SHOWBUZZ: I mourn my mother, but I still have to earn

Legendary Bongo Flava songbird Lady Jaydee, who is signed to Kenyan recording label Taurus Musik, has urged her fans not to judge her negatively as she hits the studio to record some music just days after burying her mother, Martha Mbibo.

The singer’s mother succumbed to cancer three weeks ago, after a two-year battle with the deadly disease. This had kept Lady Jaydee absent from the public eye as she attended to her mother.

The late Mbibo was buried last week at her ancestral home in Bunda and, as is the custom with many African societies, the bereaved family is usually supposed to mourn for 40 days. However, Lady Jaydee says she intends to hit the studio immediately.

“Life has to go on. We are done with the burial. And because our culture doesn’t entail the 40-day-mourning period, I intend to head back to the studios straight away. So when people see me working, they shouldn’t judge me,” Lady Jay has pleaded.

My enemies ‘bewitched’ me to lose my voice

Popular Coast singer Dogo Richie has claimed that he has been missing from the music scene for several months due to being bewitched by fellow artistes. Dogo Richiee, who is gearing up to release his latest projects — videos for his tracks ‘Fire’ and ‘Go Gaga’ produced by veteran producer Teddy B — claims to have lost his voice after the release of his hit track ‘Muziki Majanga’ some time last year.

Dogo claims that a few Mombasa artistes whom he mentioned in the track were not happy with the storyline and thus teamed up to teach him a lesson, arriving at a decision to visit a witch doctor who cast his vodoo, robbing him of his precious voice.

“I don’t believe in dark magic and that’s why, I guess, I am healed and back to recording music. However, come to think of it, how coincidental could it be that I fell sick and lost my voice after the release of ‘Muziki Majanga’? I ended up making more enemies from fellow artiste who felt I had portrayed them in bad light. Despite the claims doing the rounds, I was just trying to be creative, but someone took it personally. I’m informed they decided to visit a witch doctor to teach me a lesson,” Dogo Richie claimed while speaking to Showbuzz.

In the song, Dogo took a swipe at several top musicians from the Coast who have been doing music for over a decade, but still have nothing to show for their sweat. For instance, he mocks Susumila for not being able to own a car even after performing in many shows over the years.

Unite, or we won’t gain

Celebrated Benga maestro Makadem has urged fellow local musicians to unite and form a union to champion their rights.

The musician, also referred to as ‘Ohanglaman’, argues that Kenyan musicians are losing out on so many opportunities because of their division and individualistic mindset.

He observes that fellow neighbours in Tanzania have been able to grow their industry massively because of their unity, despite the disagreements that could be within their union.

He said this is the reason they have ended up appearing to be the best acts in East Africa, even if that is not the case.

“Tanzanian artistes are one because of the union! When the union speaks, they have spoken. Who speaks for us?... Kenyan artistes had better sit down, have a glass of water, take a deep breath and drink... Without a union we shall remain in the wilderness!

“Only the union can fight our battles. The government listens to unions not individuals or groups begging for an audience with so and so. Let’s wake up, unite or forever yap about guns that don’t shoot.” Makadem urged.

Female artistes ‘are not valued enough’

MTV Award winning songbird Habida Moloney has aired her views on why she thinks many local female musicians are crossing over to the gospel world, dumping the secular scene.

Habida claims poor treatment of local female musicians by the Kenyan music stakeholders has been the key driving factor, pushing many of her colleagues to ditch secular music and seek a haven in the gospel industry.

“It’s quite unfortunate that women in the Kenyan music industry are not taken seriously. Many a time we are paid less than what male singers earn. The corporates, as well, do not use female artistes regularly in their events,” she is quoted saying.

According to her, it is for this reason that many of her colleagues switch sides, hoping to find things a little better on the other side.

Lately, showbiz has witnessed a good number of female musicians crossing from secular to gospel genres.

It started with Size 8. A few others have since followed suit, including Cece Sagini, Amani, Wahu and Marya.

Round Two of laughter with Sam West’s show

Kenyan showbiz musician Vivian and her fiancé, comedian Sam West, are indeed giving "Churchill Show" proprietor Daniel Ndambuki a run for his money, after announcing their second comedy show "Sam West Comedy Show 2" set for Saturday.

After the success of the first edition that took place on February 16, 2018, at the Kenya National Theatre auditorium, Nairobi, which was graced by several top celebrities, as Sam lined up 15 up-and-coming humourists, the comedian is at it again. This time round, Sam West Comedy Show will present nine comedians on stage, including JB Masanduku, who has on several occasions performed at the "Churchill Show". There will also be a performance by his fiancé, Vivian.

Sam says his intention is to offer a platform to more up-and-coming comedians to showcase their talents and build their dreams. The second Sam West Comedy will be staged at Panari Hotel, Mombasa Road, Nairobi.

Tidal allegedly falsified plays for Beyonce and Kanye’s big pay day

Famous American rapper Jay Z’s music streaming services company Tidal has been accused of inflating its streaming numbers for his wife Beyoncé’s "Lemonade" album as well as Kanye West’s "The Life of Pablo".

Tidal is accused of misreporting the amount of plays of the two albums by ‘several hundred million’ false plays. A report from a Norwegian newspaper ‘Dagens Naeringslin’, argues that there is no way the Tidal streaming numbers of the two albums could have been that high without being manipulated. By more plays, it meant that the two artistes, who are close to Jay Z, garnered higher royalty payments.

In its claims, the newspaper says it had done extensive research to reveal the rot.

However Tidal, on its part, has issued a statement denouncing the reports. They termed them as a ‘smear campaign’.

Part of the statement reads: “We expect nothing less from them than this ridiculous story, lies and falsehoods. The information was stolen and manipulated and we will fight these claims vigorously.”