IGIHE

Category: Entertainment

  • Film Week Against Gender-Based Violence

    This week is filme packed. Get a detailed program below for your films screening due at Ishyo Theatre Hall, Kacyiru.

    Saturday, 1 December, 6.30 pm

    Double Feature “Jean-Pierre BEKOLO”

    THE BLOODETTES (Les Saignantes)

    Fiction film by Jean-Pierre Bekolo (2005). Original French version with English subtitles 93 min

    Utterly unique, The Bloodettes is a futuristic, sci-fi, erotic, political thriller that traverses all of these genres while bringing a strong political sensibility to proceedings.

    Two sexy young women win the favors of the corrupt political elite, but when one of these leaders dies in the middle of a sexual act, the friends are left with a corpse to get rid of.

    Bekolo eviscerates the ruling elite but with the canny use of inter-titles also leaves the audience with something to ponder. The film won the Silver Stallion at Fespaco 2007 in Ouagadougou and the Best actress awards with the special mention of the jury.

    Saturday, 1 December, 6.30 pm

    QUARTIER MOZART

    Fiction film by Jean-Pierre Bekolo (1992). Original French version with English subtitles 79 min

    The boisterous and cheerful lives of the residents of Cameroon are barely dented by incursions of supernatural power in this humour-filled rendition of traditional folk tales in modern guise.

    In the story, a cheerfully naughty girl crosses paths with a witch who has the power to satisfy her curiosity about men by changing her into a young man.

    This transformation of body allows the ‘girl’ to experience first-hand what is to become one of the boy suitors for the amorous attentions of a policeman’s daughter.

    Some of the men have unusual names and even odder magical gifts: one of them has the ability to make a man’s genitals disappear when he shakes hands with him.

    An intriguing film that allows for trans-gender experiences and trans-gender experimentation that makes it unique.

    Monday, 3 December, 6.30 pm

    MOOLAADE

    Fiction film by Ousmane Sembène (2004). Original French version with English subtitles 120min

    Veteran Senegalese film director Ousmane SEMBENE tackles the controversy of female circumcision in a passionate drama set in a rural village in Burkina Faso.

    When four little girls flee a purification ceremony and ‘the cut’ – they take refuge with Collé, a woman who refused to have her own daughter circumcised.

    She casts a mystical protection (the Moolaadé of the title) and a standoff follows. On one side is Collé, and on the other is the Salidana, a group of women cloaked in red robes who perform the age-old circumcision rites.

    At first the men of the village dismiss the dispute as a minor domestic irritation. But before long the crisis intensifies. Sembene’s camera often strays back to this humming bonfire, a neat metaphor for the suppression of the women by their husbands.

    This is an impassioned and uplifting film in which brightly coloured plastic bowls, rutting goats and gossiping women all vie for attention. In cooperation with the Institut Français du Rwanda.

    Tuesday, 4 December, 6.30 pm

    WHEN WE LEAVE

    Fiction film by Feo Aladag (2010). Original German-Turkish version with English subtitles 115 min

    Umay lives together with her husband, Kemal, and their son, Cem, in a suburb of the Turkish metropolis Istanbul. Kemal’s regular and violent outbursts are directed at his wife and his son. Umay develops a tremendous yearning for her hometown, Berlin, and her parents.

    In desperation, Umay packs her things and runs away from her life in Istanbul and her marriage. The famous German weekly Der Spiegel wrote: “This movie tells the monstrous story of a plot to carry out an honour killing, but from the most intimate perspective imaginable.

    Director Feo Aladag makes no concessions in the gauging of the psychosocial mechanism, and avoids conventional deceptive tactics.”

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  • Zonke Thrills Nairobi Fans

    In Kenya, Zonke pulled a Mariah Carey at the recent Tusker Malt 100 Club concert at the Nairobi Arboretum on Thursday night.

    The soul singer boasted the height and depth of her vocal range to catch the crowd’s attention, after the rains proved a minor distraction at the venue.

    In a well organised event, exclusive to Tusker Malt 100 club members, Zonke was eager to get on stage with her full band and two back-up vocalists.

    Dressed in a shimmering golden jacket that hugged a white vest atop faded blue jeans and red stilettos, Zonke poured out her soul to the audience via her very revealing album ‘Ina Ethe’.

    The biggest song of the evening was the ever popular Jik’Izinto, sung in a mix of English and Xhosa (her native tongue), followed by the catchy track ‘Feelings’.

    Zonke tried to accommodate her Kenyan fans by belting out more of her English songs.

    Her soulful music had just the right amount of jazz infused into it, carrying on from Kenyan guitarist Eddie Grey who was the opening act at the event.

    “I’m honoured to be performing in Kenya,” said the bubbly musician. “I’m bringing you a little bit of South Africa.”

    Close to 40 new members were registered to join the Tusker Malt 100 Club at the event, and they will be receiving exclusive access to several shows lined up by Tusker Malt with African music as the main theme.

    Wirestory

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  • Zonke, Africa’s Next Big Star

    Africa has had its share of iconic female artists. And now, a new generation of soulful singers is set to take over the mantle, and among those is the South African songbird, Zonke.

    She’s gifted, she’s beautiful, and she’s poised for stardom. Born to a drummer father, Zonke realized early that she had already caught the musical bug.

    She grew up in the Eastern Cape, just outside Port Elizabeth.

    A young Zonke could hardly wait to escape her hometown which had no music studios.

