SHOWBUZZ: Bahati’s Kenya tour

Bahati’s Kenya tour

Gospel musician Kevin Bahati is set to start his nationwide tour in May with an aim of filling to capacity all the major stadia in the country.

Bahati will be backed by his EMB Records that boasts of Mr Seed, David Wonder and Rebecca Soki, and dancers. He will kickstart the tour on May 6 and return to his birth place, Huruma.

Speaking to Showbuzz, Bahati is targeting to pull huge crowds in eight national stadia after he did that successfully in a concert in December last year at Thika Stadium, which has a capacity of 5,000 people.

The musician further said, “After the success of the concert in Thika, we as EMB Records stable will start a  countrywide tour where we aim to fill to capacity eight national stadiums. The tour will begin on May 6 at Mathare 4A grounds, where I was raised, before we move out of the city and to other parts of the country.”

Bahati becomes the second local artiste to organise a nationwide tour this year following in the footsteps of Victoria Kimani, who has over the past two months been traversing the country while performing to promote her lates album, Safari.

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Dela to drop album due to public demand

Sultry, Popular Afro-Pop singer Dela Maranga will tomorrow release her second album titled Public Demand at the Alchemist, Westlands, and all her fans are welcomed because entry will be free.

Dela who rose to fame with “Mafeelings”  jam a couple of years ago is set to treat her fans to an evening of lively music performance from the pieces on the latest album. The new album, coming a long time after her debut album Paukwa that was released eight years ago, features 16 tracks of original songs, ranging from love, patriotism and peace; with such pieces having been motivated by last year’s electioneering period.

Some of the local artists set to grace the occasion include Gilad (whom she has collaborated with on a bonus track of the album “Nakuahidi”), H_art The Band, Sage, Kagwe Mungai, Fena Gitu, rumoured-boyfriend rapper Timmy Tdat.

Before establishing her name on the musical scene, Dela worked as a background singer for veteran afro-pop artistes Achieng Obura, Eric Wainaina and Sauti Sol. She later pursued her solo career after signing with Penya Africa, but currently she is signed to Taurus Musik.

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Offset could set off Cardi B in latest drama

Pregnant female rapper Cardi B could be having the most difficult moment of her life. Cardi B, who has confirmed to having stopped performances until she gives birth, could be dealing with another hard moment after her fiancé rapper Offset was served with court orders by an alleged baby mama. Cardi B, who chose to stick to her fiancé even after he cheated on her, will now have to deal with the latest scandal facing her man. This is after a woman by the name Celine Power emerged with claims that Offset is her baby-daddy. Reports indicate that Offset, who also makes up the Migos rap trio, has already been served with the court orders, forcing him to take a paternity test to prove if he is the father to baby Karma — Celines’ month-old child. The woman claims Offset got her pregnant when he performed in Colorado. She had pretended to be the venue manager and that is how she got into contact with him. Offset is expecting his child with Card B come June, and had previously denied the claims.

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Kenyans miss out on One Africa Fest

Once again Kenyan acts have missed out at the One Africa Music Festival scheduled to take place on June 2 at the Wembley Arena in London. The concert, which aims to market African music to the outside world by staging it in Europe, always invites various musicians  from different African countries who share performances on one stage.

This years’ edition will be the third of its kind since its commencement in 2016. With Kenyan artists missing to get the invitation once again, the East African region will be represented by Tanzanian duo Diamond Platinumz alongside the sultry songbird Vanessa Mdee, as well as Ugandan Eddy Kenzo.

Other top African artists on the lineup for performances include South African rapper Cassper Nvoyest, Nasty C, Kranium (Jamaican dancehall singer who was in the country recently), Nigerian stars: Mr Flavour, KCEE, Tekno, Kiss Daniel, Stonebwoy, Banky W among others.

The line-up seemed to have irked Gilad, who said:  “I wonder. Doesn’t look like any Kenyan acts qualified,” he quipped.

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Lupita’s short film to be released in 7 languages

Kenyan Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o’s short film ‘My Africa’ will be released tomorrow across the world in seven languages. ‘My Africa’, narrated by Lupita, is a mixed-reality movie that was filmed at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Releti is the first elephant orphanage in Africa owned and operated by the Samburu community within the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy.

The film is directed by four-time Emmy Award winner, 72-year-old David Allen. The release of ‘My Africa’ couldn’t come at a better time than this when she is still counting on the huge success that has been achieved by  the superhero movie Black Panther, which she features in as well.

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Avicii was stressed, says family

Family of talented DJ and singer Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, have implied in a statement that their son might have taken his life due to stress.

The 28-year-old DJ who had several worldwide hit songs under his belts like “Nights” and “Wake Me Up” was found dead last week in Oman, and his cause of death is yet to be released.

However, the family of Avicii - who coincidentally shared a birth day and died on the same day as Tanzanian popular video vixen Agnes Masogange - implied their son might have taken his life. They said he had been struggling to find a purpose to live for,after completing his world tour.

In a section of a lengthy  statement released by the family and published by several media outlets, it says, “Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress. When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most – music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer.”

Authorities have ruled out foul play in his death.