Video: Alembe & Sadic - "Pages Za Bible"

featuring Juliani



Update: Power Radio 91.1 to go off air soon

Interview with Penya artist Dela: Part 2

Last week ::KenyaChristian:: blog brought you an exclusive interview with talented singer Dela of the Penya Record label. In it she talked about the August 7th bomblast, their concert there among other topics. If you missed Part 1 of the interview, check it out here. This week we bring you Part 2 of the interview in which she talks about her sound, her upcoming album and more! Hope you're enjoying this interview.

::KenyaChristian blog:: Did you look at other Kenyan labels, before landing at Penya, and why did you choose them?

Dela: Yeah, I have worked with a number of other smaller labels. Penya presented a bigger opportunity, so I went for it.

::KC:: Your music sounds very soulful, how would you classify it?

Dela: It is soulful, music for the soul, and it's also African so I call it "Afro-soul". I fuse it(Afro-soul) with a number of different genres like reggae, blues and jazz.

::KC:: Who would you say are your musical influences?

Dela: India Arie! I love India Arie and some of my other influences are Asa, Ayo and Miriam Makeba

::KC:: Did you grow up with music around the household, or is it something that you discovered later?

Dela: I grew up with music and we sing a lot at home; we do everything singing. I sang in the school choir, church choir...so yes, I did grow up with music.

::KC:: When I was listening to you perform first of all, let me say I was impressed within minutes of hearing you. But also one of the first names that jumped into my mind was Mercy Myra. Would you consider that a fair comparison?

Dela: I must say I'm flattered! I respect Mercy Myra she's a good musician, though I'd like to think that I'm different. I'm me, I'm Dela

::KC:: Vocally, I think you are just as strong as her. She has been on the music scene since around 1997 and has paved the way for many Kenyan soul artists. Do think you can fill her shoes?

Dela: Though I haven't heard any of her music of late, I admire that she was able to pioneer soul music in Kenya. I'm bringing "neo afro-soul," and I feel I can fill her shoes. She's got great taste anyway!

::KC:: Have you met her(Mercy Myra)?

Dela: I've never met her, but I hope I will one day.

::KC:: Sauti Sol will be travelling on their first trip of Europe, will you be joining them? (Blog note: As of this post, Sauti Sol are still on tour)

Dela: Yap, I am and I'm really excited! Actually, we'll be touring lots of places in Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

::KC:: Sauti Sol seem to have come very far and gained a sizable following in such a short time. How would you explain their almost over-night popularity?

Dela: They've carved a niche for themselves. Times are changing and people's tastes in music are changing as well. Kenyans are tired of listening to unwholesome music, you can only eat so much junk it's unhealthy! We at Penya want to do music that deals with everyday situations rather than ignoring the real issues. Everyone, despite age, creed or nationality can relate to our music. That, I believe is the reason for the huge response.

::KC:: Technologies such as the internet and applications like Twitter, Facebook and Myspace have really changed how artists connect with their fans. Would you consider technology more of a good thing or bad thing?

Dela: It's a good thing. It's so much easier to advertise shows and get your music, both video and audio to the masses. Technology is great and it's here to stay, so we've definitely got to maximize on it.

::KC:: You seem to have already recorded many songs. Were they all done at Penya, or had you already recorded some prior to joining the label?

Dela: Around 99% of my album has been recorded at Penya. Though I have worked with other production houses too.

::KC:: I heard you perform at least one political song at the concert. What topics do you prefer writing about, and do you write all your own material?

Dela: I do write my own material, though from time to time someone else will write for me. I write about everyday situations; politics, life, love, lessons learnt...anything that I think will make a positive impact.

::KC:: Speaking of politics, would you say Kenya needs a revolution? Do you think one is inevitable if things keep going like this?

Dela: Definitely!we need a revolution! Lakini it will not happen overnight. Kenyans have to come together as one,put aside our differences,abandon prejudice and stop waiting for a miracle. It's up to us to make it all better for ourselves.

::KC:: Are you working on your album, and how is the recording process coming along so far?

Dela: Actually, I'm done recording and it's gone to press! Recording the album has been great, I really enjoyed every moment of it.

::KC:: Do you plan on touring other parts of the country apart from Nairobi?

Dela: Yes, I do,actually. Plans are underway and we intend to start early next year.

