Nameless and Amani win Mama awards

Nameless reclaimed his spot at the top when he won two awards— Best Male artiste and Listener’s Choice during the MTV MAMA awards held at Kasarani stadium Nairobi.

And he was recently crowned EABL’s new Responsible Drinking Campaigning Ambassador. Fellow Ogopa signed singer Amani’s patience paid off when she was crowned Best female at the MTV MAMA awards and got to perform at a BBA4 eviction party in South Africa soon after. She also had six nominations during this year’s Channel O awards held in South Africa

Adebayor loves Kenyan girls

It was rumoured that once top Arsenal striker — now in Manchester City — Emmanuel Adebayor, was dating Former Miss Kenya contestant 2000, Vivian Kafwifwi aka Nimo after the two were spotted allegedly chatting intimately at Heathrow Airport. It is said that petite beauty who worked with Capital FM preferred to keep their relationship under wraps. Nimo was soon after spotted cruising in a state of art four wheel Mercedes ML 320, 6a high performance SUV. At the time there were only three other such cars in Kenya, one in Mombasa and two in Nairobi.

Jose Chameleone’s woes

Although this was dark year for Uganda’s top musician Jose Chameleone – he managed to pull through.

In 2008 his prized horse, and broke his legs in a freak accident. Last year, he was on the receiving end of severe beating in a club brawl in Kampala. After the fight Chameleone was admitted toKololo hospital ICU department in a critical state with a blood clot in his brain.

Chameleone was also quite miffed when fellow musician and rival Bobi Wine donated his Cadillac Escalade to the Owino traders who lost their goods in a massive inferno in early March.

This was mainly because Bobi Wine’s gesture came after Chameleone offered UGSh500,000 (Sh20,000) to the same traders. But this is not all, it was rumoured that Chameleone successfully campaigned against MTV award winner Nameless landing lucrative MTN endorsement deal in Uganda.

Nonini’s reinvention

After a brief hiatus from the showbiz scene, Genge rapper Nonini resurfaced with a new album and new image — The Godfather of Genge. His third album offers a nostalgic and grown up version of the guy who went “gi-ga-ga-ga” over “Manzi wa Nairobi” back in 2002.

He became the first Kenyan musician to hold a concert in Malaysia and was subsequently crowned University of Limkokwing’s International Lifestyle Ambassador.

Kenya’s rugby team shine

The Kenya Sevens team led by Humphrey Khayambe and Benjamin Ayimba made history last year playing at the rugby semi finals. The Sevens rugby team has done Kenyans proud by consistently placing the country on the world map in a sport other than athletics. Break-ups to Make-ups

After going through a rough patch Ugandan artiste Bebe Cool and his wife Zuena separated. Zuena left for her family’s home in Jinja where she stayed for close to three weeks. She even gave back her wedding ring to signify the end of their marriage.

The rumour mill in Uganda, however, purported that the former beauty queen walked out due to Bebe Cool’s cheating while others claimed it was Zuena who was cheating after she was spotted in the arms of a local tycoon soon after the break up. Zuena told close friends that she quit because she had been turned into a housemaid who was supposed to work, be a baby manufacturing machine, a baby sitter and a cook. The last straw was when she stumbled upon a used condom as she washed Bebe’s clothes. The two are now back together and we wish them the best in 2010.

Redsan’s return

It seems there was no stopping top local ragga artiste Redsan from changing the tune of the industry. Apart from high quality videos and the establishment of his Dirty Sounds Records, Redsan also took a shot at rapping.

Redsan is the first local artiste to feature international artistes at an album launch. Dancehall duo Brick and Lace graced the Versatility album launch at the Carnivore last month.

In February, he clinched a deal to perform on the platform with diva BeyoncÈ Knowles in Juba, Khartoum and Johannesburg.

Jua Cali gets money

Genge rapper Jua Cali must have been singing his hit song Bidii Yangu all the way to the bank when he signed a Sh15million contract with the mobile service provider Orange. Juacali’s success brought him some beef from fellow rappers who have been in the game longer but he brushed if off as ‘sour grapes’ and continues to be a firm favourite with urban youth.

Kenyan Model in Americas Next Top Model

A US based Kenyan girl made headlines after joining the elite America’s Next Top Model series. Sandra Nyanchoka, 19, joined ANTM season 12, a catwalk reality TV competition series in the US.

A student at Rockville, Maryland, she was born and raised in Kenya where she started her modeling career at the age of nine, before moving to the US as a teenager. Sandra famously refused to pose nude on the show.

Celeb nuptials

Carol Radul, Radio Jambo Programmes Controller and the host of the Simba Soccer show wedded Mike Njagi last month at Jacaranda beach Resort. Radul hit the showbiz headlines for dating Mike, who is some years younger than her.

Capital FM presenter Solo decided to convert to Islam when he married his sweetheart Ivram Bilal two weeks ago in Nairobi. He is now known as Suleiman.

In September the popular KTN news anchor Lillian Muli finally tied the knot with lon term boyfriend Kanene.

In June, local actor, Charles Bukeko aka Papa Shirandula exchanged vows with his wife Beatrice Andego at Thomas Barnados home while infamous bachelor Fareed Khimani finally hang up his pimp cane. Fareed exchanged vows with his girlfriend Lea in two weddings, one in Switzerland and one in Kenya.

Beyonce in car accident

Beyonce (Julia Achieng), the brains behind Coast Music Awards was recently involved in a road accident that saw her undergo surgery after she broke her pelvic bones.

She and a group of friends were driving from the popular Bob’s club in the early morning hours when the accident occurred. Her predicament saw Coast event organisers put the differences aside as they came together to help raise money to pay her hospital bill. Kapungala

Daddy Owen refreshed the gospel scene with his fusion known as Kapungala — a mix of Kapuka and Lingala. Although the style was already popular with secular singers like Longombas and Deux Vultures, it was the System Ya Kupangala singer who helped break the style into the gospel arena.

He was crowned the new King of Gospel when he won a Groove award for Best Male Artiste.

Celeb daddies

CMB Prezzo became dad in March after getting hitched to girlfriend Daisy Kiplagat. The two became proud parents of a baby girl only a few months after tying the knot. And Labalaa, one half of Wakamba Wawili duo and ‘Hip-hop Halisi’ TV host and his girlfriend became the rpoud parents of a baby boy the following month. Shortest celeb marriage

Rapper Abass Kubaff who seemingly has no regrets after he and wife Baby G went their separate ways just a few months after a colourful wedding. ” I am a man who never regrets when anything happens but learns from it.” said Abass who recently launched his 16- track album dubbed Mr Abass.

Meanwhile, sassy singer Meg C called it quits with Salim Abui, her hubby of three years and the father of her daughter Kulthum in April. She left the following weekend allegedly to meet up with Nigerian singer 2Face Idibia.

By Caroline Nyanga