    In 1997 she was in Bloemfontein studying Human Resources, but quickly gave that up and moved to Johannesburg to live with her father and his new wife.

    Her stepmother happened to be Anneline Malebo who was in the group Joy, and she introduced Zonke to fellow artist Joe Nina, and the future star’s career was born.

    Her biggest break was when she met the German group Jazz Cantina, and after writing them a song they were so impressed they came back to South Africa and recorded her music.

    Jazz Cantina was reborn as Culture Clan, which now included Zonke and two other rappers.

    Culture Clan released their music in South Africa and in Germany and they went on to win awards from both the Channel O and Metro FM Awards.

    Another milestone for Zonke was when Bongo Maffin invited her to do a stint with them when vocalist Thandiswa Mazwai was unavailable.

    Zonke then went onto record her first solo album called Soulitary, which was released through Columbia Records in Italy, Germany and Japan.

    Zonke is a songwriter as well, and has written hits for Mafikizolo, Don Laka, Black Coffee, Guffy Pilane and Winnie Khumalo.

    The album that made South Africa fall officially fall in love with her was Life, Love and Music, incorporating the house craze sweeping the continent.

    Zonke is set to release a new album, Ina Ethe (means give and take in Isixhosa), towards the end of the year. The first single off the album is Jik Izinto, currently on high rotation on major radio stations.

    Catch this amazing artist tomorrow at the Nairobi Arboretum from 6pm as she headlines the second Tusker Malt 100 Club. For more details, check out the hash tag #TML100withZonke.

  • Obama Beats Romney In Kenyan Bull Fight

    In Kenya, villagers from western Kenya town of Khayega held a bull fighting contest Saturday between a 410 kg black bull named Obama and a black and white 460kg bull named Mitt Romney.

    Both cattle breeds are indigenous to Kenya.

    Despite being smaller in size, Obama was the overwhelming favorite having won six of his last fights and he did not disappoint. After close to half an hour the bulls were separated and Obama was declared winner.

    Happy villagers burst onto the streets in song and dance rejoicing the victory, some carrying placards reading “Obama top most!” while others reading “Romney Can’t!”

    Most Kenyans consider Obama, the son of a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya, as one of their own.

    “Here at home it’s clear now that Romney can’t beat Obama. He has no experience of speaking at state house and to other heads of states but Obama has what is takes as he respects the people, he is kind and humble. Romney doesn’t stand a chance against Obama, “said Stephen Shikoli, 35, a spectator.

    Bull fighting has been held in Khayega town for generations but attempts last year to bring the event to the national stage attracted the wrath of animal rights groups.

    Paul Shiboko one of the event’s organizers said it is a great honor to be an owner of a winning bull, aside from the prize money.

    Shiboko said bulls are usually bred to fight and sometimes named after both famous and infamous international newsmakers to create a frenzy among the spectators, like Saddam versus Bush.

  • Britney Spears Case Dismissed

    USA: November 1, a judge dismissed Sam Lutfi’s entire lawsuit against the pop star and her parents, Lynne and Jamie Spears, ruling that Lutfi’s allegations of libel, breach of contract and battery didn’t hold up.

    “I really thought long and hard,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Suzanne Brugera said in announcing her decision.

    She ultimately decided that an attorney for Lutfi hadn’t proven any of his allegations in the case that centered on events about Spears’ 2007-2008 breakdown.

    As for dismissing the case, she said, “That’s the right thing to do, and that’s what we are doing.”

    After judge made the ruling, Lutfi quickly exited the courtroom and would only say that he’s filing an appeal. His attorney declined to comment.

    During Lutfi’s trial against the Spears family, multiple details about the pop star’s breakdown were spilled, including those of her relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib and her estrangement with her mother, Lynne Spears.

  • US. Musician Dwele Arrives for Kenya Jig

    American RnB singer Dwele is due to set foot in Kenya for the first time ever, when he lands at the airport ahead of a star-studded Blankets and Wine event on Sunday.

    Dwele’s arrival comes after weeks of anticipation, and he will be accompanied by three members of his band when he touches down at the JKIA.

    “There will be several rehearsals before Dwele’s performance on the weekend; Dwele will be rehearsing with Aaron Rimbui and his band,” said the organisers, while explaining his 6-day visit.

    Apart from interviews and a couple of private functions, the American musician’s itinerary will involve a trip to the animal orphanage, something that is becoming a common past-time for visiting celebrities.

    Dwele’s performance this weekend is spawned by an abrupt cancellation of a concert scheduled for September.

  • Juliana Scoops BEFFTA Award Beating African Big Names

    Ugandan artist Juliana Kanyomozi has added to her awards’ collection by winning a BEFFTA-Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts award in the category of best International Afrobeats Act at this year’s 4th edition held in UK over the weekend.

    The BEFFTA awards recognize the best showbiz and entertainment in the black and ethnic communities in the UK, U.S and globally.

    Other notable winners at the awards ceremony included Sean Paul who scooped the prize of best International Act, Caribbean.

    “Hey family, we won the BEFFTA award yessss! Thank you for all the support you showed through your votes.

    I couldn’t have done it without you. Uganda, East Africa, You did it.” Juliana said in her acceptance speech

    Juliana beat African big names who had been nominated alongside her in the Best International Act, Afrobeats category, the likes of DRC’s Fally Ipupa, Nigeria’s DBanj and Uganda’s ‘Dr’ Jose Chameleone.

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