::KC:: I definitely think you are a Kenyan artist to watch. Are there any more gigs lined up in the near future, where people who may not have heard of you may come to check you out?

Dela: Definitely, all I would say for now is just watch this space.

::KC:: What kind of music can we expect from your album in terms of the sound and the content/lyrics?

Dela: It's what i term the new East African sound. Afro-soul plus reggae plus hip-hop with thought provoking and heart-warming lyrics for the soul.

::KC:: Where can fans keep in touch with you?

Dela: Fans can reach me on my facebook page and group, and at delamuziki on twitter...my website is under construction.

::KC:: Just A Band performed at the Sauti Sol after party, have they joined Penya too?

Dela: I think you know the answer to that....yes they have:)

::KC:: All the best in your future Dela, it looks bright from where I’m standing.

Dela: Thank you! Thank you so much for this:)

Eko Dydda, Michelle & Saint P - "Sunday"

O.K, there are so many spellings of Eko Dydda's name...oh well. I'll stick with this one



Listen: Eko Dydda; Michelle & Saint P - "Sunday"

Allan Aaron - "Wi Mutheru"

Yes, even Akorino are now making waves in the music scene. I must admit I'm still largely ignorant regarding Akorino beliefs and customs(in part due to hearing stereotypes about them), I now want to learn more about them for myself...



Listen: Allan Aaron - "Wi Mutheru"

Video: RamaSilah - "This Ain't It"

For those not in the know, the rock and roll scene in Kenya has been bubbling just under the surface...

Exclusive Interview with Penya artist Dela

She is an artist you may (or may not) have heard of before, but rest assured she is working hard to make sure all that changes soon! With the Kenyan music scene flooded with a lot mediocre artists, it is refreshing to hear some real talent which this artist no doubt has. Featured on Sauti Sol’s debut album Mwanzo, Dela is one of the latest signees to one of the hottest urban labels around, Penya Records. KenyaChristian blog got in touch with Dela last month after her performance at the August 7^th Memorial Park, which was held as a farewell concert for Sauti Sol as they embarked on their first international tour of Europe. It was also held to commemorate the tragic events of 11 years ago that saw Kenya caught up in the war between the U.S and Islamic extremists.

In Part 1 of this exclusive interview with KenyaChristian blog, Dela gave us her take on the events of August 7^th, her music, how she got singed to Penya, and much more!



::KenyaChristian blog:: First of all, lovely performance at the August 7th Memorial Park you gained a new fan that day.

Dela: Thank you! I’m glad! I want to change the scene one listener at a time...

::KC:: That was my first time seeing you perform. I had heard of you, but had never seen you play before. How long have you been performing?

Dela: Professionally, I’ve been performing for almost a year now. That’s a short time, but it has been a wealth of experience! I love it!

::KC:: August 7th Memorial Park has a historical significance due to the tragic events that happened there in 1998. How did you feel performing at a venue that experienced so much trauma, what was going through the back of your mind?

Dela: That park is beautiful! The serenity and tranquility of that place made me see how time can heal. There are a lot of things we take for granted. Like take life for instance; live each day like it's your last because tomorrow is never certain.

::KC:: Do you think the Kenyan government has done enough to fight terrorism, or have we started relaxing again especially with groups like Al-Shabaab just next door?

Dela: I think the government is trying, but they need to put firmer laws in place to prevent any future threats.

::KC:: There has been a long on-going debate about the bomb-blast victims and compensation. Do you think they should be compensated, and by who, our government or that of the U.S?

Dela: 11 years down the road and nothing substantial, it's really sad! I do think they should be compensated. Some of the victim’s lives took a turn for the worse after that day and I think they should at least be given a means to get back on their feet! Even if not financially, they may be assisted through training.

::KC:: How long have you been with Penya Records?

Dela: I’ve been with Penya for about a year now.

::KC:: Penya seems to have very talented and high quality artists such as Stan, and Sauti Sol. What do you think you bring to the table at Penya, what would you say makes you different from the other artists on the label?

Dela: Well, the first thing I would say would be femininity...You need to listen to a female perspective on things sometimes, right!? Otherwise, I don’t know if the other guys would agree, our music pretty much revolves around the same themes.

::KC:: Wawesh and the crew at Penya seem to be doing a wonderful job. How did you guys link up?

