Born Gracious Amani, Amani G went viral when she covered the song ‘Girl On Fire’ by Alicia Keys.

Due to her remarkable talent, she was immediately snapped up by Pine Creek Records and has since released an EP. Amani G was also one of the candidates who recently received their KCPE exams results.

She has, however, chosen to keep her results private. Amani G spoke to SDE about her performance, music and more.

What school did you attend?

I was in KingHill School in Githurai.

You were a candidate this year, how did you perform?

Above average (laughs).

What was your favourite subject?

Science was my favourite but it turns out I performed better in English.

Do you have a favourite meal?

Yes, chicken, chips and coleslaw.

What are your other hobbies?

Eating is my favourite followed by sports. In school, I played football, volleyball and participated in athletics.

What would you like to be when you grow up?

A scientist. I would like to do astronomy and study space.

When did you start singing?

It was before I started school, I was just a little girl. I was brought up in a musical home and everyone in our house sings. The speakers used to be placed under my bed and we would only sleep when it was on.

When was the first time you sang before a crowd?

I was nine years old when I performed before a big crowd in our church. Since then, I have performed at a show in Two River’s Mall, Kid’s Festival as well as in KICC.

Do you play any instruments?

Not currently but I am looking forward to learning the saxophone and the guitar.

How did you break into the music scene?

I hadn’t gone to school because of fee payment issues so I was just walking around my neighbourhood when I saw some kids being given candy and I went to join them.

To appreciate the strangers’ kind gesture I sang for them, Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys. That’s when one of them took a video of me singing, uploaded it on YouTube where it went viral. It even got to Alicia Keys herself. That was in June 2018.

Who are your big musical inspirations?

Definitely Alicia Keys. I also really love Size 8 and Mercy Masika.

Have you participated in any competitions?

Two so far. I have been in I Can Sing which is yet to air and Kids Can Sing in Buruburu, where I came in fourth.

How do you balance school and music?

During the week I’m at school then I work on my music on weekends.

How did you get the record deal with Pine Creek Records?

After going viral, a neighbour gave out my mum’s number when they came visiting. I was in school at the time. They came back to speak to me about signing a contract with them.

What is your vision?

I want to prosper in the music industry through gospel music. In that way, I get to win souls for God at the same time praising God.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Kenya hatuhami!

Remember Jason Dunford? The two-time Kenyan Olympic swimmer and country’s flag bearer at the 2012 Olympic Games?

Well, the 32-year old retired swimmer is now a Genge rapper. Je has released his first single , “Mbaya” – a collaboration with “Romantico”, who came to Kenya as a Mexican missionary, fell in love with the country’s culture, remained and created a new musical genre.

According to Dunford, he and Romantico met by chance, and the latter invited the former to feature on the song. Dunford protested that he had no musical skills, but Romantico persisted and “Samaki Mkuu”(Dunford’s stage name) was born.

Their collab, merges Genge, a hip-hop derivative that emerged from Nairobi and Reggaeton, a genre rooted in Latin America and the Caribbean, to form a brand new sound known as “Gengeton”.

Dunford, who retired from competitive swimming having last represented Kenya in an international event during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, currently works as a broadcast journalist on the Africa business team out of the BBC’s new bureau in Nairobi. He reports and produces 4 shows – a daily in English and Swahili; and a weekly in English and Swahili.

Romantico, on his part, came to Kenya as Edgar Manuel Vargas Gallegos, a missionary representing the Mexican Catholic Church and has gradually been building his repertoire as an up and coming act in the Kenyan hip hop scene.

His debut Swahili single was titled Mkora which was followed by Tai Tai featuring Prince Amani.

The new Dunford-featured single is available on all major platforms, including iTunes and Spotify.

Watch ‘Mbaya’ below.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Gospel musician Bahati’s prayer partner Diana Marua and his baby mama Yvette Obura have never seen eye to eye.

Diana Marua made the revelation during an interview on Radio Jambo, saying they have never met nor talked. “We don’t know each other because she was in a relationship with Bahati and when I came in, she was not in his life,”

She added: “Her daughter comes home at least once a week. She is innocent and she doesn’t have to be involved in all what people are saying.”

According to Bahati, his relationship with Ms Obura was “puppy love”.

