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The Amazins are back in the Flushing groove.

Defunct Sauti Sol's Sol Generation Records has announced a new opening for artists between the ages of 18 and 35  to join the labels' program dubbed Press Play 2.0, a comprehensive artist development program aimed at empowering and upskilling youth from marginalized peri-urban areas across Kenya. Announcing the opportunity Sol Generation CEO, William Nanjero revealed the auditions for the program have already begun. "We invite young creatives from Kakamega, Nairobi, and Mombasa to be part of this transformative journey. The callout phase has already begun. The program will focus on inclusivity and provide comprehensive support to 250 aspiring creatives in Kakamega, Nairobi, and Mombasa." Nanjero says. He goes on to add, "The Press Play 2.0 journey will begin in Kakamega, where we will engage with local youth through auditions and preparatory activities. We will then move to Mombasa to provide the same opportunities to aspiring creatives in the coastal region. The final stop for the first phase will be Nairobi, where we will complete the audition process." Press Play 2.0 is an evolution of the original Press Play program, which previously focused on empowering female artists from East Africa. According to Nanjero, Press Play 2.0 is the second phase of the program which has expanded its impact by targeting a diverse group of participants, with a focus on 70 percent female and 30 percent male creatives. "In addition to nurturing musical talent, the program aims to empower young people from marginalized communities by providing pathways to financial independence and cultural impact," he adds. Successful candidates from each region will then move on to the masterclass and mentorship phase, where they will receive intensive training and support to hone their skills. Whereas the Press Play program focused on empowering female artists across East Africa, culminating in the production of 2 EPs that showcased the artistry and growth of six female artists, Press Play 2.0 will expand its scoop to include music production, songwriting, instrumental and vocal performances. The program will run for one year featuring workshops and mentorship sessions, writing camps, and music creation activities.

Top filmmakers Phil Karanja of Phil-it Productions and Kenneth Ambani are in the United States as part of the American Film Showcase Fellow 2024 cohort.  The two Kenyans are among other notable African filmmakers and film industry leaders invited to the US for an exchange program with their Hollywood counterparts. "We are learning a lot, networking, getting a picture of what the future looks like while also getting tremendous validation that our film in Kenya is heading in the right direction. We are not there yet but we are on track. " Phil says. The team has so far visited the Universal Studios ahead of attending the Middleburg Film Festival in Virginia. This initiative is part of a broader U.S. State Department effort to support the creative economy in Africa and facilitate collaborative exchanges between the U.S. and African film industries. Excited about his latest milestone, Karanja took to social media to share clips from his tour with the caption, "Hollywood, it's been a long time coming. The American Film Showcase (AFS), in partnership with U.S. embassies, continues to promote cultural exchange through cinema by showcasing American films internationally and organizing filmmaker exchanges. These initiatives are designed to foster deeper connections between American and international filmmakers, providing opportunities for creative collaboration and professional growth. AFS has also expanded its program to include opportunities for international filmmakers to visit the U.S. and participate in residencies, film festivals, and workshops, providing them with valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals, including producers, mentors, and distributors. Recently, AFS hosted a week-long professional training program in Los Angeles for key figures in the African animation industry. The 14 participants were directors of the Disney+ animated sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a series that gained significant popularity after being screened in four African countries in partnership with U.S. embassies. The success of the anthology has already resulted in two of its directors being nominated for the prestigious Annie Awards, further spotlighting African talent on the global stage. Phil Director, as he is popularly known, has made a name for himself in the murky waters of the African film industry, co-directing TV shows like The Real House Helps of Kawangware, Mother in Law, Tahidi High, before delving into high-profile Netflix movies like Click Click Bang. On the other hand, Ken Ambani rose to fame with the TV show Tausi in the early noughties followed by other shows like Maisha, Noose of Gold, Block D, Wingu la Moto, Cobra Squad, Mali, Tusker Milli na Marafiki game show, Makutano Junction, Nairobi Law, Siri, Shuga ll, Jacob's Cross, Sumu, Twisted, Nuru among others.