Dela: Yes they definitely are, they are doing a phenomenal job! How we met is a looong story. But in summary, he(Wawesh) met Stan first, then they met Sauti Sol through Stan (I think), then Sauti Sol introduced me to Wawesh and the crew at Penya. And the rest as they say is history!

Look out for Part 2 of this exclusive interview coming next week!

Update: Just A Band "82" album launch scheduled for October 17th.

Kidnapping: Prevention Tips & Remedies

I think kidnapping is one of the worst and most scary crimes that can happen to a person. You read about stuff like that happening in Columbia & Mexico, and in movies like Man on Fire, but I hoped such phenomena would never take root in our country. But, alas kidnapping seems to be the in-thing with Kenyan criminals nowadays. We have all read the absolutely horrific story of the Sudanese boy who was kidnapped recently, then his mutilated body was found after the parents were advised by the police not to pay the Ksh500,000 ransom. It is a tragedy that our so-called leaders are dwelling on issues like Ringera while the country collapses from all sides. Kidnapping in my opinion is just one of the signs that this country is totally breaking down. As we wait to see what steps the new Police Commissioner Iteere will take to tackle this crime wave, I have decided to post some tips on how to prevent kidnapping. This list is especially for parents/guardians of children but some points can also apply to adults.(This is from a U.S site, so lets hope Kenyan police will make a list that applies to us.)



Teach Your Child Safety Rules Very Young ~ Start teaching your child about safety when it comes to talking to strangers when they are very young. Role play with them, using different situations to see how they would handle them. For instance, you can ask your child, "What would you do if someone asks you to help them find a lost puppy?" Use lots of different scenarios with your child and go over safety techniques often.

Teach Your Children to Fight Back & to Scream ~ Children are easy targets because they are taught to listen to adults. Teach your children to prevent a possible child abduction by fighting and screaming, "Fire" or "Help, this is not my dad. This is not my mom," if someone tries to take them. Experts say that you should never let an abductor get you to a second location. The sad reality is that if a stranger abducts your child, they will likely be killed in less than 24 hours - an abductor won't just harm your child because they fought back, they likely would have done it anyway. So, teach them to fight like crazy.

Make a Child ID or Get a Child ID Kit Made ~

Know Your Neighbors ~ Know whose in your neighborhood.

Have Children Play in Groups Don't Allow Your Children to Walk to Friends or Play Outside Alone ~ Many children who are abducted are taken when they are walking somewhere alone or are playing outdoors by themselves. There is safety in numbers. Tell your children to always walk with other kids or an adult. Watch them when they play outdoors.

Be alert to and aware of your surroundings. Know the “escape routes” and plan what you would do in different emergencies. Practice “what if” scenarios, so you will be well prepared. Know the location of local hospitals and best routes to take to reach them. Know how to reach the nearest local lawenforcement

Keep Current Photos of Your Child in Digital & Printed Format ~Make sure that you have plenty of current photographs of your child that could be used immediately if they were a victim of a child abduction. If your child has any birthmarks or identifiable scars, etc. take photos of them as well - this is especially important if they are on their face or other areas of their body that people would typically see.

Consider varying your daily routines and habits. Do not take the same routes or go at the same time
on your regular errands. If you take your children to school, change that route as well.

Don't Wait to Call Police in an Emergency Call Police Immediately~ If you think that your child has been a victim of a child abduction, call the police immediately. Seconds literally count when a child is taken so don't waste time.

Remember you are your best resource for better safeguarding your family.
Stay alert, informed, and vigilant about personal-security issues.


Also: When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Kit

Music Seen! Asa - Asa

I don’t know what’s happened in the past few years in the Nigerian music scene, or what has sparked this sudden wave of great music & artists, but one thing is sure, I am enjoying it! I already introduced many of you to a brilliant artist called Nneka (the who recently moved back to Nigeria from Germany) on this blog, and now I want to talk about another equally great singer. Many of you may have already heard of this Paris-born Nigerian artist called Asa(pronounced Asha), and if you’ve followed this blog I’ve previously posted some of her videos. (see here and here). Well, now I am here to review her eponymous debut album which was released in 2007. I really need to get better at doing reviews because I take too much time to do them, and considering I’ve had this album since mid 2008 it’s been a long time coming for this review. Coincidentally Asa (like Nneka) was another artist I discovered on a blog which just goes to show you how ubiquitous the internet is these days. Seriously, the internet is IT for new and cool stuff these days.

