::Kenya Christian::

If you haven't yet seen Sauti Sol live, what are you waiting for? I think this group deserves to be big in Kenya and possibly the region. They are really talented. They perfomed this song at Sawa Sawa Festival with crowd particpation(don't you love when performers do that?) and it was really enjoyable. This is the second single from their debut album Mwanzo in stores now. Update: Catch Sauti Sol before they head off on their European tour

Check out a new song called "I Am Yours" from Kanjii Mbugua featuring Izzo (of Ugandan group Limit X ) Speaking of Limit X, anyone have that song theirs called "Bread of Life" I've searched but haven't been able to find it. Listen: Kanjii Mbugua - "I Am Yours" Previously: I Am Yours video shoot pics Here's an unnofficial and untitled song from Astar which was recorded during a studio session jam. The song features Kera . Listen: Astar - Kickin It

Here's some more music from the "relationship riddim" movement. Is a compilation album in the works? Listen: Michelle - "Gimme Love" Bonus track: Injili - "Nisamehe" (I've always liked this song!)

I had been looking for this video and finally spotted it. I've always thought Monique was quite talented but she's always been kind of under the radar, wish she would release more material.

The Storymoja Hay Festival is a three day international celebration of stories, ideas, writing and contemporary culture through storytelling, mchongoano, music, books, live discussion forums, demonstrations, workshops, open-mike sessions, debates, exhibitions, live performances and competitions. It is organised as collaboration between the Hay Festival (UK) and Storymoja, a young publishing company formed by five local writers. The Hay Festival held in the UK every May attracts up to 150,000 people ranging from presidents to authors to fans. Venue: Impala Club, Ngong Road, Nairobi Dates: Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August, 2009. Time: From 10:00 am daily Price: Ksh 500(day pass) Ksh 1500(season ticket); Ksh1000(advance season tckt) -Kids(Ksh200day; Ksh400 season) Check out the full program here (Tickets available @ All Books First stores, Silverbird stores in Nairobi,Bookstop Bookstore(Yaya Center),Sarit Center Information Desk (Westlands) & Savanis Bookshop, Westgate)

Mabadiliko Tour presents, “Skoolz Out!!!”feat. Juliani, Daddy Owen, MOG, Chit Chat, Eko Dyda, Holy Dave, Jaya, Saintz, Dj Moz… and many more! Date: August 8th 2009 Time: 1pm - 6pm Venue: Mavuno Dome (Belle-Vue South C) Price: Ksh 100

At TEDU 2009, Erik Hersman presents the remarkable story of Ushahidi, a GoogleMap mashup that allowed Kenyans to report and track violence via cell phone texts following the 2008 elections, and has evolved to continue saving lives in other countries. Visit his blog @ WhiteAfrican and AfriGadget . Check out his profile here

Here is a new song from Kera (of Gospel Fathers/ZYM) featuring Charis . Enjoy! Listen: Kera - "Change In Me" Bonus: Allan Aaron - "Relationship Riddim" O.K I'm gonna go out on a limb and dub Kijiji Records & the MWAPI(Music With A Positive Influence) movement the "hardest working artists in Nairobi" at least as far as urban-based music is concerned. Y'all go hard...keep up the good work! Update: To all the diaspeeps, Power Radio 91.1FM is now streaming live over the internet! Click the pic below to stream.

Here's the video for Wyre's new single "Uprising."

Date: Saturday, 25th July 2009 Time: 9.00 pm Venue: Goethe-Institut , Monrovia St. Price: Free Entry Description: Urban Mirror is an event about urban art and public space that will feature performances of different artists coming from different areas of Nairobi and selected among the ones reported on the Urban Mirror on line map www.urbanmirror.org. If you are an artist you can't miss it!!! Previously: video -Urban Mirror Project kickoff

Date: July 26th 2009 Venue: Kenol Kula Korner, Argwings Kodhek Rd. Time: 2:00pm - 6:00pm Price: Ksh 150 Nairobi's number 1 Urban Christian lounge is back with a fresh twist to it.Come & experience 4 hrs of unadulterated Urban worship, Hiphop, Spoken word poetry, Neo Soul B-boying, R&B & ill Deejaying all to the glory of the King of Kings! (Also featuring the official Madlove mixtape launch!)

Legendary Limit X frontman Isaac Rucci links up with Kijiji Records Kanjii Mbugua on their brand new single. Declaring their allegiance on the track "I Am Yours", Isaac recently jeted in to shoot their first collaborative music video. With a track produced by Gideon "Gidi" Kimazi and video by Sakata Media, look out for this still unreleased single to debut soon.

Here is a track from new Penya recording artist Wachira hailing from pwani. The song features Stan Ng'ang'a also of Penya. Listen: Wachira - "Post Election." Peep how they flipped the LeAnn Rimes song , not bad. As a bonus here's a track from upcoming artist Nina Ogot . The song is called "Runaway," enjoy! Listen: Nina Ogot - "Runaway"

John Allan Namu of KTN has won the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award. Congratulations to him and keep up the good work! Read more here

Just A Band's latest single from their upcoming album 82 . I don't listen to much radio, but I'm curious as to how well this will do(is doing?) on the charts, I think it deserves to do well. Nice simple & uplifting lyrics, non-vulgar, creative, excellent production. We need more of this kind of stuff Kenyan artists, keep it up JAB! Just A Band - "Usinibore" "Just because I'm an African with black skin, it doesn't mean that I won't win if I try..." Previously: JAB "Usinibore" video

Check out some amazing pictures British photographer John Kenny took during his month's stay among the Pokot and Turkana of Northern Kenya. It's at times like these, seeing the beauty and diversity we have in this country Kenya that I wonder, why we have to allow some people to make us be hateful and suspicious of each other? We are a beautiful people, and we are really blessed with different tribes, cultures and languages. We should not mess up this precious jewel of a nation we have. Strive to remove any negativity and tribalist thoughts you may have today. Treat your fellow Kenyan with respect and love. On another note, I need to visit MORE of this country! too stuck in Nairobi. Check out more pictures on his blog here , and visit his website here .

