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Capital Lifestyle

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May 18, 2012
14:24
Prezzo and DKB punished by Big Brother
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Upville housemates Prezzo and DKB were joined at the hip by Big Brother yesterday after a nasty altercation on Wednesday night.

Biggie meted out the punishment after breaking a verbal fight between the boys before it got ugly.

A visibly inebriated Prezzo tore at DKB, accusing him of causing a rift between him and romantic interest Goldie.

“You told her something and now she won’t talk to me,” he quipped. It got ugly after Prezzo dared the Ghanaian to hit him. DKB then got angry and called Prezzo an alcoholic and a retard, telling him to get help.

DKB however told Biggie that that was not the case, instead heaping blame on fellow celeb-mate Mampi.

This is the second argument Prezzo has been involved in, the first being a tongue-lashing against South African Barbz.

Calling her lazy, he told her to change her attitude, before apologizing to her later.

Is Prezzo ruffling feathers to be strategic or is he just being himself?

Meanwhile, in Downville, Alex sneaked in a quick kiss on Liberia’s Yadel, who is up for eviction this weekend.

Meanwhile, evictees Teclar, Julio and Hilda were interviewed by Capital FM’s Jam Presenter Maqbul.

They spoke of disappointment at hardly being in the house.

“I wish I could have stayed longer because the game had just begun,” Teclar complained, adding that she was happy though to have been part of the fun.

Hilda was however sad that her confidence in the East Africa vote did not come to fruition.

“I was telling those guys that I have East Africa behind me, apparently my boyfriend is from Uganda and we really connected with the boys from Kenya Malonza and Alex! But at the same time, it is a game of chance, and it was all left to chance, so there is nobody to blame. At least we left Swahili words in the house!” she said in her usual bubbly attitude.

Julio said he made sure he made as many friends as possible, and said he left Malonza the mantle to represent East Africa in the #StarGame nice and strong.

Pledging support for Kenya, he also intimated that the only thing he would do different if he had a chance to go back was to be himself rather than trying to study the other housemates so much.
12:39
Conquering Mt. Kenya
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

As Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” Far too often we travel through life on autopilot, going through the motions, accepting what is, and having every day pass like the one before it.
Friends of Longonot live in a different adage. We are ready to explore the beauty of our country Kenya no matter how challenging it is. It is this free spirit and love of adventure that saw us set out to Mt. Kenya on Thursday a day before Good Friday. Easter was surely going to be quite an experience for all of us.

Planning the trip took a few months as we had to identify a good tour company, save up for the trip, shop for Mountain climbing gear and make sure we were physically fit. Mt. Longonot was our training ground while others took it further and participated in marathons all in the name of fitness. So when the day came, we were mentally and physically prepared and reading loads of literature on Mt. Kenya helped a lot.

Fifteen members of the Friends of Longonot made it for this expedition and we headed to Mt, Kenya. Excitement reigned and laughter filled the air on our drive there. We used the Nanyuki way as our choice route was the Sirimon described as the easiest to get to point Lenana. The route ascends the mountain from the west. Beautiful wooden bandas resplendent in the popular KWS colours stood out as we drove into the Mt. Kenya gate. Kenya Wildlife Service has done amazing work with the place and their guides are very welcoming. The porters had already arrived and we each got one to assist us carry our luggage, We had to change into our walking gear as we had to embark on a 9km trek to the Old Moses Camp. After a quick picnic lunch, the journey began. We set out together but about a kilometre into it, it was to each his own. The potters had carried very heavy luggage including the cooking utensils that was to be used in the four days of the trip. They were clearly used to this and walked faster than us who only had snacks in our day bags. Numerous stops were made, lots of water consumed and conversations had. The scenery to Old Moses was not very captivating apart from the montane forest and at one point we had to stop and stare at a dead tree. It stood out like a sore thumb as a constant reminder of a fire that had gutted it together with acres of forest two years ago. What was even sadder is the fresh memories of the Country recovering from a fire weeks ago that had consumed 10% of the forest.

We finally got to the Old Moses Camp which is 3300M above sea level and it was quite a relief putting down our bags and having some tea and snacks. Bunk beds were what we got and we were fortunate enough that we were the only ones in the camp so no sharing. The cold was slowly creeping in and we had to dress warm with gloves, scarves, fleece jackets and two pairs of socks as we waited for dinner. When dinner was ready, we all sat down at the dining area as some of the porters served us and we had a sumptuous well balanced meal. We knew we had to sleep early because we were to wake up at the crack of dawn but never ending humorous conversations and battle of the sex tête-à-tête shortened the night.
By 6am we were up and packing. Breakfast was served and you would think we were in a five star restaurant. The porters doubled up as very good cooks too. We had a 16km journey ahead of us and we knew it was not a joke judging from the previous day 9km walk.

