Woman

Girl you are rich even with nothing because you know your tenderness comes from pain. It’s a ragged road you’ve come and hunnie you have every reason. You’ve come down, gone up, the waves have rushed over you but somehow you made it to the other side. Just know you dint suffer in vain. You dint come undone.

Trailed down the Babylonian walls like a maniac. Hoping the reverberations of the night won’t follow your tracks. Your mind, semi blue because of the dark thoughts that surround you. Your effervescent eyes blurred, now you’re not even able to see. Sigh, this roller-coaster.

So much brokenness and uncertainty.All this from within and without. Though all this has happened to you in recent years you have emboldened me in the mission of spreading love and hope.Doing all that with the power of my words. Ease up and Heal my love. So much awaits you.

In the great scheme of things,the world will keep turning and there will be striking beauty and adversity and somehow no way around it,so let’s live in the moment and let us give thanks for this life we live even if it’s hard. Let’s Live more and complain less.Love more and hate less,appreciate more and expect nothing in return for when we give,so we receive.

Above all things lets never give up hope. It’s the only thing that holds the world together.Hope heals,hope mends,hope revives and hope binds.Its the best route to take.

xx

The Kenya We Want..

Spinning like a ball of dice
Inside the sphere of this startling world
A world so free yet has shuttered itself in shreds of partisan filled mindsets,fighting and looting
In the terror by the day the irony remains that no one fears death no more
The men in blue vandalize with literal bullets
Innocent lives wail in sheer terror in a world that is full of insecurities and prejudice
Will we see the end of this day
Will this come to an end

I'm afraid history is repeating itself
I'm afraid we are too blind to see
I'm afraid we are so deaf as we willfully will neither hear nor see
I'm afraid dictation is finding its way in our systems
Afraid assertiveness lost its way somewhere inside the realms of our irrational wits

Through an iron sheet comes death like a raging tornado
Innocent toddlers get hit by the object of Oppression
Tears and endless tears,groans and endless aching
What happened to humanity,what happened to the human race
The leaders wear the same faces,yet we the people participate in electing them
Is emancipation a hard of a thing to understand?

All i want is One Life,
One Blood,
One God,
One Kenya,
One Race,
The Human Race.

Nairobi Meets Coast! - 'Dear Mama'-(Song review and launch)

You hear Bongo music and automatically think of Tanzania or Mombasa Raha! Same as Taarab and chilled out coastal sounds.

Well its no different with Mr. Pday Hurricane and Cannibal's new hit single dubbed ‘Dear Mama.’

A fusion of the coastal resonances with a touch of the city in the sun(Nairobi). Ironic right? If you were to compare the Nairobi and Mombasa sun. The heat that would bake your forehead there is completely different from the one back home.

Cannibal-Rapper
 https://web.facebook.com/cannibalkenya/?fref=ts

We all know,or have heard of Cannibal the sensational rapper and lyricist from the Mijikenda(Rabai) tribe in Mombasa who has had his music bud right here in Nairobi for more than a decade now.Cannibal who is renown for his hit singles  'My city my town' 'My reason' just to name a few has adorned our ears for an era where consciousness was the thing and we can never seem to have enough of him.His sweet auricle sensates your soul and cuts through the bone and leaves you craving for more sounds from him.

Pday Hurricane on the other hand is,a Giriama born male vocal prowess who grew up in Mombasa and has had his love for Music grow from an early age and its only now that the world can entirely hear him resound from their living rooms.Pday has sang a song featuring Alkenia which goes by the name 'Niringe Nae',a song that  really,if not,flaunts a guys woman! 

I meet with the high spirited Pday who has a great sense of humour,for some music business and he’s like

Pday Hurricane-Singer-Songwriter
https://web.facebook.com/pdayz 

‘Cathy help a brother out man.Prove to me that you can actually review this song,you’re that girl!’ That’s followed by a flamboyant laugh.'Oh well,thanks bruh!' Dont even get me started on how I met with Pday Hurricane! We are like two peas in a pod.He’s a  funny persona, he tells me he moves like the wind and is here to take over the world.Hence ‘Hurricane’.On the other hand Alkenia Luv (part of the sweet song)is a calm and a composed human,though very hilarious too. 

Pday tells me the intrested MCA for Mtopanga-Cannibal found him in studio with this track and he was like hey man! Why don’t we come up with something sweet talking about our Mothers?(rarely sang about :-)) Pday says ‘ apo basi kaka (that's it bro!).. And that’s how this song was born.

