is well with me,” says Bejoy.
Source: Mmegi/The Reporter
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
Award-winning jazz singer Punah Gabasiane on Saturday night turned up late for a scheduled show, leading to the cancellation of her concert.
Gabasiane was to perform at Club Havana but she kept anxious revellers and nightclub owner Steven Raman waiting for hours.
DJ Prince Dingalo played old classics as everyone waited for the songbird. Around 11 p.m. it became doubtful whether she would pitch up at all.
But after midnight some of Gabasiane’s band members arrived, carrying their instruments. But before they could set up their instruments, an irate Raman ordered the band out. Raman also refunded the revellers who had paid for the aborted show. A disappointed Raman said he lost a lot of money he used to advertise the show on radio. On Friday, the club featured another jazz divah, Nono Siite whose show Raman said went well.
When contacted, Gabasiane said she had agreed earlier with the club management that her show would start at midnight. She said unfortunately she arrived 15 minutes late and her manager apologised for the group. However, she said Raman told them that the show was off. Gabasiane said the nightclub shows usually start late because “revellers only come in after midnight”.
She said they were held up at a charity show where she was supporting KTM choir. She added that the charity concert was supposed to end at 11.30 pm and she felt she would be on time for the Club Havanna jig. But she said at the end of the concert, there was a grand finale where she had to sing with KTM choir. Gabasiane said even though she was doing the charity concert for free, she could not snub the KTM choir because she used to be a member.
Gabasiane said it was unfortunate that their late coming led to the cancellation of the show. She said there was nothing she could do since she was not the one who organised the show.
However, DJ Dingalo denied Gabasiane’s claims that they had agreed with her that the show would start at midnight. He said it was supposed to start by 11.30 pm at the latest. “Punah attended the Friday show and she saw what time it started,” he said. He said Gabasiane’s band had not even done the sound check.
Dingalo said earlier on when he called Gabasiane she told him that everything would go according to plan.
He said they were under pressure because people were demanding to be refunded.
Raman said they never agreed with Gabasiane that she would start her show at midnight. He said they expected her to turn up at least by 10.00 p.m. Raman said he could not have kicked the band out if they were late by 15 minutes.
He said as much as he would like to support local acts the musicians should be professional in their approach to business.
Source: Mmegi/The Reporter
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
He’s not only a talented lyricist but he also possesses a good sense of business acumen. This is none other than Thato Matlhabaphiri popularly known to the masses as Scar.
The versatile Hip Hop MC is also the brains behind the popular clothing label simply termed P.O.D.I, an acronym which simply translates into People of Different Identities-a fitting name if you consider the numerous tribes which make up our peaceful country.
Being one of Botswana’s few lyrically-gifted MCs whose knack for unleashing a powerful rendition on stage is unparalleled to none; Scar has been nominated for two categories in the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards. The young man first broke into the local dog-eat-dog music industry in 2001 and trod where the angels feared by becoming one of the first few individuals to release a Hip Hop offering.
Fast forward the clock to 2006, Scar resurfaced again and unleashed a very powerful album simply entitled ‘Happy Hour.’
Released both under Breakthrough and Ramco Loco Records the super slamming album has since its release dominated both local and international airwaves, making it a first for a local Hip Hop album to garner such an immense following. He is credited among other things to take to the stage alone without any female or male dancer gyrating or twirling alongside him and still be able to tame and soothe the masses making them melt under his hypnotizing musical spell.
The album has been crafted with the help of the country’s versatile producers, Eric Ramogobya and Earth both of Ramco Loco Records and among other artistes the talented lyricist features Kast, Third Mind, Michelle and Eskimos. The 21-track album also features Shoes of Machesa fame. As clear testimony that his star continues to shine even beyond our borders, the versatile MC recently brought the roof down when he performed at the Big Brother Africa II eviction party held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The show which has more than one million views across the African continent without a doubt thrust our gifted lass from the dusty village of Molepolole into the dizzy pinnacle of fame and this will undoubtedly give him the coveted and much needed advantage at the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Awards which is slated for October 11. Another local group which has been nominated is Acid for their thumping song ‘Banyana le Basimane’. The awards will be staged at the Johannesburg City Hall on Thursday 11 October 2007 and we wish our local stars all the luck in the world.
Source: The Voice
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
A strong army of Nigerian musicians have put on their armour of war and are set for a decisive battle against the nagging problem of pervasive crime in Nigeria Davidson Njoku reports.
NIGERIAN musicians have evolved a new anti-crime formular that seem very promising. It is a campaign that can best be described as a revolution.
Although some people are always afraid when they heard the word revolution and equates it to violent situation and people killing each other, the kind of revolution which these musicians have in mind is a peaceful one. It is a nationwide crusade involving the use of music to fight crime and guide the country’s youths along the path of integrity, hardwork, good vision and patriotism.
The national coordinator of the project, Paul Graham who is the Executive Director of Rich Rockers Entertainment Limited and also a leading member of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) told the Daily Champion that the project is a product of several years of research on how the entertainment industry can help in stemming the tide of crime in the country.
He unfolded the vision thus: “Many musicians, actors and actresses in the country are being convicted for one serious crime or the other on regular basis. Most of this artists are regarded by their fans as role models. The consequences is that when these stars fumbles up and finds themselves on the wrong side of the law, many of their admirers, especially, the youths tend to emulate such acts, no matter how evil it is and conclude consciously or subconsciously that it is the vogue or fashionable way of doing things. We believe that artists always have their followership and are like people in glass houses who must not throw stones”.