We began our hike uphill through moorland and rocks till we got to Mackinders valley. The scenery here is to behold. We marveled at God’s creation to a point we forgot how tired we were. It was so beautiful. The contouring of the ranges, the unique plants some shaped like human beings standing on one leg, the caves that we used as our rest spots when we had lunch. It was almost surreal. It started raining and we had to quickly put on our rain gear. Unfortunately, some of what we bought thinking was water proof was not. Most of us got soaked and the walk seemed longer.

When we spotted Shiptons camp at a distance, tears of joy streaked down some of our faces already covered in rain water. It seemed so close and yet so far but we knew we were almost there. The sight of the green hut gave us so much energy and every step we took was to some hot tea and change of clothes. It was quite a celebration when we walked through the doors into our dormitories. Those who had arrived earlier welcomed the rest heartily as we all knew how challenging it was to get there. Shiptons camp is at 4,200M and the view of the peak of the mountain is much more visible and the surroundings breath taking. It was truly quite a site to behold. Shipton’s is extremely cold at night and we were fortunate enough to have a jiko to keep us warm. Most of us hanged the clothes that had been rained on in the kitchen, the unoccupied bunk beds and the dining area. Others used the jiko that we were using to keep warm to dry the clothes and shoes they would wear the next day. Every corner was resplendent in different colours reminding us of how far we had come and how great it felt. We had our dinner which was delicious and one by one we went to sleep.

At 2am we were up and ready to embark on the climb up to Lenana point. We had tea and biscuits and assembled outside as we got strict instructions from our guide. The climb up is no easy feat and we had to do as instructed. Walking fast was out of the question and we had to walk as a single file as we took short timed stop overs. For most of us it was the first time to see snow and we were ecstatic. The scree proved to be a problem to walk on and we had to avoid stepping on lose pebbles as it could prove to be fatal. Step by step we walked up steep paths and the higher we went the colder it became. Mountain sickness was experienced by most of the members and natural gas emission became the norm. There were times when some of us asked ourselves, “Did I have to do this?” but the eagerness to get to Point Lenana and see the famous Munyao flag kept us going.

Screams and jubilations lent the air as we got to Point Lenana at exactly 6.09am. No amount of words can describe the feeling we had when we made it to the top 4985M above sea level. We even forgot we were to stay up there for only ten minutes. It was no longer cold to us as we were busy celebrating and taking photos and videos to remember this big moment that we had looked forward to for a long time. It was no mean achievement and we knew many had given up and others had passed away trying to get to where we were.

Endurance, commitment, hardwork and team spirit got us up there. The best moment was to see Ian Mutahi, an 11 year old make it to the top. He will grow up knowing anything is possible and you can conquer whatever thing you set your heart out to do. We had done it! No one would and will ever take that away from us.
Sadly, we had to come down as we are not allowed to stay at point Lenana for too long as we can freeze up there plus there were those experiencing altitude sickness. Going down was easier and we took less time as we slid on the snow and ‘skied’ on the scree and loose gravel. A different route was revealed to us which was shorter and more steep but since we were going down it was ok. We finally got back to Shiptons camp and had a heavy breakfast, packed and set out on our journey back to Old Moses Camp. Barely had we covered 3km than it started raining. Hailstorms became our company for the next 7km and the ground everywhere was covered in ice. We were soaked and walked like zombies with no one talking to the other. Along the way we came across three groups who were headed to Shipton and all we could do was wish them luck and few words of motivation. When the hailstorms stopped it got even colder but we soldiered on and got to camp. We changed to warm clothing and enjoyed our dinner while waiting for morning so start our journey back to Nairobi. It was a fun filled, very challenging and eye opening Easter holiday. We are now preparing for Mt. Kilimanjaro next year. The sky is the limit…yes it is.

(BY EUNICE CHEGE)
12:24
The happier, the healthier – How happy are Kenyans?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

For decades, researchers and health experts have pursued the connection between happiness and health. Emerging research has begun to validate what many wise communities have intuitively known – that having a sense of happiness, peace, fulfillment, and purpose leads to a healthier, more balanced, and ultimately a longer life.