“I like to be open because I want to inspire other people. Being a gospel artiste does not mean I don’t have a past. Everyone has a past and it was puppy love,” Bahati said during the interview.

On how they handle online trolls, Diana said, “At the beginning, it was so hard but it reached a time I had to accept the life because it is about me, not what people are saying.”

“The worst troll was when bloggers said Bahati did a DNA test for our daughter Heaven without my knowledge. I had just had a baby and had healed from postpartum, and it was so hard on me when I read such information,” added Marua.

Bahati explained that he had done a DNA test on his first daughter and bloggers picked up that story.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Uganda’s Anne Kansiime has moved on to greener pastures after her failed marriage to Gerald Ojok.

The award-winning comedienne has since moved on from the heartbreak and found new love in Skylanta, real name Tukahiirwa Abraham, a Ugandan hihop artiste from Mbarara in Uganda.

The two have been sharing pictures of each other on their socials for months now. On Sunday, Kansiime set tongues wagging when she shared a snap as they locked lips in a loving embrace.

Kansiime captioned the picture in Nyankore dialect; “Rukundo Egumeho na akantukangye lazima.” (May this feeling of love reign)

She will be hoping it does after her marriage of four years to Ojok hit rock bottom in December 2017.

Some pictures

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Akothee’s daughter Celly Rue Brown, alias Rue Baby, is single and has never been in a serious relationship because she fears her mother.

Speaking to Massawe on Radio Jambo recently, the 20-year-old model said: “I don’t know how she would react when she realises I am dating.”

Rue, who once showed an interest in Kibaki’s grandson, added that it has not been easy finding a genuine man.

“That[Kibaki’s grandson] was just crushing and I moved on. I am not seeing anyone at the moment because I think in my state, it is not easy to find a man who is genuine because most men want to be associated with my mum’s wealth,” she said.

“I have never been in a serious relationship because I fear my mum, who still thinks that we are young and she does not want us to follow her path of getting children at an early age, as she did.”

Rue also opened up about growing up under a strict mother saying, “My mum was very rough and wanted us to be so disciplined. We did not start at the peak and we were hustlers from scratch, and she (Akothee) taught us to respect people.”

“There was a time I even disagreed with her because I felt that she was discriminating us by favouring some of us. Like for me, I needed her attention, which she was not giving to me.”

The petite black beauty also disclosed how she handles online trolls. “If we feel affected by trolls on social media, we tell our mother and she handles that. I have been trolled a thousand times but I talk to my mum.”

“The worst troll that affected me was when people said I was walking naked because I was in a short. It affected me for a whole week,” said Rue.

She added that she does not want Akothee to get more children.

“I feel we are so many and we all need her attention.”

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

There are diss tracks and then there is ‘Kapinye’, released by rapper DNA in response to the veteran DJ Pinye.

DJ Pinye, in an interview with NRG radio last week, stirred up controversy when he confessed that he cannot play music by ‘Lamba Lolo’ group Ethic.

At the same time, Pinye claimed he never played songs by DNA and Khaligraph Jones at the start of their respective music careers because the two made mediocre music.

“There are artists whose music I did not play back in the days including Khaligraph and DNA but their career has grown. I cannot play Lamba Lolo or New Position. DJs shouldn’t play mediocre music,” said Pinye.

While Khaligraph Jones chose the high road and let DJ Pinye off on a warning, DNA had other ideas as he hit the studio to cook up some heat.

DNA even sent a warning shot on social media first, leaving netizens in anticipation for the diss track of the century.

However, when the track finally dropped, evens fans of DNA who were rooting for him to put Pinye in his place were disappointed as it emerged that the ‘Banjuka’ hitmaker had shot himself in the foot.

According to Netizens, the diss track titled ‘Kapinye’ is exactly the mediocre music DJ Pinye had been complaining about.

Check out some reactions and the diss track thereafter.

Angeandika tu thread Twitter.

— Blacknificent (@OsindeJr) December 10, 2018

Totally Crap. Dj Pinye was right not to play your music.

— Jamal Convert (@JamalConvert) December 10, 2018

Flow iko down lyrics ziko down but he has a point

— Pogba_Matic (@Pogba_Matic) December 10, 2018

Afadhali angemtafuta ampige makofi badala ya kutoa wimbo kama hii

— orb of discord (@nyotttu) December 10, 2018

But tukiongea ukweli, DNA pia huwa na ngoma za ujinga. That is the truth. But Pinye should not be so full of himself as well.

