Haki Za Msanii -Training workshop

On 8th Of December 2012 The kenya Copyright Board, Maisha Yetu (Kenya) and PAYT  & Dextraw Studio (South Africa) will organize a training for artists in the audio visual category at the Sarakasi Dome. The event kicks off from 11am to 2pm. Kenya’s renown Hiphop artist Mwafrika will be the main artist presenting at the Haki za msanii workshop.  Mwafrika will be presenting on his experience as a TV producer exhibiting productions never seen on TV before. Mwafrika currently a presenter on the TV show Raiyaa will engage the audience on TV production and why he uses comedy to pass social messages.

If you are an artist or art lover and would like to interact with peers from East and Southern Africa this is a forum where you could build your networks and learn more about Intellectual propertly laws. You will also engage with legal representatives from the Kenya copyright board.

Kenya is growing into an advanced society where the information age has set the pace for development in various economic industries. Though overlooked the Creative economy in In Kenya is not yet established in comparison to those of Botswana and South Africa. Nonetheless Kenyan artists have raised their concerns to the civil society to protect their art through organizations such as KAMP and MCSK. In retrospect Kecobo continues to show its resolve in empowering both established and upcoming artists by its continued support to Maisha Yetu,

In its mandate Platinum Africa Youth Trust (PAYT) shares the same objective with Maisha Yetu. Both organizations focus on empowering upcoming performance artists in Kenya by equipping them with knowledge on IP thus giving them an economic edge safeguarding their creative work.

Dextraw studios from Mafikeng,SA continues to record upcoming and established artists releasing albums and mixtapes which are in turn distributed for free download on the internet. Maisha Yetu and Dextraw have shown and exemplified the use of collective ownership of rights in their production with projects such as; A dollar a day and Cruz control.

This is a good opportunity not only to mingle and chill but learn much on how to protect your neck as an artist!

We’ll pen off leave you with some press below from recent weeks;

PAYT’s Lerato Mosimane  honored at the Business Women Association South Africa (BWASA) Regional Business Achievers Awards for her contribution through PAYT as a Social Entrepreneur

PAYT’s Lerato Mosimane Africa Unbound interview

Dextraw Studio executive producer Akili Blaq aka MM#rd at the studio during an interview.

One on one with K9 -The Jason Adams Ep

While in Mafikeng South Africa recently Maisha Yetu Program’s officer Bra Muki  caught up with the producer of the banger joint A Dollar a day from the self titled album,Werewolf K9.  K9 Born Riyaad Askin a resident of Maftown which is host to notable names such as HHP, Khuli chana,Morafe  just to mention but a few.

Cruz Control vol.1 -Produced by MM3RD Hosted by Apu Sebekedi

In the post-apartheid Nation of South Africa, in the Northwest province of Mafikeng, poets and rappers from different part of Africa usher in 2012 rapping, speaking in poetic tongues and an array of  native idioms ranging from Sheng, Swahili, isiZulu, Setswana, Pidgin, Motswako.  This project was called A Dollar a Day, the theme urging responsible leadership, and including youth in political decision-making.

Fast forward to the summer of 2012 inside Dextraw studio here resides  MM3rd aka Akili Blaq who is putting the final touches to the sequel of the 2011 production.  As a beat maker his acceptance is a resounding nod from the global Hiphop community. His following is a dedicated audience safeguarded by an artistry that spits gems on his versatile compositions. Listening to 3rd one easily concludes porosity to a large array of music; Bhangra, Fela Kuti, T.P. O.K Jazz, Dilla ! This is why Cruz Control vol.1 his latest production released today  on the 29th of October 2012 is generating a buzz in the social media with thumbs already clikcking on the download button.

Lefoko abbreviates to LFK,  a Hip-hop Movement from Mafikeng, in the North West Province of South Africa, otherwise known as the Motswako republic. LFK continues to dominate the Hiphop culture in the region following the creation of performance spaces since 2003.

Ahadi peace conference

Maisha Yetu was well represented in the recent Ahadi conference on youth and the socio-economic impact of peaceful and fair elections in Kenya. Our Programs Officer Muki Garang opened the conference with a powerful perfomance on the youth being the leaders of today and not tomorrow.

Thereafter Dr.James Nyoro MD  of The Rockefeller foundation in Africa  gave his key note address urging Kenya’s youth to, “identify the causes for the negative energy of what transpired in 2007.”  In his analysis, Dr. Nyoro said, “two out of three Kenyans are young people. Yet this segment of Kenya’s population is not participating actively in the economy.”  In conclusion, Dr. Nyoro finished by quoting Muki by saying peace efforts requires input from all of Kenyans.

Judge of the High Court, Justice David Majanja was there to represent the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. Justice Majanja announced that “the judicial reforms are now over and the Judiciary is now dealing with transformation and effective service delivery to Kenyans. The Chief Justice Willy Mutunga recently unveiled the transformative framework, to make the  Judiciary more accessible and  accountable to Kenyans.” In his speech, Majanja elaborated on Mutunga’s mission, “The Chief Justice requires that we the Judges leave the comforts of our hallowed chambers and interact with the Mwananchi, case in point my attendance at this Ahadi peace conference.”

Justice Majanja also emphasised, “with the new reforms in place, anyone can now file a petition on election anomalies within 14 days of arbitration.”

A cross section of the delegates in attendance were able to raise their concerns during open discussions sessions with the judge. They raised the important issue of having high courts all across Kenya as access to justice is a constitutional right for all Kenyans. In response, Justice  Majanja pointed out that,  ”some of these reforms have been put into action like the recent appointment of 120 magistrates.  He added that,  ”it  will take additional time to effect these changes due to serious under investment on the part of the government on infrastructure and human resource.”