The Business Week magazine ranked the tiny Asian country Bhutan as one of the happiest nations in the world, the happiest country in Asia and the 8^th happiest nation in the world, despite relatively low-life expectancy, a literacy rate of only 47% and a low Gross Domestic Product per capita.

Kenya didn’t even make the top 20.

Bhutan’s recipe for happiness

Bhutan’s fourth Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, first coined the term Gross National Happiness (GNH) in 1972. In an attempt to define and measure the quality of life of Bhutan’s citizens in a more holistic manner other than solely on economic performance; GNH promotes sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance. As the Dragon King would say, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.”

Unlike certain concepts of happiness in western literature, happiness according to the Bhutanese is itself multidimensional – the pursuit of happiness is collective, not defined by only one’s economic performance. Well their Asian counterparts, China, sure has a lot to learn from them.

Despite becoming wealthier, the Chinese are less happy

According to a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, China’s incredible economic growth in the last 20 years has been met with declining happiness.

In 1990, 68 per cent of those in the wealthiest income bracket inChinaand 65 per cent of those in the poorest reported high levels of satisfaction. The latter figure has now fallen more than 23 percentage points.

The study also applauded the Chinese government for taking steps in the last few years to “repair the social safety net” and recognizing that job and income security, together with a social safety net, are of critical importance to being happy and generally healthier.

How happy are Kenyans?

With an economy that is growing as rapid as some of the world’s most promising emerging economies, Kenya is set to reap in the economic rewards like success stories such as China. But, if your citizens’ “happiness” decreases, is it really a success story?

According to World Bank, Kenya mirrors Africa’s population growth. The population has doubled over the last 25 years, is projected to grow by approximately 1 million per year over the next 40 years and will reach about 85 million by 2050 – that’s a lot more people to take care of and keep happy.

If Kenya had a GNH index, how happy would our nation be? How strong is Kenya’s social safety net? Would the social safety net be able to take care of all of us, including the projected boom in Kenya’s population? With a higher GDP than the tiny Asian nation of Bhutan, do you think Kenya would rate higher on happiness?

Source: AFP, World Bank, Business Week
11:39
The tom boy chic
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

So you are a girl and you are not into fancy skirts and trendy dresses and cute tie neck blouses. Those things do absolutely nothing for you and anytime you had to wear a dress as a little girl you would wish you’d just keel over and die! You would have the worst time ever!
Your ideal outfits would consist of baggy distressed jeans, tees, caps, wife beaters and boyfriend jackets! And given the chance you’d wear jeans on your wedding day.
Anytime you think of heels you almost suffer a heart attack! In fact you think anyone who wears heels doesn’t like herself as that is the most torturous thing ever.

A tom boy is a girl who dresses and sometimes behaves like a boy and is often into masculine stuff.
There are those who have made tom boy look ever so chic. First we saw it with Aaliyah with her sagged jeans and designer boy boxers peeping at the low waistline of the jeans, a checked shirt unbuttoned all the way layered over a tee tank exposing a flat stomach,cute boots and well done hair and make up. Raggedy rough tom boy on the edges with a touch of feminine bits.

Of course tom boy has been upgraded and has now been made chic but this suits the younger ladies more… like the rapper Lil’ mama. She wears it well and owns her look.

What you need for your tom boy chic wardrobe:
*Trendy baggy tops
*Wife beaters
*Suspenders
*Sneakers or brogues
*Boots
*Baggy girl pants
*Trendy Shirts for tucking in or for layering
*Tees
*Tie
*Hoodies
*Shorts
*Boyfriend blazers/ jean jackets
*Belts and even bandannas

The secrets to pulling off the tom boy chic is adding a pop of color to your look at all time. Include bright trendy colors (keep with the times and get the colors that are in vogue). Do stock up on the pinks, purples, mustards, reds etc. In short keep it bright and stylish.

“Girlify” your look a bit by wearing some make-up à la Lil’ mama and because you are a girl , ensure that your hair looks good and is styled properly (your hair gives your female identity).
Just because you are a tom boy, doesn’t mean you have to look all frumpy and like you grew up as the only girl among 5 brothers. You can look chic too
10:32
How long is it too long before you say I do?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(THITU KARIBA) – Last night, I was on radio talking about how to deal with sexual urges and this girl calls in saying that she is a great relationship and willingly gave herelf to her man sexually, and does not get why we ought to abstain until marriage, or not give into our sexual desires.

