Minneapolis was definitely the place most East Africans were a weekend ago to watch David Mathenge, famously known as Nameless, in concert. Performing at the Blue Nile restaurant, the artist showed up on stage dressed in shiny black pants, a white shirt and a sport coat.

The coat was quick to come off, and the shirt unbuttoned to the chest due to the heat brought about by the extensive crowd. Nameless began his concert with one of his high energy songs, Manner less that got the crowd wild and loud. Dj Kaydee, from Kenya matched up with the zealous performance presenting his skill amicably on the turntables.

Nameless whose popular songs include Sinzia, Ninanoki, Maisha, Furahiday, just to mention a few, has a knack to put down lyrics that are easy to remember, enjoyable and relatable. The large audience out to watch one of Kenya’s favorite performer sang along to the entertainers songs. The cheering and applauding to every word he spoke and dance gyration he made was deaf... [Read More]

Popular for his hit single 'Nare' (Swahili slang word meaning Fire), Daddy V, a Kenyan artist who lives in Dallas is marking his territory in the music scene. He has kept busy in the past few years working incessantly on his music, which has resulted to his first CD album.

Daddy V began rapping at the young age of ten back home in Kenya. Through his teenage years he performed in various music competitions, always landing at the top. After graduating from high school, Daddy V got the opportunity to record a few of his songs, but due to some set backs the music went unreleased. Disappointed, Daddy V decided to take a short break from music with the hopes that things would somehow work out and he could later on pursue his passion. Shortly after, he moved to the States and hooked up with a friend who owned a recording studio.

The opportunity to continue his dream had arisen. While working on one of his songs, 'Nare', which unbeknownst to him would become a hit, he met foun... [Read More]

Last Saturday night, the place to have beenwas the Blue Nile Restaurant.

I got there around 11:30 p.m, psyched,excited and awaiting the performance of the night by Amani. A Kisima Awardwinner, Amani is the top female artist in E. Africaand most popularly known for her hit singles, "Bad boy, Ninanoki andMissing ma Baibe". When I got to Bue Nile, Dj KV was playing Zinazopendwa, old school African music, whichmy friends and I slowly danced to as we reminisced with each passing song.

DJ Chris then took over and played someKenyan music with a mix of reggae. Though the dance floor was not necessarilyfilled up, those of us dancing were really into the music and were fully enjoyingit.

Blade Brown and Baraka got onto the stageand performed a few songs. By this time, DJ Dan was at the turn tables mixingit up for the artists. With much emotion and passion, Blade Brown urged theaudience to participate in his performance and delivered quite a remarkableact. After a ... [Read More]

The organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) held a customary inaugural dinner and ball this past Saturday at Cedar's Hall in Minneapolis. The ball which started with guests arriving at 5:30pm was in honor of now OLM President Kerper A. Dwanyen. Dressed in beautiful gowns, suits and traditional wear, OLM Board members, the Vice President Andrew G. Tehmeh, Tribal Elders and President Kerper Dwanyen walked the red carpet into the hall where those gathered applauded in warm welcome.

The soft light hall had round tables surrounding a huge wood tiled dance floor. A long table at the head of the room held the members of the OLM and guest speaker Congressman, Minnesota 5th District, Keith Ellison. The evening begun with a word of prayer by Rev. Geraldine Freeman, before a dinner that consisted of salad, chicken with stir-fried rice and drinks. Traditional Liberian music playing in the background as people enjoyed dinner and small talk.

OLM was formed over thirty... [Read More]

I want peace in Kenya
And as a Kenyan I have every right to ask for that.
And you Mr. President have the given duty
To ensure I get it.

I want peace in Kenya
Because you Mr. President are going to bed
Resting comfortably in my share of peace
While I cry, I grow angrier, I feel helpless
As I watch my mother, my brother, my grandmother
My cousin, my friend, my neighbor
Die, loose all and become
A people of despair
A people of rage
A people of hate
A people they are not!!!
I want peace!