In his presentation, Dr. X.N. Iraki  encouraged youth delegates to develop an interest in innovations within the science and technology sector. He provided comparisons of different countries, in terms of their GDP, attributing the economic successes of Japan, China and the United States to innovation. Over the course of the two-day conference, other speakers also tackled key issues from the role of the Civil Society in contributing towards peaceful elections (Atsango Chesoni, Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission) to citizen participation in these processes (Daudi Were, Ushahidi)

The Ahadi conference ended on 8 August 2012 with a Kenyan Youth declaration for peaceful and fair elections.

The Kenya – Southern Africa connection

We have received alot of emails asking why Maisha Yetu is engaged in alot of activities with the South African Hiphop community? I would like to answer by saying that there is no bias,this is actually a culmination of a relationship cultivated over a period of 12 years.

From conceptualization since 2003 -Maisha yetu which was then operating under the iD (low budget productions). Akili blaq then already in Mafikeng busy laying the ground work for Lefoko – A community of artists and activists in Mafikeng engaged in sensitizing their community with Hiphop and music. For those who have been keen, you will note that these are the same values we thrive on as a Non governmental organization.

It is our prerogative to ensure cooperation with communities engaged in similar activities and using our objectives in a  creative fashion via;theatre,poetry and Hiphop music. This summer Akili Blaq is set to release Cruz control vol.1. No rest after the intense work put in the album A dollar a day working with Muki Garang.

The Dilla enthusiast took a short break to Capetown and quickly returned to the lab working on Cruz control vol. 1. Personally i am eager to indulge with this production, why?

Akili is porous and dips his ears into sounds from Bangladesh to Motown detroit via Kalakuta empire,Nigeria. This diversity in listenership is what most music producers lack and even rap artists who think they are dope but only listen to themselves.

Akili works with a wide range of artists and this nudges his reach towards ever evolving, a factor i term as
Akilimorphosis. You should watch it!

Akili works with the best artists whom i’ve personally met and worked with in Mafikeng. I’d say they literally put in work!

Here are some tracks that you can dig from the first lefoko album from the Naughty west movement.

Tsotsi Ya Mtseng Thainnokhu ft Towdeemac 100% Motswako

Call me Aro by Aro

Another album coming out this summer is a signature from a community of young South Africans restless to make change in their lives for a better day. Geen suebat is the name of this movement(sound) in my opinion Geen suebat is an appreciation of the decade old Lefoko movement which took over Mafikeng 12 years ago. Geen suebat will hit stores and the North West streets this summer featuring Artists like Eazy Lap, Apu Sebekedi,Bekz Selalome and Kiddy Amini just to mention but a few.

K9 of Ghosthyld mentioned to me that his boy Ooomph‘s album is in the pipeline. As a result  am currently formatting my hard drive readying it for some hard beats,ill spits and candid raps from the post apertheid nation. It is clear our peers in South Africa are bubbling with energy ahead of the 2014 election in Mzansi.

Right next to Mafikeng in Gaborone, Atmattatva Das popularly known as Angell in the Botswana and South African poetry circles has been fully involved in distribution of Quiddity.  Quiddity is a publication in Bots by Mouth of vigilance that highlights on artistic projects in East and Southern Africa. Angell,Mogomotsi  and Brian Ntshwane and Kabo kbc chanku have been going hard it in buses,planes,ferries and on the road distributing this informative magazine.

Kabo KBC, is an artist, a friend of mouthofvigilance, featured on the grandopenning-FLAKHOOM!!! PROMO project on a track titled ‘as it seems,’ by the hypesters. KBC is currently involved in Quiddity’s s distribution, quite the example of an independent artist working hand in hand with other independent artists for the growth of an independent industry.

Till then we continue to lay the ground for a pan african concert from Mafikeng -Nairobi -Lagos.

Sharp #!

Maisha Yetu invited at POWO presents Art and Protest

As part of our community work,Maisha Yetu as an arts and culture NGO uses its objectives in a creative fashion to disseminate information to Kenya’s/Africa’s youth. It is in this regard that we work with similar organizations across the continent  to further our agenda. These organizations include;  PAYT – South Africa, Africa Unbound, Ashoka youth venture – East Africa, Kenya Copyright Board, Sarakasi Trust-Sawa sawa festival and POWO just to mention but a few.

Poets and Writers Online (POWO) is a forum for Poets and Writers with blogs and those with an interest in using the internet in promotion of, or as a platform for their writing. On Saturday 16th June 2012

10.30am – 1.30pm
@PAWA254 – 2nd Floor,
Africa Alliance of YMCAs Building
State House Crescent,
off State House Road

The panel discussion will include;

Muki Garang – Hip Hop Artist, Poet, Activist

Boniface Mwangi – Photographer, Activist

Room Thinker – Blogger
Okoiti Omtata – Writer, Activist
Maddo – Cartoonist – The Standard Group

The featured  Poet Raya Wambui  will also show case.

Kenya’s youth often ignore such forums that are important for engagement. Most often than not our peers will be found thronging political rallies in the dire hope of receiving handouts, we seriously need a paradigm shift. Start by trying out  the POWO hangout this weekend and see if there is any difference. Its Free there are no gate charges, just bring yourself .

President Donald Kabaruka & Muki Garang on AU radio

Africa Unbound is a platform that allows for the inclusion of Africa’s youth in engaging policy makers and stakeholders in Africa’s development.

In this show Dr.Rahel Kassahun engages The president of the African Development Bank and Hiphop activist/artist Muki Garang -the Chapter coordinator of Africa Unbound in Kenya. Enjoy your viewing.