I asked her a bit about her relationship and the one thing I picked up was that she had been dating this guy for a while, which I was not at all surprised. I mean, “Why buy the cow when you are getting the milk and steaks for free?” When we indulge in our sexual desires before marriage, you prolong marriage or keep it from ever coming up all together.

Sex is a gift from God, its wonderful, but it needs to be had in a lifetime not long-term commitment or relationship, called marriage. Really how long is too long before he asks you to marry him and why should he get all the perks without having to pay?

If you are in a non-sexual relationship, well good for you, the road to marriage just got shorter. Even still there is time that needs to be taken to know each other. I say a year is good enough, get to know each other in all seasons and times of the month and year. Get to meet his or her people, and find out what you are getting into. I would say after a year if there are no issues to be worked through and all is well, then go for it. But after months, I would say you are pushing it. You will either find yourself falling into temptation or into a cycle of excuses.

If you are set to marry at some point, then give yourselves a time line to work with. If we want an excuse we will find it. The one excuse I find many times coming up is that, they cannot afford the wedding. In this case down size it, get married later, work and save – for that wedding that you’ve always wanted. I say this because some folks have been at it for years with the whole affordable wedding thing.

I know that everyone is different and that we all have our own views and opinions, so I’ll ask …

How long is too long to wait before you say I do?

Follow the author on Facebook Thitu Kariba ( Coach) and Twitter @Thitu_k
7:41
‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer dies, aged 63
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Grammy-winning disco legend Donna Summer, who topped the charts repeatedly in the 1970s and 80s with raunchy hits like “Love to Love You Baby” and “Hot Stuff,” died Thursday aged 63.

Known as the Queen of Disco, the singer whose hits also included “I Feel Love” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” died in Florida from lung cancer, the TMZ celebrity news website said.

“Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts,” said a family statement. “While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.

Tributes poured in within hours of her death, led by President Barack Obama who said: “Donna truly was the ‘Queen of Disco.’ Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon.”

“Truly that will be her legacy, she was the Disco Queen,” soul legend Aretha Franklin told CNN.

Barbra Streisand, with whom Summer duetted on 1979′s “No More Tears (Enough is Enough)”, said she was “shocked” at the news.

“She was so vital the last time I saw her a few months ago. I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented. .. It’s so sad,” she said in a statement.

In Hollywood, flowers were placed on her sidewalk star on the storied Hollywood Walk of Fame, across the street from the world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Summer, who also became something of an icon in the gay community, shot to fame during the disco era of the 1970s with hits like “MacArthur Park,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

The orgasmic-sounding “Love to Love You Baby,” released in 1975, was one of the first disco songs to be released in extended form, giving full vent to Summer’s erotic moans and groans.

In the 1980s her hits included “She Works Hard for the Money” and “State of Independence.”

The disco diva was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines into a large devoutly Christian family in Boston and started singing in the local church, before performing in a number of Motown-influenced groups in her teens.

Summer took her stage name after marrying Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer in 1972, anglicizing her name after divorcing him. She spoke fluent German and the couple had a daughter, Mimi Sommer.

The singer won five Grammy awards during her spectacular career, including in 1980 for best rock female vocalist for the 1979 “Hot Stuff,” but also as recently as 1997 for best dance recording for “Carry On.”

She holds the record for most consecutive double albums to top the Billboard charts — three — and first female with four #1 singles in a 12-month period, three solo and one with Barbra Streisand, according to the IMDb website.

“Hot Stuff” also got a boost from being used in the 1997 hit movie “The Full Monty,” as the track to which a group of unemployed British steel workers performed a striptease act.

TMZ reported that she had kept her illness quiet, and didn’t appear too sick only a couple of weeks ago, citing sources as saying she was focused on trying to finish a new album she had been working on.

It cited sources as saying Summer believed she developed lung cancer after inhaling toxic particles following the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks in New York.

Harry Casey, lead singer and “KC” of fellow disco greats KC and the Sunshine Band, said he was stunned.

“I saw her several months ago at a performance, she looked great, she sang great, her performance was amazing. We got together backstage and had some good laughs and walked down memory lane.

“I’m just in shock. I had no idea anything was wrong.”
May 17, 2012
16:22
Zanzibar film fest gets $1m sponsorship
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Zanzibar International Film Festival has received a solid ten year sponsorship worth Sh84 million from pay TV provider Zuku.

The sponsorship that starts with this year’s festival in July will run every year until 2022 in form of an annual grant of Sh8.4m to support ZIFF’s film and festival promotion, as well as its marketing program.