Notable African fashion designers, music producers, and photographers were recently hosted in Epernay, France for a cross-cultural exchange in honor of Champagne Day 2024. Moët & Chandon invited the creatives, including Thebe Magugu (South Africa), Banke Kuku (Nigeria), Aisha Ayensu (Ghana), Youssra Nichane (Morocco), and fashion photographer Lyra Aoko (Kenya), to explore the brand's heritage, artistry and savoir-faire. The immersion provided an emotional and cultural exchange underpinned by the brand's heritage. Ms. Nichane, the founder of Dihyan Jewelry, notes that she was deeply inspired by the Memories of Tomorrow exhibition, where signature pieces created by the embroidery artisans of the Baqué Molinié atelier showcased the rich heritage and savoir-faire of the Champagne brand. "The Maison was a standout moment for me. It was a true reflection of where craftsmanship meets history. This experience not only deepened my appreciation for the artistry involved but also reinforced the importance of preserving and celebrating traditional techniques in modern design," said Ms. Nichane. Thebe also drew parallels between his work as a designer and the artistry behind the brand. "It's a meticulous and calculated process, this idea of showing our culture respectfully, and I think Moët does the same - to perfect the centuries-old process of creating Moët takes a level of respect, know-how, and talent," he noted. Mahine Sef, a Cameroonian photographer, videographer, and music producer, noted the complementary differences between French and African craftsmanship. "Both cultures share a deep respect for tradition and a commitment to excellence. However, the French approach often emphasizes refinement and precision, while African craftsmanship celebrates boldness and storytelling." Sef observed Kenyan photographer Ms. Aoko agreed with Sef, saying the similarities are rooted in a sense of community, a shared passion for food, and the pride both cultures take in their work. "Both are loud and proud in expressing their heritage through art. But the differences are in the approach. The French have centuries of experience with a more structured system, which lends a refined touch to their craftsmanship. In contrast, African artisans often work with limited resources, which pushes their creativity to new heights and tends to be more vibrant and colorful." Ms Aoko shared. The emersion took place just days before the celebration of the upcoming Champagne Day in 8 countries in Africa, including Kenya.

Glen Washington is back in Kenya. The 67-year-old Jamaican reggae songwriter and drummer arrived earlier this month and is set to perform in both Nairobi and Nakuru during the Mashujaa weekend. The Kindness For Weakness singer will headline the upcoming Pubs, Entertainment, and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) Pamoja Festival in Nakuru City. The much-anticipated festival will be held at the Nakuru Athletics Club on Mashujaa Day, Sunday, October 20, 2024. PERAK has organized the festival to celebrate its 20th anniversary since its inception, promising an epic event. Speaking at a press conference, Washington revealed that his band will also be jetting into the country next week ahead of the two scheduled shows, promising a massive show. "The Pamoja PERAK festival in Nakuru will be massive for me as I am also excited to perform there. The love I have received so far has been amazing," he said. On his part, PERAK National Chairman Michael Muthami said they organized the event to celebrate our 20th anniversary since inception. "We thought the best way to celebrate this great milestone was to go to the cities outside the capital and give our members a platform to showcase what they have in the hospitality industry," Muthami said. He added that the concert would be a perfect opportunity for members of the hospitality industry to network globally. "This will be an opportunity for our members in the hospitality industry, an opportunity to network across the country and globally to improve their business," he said. Washington is also expected to perform at this year's Africa Bound Reggae Fest 2024, which will be held at the KICC on October 19. The 67-year-old singer also shared some interesting facts about his life, including overcoming challenges with marijuana and achieving sobriety. "I used the substance a long time ago, but I stopped because I realized it was unnecessary. It was a matter of mind over matter, and one day I decided I didn't need it anymore. At some point I couldn't go on stage without a spliff," he said."When it was illegal, I loved smoking it, but when it was legalized, I hated it." He also shared how many people doubted he could be successful without a "hit," but he confirmed he has been clean and sober for several years now. The Jamaican artist, who has been in the country for more than two weeks, added that Kenya feels like home now that he has acclimatized to the climate and society. "This is not my first time in the country, for the tour I wanted to come early and also relax and look around. The last time I performed in Kisumu, I was called Ochieng, so this feels like home," he said. Washington also opened up about his love life and having five children with different. " I don't have a wife like you guys have in Africa, I wish I could. But I have five children with different baby mothers. I have been a rude boy for a long time but in this times now, I am settled and more wiser.  Then I didn't know what I was doing but I have passed those stages." he added.