Asa’s debut album starts of on a very good note with the song “Jailer” which it turns out was one of my favourite songs of 2008, I had this song on repeat for months! It is just such a well done song both lyrically and melodically, and with its political message speaking against oppression there’s really not much that could go wrong with this song. It chorus is just great, simple and yet powerful,”I’m talking to you jailer/stop calling me a prisoner/let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone, Mr.Jailer.” When listening to this song early last year it brought to me mental images of Iraq, Bush, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. It is such a good opening song it would fell almost criminal not to sit back and listen to the rest of the album!

Though “Jailer” is my first choice for favourite cut on the album, if you think the rest of the album is weak you are mistaken. “Bibanke” is another mellow yet very beautiful song which is another personal favourite. On this song that talks about a love that has left, Asa beautifully exhibits her singing range and vocal control. Asa’s low toned voice kind of reminds me of Macy Gray though it's not as raspy. “Subway” is another lovely song where Asa talks about love and the lessons that were imparted on here by her mama. It features some great violins and background harmonizing which adds to the emotion of the song. I’m sure many women (men too) can relate to this song as we’ve all had that person (people) giving us advice on matters of the heart, even though we often times choose to discover its pain and joys on our own.

I had difficulty choosing between “Jailer” or “Fire on The Mountain” as to which was my favorite song on the album. “Fire” which introduced me to this artist is just an excellent song, definitely another of the better ones of 08. And the video for it is just very creative and well done too. It’s just one of those songs that are so good, you end up picking all the lyrics to (which I have). I like the fact that she wrote a song on war and violence in such a unique and non-preachy way. This is the way it should be done! There is nothing wrong musicians singing about the world’s ills, but how about doing it in a way that pulls the listener and they can also dance to. Now an artist knows their job is done when you can learn from a song and dance to it at the same time, this is Asa showing you what she’s capable of. On “Eye Adaba” we then go back to a soothing melody, great vocals, a freshly plucked guitar followed by a dash of flute.

Things get funky on the next cut “No One Knows” with the funk provided by the bass guitar and Asa’s fun sounding upbeat vocals. But even with all the funkiness, the song gives us a time to reflect on the importance of living your life to the fullest right now, as no one knows what tomorrow will bring. The album slows its pace for the next two songs “Awe” and “Peace.” On the last song “So Beautiful” Asa sings with sincerity about her love for her mama with the song with the song alternating between slow acoustic and an upbeat tune.

Overall, this is an excellent debut album which puts Asa on the map in African music (from the diaspora if you want to get technical). With some very strong songs in it, this is one of the best albums of 2008.

KC Blog rating: 4.5/5

“A top 10 album of 2008, and one that should be in your collection.”

Video: Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" (Trailer)

featuring one of my favourite current actresses Taraji P.Henson.



My favourite Perry movies so far would probably have to be Why Did I Get Married & The Family That Preys

Jukwaani! A Festival for Performance Literature

Description: From Swahili literature to slammers, Swahili freestyle to the urban poets, traditional storytellers to hip-hoppers. Featuring Abdilatif Abdalla, Dalibor Makovic, Talking Drums of Africa, Tony Mochama, Ukoo Fulani, L-Ness and many more! The festival is held in conjunction with the conference Swahili Poetry in Performance organized by Bordeaux and Bayreuth universities ad IFRA.

Read more here

Venue: Alliance Francaise & Goethe-Institut, Monrovia St., Nairobi

Date: 17th - 20th September 2009

Time: 6:00 PM

Entry: Free

Visit the website here

Download the Programme here

Video: Avatar (Teaser Trailer)

Here's the teaser trailer from James Cameron's upcoming sci-fi flick Avatar.



The sci-fi geek in me can't wait to see this. At first the trailer didn't really impress me, but after watching it again it still looks promising. I guess I'll wait to see the whole movie before making a good judgment. I know IMAX would make all the difference though:)

Previously: I Wish Kenya had IMAX!

Exclusive Interview! Just A Band speaks on their new album 82 and more!

As Just A Band gear up for their sophomore album "82" alot of you out there must be anxious to know what they've been up to since their debut, and just what we have in store on the new disc. Well ::KenyaChristian:: blog conducted this exclusive interview with the "Experimental Boy Band" (as they term themselves). Just A Band have steadily become one of the hottest, most talked about, and innovative new artists on the Kenyan urban music scene, and it was only right that this blog keeps y'all informed on what's going on with them. In this interview they discuss subjects like their growing popularity, the response to their debut album "Scratch to Reveal", who is featured on the new album and more! Let's here what the guys had to say...