Wananchi Group CEO, Richard Bell, said the agreement would see Zuku become headline sponsor for ZIFF.

“Of course, as the festival grows and develops we may both see different needs and opportunities – but this should give us a solid footing to start on”, he said.

“We do not, however, mean to lock out other sponsors/contributors and collaborators. On the contrary, we would hope that our long term involvement would help attract greater consistency from other partners.”

Wananchi Group Chairman, Ali Mufuruki added: “It is with pride that we enter into this association with ZIFF, which has for the last 15 years been instrumental in celebrating and enabling film making from the region and around the world.”

Speaking of partnership from Geneva, the ZIFF Chairman, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said that ZIFF is a huge part of African culture and as a proud Zanzibari organization, they were pleased to extend their relationship.

Zuku’s initial ten-year agreement concludes at the end of the 2022 season and The ZIFF chair said the partnership would by then have evolved into a strong business and community relationship. “While we like seeing the Zuku logo side by side with ZIFF, our partnership goes well beyond branding,” he said. “As ZUKU spreads its wings to capture the pay TV market in East and Central Africa, ZIFF will work closely together with Zuku to develop the film and media entertainment industry”.

Zuku is currently available in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda with plans to roll out to neighboring countries. It has announced plans to show more local content this year, from cooking shows to Parliamentary proceedings and Swahili movies from East Africa.

ZIFF will take place between July 7 and 15.
12:50
I think my sister is a sl*t!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

I have a problem with my sister, and it is not the “she-borrowed-my-new-cashmere-sweater-that-I’ve-never-worn-and-ruined-it! I’m-gonna-kill-her-when-she-gets-home!” kind of problem. I wish it was that though. It is bigger than that! I think my sister is a prostitute!

Once I met my sister in the hang with a bunch of her “friends” wearing almost nothing but the love of god. If you saw her, you would lend her your jacket asap! She was sloshed beyond and had stagger and slurred all her words. Sitting at her table were foreign men who looked like they had money to spend booze and a dingy lodging later. In my head I was thinking “hmm…this is my sister and she is looking so bad and these guys are definitely out to take advantage of her then leave her high and dry.”

Here’s a brief trip back memory lane <<<< My sister is my only sibling and she is three years older than me. We had a normal upbringing and our parents gave us a normal life and provided us with everything we needed in life.
We were practically raised as twins and have always shared the same interests which makes us thick as thieves…but somewhere along the way something went amiss! See, our parents always taught us to be independent ladies and great role models they have been to us. So it is has been a family tradition that once one clocks 19 you have to move out home. School fees will be taken care of but everything else is your responsibility.
My sister is a go-getter so after High School she immediately got a job as a supervisor at some huge chain store. At some point though, my sister made some bad choices and made some bad friends! The kind that take short cuts in life. The kind that party from Monday to Monday and depend on old married rich men to take care of them as they give them small/huge favors!

Fast forward to the present times >>>> I had noticed that at some point, my sister stopped inviting me to her place as I gather her house has changed and now she has a well furnished house with the most expensive things money can buy thanks to her night job.

I think my sister also realized that the short cut is the easiest way. The easiest way to get easy money and lose your dignity. Have I mentioned that she buys me expensive gifts and I’m not supposed to question where she got the money from.

I recently threatened to tell the folks about what she does because they are just going to find out from other sources anyway, and when that happens things will get really ugly. She denies that she is into prostitution and calls me harsh and a bad sister whenever I try to talk to her.
Her friend once told me that she cries herself to sleep every night and sometimes sleeps with the lights on as the dark reminds her of her night life. Whenever I talk to her, she just cries and tells me that I wouldn’t understand.

I care about her deeply, and I don’t want her to waste and ruin her life! Bad diseases do happen to good people you know? And after all, she is my only sister!I am in my final year in college and I have other things to worry about but now a lot of my worry space has to include her!
What should I do? I feel like it is upto me to get her back on the straight path. Help?
12:36
Coffee may help you live longer, study says
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Enjoyed that cup of freshly brewed coffee this morning? That magical shot of caffeine that suddenly perks up your system in the wee morning hours or during a late-night at the office, is one of life’s indulgences that some of us cannot do without.

According to legend, thanks to an observant Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldis who noticed that his goats, upon eating berries from a tree, did not want to sleep at night, coffee was discovered. Millions of coffee drinkers around the world have since turned this obscure tree-berry into one of the most widely consumed beverages.