— Kamau N Maurice (@KamauD33) December 10, 2018

I thought diss tracks were supposed to be music

— IZUNDE (@dikkinyua) December 10, 2018

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Willy Paul just can’t stop making trash music.

The controversial musician has dropped his new single titled Alkaida, a Swahili derivative of Al-Qaeda, a terrorist group founded by Osama bin Laden.

After the trash that was ‘Sikireti’ alongside Ce’Cile three weeks ago, the hitmaker has now jumped on a popular Bongo instrumental and made a complete mess of it.

The instrumental by producer Kimambo Beats features in songs by Nandy(Aibu) and Shetta(Hatufanani). This has seen Willy Paul come under fire for allegedly lacking originality.

This, in addition to the largely ignorant and insensitive song title in a supposed gospel song and the lack of any real musical content, is why ‘Alkaida’ is certified trash.

Check it out.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Kenyan media personality Oga Obinna was once a street urchin after falling out with his father about nine years ago.

The popular comedian made the revelation during an interview at Radio Jambo. “I used to have issues with my dad. I think I used to be a rude kid that is what he says. Growing up he used to encourage me to be like my brother and nowadays he asks my elder brother to be like me,” he told Massawe.

“I would even think he was not my real father. We did not agree and so I ran away from home and came to Nairobi, where I became a street boy in 2009 for one month,” Obinna added.

The emcee, who doubles up as a musician, went on to live with some friends and do acting jobs to pay for his school fees.

“I am doing well, and that is why I am now fine with my dad. I joined Eastleigh High School and lied to the school that I was an orphan so they could admit me,” Obinna said.

“I was staying in Makongeni with some friends and would wash their clothes so I could be useful to them. I started acting in set book plays but I would not get paid because the money catered for my school fees.”

Obinna is now one of the top earners in showbiz as evidenced by his car-buying spree this year. His most recent was about a fortnight ago when he bought his baby mama a Toyota Passo worth Sh750, 000 as a birthday gift.

“She is the mother of my baby and that means she is special to me. She is a very kind and honest person,” Obinna said.

“I took her to a driving school before her birthday and gave her the gift during her birthday because she has been good to me and she deserved that from me.”

On if he is planning to marry her, Obinna revealed that he is not going to marry this year as he had earlier indicated.

He is also not a big fan of white weddings.

“I’m not a champion for big weddings although I’m an emcee. People put millions into such events, then you find them a month or two later not together,” Obinna explained.

“I would prefer paying the bride price then we go to the Attorney General (for a civil wedding). It would save us the cost. I would rather use that money to do other things like buying another car,” he added.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Ugandan music artiste Weasel is still picking up the pieces following the passing of his music twin Mowzey Radio in February this year.

Weasel, who is in Kenya for Coke Studio Africa 2019, said it was hard losing Radio but he is still going strong.

“I accepted what happened and am back in the studio recording to prove to the world that I can still go on,” Weasel told Adelle on Kiss FM.

“Radio and I started as friends and later became brothers. He knew what I liked and what I did not like. So losing someone like him was so hard for me,” he said.

Weasel, who is Jose Chameleon’s younger brother, said that he had to stop going out when Radio died.

“It was hard to listen to songs we had done together. Everywhere I would go they would play our songs, and that would really hurt me.”

The musician also opened up about his regrets and the lessons he picked up on treasuring friends.

“The biggest lesson I learnt after losing Radio was treasure your friends and be good because they might go forever. I regret those times he would complain that I was not picking his calls when he was still alive,” said Weasel.

“Sometimes I would take life as just normal and would even travel without telling him where I was and he would complain.”

Weasel added that Radio’s death unified Ugandan artistes who had been beefing.

“When Radio was alive, artistes were fighting each other. But when he died, they all tried to come together and they no longer fight because most of them realised the importance of being united. That was a positive thing that happened,” he said.

One highlight that puts a smile on his face when he remembers Radio is when they received their first payment of USh1 million after their first hit song, ‘Nakudata’.

Weasel also revealed that he will pay a tribute to Radio with other singers on Coke Studio 2019.

“It is my second time to be on Coke Studio. This time teaming up with other artistes and paying tribute to the fallen soldiers like Radio and other stars,” he said.

