|
2nd December 2007 @ August 7th Memorial Park
:: Additional pics graciously supplied by Mwangi Kirubi.
The Kitenge Festival and S.K. Blue’s junior album Kitenge God & Culture are finally airborne after being launched this past weekend.
Right from the get-go, it was obvious that nothing but authentic African would be allowed at the August 7th Memorial Park. The ushers were decked out in different prints of colorful batik, while display tables featured beads, patriotic t-shirts and kangas and other artifacts. The programme sheets were each decorated with a slip of kitenge, again reminding one that this was an event bent on representing our culture.
That presentation turned out to be quiet a treat in refreshing and entertaining African sounds, appropriately kicked off by drumbeats from Laban and Sadiq. They expertly took guests on a rhythmic beat through the country, wordlessly communicating in the swell and dip of the drumbeats.
It is with this backdrop that the next set unfolded, this time presenting some breath-taking acrobatic stunts. With jumps, summersaults, body pyramids and a host of other feats, the boys had their audience enthralled from beginning to end.
 A Prayer To Start
 Laban Gets Busy On Drums
 Time For Acrobatics
 Don’t Try This At Home!
The stage thus set for the evening, it was time to welcome the man of the moment, S.K. Blue. Looking sharp in well tailored kitenge shirts, Blue and his band got on stage to warm applause and got straight down to business. Soon, chants rent the air, joined by sounds of the flute, drumbeats, guitars and the nyatiti. Calling it ‘expressions’, Blue explained
“Sometimes we have things inside us that we want to express to God, but can’t quite find the words. (This instrumentation) is our way of expressing ourselves and our thoughts…”
Save for the passion that has become his trademark, there was no sign of the old S.K. Blue at all, as the band slipped into songs off the new album. First up was Kikwetu Worship, heavily spotting western Kenya influences. Laid back and demanding more listening and appreciation than jamming along, Kikwetu Worship set the pace for this set.
Njaa and Kibarua came on next with benga sounds providing a good opportunity for some gentle dancing, and showing hints of being one of the album’s favorites. More followed in the set’s two last pieces, Yelele and the Luhya Mang’ondo, the latter eliciting some vigorous shaking of the shoulders that left quite a few people breathless.
 S.K. Blue Gets On Stage
 John Doing The Chants
 Benga Does It For UsNow For Some Serious Dancing
The break saw afro-fusion artist Chizi give an entertaining performance of three of his jams – Sana Sana, Wacha Waseme and the ballad, Aisha. Finding himself with more time on his hands, he proceeded to lead the audience in various dancing routines including the popular ‘motor-car’, to the delight of many.
Blue’s second set came with a change of outfit – still a kitenge shirt, but this time a blazing orange with an assortment of patterns. He cut quite the African figure! Before performing the album’s title track, Blue called up his mum, upon whom the Kitenge lyrics are based. She was the picture of pride as she thanked God for her son’s work.
The track turned out to be an incredibly catchy jam, fusing S.K. Blue’s strength in reggae with ethnic sound. As the band played on this song, Blue invited his father to join him on stage. Despite his age, the man showed that he could still dance, seriously getting down to the reggae beats. He was not the only one carried away - Admiral Kilosh was overheard commenting, in the midst of jamming to it:
“This is original Kenyan reggae! Hii imeniweza (This is too much for me)!”
From his lips straight to heaven’s ears, as Blue soon called him up and the pair almost wrecked the stage with all the jumping! Judging from its reception, Kitenge may well be this album’s runaway hit.
 Chizi On The Mic
 This Here Is My Momma!
 And This Is My Daddy
 Kilosh Joins The Action
The energy stayed high with Sunflower Moment, this one urging forgiveness and a return to ‘innocent sunflower moments’. Blue then picked off one of his previous singles, Prophecy, marrying the past with the present quite successfully.
The fiery preacher in S.K. Blue took over as he took time to explain his new direction. Flanked by his dread-locked sister, Blue’s voice rang loud in the open space:
“The former move of God is not the present move of God! The society is asking, where is God in our predicament? It is time for believers to be the example that the world needs – it is time for us to excel in every sphere of life, and in so doing, have an avenue for espousing the Godly values we believe in!”
That said, Blue finished off his performance with Ati Nini Men! Much more playful and an easy hook, this jam will definitely find him redemption among his younger fans who may have felt a little left out by the record.
It was a shame that there was not much of a crowd present to witness this rather historic occasion – historic because S.K. Blue looks poised to become quite a force in this genre of music; and not a very good thing that the show started close to two hours late. Nevertheless, Blue and his band made up for all of that with a stellar performance.
 With Morris On Prophecy
 Preach, Preacher!
 Mr & Miss World Kenya Get Introduced
 They Can Dance Too!
 Sheila, Krystin & Doreen
 Cubanotics Join The Jammin'
 Watchful Sentry
 Mr. World Kenya & MC Jesse» Post Comment
» No Comments
There are no comments up to now.
|
June 18, NPC Karen - If life is one big party, then Spafest is one big festivity. An event that captures wit, dance and incredible ingenuity, it is always a night to remember. The 2010 Finals...
May 1, KICC - It was certainly The Year of the Owen at this year’s Groove Awards with Skiza as the king of kapungala walked away with six wins, capping what has been a phenomenal year...
March 18, KICC - Finally, the Groove tour landed in Nairobi after its much hyped tours of Mombasa and Kisumu. True to expectation, the event did not disappoint, with electric live performances...