Many researchers and nutritionists have painted quite a negative picture in regards to the consumption of coffee. Coffee is a stimulant, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and blood pressure, and generally not considered to be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Well there’s good news coffee lovers, a new study, one that has been hailed as possibly the largest and most comprehensive, involving more than 400,000 participants, 52,000 deaths and spanning more than a decade of data collection, detected that coffee drinkers may be more likely to live longer.

Researchers of the National Cancer Institute even went as far to say that actually there may be a modest benefit from drinking coffee.

Lead researcher Neal Freedman does not denounce findings from other studies showing that coffee could raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. However, thanks to the large amount of sampling in his latest study, this allowed for subgroup analyses according to other important factors, such as smoking and diabetes. Once these subgroup analyses were taken into account, the results from the study clearly showed a positive relation between a cup of coffee per day and increasing one’s chances of living longer.

Capital Lifestyle Magazine’s health guru advises coffee drinkers that like all things in life, too much of anything may not be best – drink coffee in moderation and reduce the amount of sugar you put in your coffee.

Journal Source: The New England Journal of Medicine
12:24
Earl Klugh, Kurt Elling to headline at Joy of Jazz
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Grammy-winning guitarist Earl Klugh, Grammy-Award winner Kurt Elling, trombone master Wycliffe Gordon and the world famous Duke Ellington Orchestra will be the headline stars at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, slated for August.

The line-up of international and South African giants will keep jazz fans entertained, says Event producer Peter Tladi of T-Musicman.

“The artists performing this year are all highly respected, heavyweight musicians, whether newcomers or those who are icons of the global jazz scene. We have gone for a mix of the contemporary and the classic for this year’s event and have something exciting and unmissable for everyone,” he said.

Running from August 23 to 25, the festival will take place on eight stages in Newtown, Johannesburg including the Dinaledi Stage, the Conga, Mbira, Bassline and The Market Theatre.

Event producer Peter Tladi of T-Musicman says: “As the festival promoter we spend a great deal of time searching for artists that will appeal to a broad base of music fans. Once again, we have endeavoured to provide a diverse range of jazz styles.”

Others performers include Afrika Mkhize, Gloria Bosman; Jimmy Dludlu; saxophonist Bhudaza Mapefane; Erik Truffaz; Johnny Mekoa; Botswana’s Shanti Lo who performs with the Swedish Ensemble; Thandiswa Mazwai; Swazi Dlamini and Vusi Khumalo who will be playing the music of Winston Makunku, Zakes Nkosi and Joe Malinga.
8:47
Lauras Favourite
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Lauras Favourite
May 16, 2012
17:14
Sauti Academy stages 2nd Live & Loud concert
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Part two of the LIVE and LOUD affair will be held at the Michael Joseph centre this weekend, with five artists lined up from the Sauti Academy, all graduated and ready to launch their solo careers.

- Lele’s little rebel Wangui playfully maneuvers through her songs with a sparkly performance.

- Delaney is a gentle crooner who uses his artistic freedom to perform melancholic, piano based Rock ballads.

- With his smooth, mellow vocals, Jarel will tell stories of contemporary Nairobi.

- Govoi’s acoustic Hip Hop / Roots-Reggae music will transport you straight to his mtaa, Kangemi.

- And bubbly doctor to be Cynthia fuses science and music in her life. Her music is medicine to the soul and will leave the audience in bliss.

The first part of the concert took place last Saturday May 12, where Prisca, Meryl, Dempsey and Worbenda took to the stage, performing before an audience of over 200 music enthusiasts.

Dempsey is Penya Africa’s latest signing. On that night, the self-taught guitarist sang and played along his bass guitarist and percussionist. Among the best of his acoustic performances was his latest song ‘Broken Rainbows’ that he went on to mix with a rendition of Elaine’s ‘Nothing or all’ from the Bubble gum riddim.

Backed by a live band and seven soulful back ground vocalists, Meryl performance was a true show of her stage persona – a shy girl turned diva. Performing among her own compositions was an acappella rendition of India Arie’s ‘Purify me’.

Longtime friends and graduates Wordbenda and Prisca in matching red coloured outfits were the winning duet of the night. Bringing forth unique vocals and musical styles, when Prisca wasn’t playing the piano in the midst of the band, she was gracefully hitting high notes alongside Wordbenda’s smooth rap.

Among the guests at the event was renowned Tusker Project Fame Judge Ian Mbugua. Unwillingly stepping on stage after being called upon by the Mcee, he ended up dishing a few words of advice to the new artists.

