Haki Za Msanii is gradually growing and reaching out to young artists and art lovers alike. The informal set up allows artists to engage with panelists and exhaust topics on copyrights and Intellectual property which otherwise may be perceived as ’difficult’ by the average artist. This year’s event coincided with the Kenya Music week. The proffesionals invited break down the concepts in very palatable formats of presentations for the artists to digest. In attendance as presenters on the 8th of December 2012 were; Mwafrika & Rapcha (Raiyaa NTV) Paul Nzeveka ( Legal Counsel,Kenya copyright Board) Irene Kariuki (Perfomer’s rights society of Kenya) Photos from the event are also available below.
Irene Kariuki of Perfomer’s Rights Society of Kenya engaging audience on contracts
Maisha Yetu is an arts NGO based in Nairobi, it’s scope as per the Non-Governmental Co-ordination board registration is local. This does not deter us from exploring collaborations with youth from other parts of Africa. A dollar a day is such a collaboration that marks our main project for 2012, to organize for a concert of all artists who produced in the 18 track album.
The album is available for free download in our blog and music enthusiasts are encouraged to share the link .
We are working towards producing concerts in Nairobi,Lagos and Johannesburg as a symbol of friendship between African youth from the participating countries namely; Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe,Botswana and South Africa. Increasing free movement between our borders, thus mitigating on negative aspects of society such as Xenophobia and negative ethnicity.
A Dollar a day addresses social ills and confronts the stereotype of Africa’s majority population living below the proverbial dollar a day. By the use of popular culture Hiphop,commentary and Spoken word poetry encourages Africa’s youth to tap within their talents and exhaust economic opportunities. As a result living dignified beyond the stereotypes associated with Africa. Read more
” Nah Back door we use Entah// Still dey carry rhyme from time I dey for Placenta//….Moreover, whether april May or decembah!!//I dey quick to grab de Mic like , Kanye , SWIFTLY!!!” – Omodada
Omodada aka Aro was born in Ibadan , Nigeria where he spent his early formative years in Badagry , Nigeria , before he moved, and resided all over Africa with his parents and 4 siblings. He has lived in Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and currently is based (for the time being) in the United States. Although he has always moved around, one thing has remained a constant in his life, a thirst for creativity and self-expression.
Play Onerz here
He linked up with Akili Blaq in Mafikeng,South Africa while completing his law degree at the University of North West. The two formed a long lasting understanding and shared a desire to be creative through Hip-hop and self expression. As part of the Lefoko team, they were able to bring these dreams into fruition.
Omodada’s style is a hybrid of personalities and persona’s formed and informed by the many countries, he has lived in and has been influenced by. Omodada attempts social commentary not only on his personal environment and experiences, but on Africa, and the world at large. He does this using humor, rhyme and rythym.
His next project is Music for Border Hoppers,which is to be produced by Akili Blaq and feature various artists including Bra Muki. The concept is music for persons who find themselves constantly moving, or who’ve had to learn to call a foreign country home or who interact with foreigners in their country or who just like good music!
Ngozi Chukura is a graduate of the UCT Michaelis School of Fine Art, where she majored in print media. A participant in group exhibitions, amongst them, Headlines, a group fundraising exhibition at the Centre for African Studies Gallery, Cape Town and more recently, Surprize, Surprize at Thapong Visual Arts Centre, in Gaborone.
With a passion for words Ngozi continues to edit manuscripts, books, and magazines, though its evident she is more inclined towards the more ephemeral, process- based medium of drawing, Ngozi explains “I find drawing a more immediate way of working eanbling me to unearth imaginations,transcribing one’s dreams into another medium- whether it is word or image.” As a participant in A Dollar a day Ngozi laced her poem Blueman which leaves you yearning for her verses non-stop in the poem Blueman describing an intense dream.
Feel free to visit Ngozi’s blog and read some of her short stories which have appeared in BKOa poetry journal based in Johannesburg.
Listen to Blueman here
Quote from Blueman “Her name is apathy her actions contradicts her meaning, supposedly she is numb but the only one with feeling, i bring the seers here so she can touch them with her healing.”
Fondly reffered to her close friends and fans as Makeda. Mpho Ya Badimo’s political views suggest ‘All animals are equal’ and her religious views revolve around the bearing ‘love and practicality’. Mpho enjoys working as a head designer in Fashion and art movement in SA. She works in SABC’s Motsweding fm as a Producer and presenter for her popular reggae show.
A member of a Poetic Army called Verbalized , a group of 5 poets from UK and 5 from South Africa brought together by the British council,SA. Through Verbalized Mpho has performed in London, Leeds and Manchester after having been invited by Leeds’ young authors to give workshops and preside over the annual Poetry Slam as a judge ,the event takes place yearly in the month of June.
Some of Mpho’s favourite books are; Eleven minutes,The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) ,I’ll marry if I want petals of blood (Ngugi wa thiong’o) Animal Farm (George Orwell) and that’s not the end Mpho kills it her poem ‘Questionable answers’ in a dollar a day this poem is bound to rock Hiphop and poetry lovers for days on end. Listen to Questionable answers here.
Lerato Mosimane is one industrious Ausi (Sista) between organizing golf clinics during 16 days of activism and organizing for women empowerement workshops in soweto,hillbrew and other areas prone with violence against women, she easily manages to lay her vocals on her poem Mosadi which is Setswana for -the one who is left behind. Lerato tackles the stereotype of the African woman subjugated in decision making of the family,controversial? -yes. Other parts of the poem encourages “Taking stock of our cultural knowledge.”
For most part the poem pays tribute to heroines Graca Macel, Prof. Wangari Maathai,Brenda Fassie,Mirima Makeba,Mama Ellen Johnson amongst others.
The poem is spoken in Setswana and English. For all Jay Dilla fans i should warn you that you may snap your neck on the spoken word and beat on this track.
Lerato runs Guy communications and is set to oversee A Dollar a day marking 100 centenary years of the African National Congress struggle on February 14th during St. Valentine’s day.
Regos Mosimane is born a star, at age 10 her superstar qualities are quite evident, she lights up a room playing various imaginary characters,projecting different vocal intonations while at it. This young girl sparked the life of A Dollar day by introducing the musical project saying “I love music, I love music(s) but there is something different after other music(s).” Ain’t that something?
Regos attends the International School of South Africa and plays the piano as her first instrument.
On the 27th of August 2011, Maisha yetu conducted a workshop and invited the kenya copyright board to disseminate in a palatable format to artists matters concerning copyrights and intellectual property. Education is one of Maisha Yetu’s objectives to enhance capacity amongst artists in the creative industry. Our focus is currently concentrated on empowering established… Read more.
The proffesionals invited break down the concepts in very palatable formats of presentations for the artists to digest. In attendance as presenters on the 8th of December 2012 were; Mwafrika & Rapcha (Raiyaa NTV) Paul Nzeveka ( Legal Counsel,Kenya copyright Board) Irene Kariuki (Perfomer’s rights society of Kenya) Photos from the event are also available below. 