For the first time ever a hit single made within the environs of Mombasa Town and given a Nairobi touch,one that coughs energy and strength to every  Mother  in the world,it’s a sweet letter to all the hardworking women out there who help instill values to their children,mothers who never tire to give direction to their children, “shukran kwa mama,kwa kunilea' a letter that really upholds the fact that without a mother nothing can really go right.She’s the pillar,the powerhouse.

Ya'll need need to get a hold of this song! How apparent is it  that its International Womens Month.Mom here comes a dedication (chuckles).Like honestly,what better way than to have two creatives crown and honor the efforts of women with beautifully written lyrics and shed gratitude in sweet tunes and love.I love it!

A listening Party or better yet the Video launch of ‘Dear Mama’ will be happening in Mombasa this weekend! What a plot.For ya'll in Mombasa,and beyond..mnakaribishwa sana!

Venue: Gasaro (Near Mtwapa)

Date:March 19^th 2016

Time: 6:00pm

See ya’ll there.







 Thanks for the read XO

Ricky Na Marafiki-Lovers Edition Convo..

When I first met Ricky (Founder of Ricky na Marafiki Band) he seemed like the quiet and arrogant type.Always looked at him with this “who the hell do you think you are “ kinda look, but then after getting to know him,he turned out to be this warm and gentle persona.We should all stop judging at some point by the way hehe.Both of us alongside other musicians were backing up a Female Swahili Artist known as Binti Afrika on her debut performance at Choices Baricho road and the Rift valley Festival in Naivasha.He played bass at the time,still does,he called it his baby, the casing itself was like a cage..nothing goes out,nothing comes in lol even had a padlock(I thought I was weird).Those who know him know what I mean.Ricky had an ear for music,you could tell by his keen auricle for any wrong chord played..this helped the band a lot.

We bonded so well and kept in touch ever since.This past December we coincidentally bumped into each other on our way to Mombasa.Shared the same bus,same window and straight away started joking about our time in Binti Afrika’s band.Catched up on our Musical endeavors and life in general.Told him I was a copywriter and a blogger and he was like..why don’t you  do an article about my next event which is on February?and I was like why not?

Ricky is a free spirit, funny, grounded,yet very gifted. This wild card has graced the stage for Kings of jazz,from the likes of Oliver mtukudzi,Richard Bona just to name  a few.He has also played with big names in the Kenyan jazz emporium, Eric Wainana,Aaron Rimbui,Dan Aceda,Juma Tutu,Lisa Noah,Atemi Oyungu among others.Ricky defines his sound as “Afro Jazz” a fuse of jazz with an African sound,it has a world music touch and the fuse leaves you yearning for more because no melody resounds twice.

Ricky’s event dubbed as “An Evening of Afro jazz”  invites friends and lovers of jazz from far and wide to come experience the sensation of jazz music with an African world musical touch.His music rich in content,full of antique stories and amazing descant,hits you and you feel no pain.

An evening of Afrojazz showcases different acts,upcoming,given the first priority and the troupers in the Music industry.Ricky tells me the industry is wide and is ready for fresh and new content and he and his band wish to provide a platform for upcoming musicians and build the industry more by making Afrojazz known to the masses.

An evening of Afrojazz has built its credibility.Its consistency and valour,good vibes and uniqueness has earned it several reviews in the Music Industry.Goes to tell you his sound is way out of this world!Here’s one…

http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/weekend/Ricky-Na-Marafiki-out-to-spread-jazz-message-in-Kenya/-/1220/1913234/-/view/printVersion/-/j3x0va/-/index.html

An evening of afro jazz is put together by Patrick ‘Ricky’ Nanjero. Ricky is bassist and lead of his five-piece band, Ricky Na Marafiki. The event is held on every first Friday of every three months. Venue is Alliance Francaise Gardens.

Each event has a different line up of artists. The artists – solo or in a band, vocalists or instrumentalists – each perform two self-composed tracks. The three-four hour event culminates with a performance from Ricky Na Marafiki.

The Band Members are what have made “An Evening of Afrojazz” what it is.We’ve all come a long way to make our music what it is today “We are friends first before holding any instrument”-Ricky..