“I am quite impressed by tonight’s performances but there is still a lot out there for you to learn. Most of our ‘so-called’ celebrities are one hit wonders! To take on the industry, you must never relax thinking you are the best, instead keep working hard! And now you know that Penya Africa is the record label to join,” said Ian.

Sauti Academy is a branch of the Penya Africa recording label, responsible for musicians like Sauti Sol, Muthoni, Dela, and Stan. The Academy is run by Penya’s director and head music teacher Natalie Lukkenaer. The artist development program lasts a year. All artists who pass through the program have the required vocal training and performance skills and are expected to carry on Penya Africa’s vision in East Africa– to build a sustainable and competent, globally recognized East African organization that will inspire and develop innovative musicians to be influential agents of change both locally and internationally.

Tickets to the show are Sh400 a piece at the gate.
16:55
2012 Chocolate Dessert Cup up for grabs
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The annual RDA Food Fair is set to take place June 30^th at the Talisman Restaurant. Aside from showcasing locally produced food related items, the coveted Chocolate Dessert Cup will once again be up for grabs.

Some of Nairobi’s top restaurants and hotels will be putting their culinary skills and creativity to the test. Starting from 2pm on June 30^th, the afternoon will be dedicated solely to the art of chocolate.

The Cup Cake Decorating Competition will also be making another appearance at the forthcoming RDA Food Fair. Children will be able to showcase their talents for cake decorating throughout the day with judging beginning at 4pm.

All proceeds will go to Riding for the Disabled, an organization dedicated provide a safe and enjoyable environment where individuals with special needs benefit from developmental, therapeutic and educational equine-oriented activities and to build a cooperative link within the community through educational opportunities.

If you missed it, here are just some moments captured from last year’s RDA Food Fair:

The judges for 2011 Chocolate Dessert Cup
12:55
Walk Score scores Nairobi high as ‘very walkable’
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

According to Walk Score, a website that measures how walkable your place to live is, Nairobi surprisingly scored quite high at 82, which means the city is “very walkable” and that “most errands can be accomplished on foot.”

Walk Score believes that walkable cities are healthier and for the sake of better living, people who live in walkable neighbourhoods weigh 6-10 lbs less, walkable places make people happier and healthier, and short commutes reduce stress and increase community involvement.

Walk Score’s mission is to promote walkable neighbourhoods, which is one of the simplest and best solutions for the environment, our health, and our economy.

It’s true, geographically, Nairobi is very small in area at 696 km² and presumably more walkable than cities with expansive urban planning, such as Toronto at 7,124.15 km²

With proximity of shops, banks, restuarants and other amenities quite close to residential areas in Nairobi, perhaps more of us should go about our day with a “walkable mentality” and take advantage of that – avoiding getting stuck in the unpredictable Nairobi traffic for hours on end.

It’s great that Nairobi is considered “very walkable” as a city by Walk Score, which shows over 6 million scores per day to users globally, but why are most Nairobians still driving more than walking.

When was the last time you walked to the grocery store on a Saturday, yes the one just 5 minutes away?
10:56
New fashion craze: The Ankara print
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Are you in the bold fashionable lot such that prints -African print at that- are your most favorite thing? If so then I’m sure your wardrobe already brags an Ankara print garment or two.

The Ankara trend has been embraced the world over and is so in vogue right now such that it is not an African only thing anymore!! Some have even called it the “Ankara invasion”.

Lovely Ankara print dresses

The Ankara print is one of the top fabrics to watch out for and to some it is a wardrobe staple already.
Gone are the days when the Ankara print fabrics were reserved for making garments worn only for ceremonial purposes. I mean now you can get almost anything in Ankara print as they now have a modern touch to them. From shoes, accessories such as scarves, clutch bags, belts, hair accessories etc, dresses, bags, shorts, blazers, trousers, jumpsuits…you name it! And the best part is that you can get these locally from designers who can even customize whatever you want to suit your exact taste and style.

The Ankara print is an African thing, so to show love for our continent, investing in one item at least will be ideal.
Nicki Minaj , Lady Gaga, Solange, Amber Rose, Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Rihanna , Anna Wintour, Nicole Ari Parker… are just a few of the American celebrities who have embraced the Ankara swag trend. And the way things are looking…this is just the beginning.