How does the National Coordinator intend to fulfill the vision. Graham’s answer is that the project will be executed in phases and in every stage, the group will work closely with the polices and depend on it for logistics and security in the awareness that it is the primary responsibility of the police to safeguard the society against crime.
Beyond the obvious method of using music to mobilize people and send across the message of sanity peace and love, the group will organize series of workshops, seminars and talk shows that will focus on positive youth development. The emphasis will be on youths because according to Paul Graham, overwhelming majority of the crimes and evil perpetrated in the country are carried out by young people.
As a take-off point, Musician Against Crime are packaging a grand lecture and seminar at Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja on October 1st, the independence anniversary day.
Commenting on this forthcoming event, Paul Graham stated that his group has received tremendous support from well meaning individuals and corporate organizations. For instance, the Oraniyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel venue of the event was donated by the management of the hotel as a token of appreciation for what the groups stands for and what they plan to achieve. Similarly, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, MD Abubakar, has personally directed the Area Commander, Zone “F”, AC Oshodi Glover to represent him at the occasion and support the organization with the necessary logistics and security.
The occasion will be chaired by Mr. Frank Odita, a security expert and social commentator, while Barrister Solomon Mbadiwe will serve as resource person.
Graham pointed out that the artists who will be involved in the project will not just be using their talents to preach against crime to people, they will be preaching to themselves as well, and be able to say loud and clear, “Never Again” shall an artist mess up himself with crime and be paraded publicly.
Said the National coordinator concerning the forthcoming seminar and lecture, “We have written to local governments in Lagos state to send youths from their respective councils to the event. Such youths will benefit immensely from the lecture and go back to their local governments to set up anti-crime clubs which will liaise with security agencies in crime detection and prevention as well as the eradication of corruption in the public and private sector. Policemen are not magicians as far as crime prevention is concerned. They need to be assisted and facilitated to be able to do their best.
Some of the packages for the anti-crime project include the production of a theme song . There will be a command performances followed by a public performance on a later date. A yearly anti-crime carnival will also be showcased. To this end, a letter has been written to the Governors of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to host the maiden edition. The show, he said, will help to douse tension in the Niger Delta and will execute the anti-corruption war so fiercely that a strong signal will be sent to all and sunday, locally and internationally.
Graham declared. “There is anger in the land that our collective wealth is being squandered by a few. We need to change our lifestyle - people display wealth arrogantly in the midst of poverty. The get - rich - quick syndrome have become the order of the day.
“The project will talk about why people go into crime and the role of government in arresting those social conditions that compels people to go into crime or makes some societies to glorify successful big - time crooks. We will uproot and destroy those factors that makes our girls and ladies to continue going into prostitution in droves not minding the various deadly venereal diseases in town. We shall find lasting solutions to the escalating problem of ritual killing, money laundering, human trafficking, etc.
“The task at hand is intimidating but with the support of well meaning individuals and corporate organization we are equal to the task”, said the national coordinator.
Source: Daily Champion
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Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
After being absent for six years, and also due to the death (2005) of their promoter, Orlando Semedo, the Angolan “Impactus 4″ band reappears with their fourth album entitled “De nós para vocês”, to be presented next Saturday, October 29, at Atlântico Cinema, Luanda.
Recorded at various studios such as “Take Note”, Republic of Namibia, “Beto Max” and “Kriativa”, in Luanda, the album counted on the participation of singer Yuri da Cunha and Jeff Brown, besides Ana Semedo (chorus) and instrumentals Carlitos Tchiemba, Dalú Rogger, Pirika and Godfrey Conde.
Songs such as “Don’t doubt”, “Facto onsumado”, “Perdão”, “Na luta da vida”, “Cherry Nangay”, “Por culpa da rosca”, “Ciúmes sem nexo”, “Pensa em mim”, “Mulher ferida (ingrato)”, “Como te Amo”, “Wanda”, “Namaria” e “Baixinha lindona” are part of the album that was mastered in Portugal at “Cervantes” Studio.
Speaking to ANGOP, Alcino Semedo, band’s musical promoter and drummer, informed that the “De nós para vocês” album was recorded in various music styles, namely Semba, Zouk, Bolero, Kizomba and Afro-Jazz, in order to impress peoples of various ages and nationalities.
Authors of famous tracks like “Maguy”, “Olha Fruta” e “Sem Você”, the band represented Angola, in 1985, in the International Festival of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in Bulgaria, in which Yola Semedo received “Africa’s Golden Voice” award.
In 1987 it won the Provincial Song Festival of Benguela and in the following year it was second in the National Song Festival. Three years later, 1990, they immigrated to Namibia, where they recorded, in 1991, their first album entitled “Olha Fruta”.
Eight years later “Impactus 4″ released the “É Hora” CD, which was voted as the album of the year, while in 2001 they recorded third album entitled “Amar para Vencer”. This Saturday the band will sell the “De nós para vocês” CD for 1,000 Angolan Kwanzas (nearly USD 13).
Founded in 1982, in Lobito city (southern Benguela province), by Orlando Semedo (pianist and maestro of the band), at the moment the band is made up by Yola Semedo (voice and key board), Eduina Semedo (voice and base guitar), Jorge Semedo (voice and guitar) and Alcino Semedo (battery and music production).
Source: Angola Press Agency
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