Content creator Judy Nyawira-Mutua has opened up on why she and her husband, actor and screenwriter Abel Mutua, do not use any form of family planning. Ideally, one would expect the couple to be on some form of contraceptive after publicly stating that they do not intend to have another child other than their 14-year-old daughter Mumbua. But Bi Mkurugenzi has revealed that she and her husband have not been involved in family planning for several years. "I am not on any family planning method. I do not use any. My husband and I have become very good at withdrawal if you know what I mean. Just like you would withdraw money from Mpesa shop, that's what we do and the doctor told us that it cannot be classified as family planning," Bi Mkurugenzi reveals. Before deciding on the withdrawal method, Judy said she had been using the Jadelle family planning method for three years, but it was not working for her. "I had to get rid of it because I was bleeding three-quarters of the month. Then I was advised to try the IUD (coil) method, which also didn't work because I had a lot of discomfort. So I had to get rid of it and since then we have been on the Mpesa (withdrawal) method," she adds. According to health journals, the withdrawal method, also known as the pull-out method, can't be classified as a family planning method as it has a one in five chance of getting pregnant if not paired with a more effective form of contraception. However, health experts note that the withdrawal method is better than no contraception at all when trying to prevent pregnancy. Giving his argument on why he does not plan to have another child,  the screenwriter stated that he only intended to have one child that he could adequately and fully provide for without any struggle or pressure. The couple has been together for 15 years now and have been married for seven of those years. Speaking about their marriage, Nyawira revealed that it hasn't been all roses for them even though they are often perceived as a happy couple. "Marriage is not for the faint-hearted. It's the most beautiful thing, but it's also one of the hardest things you can ever find yourself in. When you start dating, there's always too much love between the two of you, but you can't keep that up for 15 years. There are days when this wife or husband thing doesn't work. Neither one wants to see the other. For us to maintain that spark over the years, we leaned more toward friendship," she adds.

Acclaimed Kenyan Hollywood actress and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o has broken up with her boyfriend  Joshua Jackson barely a year after the couple began dating. Her confirmation comes just days after Jackson was recently spotted out with model Nastassja Roberts. Lupita confirmed  they had parted ways in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK "If I'm ever lucky enough to be in a romantic relationship again, it will be because of him (her cat Yoyo)." The actress claims she had given up on dating but it's Yoyo who gave her a reason to never give up on being in a relationship. "I was ready to close that door and lock and bolt it. He (Yoyo) made sure my heart stayed open," she said. Lupita's comments come two weeks after Joshua sparked split speculation when he was spotted in New York City with Ms Roberts. Lupita adopted Yoyo from the Best Friends Animal Society in October 2023, the same month she and Joshua were spotted together at a Janelle Monáe concert in Los Angeles while both were dealing with simultaneous public breakups. A few months later, the couple seemingly confirmed their relationship with a PDA-packed trip to Mexico, where they were photographed holding hands and kissing while celebrating Lupita's 41st birthday. At the time, fans began celebrating Lupita and Joshua as the newest Hollywood couple on the scene. And even Joshua's ex, Jodie Turner-Smith, weighed in on the apparent relationship, giving the couple her blessing in an interview with The Cut. "Good for them. We need happiness to co-parent peacefully," Jodie told the outlet in June, referring to her and Joshua's 4-year-old daughter. "I hope they're happy and that it benefits us as a family." As for Lupita, before her romance with Joshua, she dated sports commentator Selema Masekela for about a year before announcing their breakup. "It is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly distance myself from someone I can no longer trust," she shared in an Instagram Story in October 2023. "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love that was suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception."And while she doesn't regret sharing her feelings, Lupita now wants to move forward and keep her relationships - breakups and otherwise - out of the spotlight. "It's hard enough to go through heartbreak in private," she noted."When the world has an image of you about someone else, it prolongs the healing process because the memory is emblazoned in public."

Popular Tanzanian socialite Poshy Queen has revealed the reasons behind her split from Bongo Flava star singer Harmonize, barely a year after the couple started dating. Word of their split started circulating on social media after fans noticed the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram and even deleted each other's photos from their feeds during happier times. While Harmonize confirmed that the two are no longer together, the singer explained that he has been very cautious about commenting on why they broke up for fear that his statement could be misinterpreted. "My silence on why we broke up is based on the fact that I am worried that my remarks will be misquoted to give various misinterpretations. So I choose not to comment out of the great respect I have for her family," Harmonize stated. Posh, who is a trained masseuse, also remained tight-lipped about the reasons that led to their split. "It's a long story, but in short, our time together had come to an end and so we mutually agreed to part ways amicably. It wasn't a bad breakup, it was just two people deciding to part ways in good faith because it wasn't working for either of us anymore," Posh opened up. Although the two celebrities remain tight-lipped about the reason for their split, a close source to the ex-couple claims that insecurities on Harmonize's part contributed to the split. "Harmonize was never comfortable watching Posh interact with other people, especially influential people in the showbiz industry when the couple was invited to events. Over time, Posh got tired of Harmonize's insecurities and policing behavior to the extent that she felt it was staining her relationship with other industry players and it became a problem for both of them." The source said. Some of Tanzania's influential entertainment figures who have been close to Posh include Diamond Platnumz's manager, SK Salaam who had a nasty fallout with Harmonize when he forced his way out of Wasafi record label as well as top media personalities.