I want peace,
Just as you do my friend.
Put down that Machete
Set aside the anger, the urge to violence
And let us take a moment to converse.
Sit with me my fellow Kenyan
Because you and I are Kenya.
You and I build this nation.
It is home.
It is our home,
It is our children’s home.
We have always wanted a fair, non-corrupt government
But not had the ... [Read More]

Quiet Friday evening, I'm relaxing in my apartment and thinking of settling down to a movie, then calling it a night. But, just as the thought is formulating, my phone rings and by the end of a conversation filled with a lot of squealing and laughter, my plans have changed to attending a K-CI & JOJO concert. The event is taking place in downtown Minneapolis at Trocaderos Nightclub and restaurant which just recently opened. We get there shortly after nine o'clock and walk into the classy high-end nightclub.

The night is certainly beginning well as I scan my very appealing surroundings. We get some drinks and walk towards the dance floor, inching as close to the brightly lit stage as possible. The VIP section which is upstairs is sparsely occupied as comfortable as it appears. One of my friends keeps yelling in my ear hardly able to contain her excitement at the prospect of watching the duo live in concert.

K-CI and JOJO, brothers originally from North Carolina... [Read More]

It's a blistering cold Sunday evening in Minnesota, but within the lobby of the Ordway Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown St. Paul, there is a warmth flowing through the chatter and excitement amongst the hundreds waiting to get tickets to the Angelique Kidjo concert. I have never been to the Ordway before, though countless times I've dreamed of dressing up and joining the many who come for Operas and concerts. Now here I am, standing in this beautiful, red carpeted, high ceiling, brightly lit lobby, ticket in hand.

My friends and I walk up the spiral stairs to the mezzainine floor where we are ushered into the auditorium amidst loud applause for Angelique Kidjo. We get comfortable as she introduces her next song. Most of the songs will be from her new album 'Djin Djin', she says in a french-beninese accent. She signals and the drummer starts to play the drums. Angelique dances with vigor and life before she begins singing. Her beautiful voice resonates in the filled... [Read More]

Doors opened at 8:00pm and people started streaming in. I was excited and quite surprised that I was not at all nervous about hosting the tribute concert to Lucky Dube. The auditorium was well lit, decorated to a calm perfection with a spacious dance floor and stage. On one corner was a huge projector with music videos by Lucky Dube as well as short clips of interviews he carried out during the early years of his career.
The event began with a prayer by Reverand G. Freeman, then an introduction of the event by me, the host of the evening. The night celebration began with the house band, Cross Atlantic Crew, an all Liberian Afro Centric/Reggae band, that perfrormed a series of upbeat songs from their collection to get the crowd livened up. Jarija Afro Reggae band was up next, but not before we gave away a couple of Lucky Dube t-shirts that were a part of an on-going raffle through the night.

Present at the dedication concert was OLM president Mr. Kerper Dwanyen, who ga... [Read More]

A lot has been said and written of Lucky Dube over the past twenty five years of his musical life and career. The last couple of months have however been filled with shock, pain and immense sadness at the sudden death of the reggae legend.

Dube, who was senselessly murdered in Johannesburg in October, was an artist internationally revered and beloved. Entertaining, inspirational and a lyrical genius, Dube related messages of peace, social justice, crime awareness, politics and humanity through his twenty two albums. Popular and well known songs like "Slave,"  "Taxman," "Prisoner," "Feel Irie," "Victims,"  "Remember Me" and "Together as One," established Lucky as a popular and relatable artist, while his live performances reinforced him as an artist of, for and with the people.

Dube's forty three years of life may seem short but they were years lived with purpose and a sense of truth.... [Read More]

It's Saturday night and I've just walked into Blue Nile Restaurant. Bebe Cool, Uganda's talented Ragga artist will be performing later tonight, and I have no notion of what to expect. At the moment, DJ Kevo from Kenya is at the turntables enticing the crowd to the dance floor.

I get a drink and chat with a few friends here and there before joining in on the dancing. Shortly, DJ Derrick of Uganda takes to the turntables and there is suddenly a swarm of people. The music is Ugandan, the crowd is predominantly Ugandan and I can't help but be excited about being part of the group. After the DJ gets everyone wired up, Bebe Cools' opening act, Benon (of Benon and Vamposs) gets on the stage.

His performance and liveliness gets us amped and very ready for the main act. I'm in a corner of the dance floor where I can clearly see the artist and performance on stage. At this point, I'm anxious to see Bebe Cools' performance. I'm hoping he sings 'Fire' one of his recent popu... [Read More]