He is also working on a new album that has 15 songs, as well as Radio’s album, which he left unfinished.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Bongo songbird Vanessa Mdee and her singer beau Juma Jux are still an item.

The rumor mill has been working overtime alleging that the celebrity couple has parted ways due to “incompatibility”. The fact that the celebrity couple has not been seen together in the public of late has only fuelled the rumors.

But according to Vanessa Mdee, they have both been busy with their individual projects and that is why they are not seen together as was the case a few months ago.

“Jux and I cannot be together all the time. There are times when our individual work projects consume our energies. When we’re not spotted together, a section of our fans tend to think that we’ve split up.

“Let me clarify that Jux and I are still together, and there is nothing that has caused a strain in our love life. We are working hard to ensure we keep our brands at the top,” Vanessa Mdee told Tanzania’s Motomoto News.

Vanessa and Jux got back together in August last year after a brief break up.

In a past interview, Mdee cited irregular communication as a key reason for the break-up.

“Sometimes I would send him (Jux) a text message at 6 am but he would reply at 12 noon. If the platform of sending the text was WhatsApp, I would see two blue ticks on our chat thread, which indicate the recipient of the message actually read the text – and at what time he did so.

“Most of the instances, he read the texts a few minutes after I had sent them. Sometimes I would enquire if he had eaten, and he would give me a curt response. Such habits communicated that our relationship was undergoing a turbulent phase,” said Vanessa Mdee.

The couple, however, managed to iron out their differences.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Otile Brown has broken his silence with regard to claims by Vera that he has a small penis.

The musician has been silent for quite a while but now appears to have weathered the storm caused by his ex-lover Vera Sidika. The heavily-endowed socialite had appeared to turn his world upside down when she alleged that Otile cannot satisfy her sexually.

As a result, Otile Brown has been the butt of the joke in social media circles with netizens constantly reminding him about his alleged ‘Kijulubeng’ (Small penis).

Well, Otile has brushed off the allegations and sensationally claimed that he is a beast.

This he did while responding to a comment by a fan on Instagram after Otile shared photos hanging out with his purported new catch, Diamond Platnumz’ ex Kimnana. The fan warned Otile Brown that soon, his new catch might expose him like Vera did.

“Hivi ndio unaanzaga my G my bff my homie kidogo tunaskia kijulubeng,” wrote the fan.

To which Otile Brown retorted saying: “Kijulubeng ni wewe. Usidanganywe, mimi napiga matako kama ajira. bora nipende mzigo.”

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Celebrated Kenyan media personality Faith Muturi is the newest celebrity mom in town.

The former NTV presenter and her husband, George Ngugi, have been blessed with a bouncing baby girl. Faith Muturi, renowned as one of the longest-serving presenters of the gospel show ‘CrossOver 101′, delivered the baby girl on Tuesday, December 11.

Coincidentally, it is the same date that her son, Lemuel, was born. Taking to social media to break the news, Faith Muturi described the arrival of baby Zoe Njeri Imani Ngugi as a double blessing.

“We give thanks for the safe arrival of Baby Zoe Njeri Imani Ngugi  It’s a double blessing as she got to share a birthday with her older brother. Yup! Lemuel & Zoe both born on 11th December, two years apart. Isn’t that amaaaazing!!’ she wrote.

According to Muturi, Zoe means ‘Life of God’ and Njeri means ‘Warrior’.

She further penned a prayer for Zoe, saying: “Our prayer for you Baby Girl is that you will live life to the fullest and live for God all the days of your life. We declare that you’ll be a warrior for God. May you find your strength on your knees in prayer. I’m still amazed and extremely humbled that your Daddy calls you Imani. May you be a woman of Faith. And yes- may your surname Ngugi always remind you whose you are. You are a princess, loved and wanted.”

Mr Ngugi also took to his Instagram page to announce the news and wish their son a happy birthday.