Janet Wambui, popularly known as Wambui Momo, was in a toxic marriage before her life changed for the better when she rose to fame through the song Momo by the late Mugithi star singer Murimi wa Kahalf. When Ms Wambui was contacted by Murimi Wa Kahalf to feature as a video vixen on the hit song released in 2011 Momo (plus-sized woman), she was unsure of what reaction she would receive from the public.  Nonetheless, she went on to feature on the song which turned out to be a hit transforming her into a celebrity. Despite the trolls and bullying she has had to endure for being a plus-size woman by the public, Wambui Momo says, the fame turned out to be a major blessing in her life that saw her secure a job at the office of the embattled deputy president Riggy G. "It's a big deal to work at the DP office. God is amazing," Wambui Momo said in a recent YouTube interview. Wambui accompanies Hon. Rigathi Gachagua a.k.a. Riggy G. as a protocol officer, where her main role is to usher in dignitaries and other VIP officials. The song exposed her, boosted her self-confidence, and not only earned her a living but also nurtured an acting career in her. "The publicity also got me a slot on Papa Shirandula's show, Hullabaloo Estate on Maisha Magic, Njoro wa Uba and Vitimbi. Comedians Eric Omondi and Desagu featured me in their YouTube videos. The song got me on a plane for the first time. We flew to Mombasa. We were also supposed to fly to the UK just before Murimi Wa  Kahalf died. My life changed because of Murimi wa Kahalf," she maintains. In the interview, Wambui narrates that when the famous Kikuyu secular musician, was planning a video shoot for the hit song, he had a big challenge in getting a vixen to play the role. He had promised his friends Sh5,000 to whoever could bring him the perfect person for the video until a friend introduced him to Janet Wambui. . Soon after the song was released, the duo became the talk of the town. It was an instant hit, earning them gigs at top events, media houses, and road shows. Despite the fame, the 41-year-old mother of two confesses that she has had to fight a lot of challenges to get to where she is. Her marriage which she describes as toxic had just collapsed when Murimi showed up. "He came at the right time because when he approached me my marriage had just ended and I was in a state of quagmire," she says. Wambui further reveals that her friendship with Riggy G started before the second in command got the top seat. "In 2013, when Uhuru Kenyatta was campaigning for the top seat in Nyahururu, Wa Kahalf, his band and I crashed the event. Fans started shouting my nickname, prompting Uhuru to invite us on stage to perform. Enthused by our performance, he gave us Sh50,000. From there, we started meeting and interacting with politicians, including Riggy G, who offered me a job 10 years later," she says. Although life is good, Wambui says she still faces drawbacks, as she continues to be a victim of curious onlookers and unfair judgments, but that hasn't deflated her or lowered her self-esteem. "I have gotten used to it. In matatus, I pay for two seats. At a dowry event, I was given a table to sit on which I happily accepted because I could have smashed the plastic seat to pieces," she chuckles.

Graffiti artist Rigo Diaz is the winner of Chrome's Graffiti Talent Search. Chrome announced the winner after beating four other finalists, including first runner-up Ole Tipat, who also captivated the audience with his unique artistic flair inspired by his Maasai community as well as themes of nature and urban culture. Diaz's design, inspired by the resilience of Nairobi's streets, captured the public's imagination, garnering 6,528 votes on Facebook and Instagram. Ole Tipat received 5,878 votes. The win puts Diaz on the path to creating a design for Chrome's iconic matatus (nganyas) as part of Chrome's Honour the Streets campaign. The Honour The Streets campaign invited artists to submit their graffiti designs, along with their neighborhoods and personal stories, for a chance to see their work featured on Chrome's iconic matatus. "By involving local graffiti artists in our campaign, we are not just designing a vehicle, we are creating a canvas that celebrates the creativity and spirit of Kenyan communities," said Lilian Mbugua, Brand Manager for Chrome. Graffiti has become an important part of Kenya's street culture. When it launched the competition two months ago, Chrome said it wanted to promote local talent while celebrating the creative energy of Kenya's neighborhoods. "Street art reflects the heartbeat of urban Kenyan life and this competition highlights the importance of street culture in amplifying the voices of our youth," said Ms Mbugua. Other finalists, who impressed with their artistic designs include Wama Gafrika. Gafrika's geometric designs combined natural and urban elements, depicting the duality of Kenya's fast-paced urban life and tranquil surroundings. Blessing Eboya, who came fourth, paid tribute to Kisumu and Lake Victoria, reflecting the energy and trading history of his city. Rounding out the top five was Phunk Bantu, whose raw, gritty style told a story of survival and community in Dandora, illustrating the challenges and triumphs of his neighborhood.