SHOWBUZZ: Chris Brown faces monkey charges

American RnB star Chris Brown is facing a six month jail term for keeping a monkey as a pet. The singer was recently charged with two counts of owning a restricted species of the primate without obtaining a permit as required by law.

According to the United States law, the charge carries a maximum sentence of six months behind bars if found guilty.

The restricted monkey owned by Chris Brown is a baby capuchin which he has given the name ‘Fiji’. Following the charges, the singer was forced to surrender the pet to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Trouble started when Chris posted a video to his 49 million fans of his four year old daughter Royalty Brown playing with the pet.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife launched an investigation of whether he was certified to keep the pet and found out he didn’t have a permit. The case is due February 6, 2019.

Chipukeezy’s new girl

Comedian Vincent Muasya popularly known as Chipukeezy has found himself a new girlfriend just a month after parting ways with fiancée Vivian Mandera.

Chipukeezy who also seats in the NACADA board, seems to have moved on so fast after the break up as he is now dating a lady he only identified as Kibanja.

The two new lovebirds spent their Christmas Eve together at English Point Marina Hotel in Mombasa alongside fellow comedian Eric Omondi and his Italian fiancée Chantel Grazioli.

The comedian took to his social media to announce his latest catch by posting a video of two of them getting cosy.

Last month, Chipukeezy spoke out after Vivian deleted all of his photos on her Instagram. “People should stop speculating things but instead let her move on with her life. She is free to be out there and get other people ” Chipukeezy confirmed.

The two had been engaged for three years. After the break up, Chipukeezy vowed never again to publicise his private life but wouldn’t just do that.

Hakuna Matata not Disney’s

Popular Kenyan musical band Them Mushrooms have joined the push in a petition calling for Walt Disney Company to release its trademark on the phrase ‘Hakuna Matata.’ An online petition urging Disney to drop its trademark on the phrase has since attracted over 100,000 signatures.

Them Mushrooms, who were the first to feature ‘Hakuna Matata’ in their popular 1982 hit "Jambo Bwana" has now thrown its weight behind the push, stating that it believes there is probable infringement on copyright in regards to the phrase.

In a statement the band noted: “We believe that there is a probable infringement on copyright in regards to the phrase ‘Hakuna Matata’ which forms the chorus to our song "Kenya Hakuna Matata" aka "Jambo Bwana" or simply "Hakuna Matata".

The ageing band was formed in 1969 as Avenida success before renaming to ‘Them Mushrooms’ in 1972 has also called for an IP (Internet Protocol) lawyer to handle the case.

“We feel that this whole matter needs to be handled by an IP lawyer who is an expert in copyright law” it added.

Disney first applied for the trademark of the phrase in 1994 for use on cloth merchandise the same year it released its original cartoon film Lion King. Its request was approved in 2001 by the United Stated Patent and Trademark Office.

Diamond wants a house

Bongo flava star Diamond Platinumz who is set to perform tomorrow at Uhuru Gardens on the last tour of his Wasafi Festival concert, has commenced plans of building himself a house in Kenya.

The singer who describes Kenya as his second home, has revealed that his plan to have a home in the country isn’t because of constant frustrations he has been receiving from Tanzania Music Regulatory Board over his music.

However the singer says, its because he has a dream of opening up his second recording label Wasafi Kenya in the near future and it would be good if he has a home in the country to enable him achieve that goal.

“As I always say, Kenya is my second home and I own land here. Already I'm in to the plans of building a house. Currently I am searching for a construction company that will help put up the property. You also realise that I am getting married to a Kenyan and again I'm in the plans of starting Wasafi Label here as well” Diamond revealed.

The singer who is currently dating Kenyan radio host Tanasha Donna, was gifted with a piece of land in Nairobi by Real Estate Diamond Merchants during his ‘A Boy From Tandale’ album launch back in April this year. Diamond Merchants sponsored the launch.

She was Meg, she is Kidoli

Remember her? Meg C, real name Nasra Salim has made her music come back after a long hiatus of over a decade, rebranding herself to a new stage name Kidoli.

The petite lass recently released her first single in years "Habeeby" a love song produced by Mombasa based renowned producer Shirko who relocated back home few months ago from Tanzania.

Meg C shot into the limelight eight years ago when she was featured as the main video vixen in Jimwat’s "Under 18" hit song and also worked on several projects under Calif Records label.

She went on to attract unrivalled media attention when she started a love affair with former Harambee Stars ace Dennis Oliech who was at his prime then.

That was just the start of Meg C life into fame as she went on to release few singles including her 2006 hit song "Nipe" which gained her much popularity in the Kenyan music scene.

Meg C would then take a break from music in 2007 when she got married at the tender age of 20.