The Lamu Coal Plant: Uncovering the Real Political, Health & Environmental Aspects of the Project, Jul. 14 2017 @ Laico Regency

Date: July 14, 2017
Venue: Laico Regency
Time: 3-6 pm

Speakers: Hon. Shakila Abdalla – Lamu County Women Representative, Prof. Nick King – Climate Change & Sustainable Development Expert, Hindpal Jabbal – Former Chairman, Energy Regulatory Commission, Prof. Peter Orris – University of Illinois Hospital, Raya Famau – Save Lamu

Moderator: John Allan-Namu, Journalist

Book Launch and Photo Exhibition: Shades of Benga – The Story of Popular Music in Kenya, Jul. 12 2017 @ Alliance Française


Date: July 12, 2017
Venue: Alliance Française
Time: 6.30 pm

About
Ketebul Music and the Alliance Française invite you to the launch of the historic book ‘Shades of Benga’ – the story of popular music in Kenya, from the 1940s to the present – produced by Ketebul Music, on Wed. 12th July at 6.30pm.

A unique occasion to discover the foundations of modern Kenyan music and look at external influences that helped shape new music styles.

Kenya’s popular music traces its origins to the end of the Second World War. The returning soldiers who had fought in India and Burma brought back home novel instruments that would shape the modern Kenyan sound; the accordion and the acoustic guitar.

A photo exhibition, featuring rare photos sourced from private collections, will take some on a nostalgic journey to the pioneering days of Kenyan music and others on an inspiring journey of discovery.

Combining historical facts and anecdotes, Tabu Osusa (founder of Ketebul Muisc and veteran musician and producer) together with Bill Odidi (radio producer and consultant on media and cultural memory projects) will give you invaluable insights into the music and the music icons that have captured the imagination of Kenyans for six decades.

A DJ on a vinyl turntable will have you moving to old classics in the presence of the pioneering musicians John Nzenze and Peter Akwabi.

Exhibition: Theresa Musoke – Legendary Artist of Uganda, Jul. 8 – Oct. 1 2017 @ The Nairobi Gallery

Exhibition: by Theresa Musoke – Legendary Artist of Uganda | Photo via the Gallery
Opening Date: July 8, 2017
Venue: The Nairobi Galley
Entry: Free

Until: October 1, 2017
Museum Rates Apply after July 8th 2017

About
Born in Kampala in 1942, at a time when few African women, let alone Ugandan women, were going to University, Teresa Musoke completed studies at Makerere University Department of Fine Arts, the best art school in East Africa at that time. She began receiving recognition while still an undergraduate with prestigious commissions like her famous “Birth Mural” at Makerere University Mary Stuart Hall, the National Parks of Kenya, and Entebbe International Airport. After graduation, Musoke received a Commonwealth scholarship to do printing in the UK where she earned a postgraduate diploma in printing from the Royal College of Art in London. She then took up residence in Kenya for the next 20 years where she exhibited at local galleries such as Paa ya Paa, Gallery Watatu and African Heritage. She held several exhibitions abroad, particularly in the Scandinavian countries where her distinguished works of romanticized wildlife in a moody mixture of abstract batik and oil painting won great acclaim. She taught art at Makerere University, Kenyatta university College, the International School of Kenya and several other venues.

In the process Musoke has been acknowledged as one of Africa’s leading women artists and has won many awards. Selected exhibits abroad include the Royal Academy of Art in London, The Hampton Institute in Virginia, USA, Botanic Museum in Brussels Belgium, and Africus-Johannesburg-Biennale, South Africa.

Simba Sitoi (from Maputo) Live at The Alchemist, Jul. 14 2017 @ The Alchemist


Date: July 14, 2017
Venue: The Alchemist, Westlands
Time: from 7 pm
Tickets: Advance KES 500 and at the Gate KES 1,000/-
Get your advance tickets, here.

About
It’s the return of the boom bap! But this time brought to you all the way from Maputo, enfused with those beachy Mozambican vibes and tight Portuguese rapping.
Simba’s love of rapping started in the 90’s when he discovered Common, de la Soul and A tribe Called Quest. He began rapping at 13 and has never stopped, fusing hip-hop with funk, jazz and Afro-beat to create a sound that perfectly merges old school hip hop and Mozambican rhythms.

Simba will be supported by our very own TAIO and DJ Lasta on the decks on the decks.

Performances by Barak Jacauzzi and Marcus Wi of Raww Records – two young guys making waves in the Nairobi hip hop scene – and two veterans of Kenyan hip hop, Sharama Ukooflani and Nafsi Huru