“On this day in the year 2016…baby Lem was born… Happy Birthday son! and on this birthday the Lord has blessed you with the amazing gift of a baby sister. Thanks so much my love Faith Muturi Ngugi for being such a great partner in this parenting journey,” he wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We give thanks for the safe arrival of Baby Zoe Njeri Imani Ngugi It’s a double blessing as she got to share a birthday with her older brother. Yup! Lemuel & Zoe both born on 11th December, two years apart. Isn’t that amaaaazing!! King @george_ngugi_ the priest of our home chose such wonderful and prophetic naming for her. #intentionaldad Zoe means ‘Life of God’. Our prayer for you Baby Girl is that you will live life to the fullest and live for God all the days of your life. Njeri means ‘Warrior’ and we declare that you’ll be a warrior for God. May you find your strength on your knees in prayer. I’m still amazed and extremely humbled that your Daddy calls you Imani. May you be a woman of Faith. And yes- may your surname Ngugi always remind you whose you are. You are a princess, loved and wanted. Cc: @george_ngugi_ #miracles #signs #wonders #life #continue #Ebenezer #wayMaker #lifegiver #promiseKeeper #brandnew #generations #hallelujah #newborn #siblingssharebirthday

A post shared by faith muturi ngugi (@faithmuturingugi) on Dec 12, 2018 at 10:09pm PST

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Kenya’s gospel music industry power couple Size 8 and DJ Mo are expecting baby number two.

The celebrated musician all but confirmed she has a bun in the oven with a subtle show of her baby bump on social media. In a short clip shared on her Insta, a seemingly relaxed and jovial Size 8 is seen walking leisurely on a balcony.

As she approaches a camera, Size 8 lightly rubs her tummy giving a clear sighting of her bump that didn’t go unnoticed by hundreds of her fans.

While the former secular musician did not directly announce the pregnancy, her caption was quite telling. She wrote, “This is my mood currently working thru life, relaxed and just dancing knowing that nothing in my life is sustained by my own effort alone but by the words that come from my FATHER IN HEAVENS MOUTH. Mungu akisema kitu manze itacome to pass Mimi nikurelax na kuput my faith in Him.”

The revelation comes days after Size 8 revealed that she overcame her fear of getting pregnant again after having complications in her first pregnancy.

“I have finally overcome my fear because I need to trust in God, and I am ready for any blessing, either baby boy or girl. Vile tu God atajiskia, let his will be done.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

This is my mood currently working thru life, relaxed and just dancing knowing that nothing in my life is sustained by my own effort alone but by the words that come from my FATHER IN HEAVENS MOUTH. Mungu akisema kitu manze itacome to pass Mimi Niko relax na kuput my faith in Him………. “Jesus answered “Man doesn’t live in bread but from ever word that comes from God’s mouth” Matthew 4:4. “He humbled you , causing you to hunger and feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your father’s had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”…………Jesus was humble enough to know that God is the sustainer of life let’s take His example hence we will not fall into the temptations and snares of the devil……….

A post shared by Size 8 Reborn (@size8reborn) on Dec 12, 2018 at 1:02pm PST

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Wow the Lord God almighty is faithful. Had a great meeting with my bosses from the Soft Care diapers company and my swity @djmokenya ,great things are coming up to God be the glory. What I’ve learnt after today’s meeting is before what God spoke over your life to happen the devil tries to fight it. He brings battles your way but if you stay committed to God and His will. God gives you the grace to overcome and brings you victory. The secret is to stay COMMITTED AND IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IN CHRIST JESUS NO MATTER THE BATTLES AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU HIS VICTORY. Whatever challenge you are facing right now is a sure sign that something great is about to happen stay committed to God………… Victory is yours in Jesus name don’t give up. Am so excited yeeeeeeepppppyyyy thank God I stayed committed to Jesus by God’s grace through the tears the pain and frustrations!!!!!! God was setting a table for me and my family!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!! From glory to glory!!!!! MUNGU NI MWEMA!!!!!!!!! Dressed by @labelle_fashions Pic by #OPPOF9inKenya

A post shared by Size 8 Reborn (@size8reborn) on Dec 12, 2018 at 11:44am PST

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Jamaican reggae star Romain Virgo is the country for the Guinness Football Fan Zone experience concert.

Romain Virgo will be the main attraction alongside former England football player, Rio Ferdinand on Saturday at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.

He landed in Nairobi at the JKIA for his second tour of Kenya on Wednesday evening. Speaking at a presser on Thursday, the singer said he now feels at home after a nervous first-time visit back in 2016.

“I was a little bit nervous the first time I came here to perform because I did not what kind of people to expect. But I feel home now, I fell in love with the food and the people here as well, that’s why I really wanted to come back and I’m happy an opportunity presented itself,” Romain said.