Footage of what really happened during that infamous incident was finally released. Why am I posting this video? How could I NOT..lol. Prior to this video the only image we had of this accident was this . It's crazy how he didn't even notice or feel his hair was on fire, damn you Soul Glo! Lol, for real though the footage is kind of eerie for some reason, I guess just because its such an infamous incident, shrouded in mystery until now. Read more here. (note: video may be pulled)

Jay Smooth of illdoctrine speaks on Michael Jackson's life, legacy and lessons.

According to Gitonga , here are some of the ways you can tell you are a Nairobi Christian: 1. Mavuno Church. If you live in Nairobi and have not heard about Mavuno, I can bet you’re also not aware that the names in the famous/infamous Waki “Envelope” have fikad the Hague! Ok, I am not a regular there, but must confess Mavuno Church has in actual fact taken Nairobi by storm. I already know so much about their services; even though I have not yet attended the church. Love them or loathe them, they have a very clear vision for the capital. It’s for; you either love what they are doing or hate ‘em’ altogether. There are no two ways about it. But don’t we just love talking against or for Mavuno? Mebelieves that even the chief strategist Michael Joseph of “niko na safaricom” fame can learn one or two things from them. Ama what thinkest thou? 5. Wishing our testimony was more exciting and intriguingI don’t know about you, but what is it with us that we always wish that our testimonies were m

Here are some video-shoot pics from Chit Chat''s upcoming video "I La La Like It." Keep it here for the video coming soon!

10 year-old Jonathan E.McCoy started a petition in February 2009 to end the useof the "N" word at petitionspot.com. You may pledge your support by going to: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/endthenwordnow/ Previously: My thoughts on the N Word

So, towards the end of my day decided to pass through Aga Khan hospital to check on my blood test results. For the past month or two something had been compelling me to go and get my blood tested, so last about two weeks ago I decided to finally do it! I decided to start off at a hospital and the first place I thought of was M.P Shah , which has I guess become our default family hospital(after our beloved family doctor, Dr.Patel passed away many years ago. Gosh, I liked him so much, he was like a 2nd father to us! but more on that another day.) So anyway, I went to M.P Shah and asked the guy at the reception if they do HIV test, and he told me "no." I'm like huh, you dont do HIV tests? Again he replied in the negtive(no pun). This guy must not have known what he was talking about, or am I ignorant? Kwani which hospital is this where they dont do HIV tests? I was kinda pissed but I didnt feel like looking for someone else to talk to. So I left there and decided to look for

I bet you thought Video Hits Package had died eh? haha.. no dice! For this edition of VHP we will be featuring legendary hiphop group The Grits with their video "Hopes And Dreams/What Be Goin' Down." This song is from their 1997 album Factors of The Seven . I really like this song done by The Grits and it holds some significance and memories in my mind. I like it first of all because I think its a dope song with nice lyrics,hook and melody. But more than that its significant because I guess you can say it was one of my first steps on the journey to being a new Christian. Prior to the FOTS album the only other christian-rap/hip-hop song I had heard was probably "Stomp" by Kirk Franklin ( Peppa raps in it :). As in, I was totally clueless as to the existence of Christian hiphop. So around 1997 a high school friend actually lent me this album because, though I wasn't yet born-again I was kind of curious as to what this Christian hiphop sounded like. Growing

Here is a new video from Just A Band for their first single off their upcoming second album 82 . It is directed by Jim Chuchu Nice video. Creative use of props,movement,make-up and nice directing. The song is good too! Previously: JAB "Usinibore" video shoot pics

Nice. All of us go through struggles and you just have to learn to hold on and trust in God through the good and bad times.

featuring Nameless A daring DJ should blast this song during a Kenyan public holiday "celebration,"I'd like to see the reaction on those politicians faces. On the other hand, theyre so out-of-touch they'll probabably jig along to the song.

A treasure trove of thousands of images of East Africa dating from 1860-1960 has recently been released online by The Library of Northwestern University (Illinois). For those, like me who are interested in African hi-story(which is rarely told), this should offer an interesting insight, if only visually. African history pre-late 19th Century is still largely shrouded in darkness, so to find a visual record dating from 1860 is really something good. I hope they do an African tour with these images. I'd go. A online collection of thousands of rare photographs chronicling Europe’s colonisation of East Africa went live last week, on June 25th, on the website of the Library of Northwestern University (Illinois). The Humphrey Winterton Collection of East African Photographs: 1860-1960 includes approximately 7,610 photographs. It was assembled by the British collector Winterton over about 30 years and organised in 76 separate albums, scrapbooks or loose collections. The collection was a

WHAT Urban Mirror is a project about art and public space, a window into Kenya's urban art scene: audio, visual, performance, literature HOW mapping all known and lesser known artists in Kenya mapping all the art centres and art events in Kenya mapping all the public spaces in Kenya connecting art with public space creating a community among all the artists in Kenya giving artists a temporary platform to showcase their work – the Urban Mirror Show WHO Urban Mirror is a Community Based Organization started by the hip hop music group Ukoo Flani and the multimedia NGO Cultural Video Foundation. The main purpose of the Organisation is to use art to promote community development. For more visit http://www.urbanmirror.org/ Download registration form here

Here is a short piece based on actress Mumbi Kaigwa's play "Kigezi Ndoto." Read more about Kigezi Ndoto here . More on Mumbi Kaigwa here