By ELLY GITAU courtesy@the-star.co.ke

foto by Suse Beck

AUSTRIA-based Rwandan/Kenyan reggae and dancehall singer Cloud Tissa says sharing a stage with the late South African reggae great, Lucky Dube, was one of the highlights of his music career.

Dube was murdered in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville in 2007.

“My first encounter with Lucky Dube was at the Reggae Sunsplash concert in Nairobi’s Ngong Racecourse in 1998. I was still an upcoming artiste but I later performed on the same stage with him. He was a great reggae singer and an inspiration to many. I will always cherish the moments and teachings I learnt from him,” he told Word Is in a phone interview.

Tissa — popularly known in Kenya for his hit collabo Physically Fit with Nameless — has performed around the world alongside other renown artistes and bands including former Bob Marley’s band The Wailers, Alpha Blondy, Sly &Robbie and Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo.  Continue reading →

foto by Suse Beck

written by Bakari Salim / courtesy@ghafla.co.ke

Now that we know the state of the music industry in Kenya, the good the bad and the ugly, what are you doing or what do you think should be done to change its face?

Like Swaleh Mdoe puts it, its about time we music enthusiasts Tafakari!And we have rolled out heavy to see what can be done via #MusicMatters254 online.Follow the conversations when you get an opportunity.

Anyway allow me to take you through Kenya’s musical journey from where it all began, when Kenyan music was the vibe, and Africa knew this was the place to be and if you made it here, you could anywhere else, they said!  Continue reading →