mwafrika.com - Cafe Mia Moja

Cafe Mia Moja - March 07

28th March @ August 7 Memorial Park

Splendid, absolutely splendid! Last night Chizi and his Black Band knocked one right out of the park. The March 2007 edition of Café Mia Moja had everything you would want in a gig – it had variety, it had soul, it had laughter, it had dance - In a word, it was ‘alive’.
Not to mention it had a stellar cast of musicians and guest artists.

Unofficially, it kicked off just after 6pm, with Zidi Band jamming as guests arrived and mingled. By 7 pm event host and Mwafrika.com regular contributor Con Omore took time to welcome everybody and introduce the Black Band.

Stage Set Up

Zidi Band Jam

MC Con Omore Did A Good Job

Chizi, clad in a sparkling white African top and black pants got on to stage to a fairly muted response, but by the time the first words of the song, Aisha, came out of his mouth, the audience (read the ladies) came completely alive. It went, “Aisha, my baby my sweetie, you’re the only on I need”. That undoubtedly set the tone for the evening. Interestingly, the evening’s running joke had to do with the crowd poking fun at Chizi, insistent on his revealing who this Aisha is. Chizi held his nerve…for now.

One of the highlights for fans of Chizi’s debut album Suluwe (click HERE for album review), was his revamp of some of his much loved tunes. Unaweza was first on the chopping block, and with Hip Hope mainstay Juliani joining in, it turned out commendably.

The intro to Pamoja had Chizi humorously ripping into some of the nation’s leading political lights – from Raila Odinga and Kiraitu Murungi to Njenga Karume and Mama Lucy. Hilarious! Lest Mwafrika gets labeled as Mwakenya, that story ends right there! Kumekucha, performed without Wyre the Lovechild (who guests on the album version), closed out the first set.

Chizi

Juliani throws it Down

You Try That Move

The second set kicked off after Con Omore, who tickled the crowd with his insistence that Chizi record an ‘election song’, got a chance to thank some of the event sponsors.
Chizi returned, and avoiding the oft long-winded and heavily complimentary remarks that normally welcome Aaron ‘Krucial Keys’ Rimbui, he invited the jazz guru onto stage. All he says about him is, “next on stage is a guy who, as far as music is concerned, is my father”. The two of them perform Rain. Kanji Mbugua later joins them and helps bring the crowd onto its feet in free flowing dance. Kanji also gets a chance to reprise the earlier performed Unaweza.

Kora Nominee Krystn Ndela, who along with Kipawa finalist Dorris Onyango and artist Sheila make up the band’s back-up vocalists (and boy don’t they look something in their African outfits), is invited to do a solo piece. She introduces it like this, “have you ever been so desperate that the only thing you can do is pray?” – A fitting intro for her very popular Naomba.

Krucial Keys

Krystn Ndela

Check Out The Vocalists

Here’s a phrase that’s brandished around way too many times – “and now, introducing one of the finest (female) vocalists in Kenya”. That’s Chizi’s lofty intro for the third part of the Rimbui siblings – Karimi Rimbui. After hearing the girl go on Only For My Baby, it is instantly clear, this lady who’s done the rounds in Kenyan musicals and theatre, definitely deserves the tag.

And speaking of amazing female vocalists, it was fantastic to see Neema, after a recent heavy spell of bad press, finally back on stage. Whether her duet with Chizi on Songa, was part of the plan, or whether he surprised her by calling her up on stage, we cannot say. Nonetheless together they killed it. The lady has lost nothing in her vocal delivery, and Chizi’s own vocal range seems to be increasing as the days go by.

And the all-star guest line-up did not end there either. Soon after another brief session with the master of Ceremony, where guests in the crowd were invited to participate and ask Chizi whatever question they wanted, it was back to the music. Waache Waseme, yet another single off Chizi’s debut, saw him re-unite with a gentleman who has undoubtedly greatly influenced Chizi’s musical delivery and stage presence – the superlative Eric Wainaina. No prizes for guessing just how much the crowd loved that one.

Karimi Rimbui Wows

Neema Joins Chizi on Stage

Eric & Chizi - A Great Combo

Everybody was up on their feet, including a whole stack media and industry players. That included Astar and Juliani, Jogg C’s Peter Kaberere and True Worshippers’ Ozzy, as well as Hot 96 presenters Tina Nzuki, Mimo and Yvonne. Also in attendance were Easy FM’s current drive presenter Gladys Gachanja, DJ Moz and yet another Hip-Hope artist Michelle.

The good times just kept rolling on. The Luo Ting’a Malo and Yoyowe ensured everybody got the most out of the four hundred bob charged at the gate.

The ever-popular Sana Sana served as the encore, coming straight after a quick vote of thanks. This spiced up island version really needs to be on his second album.
Trust us; this was not the kind of gig you’d have wanted to miss. Stay with Mwafrika.com for updates on the next installment of the now regular Café Mia Moja.