In addition to interacting with fans at the concert, the ‘Soul Provider’ hitmaker will also perform songs from his new album.

“I’m here to give nothing but the best to my Kenyan fans with new songs from my album ‘Love Sick’ that I have never performed for my Kenyan fans,” he said.

Romain added that he will fulfill his promise of working with Kenyan songbird Vivian. He will also be looking to shoot the music video for his feature on King Kaka’s track ‘One and Only’ off the ‘Eastlando Royalty’ album.

“I promised Vivian that we will work together in a song and now that I am here we can try something out. I might also work on the visuals of the song with King Kaka,” said Romain.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Controversial musicians Akothee, Willy Paul, and Otile Brown are among the top Kenyan artistes of 2018, according to a new study.

Afro-pop crooners Sauti Sol were ranked as the best musicians based on having the most viewed online song of the year.

This is according to a report by research firm, Research 8020, which carried out the ranking based on the top-rated songs by Kenyan acts divided into three categories; Platinum (a song with over 100 million online views), Gold (10M-99M online views), and Silver (1M-10M views).

The research was conducted between November 19-30 and involved the use of industry experts (radio presenters and DJs) as well as social vetting.

Research 8020 states that “Artists only counted on the song where they are the lead singer.”

According to the firm, all the artistes ranked in this research were in the Gold category.

Sauti Sol topped the list with ‘Melanin’ featuring Nigerian dancehall star Patoranking. The Afropop kings were closely followed by controversial gospel artiste Willy Paul with the hit ‘I Do’ featuring Jamaican songbird Alaine.

Gospel music sensation Mercy Masika took the third spot thanks to her Award-winning hit ‘Mwema’.

While Kenya’s current boy wonder Nyashinski took the fourth spot with the mushy and romantic single ‘Malaika’. He was followed by Otile Brown at number five with his Chaguo la moyo collaboration with the lovely Sanaipei Tande.

Another gospel musician, Eunice Njeri, made the list at sixth spot with ‘Nani Kama wewe’.

The late gospel artiste Angela Chibalonza may have departed 11 years ago but her music lives on with ‘Ebenezer’ seeing the Congo-born star who died in Kenya in 2007 take the seventh spot.

The sultry Sanaipei Tande made the list again as she grabbed the eighth spot with her ‘Amina’ hit.

Gospel star Florence Andanyi is ninth with ‘Kibali’.

Akothee rounded off the top ten list thanks to her collabo songs, ‘Sweet Love’ feat Diamond, ‘Give it to me’ feat Flavour, and ‘Oyoyo’ feat Mc Galaxy.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Abdul Jumaa, the father of Tanzania hitmaker Diamond Platnumz, has made yet another plea in a bid to reconnect with the singer.

Speaking to Showbiz Xtra, Jumaa pleaded with the artiste to invite him to his forthcoming wedding slated for early next year. According to Abdul, should Diamond refuse to send him an invite, he would feel despised.

“Namuomba sana asiache kunialika, asiponialika nitaona amenidharau sana, nitajisikia vibaya”

(I urge him[Diamond] not to ignore me on his wedding day, if he does not invite me I will feel despised)

Abdul further disclosed that Diamond did not inform about the wedding as he learnt about from the village grapevine.

“Sijaambiwa habari za ndoa ila nasikia tu watu mitaani wanazungumzia suala hilo, kikubwa naomba iwe ya heri Mungu afanikishe nitafurahi sana mwanangu akioa

(I have not been informed about it but I’ve heard people talking about it in the streets. But I pray that God makes it successful. I will be happy if my son marries)

Diamond has since set the wedding date to his Kenyan girlfriend Tanasha Donna Barbieri Oketch on Valentine’s day.

“I have set February 14, 2019, as my wedding date. The ceremony will last four days. Valentine’s Day will fall on a Thursday; so, the wedding ceremony will take place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That is my preliminary arrangement. If anything would come up, forcing me to change the dates, I will communicate that in good time,” he said.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Hasni Shah is a 22-year-old model who recently won the Video Vixen of the Year award during the just-concluded Pulse Music Video Awards. Shah scooped the award for her work in Khaligraph Jones’ banger ‘Juu ya Ngori’.