::KenyaChristian:: So guys, how is the year going so far?

Just A Band: We’re having quite the year – it’s been eight months and we’ve had one big gig, shot a bunch of music videos, animated two more music videos, held an art exhibition for which we shot and animated 3 or 4 additional art pieces, held DJ parties and we’ve just finished working on the new album. We’ve always been very laid back, so this is quite hectic for us.

::KC:: How is the new album “82” coming along, and when do you expect to release it?

JAB: We finished recording and mixing all the songs a few days ago, and we’re working on the accompanying artwork – based on the cover you see today. The album sounds louder and is somewhat more confident than Scratch To Reveal was. We’ve done a lot more of the singing ourselves (which may or may not be a good thing, ha, ha!). As such, there’s less guest artists on this record – Juliani, Bien Baraza of Sauti Sol and our dear vocal coach and friend, Wambura Mitaru. Eric Musyoka also created one of the tracks on this album – “Ha-He”.

::KC:: Your sophomore album seems to be coming so soon after the first one. Why so soon, is it a case of striking while the iron is hot?

JAB: Scratch To Reveal was like a pilot project for us, and we were (and still are) very surprised at how well people took it. We’ve been playing with a lot of new sounds since we released it in May last year – and we’re excited about the new sound. We initially wanted to release 82 exactly one year later, in May, but that felt gimmicky and rushed and we’re glad we waited, because some nice new songs emerged after May.

::KC:: What was the response to “Scratch to Reveal” like?

JAB: Overwhelming, surprising...

::KC:: Are you happy with the response so far?

JAB: We’re proud of that album.

::KC:: The videos seem to have really grabbed people’s attention. Was that your plan all along, to make people stop, look, and listen?

JAB: I don’t know if there was a plan – all we do is make videos that make us excited about music. We get a lot of inspiration from the way the Europeans treat the music video as a medium, and there was a period in the late 90s when black musicians were making very interesting videos, and then budgets got slashed and everyone started doing the same bling-booty-shaking-in-the-club videos, and it became boring. Perhaps because 2 of us are coming from a visual arts background, we’re always eager to use the medium of the music video to experiment with ideas and fool around.

::KC:: What do you think of the fact that you have built such a strong following in a short period? Do you think people are craving for something different, something fresh?

JAB: Who knows? Kenyans are interesting – if they decide to like something, they do it with gusto. And if they decide they hate it, they do it with equal enthusiasm.

Exclusive First Look! Just A Band's "82" album cover + tracklisting!

Yup, you read that right. ::KenyaChristian blog:: has got the exclusive first look at Just A Band's album cover for their sophomore album entitled "82." And boy what a creative album cover, I really love it! You don't see many creative Kenyan album covers frankly and I'm glad that Just A Band are trying something different with theirs. Their first album cover was really cool, but I think this one is even cooler. Definitely one of the best Kenyan album covers yet! Just A Band's latest album is scheduled to be released soon, so keep it here for more info.



Here exclusively too is the tracklisting for the new album. It is set to feature artists such as Juliani(wooo!), Bien Baraza & Wambua Mitaru(yes that's Sarah Mitaru's small sis).

01 Save My Soul 3:41
02 Ha-He 3:56
03 Extra 4:08
04 Kaa Ridho (with Juliani & Bien Baraza) 3:52
05 Migingo Express 3:32
06 Usinibore 4:12
07 Sunrise 4:52
08 Huff + Puff 4:55
09 Uko Mbele 4:37
10 Forever People 4:41
11 Stay (with Wambura Mitaru) 3:40
12 BoogieDeeBweet 4:16
13 Tingiza Kichwa 6:39


Keep it here for an exclusive interview with Just A Band where they talk about thir new album 82, their videos, their popularity plus more! I'm out for, now....

Video: Kirk Franklin "Spread the Love" Fest promo

If you like African American Gospel music(which I absolutely do) I suggest that you see Kirk Franklin live @ least once. Don't miss this!

Click here for more details

Video: Shachah - "Deliver Us"

This is the first video from Shachah's sophomore project "Let The Light In".



Previously: Shachah -Arise