RICKY NA MARAFIKI BAND MEMBERS

Ricky Nanjero-Lead,Bass

         Steve Munge:Saxophone

                    Sam Konzi:Guitar

                            Okinyo Michael:Keys

                                      Geofrey:Drums

                                                 Hulda Serro:Background Vocals.

This year Ricky na Marafiki kick off the year with their  first show this February!Yes!I know what you’re thinking.:-)

This beautiful day’s line up is crazy, it has soughted artists who appreciate love and have a rich background in jazz music.Priscah ojwang,Halisi the band,Le band and the beautiful Kalahi will be the ones gracing the stage on this auspicious day!

Ricky na Marafiki presents “An Evening of Afrojazz” - Lovers Edition at the Alliance Francaise Gardens on the 5^th of February from 6pm.Just a week before valentines :)  Sweet I know. Superb weekend plot.

I ask him why lovers edition and why this month?

Ricky : Cathy what a cliché! Lovers edition is all about Love and February being the month of love,we choose to dedicate the show to lovers.

Me : Where does that leave those who have none? :-)

Ricky : Lol you don’t have to have to have one to show up.As in the opposite sex hahaha,even your family member can be your lover for that day..we basically want to spread the message of love because love conquers all.

Me : Lol that’s sweet.Just messing with you.

I told you this guy is hilarious lol.

Ricky na Marafiki looks forward to having you in this Red Affair.Come with a loved a one,someone you cherish or admire,a potential... and don’t forget! Your musical self.

Come celebrate the month of love in style.In rich yet so moving music.

..See ya’ll this Friday!!

My ticket is ready,grab yours at Cold stone Creamery near Imax

Thanks for the read XO

Elusion!

The weekend is almost here and i was just reflecting on the week that has been.Started with all these mixed intuitions of whether or not to give up on some things or to just hang in there and keep on pushing.

I sit here and reflect on how rosy life is/might be for some..and to others how distressing it might be.
I take one lesson with me,never ever assume that things are going on well with those close to you,just because someone smiles at you or they're quiet on you or you hang out just fine you assume that they are okay,might just be the opposite.

I got a chance to speak to a friend(who allowed me to write this blog)thank God for this third eye,i sat down with them and started having a normal chit chat,and just catch up on how life is taking us and all..and in not less than 7minutes is when an out-pour of words came crushing down.Never been struck in my entire life.We’ve all heard someone who has said this phrase, or a phrase similar to this like, “If that happens, I’m just gonna kill myself” or “Kill me now” or "why dont i just die" etc. Phrases like these are just in our everyday conversations, and no one really thinks twice about them because, obviously the people aren’t serious when they say them. They are just words that get said when you need to blow off some steam because you are at your wit’s end with a situation. Been there done that. I sometimes say them too. There are days when I am in a predicament that I don’t really want to be in but am forced to be there for whatever reason. When that happens, my girl will 4 times out of 5 get a text message that says, “eish…kill me now!” and she just laughs and says, “that bad, eh?” And then we continue on with our conversation.

My best friend laughs because, like I said, we both know that I am not being serious in my request for her to kill me. I don’t actually wish I were dead instead of being in that situation. I just don’t like what is going on around me, and I don’t want to be there. It’s an exaggeration that is used to convey just how much I hate whatever is going on. It’s as simple as that.
But this was this person's actual case..i'm then struck,sit back and ask myself when did it come to this?dint i read the signs early enough?

What happened to that notion of us wanting to know how the other person is and things like that?shame on me!is what i pasted on my forehead after hearing all that.They open up and tear up and shout and oh God!Nerve-racking and sad and all this melancholic feelings going round and round.......
What i'd say though is..lets all develop that culture of wanting to know how the other person is,go on a little deeper and get to understand a person's situation.We all know that clearly life isn't as rosy for everyone,and we shouldn't take for granted the fact that we are fine when others are not.

Our culture is known for togetherness and compassion and humanity..you know,ubuntu.Lets bring that back!develop that 'i care attitude and kill the busyness''' we tend to portray in our lives.Give an ear,listen,advice.Proverbs say's that "whoever refreshes another will also be refreshed",can it get any better than that?It doesnt take off a single hair from your body.Its brotherhood and love and wanting to see our backbones in perfect peace!

What a way to start off the year,by saying lend an ear and most of all guard your minds from all negativity.The mind is the most powerful gift God could ever give to all mankind.Why not guard it and help make the world a better place.Today Change your thoughts and change your world!Oh and stop with the Elusion.

Thanks for the read :)
XX