She has also made appearances in ‘Sangolo’ (Quata featuring Wyre), ‘Mayonli Love’ (Masauti), ‘Wanaona Haya’ and (Country Boy featuring Khaligraph Jones) among others.

Hasni Shah spoke to Pulse after the big win.

You intimated that you were contemplating quitting the video vixen business when you got nominated for the Pulse Music Video Awards, is it true?

True. For a while, I have been thinking of quitting. In fact, after I appeared in Khaligraph Jones’ Juu ya Ngori, I told myself that that was the last video I would be doing.

I have been in a number of videos since I started doing videos about a year ago and to me I was just another leisurely thing that I didn’t think of taking serious.

Why would you quit such lucrative opportunities that all models in town are fighting for?

Probably I am just different.

Does this have anything to do with your culture?

Not really. My family, especially my mother and sisters have been so supportive and that is even why you saw them come to the Pulse Music Video Awards gala with me where they celebrated my win.

I think my family, my uncles included, is very liberal. I have, however, been looking forward to a better paying job. I am thinking of becoming an air hostess and have so far made some steps towards this.

But with this win, it means more video vixen jobs will come calling…

I thank Pulse for giving me that opportunity, which must be the highest point in my career. Since I have been receiving calls from all over.

People have been congratulating me and others inviting me for some advertising jobs. That is why I have been deep in thought about what to do next, or else it is easy to lose direction as you get overwhelmed by all this.

I recall Khaligraph Jones’ advising me not to just take anything that comes my way after we did the Juu ya Ngori shoot. He was concerned that people would mistreat me.

I now have a good manager who is helping me handle everything professionally. He says I can only take big jobs and that is what I am sticking with.

Is being a video vixen a paying job?

For those who are taking it seriously, I can say it is rewarding. People like my fellow Pulse Music Video Awards competitors Cindy and Tee Baby are doing quite well.

I guess it is all about being connected. I use all I get from this job to support my family and so to me, I treat every offer professionally.

However, some girls just enjoy the limelight and the trappings around celebs and celebrity life, which is not necessarily a bad thing if you have a good career development plan. Just don’t be a groupie.

Why don’t we don’t have so many video vixens of Asian origin. Do you think the skin colour has something to do with it?

Somewhat. That can be both a good and a bad thing. Some people prefer dark girls while others want to use light girls in their videos. It is also easy to get exhausted as fans can get used to your face since you are different.

What else do you do for a living?

I used to work at a duty-free shop but left some time ago. I have some offers from some outlets in Dubai and so I am consulting if this is the right move to make.

What do you do for fun?

I am more of the family girl and I find myself spending most time with my family. We love to go out for movies and dinner. Besides that, a little adventure does not hurt. A girl has to see the world.

Are you dating?

Can we skip that for now?

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire

Tanasha Donna Oketch has officially introduced her beau Diamond Platnumz to her social media followers.

The Kenyan radio presenter and the Bongo Fleva star have been the talk of the town as the newest “it couple” in the East African region.

While Diamond has already made his feelings for the beauty known on social media, Tanasha has been more conservative, with netizens growing increasingly impatient at the lack of any activity on her Instagram involving the boy from Tandale.

Well, Tanasha finally quenched those thirsts over the weekend as she and Diamond enjoyed some alone time in the dreamy Mwanza.

Her first post with the Bongo star came with a French caption as Tanasha professed: “Mon amour. Je t’aime ” (My Love. I love you). The picture shows the couple on a quad bike.

According to Diamond, it was his first time riding a quad bike.

“First time riding a Quad Bike and it was fun as f*ck…..! she was a bit scared though” wrote Diamond.

In addition to quad bike riding, the lovebirds also enjoyed a boat ride to the tranquil Wag Hill Lodge & Spa on the shores of Lake Victoria where they obviously did the nasty and let some steam off following a busy Wasafi festival.

Tanasha Donna, on her second post, shared a picture as she walked hand in hand with Diamond and wrote: “They don’t understand what we have… They don’t know that we didn’t plan this.. Only God knows why he brought us together. ”

In her Instastories, Tanasha said she is now in love with Mwanza. While Diamond, in his Instastories, proclaimed himself as the ‘Mfalme wa Mapenzi’. He also shared a clip as he appeared to count countless bundles of cash with Tanasha taking selfies.

They are set to wed on Valentine’s day next year.

Ⓒ 2014 Nairobi Wire