Nyboma, Rick Ross lead foreign invasion of city entertainment

If you are a fan of live musical performances, today and the entire month of May promises to be one of the busiest that Kenya has seen in a long time.

On the entertainment menu in the country will be several top Congolese rhumba musicians, a Cameroonian saxophonist and a top American rapper.

ENTERTAINMENT

The party starts this evening with the highly anticipated performance by American rap star Rick Ross at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi.

Also expected to perform in Nairobi in the next few weeks will be Nyboma Mwandido, who is already in the country, Manu Dibango, Ferre Gola and Werrason.

Rick Ross’s tour of Kenya was preceded by a social media hype, and claims of strange demands made by the musician and his entourage.

His managers are said to have demanded special security arrangements, including a private chopper, 3,500 bottles of premium drinks and a traffic lockdown from JKIA to the city centre on his arrival.

The show organisers were quick to deny this, saying the issue had been exaggerated.

However, the quirky claims quickly spread and raised expectations way before the American, who loves to put on an opulent show, arrived.

His videos, including one with the Nigerian singing twins, P-Square, are often grand.

POPULAR

Several musical acts, including a number from Uganda and other neighbouring countries, have arrived in Nairobi for the show as tickets have been snapped up despite their relatively steep price.

Rick Ross, who will be making his debut tour to Kenya, was reportedly hospitalised for a suspected heart attack last month in Miami, Florida, which caused a scare among his fans.

This wasn’t the first time the rapper has been hospitalised. In 2011 he suffered two seizures on the same day and checked into hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

The controversial 42-year-old rapper is best known for his hit songs such as “Deeper than Rap”, “Prime Rick Ross”, “God Forgives I Don’t” and “Rather You Than Me”.

Like most top US rappers, Ross has had his run-ins with the law on gun charges and other accusations. He also was involved in a rap feud with fellow rapper 50 Cent, with both releasing tracks criticising each other.

In 2003, Ross was in trouble with his fans over controversial lyrics in one of his songs that was linked to date rape, for which he later apologised.

RHUMBA AND JAZZ

On Tuesday, rhumba and jazz fans will mark Labour Day with a cocktail of entertainment with Paris-based Congolese singer Nyboma Mwandido performing at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, and Cameroonian jazz musician Manu Dibango performing at the Safaricom Jazz Festival at the Carnivore.

Nyboma, who arrived in Nairobi last Sunday at the invitation of Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, will entertain workers during the Labour Day rally at Uhuru Park.

Tomorrow Nyboma is also due to perform at a Cotu luncheon at Mr Atwoli’s private residence in Ildamat, Kajiado Central.

Nyboma first came to Kenya 30 years ago with the then 4 Stars band that also included Bopol Mansiamina, Wuta Mayi and Syran Mbenza. They were accompanied by singer Passi Jo (deceased) of the Kass Kass Band fame.

Nyboma (Danos Canta) had earlier stints with Orch Lipua Lipua, featuring in songs such as “Mombassa” and “Amba”.

He later teamed up with Tshimanga Assosa, Kinzunga Ricos and others to form Orch Les Kamale and releasing “Ayi Djo”, “Abissina” and “Ngali”.

He would later release other songs, including “Double Double” and in his blockbusting collaboration with  Pepe Kalle like “Nina”, “Likambo” and “Moyibi”.

His other popular hits include “Jalousie” (jealously) with Madilu System and he also backed Koffi Olomide on his “Papa Plus” hit song.

PERFORMERS

Before coming to Kenya last week, Nyboma had performed in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, alongside veterans Sam Mangwana and Kanda Bongoman.

Nyboma will also perform in Kisumu next Saturday at the Tom Mboya Labour College.

He will then return to Paris for a concert dedicated to former TP OK Jazz singer, Josky Kiambukuta.

Manu Dibango will be making his appearance at the Safaricom Jazz Festival at the Carnivore.

He will be joined by 12 Kenyan bands during the Labour Day jazz concert. Besides his Soul Makossa Gang, Kenyan jazz groups Mwai & the Truth, Afrosync, Chris Bittok, Swahili Jazz Band, and The Different Faces Band will also perform.

Others to perform will be the husband-and-wife duo of Jacob and Kavutha Asiyo.

MAESTRO

Dibango, with more than 60 albums to his credit, is no newcomer to the Kenyan music scene.

His illustrious musical career dates back to the early 1960s when he performed with the legendary Congolese rhumba maestro Grand Kalle Jeff in his African Jazz Band in Kinshasa.

Dibango’s award-winning “Soul Makossa” song, released in 1972, received international acclaim.

American pop star Michael Jackson borrowed recitations from the “Soul Makossa” song on his “Wanna Be Starting Something” hit song.

Dibango has collaborated with musicians like Herbie Hancock, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and King Sunny Ade.

May 11 to 13 promises to be a rhumba fans’ favourite weekend with a three-day thriller featuring Congolese stars Ferre Gola and his mentor, Werrason, performing at different musical festivals.

CONGOLESE CULTURAL NIGHT

Ferre, who is due to arrive on May 8 with his 16-member band, will perform at the Congolese Cultural Night at the Carnivore on May 11.

The show has been organised by the Federation of Congolese Abroad in Nairobi. Jean Paul C. Illunga, the president of FCA, said arrangements for the concert have been finalised.

The cultural extravaganza will be open to Congolese nationals, their Kenyan hosts and all rhumba fans in the country.

Ferre’s second show is slated for May 12 at the Deep West Resort Club in Nairobi.

Ferre (Hereve Ngola Bataringe) is no newcomer to Kenya. His “Vita Imana”, “Boite Noire”, “100 Kilos”, “Maboko Pamba”, “Panzi Likolo” and “Kamasutra” remain fans’ favourites.

He will be visiting Kenya a few days before his former band leader Werrason performs at the Koroga Festival on May 13 at the Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi.

Werrason, known for “Kalayi Boeing” and “Solola Bien”, will be backed by his Wenge Musica Band.

The original Wenge Musica band featured his arch rival JB Mpiana, Didier Masela and Adolph Dominquez, among others, now pursuing solo careers.

London-based veteran guitarist Mose FanFan of “Papa Lolo” fame will also tour Kenya in June.

He will be backed by Balou Canta, who sang on the original “Papa Lolo”, guitarist Fiston Lusambo and Tanzania-based Congolese singer Tshimanga Assosa.