A few of those who appreciate Ankara
10:30
Is it wrong that I want her to watch porn too?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Indulging in porn may be part of your routine, and perhaps not a regular segment in your girlfriend’s daily schedule. Most women rarely watch it, but of course there are those that enjoy a few snippets of pornography from time-to-time just to keep things interesting, and most likely, to keep you, the boyfriend, happy.

I get it. A woman’s desire is provoked more by emotional and mental aspects. Porn is too contrived for most women to get aroused from because most scenes feature people that don’t even seem to like each other. The physicality of porn may be enough for you, but your girlfriend will respond better to genuine scenarios.

Truthfully speaking, I have personally been trying to encourage my girlfriend of 3 years to watch porn with me. It was fun the first few films we watched together, but now, she complains that when I watch porn, she feels like I’m cheating on her – what madness is that?

I can’t help it if my sex drive is higher than hers. I don’t want to put pressure on her either.

My girlfriend gets disappointed that porn turns me on. She often asks me if she were to change her body image more like that chick in the porn flick, would I appreciate her more. She tells me subconsciously she feels pressure to “perform” like a porn star, and to be as sexually talented as one.

I get it, not everybody likes to watch porn, and no matter what you do, you can’t make them. I just wanted my girlfriend to watch porn with me so that it could liven things up in our bedroom, and also so we could enjoy something together – sure beats watching fluffy romantic comedies that are just as unrealistic and contrived.

Is it really that wrong that I want her to watch porn too?

AUTHOR: Anonymous Capital Lifestyle Reader
9:37
Camp Mulla’s K’Cous drops brand new track
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Camp Mulla bad boy K’Cous has just set off a new single with London rapper Idris Jones, Green on a Regular, which he also produced.

The two have worked on several collaborations in the neat past, this just being the latest of them.

The common theme could be considered crass but the music is definitely superior. K’Cous, aka Marcus Kibukosya is the son of renowned musicians Suzanne Gachukia and Gido Kibukosya.

With killer MC skills, K’Cous is part of the young Kenyan hip hop group Camp Mulla, whose tracks he also produces. Other Camp Mulla members include Taio Tripper, Young Kass, Miss Karun and Mykie Tuchi.

The video depicts the regular happenings of the young party scene across the globe, and is not too easy on the eye.

Green on the Regular was filmed and edited by Idris Jones and K’Cous. This video is rated R.
May 15, 2012
16:38
Fast and quality Indian Cuisine at Haveli’s
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

If you’re looking for quality food served fast, like those rushing for an afternoon meeting or have a limited time for a good meal, located in the Nairobi Industrial Area in Capital Center, Haveli’s serves up delicious Indian favourites at a consistent level of quality and a high standard of service.

Opened 7 days a week with their kitchen taking orders up to 11:30pm, the airy banquet-styled restaurant welcomes diners with tall ceilings, spacious seating, oversized paintings hanging on the warm-toned walls, a terrace and the ability to split the space into two separate halls for those big groups who want more privacy.

Haveli’s staff is used to serving food fast without compromising on the quality. The daily lunch rush of hungry professionals looking for hearty food options in the area fills the 200-seater restaurant to capacity, and Haveli’s outside catering services keeps the 70-plus staff on their toes at all times.

The staff are friendly and their thorough knowledge of the menu was refreshing. Service was discreet, friendly, fast and efficient.

The cuisine at Haveli features flavours from all corners of India, and with the upcoming Thai-influenced dishes set to be launched, sampling diverse curries from Asia may just be another hit with regulars.

Some of Capital Lifestyle Magazine favourites include the Malai Chicken Kebab and Mutton Biryani. The Malai Chicken was incredibly tender and from the rich flavours, it’s clear that the chicken had been marinated generously. As for the Mutton Biryani, the team has never sampled mutton in a rice dish as tender as this one. The subtle flavours of ginger, garlic and spices complimented the mutton very well, mellowing out the strong flavours of the meat.

Wondering what goes into one of Haveli’s delicious recipes? Check out the Traditional Tandoori Marinade recipe featured in their menu below:

Traditional Tandoori Marinade

Yoghurt 1cup

Lemon juice 3 tbsp

Red chilli powder 1tsp

Ginger paste 2tsp

Garlic paste 2tsp

Onion paste 3tbsp

Garam masala 1tbsp

Cooking oil 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

For location details, prices, and how you can book online – make sure you check out Eat Out Kenya! Check it out now! http://www.eatout.co.ke/Havelis
16:36
Test Video – Take over the world
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Test Video – Take over the world
13:57
6 topics not to touch on on the first date
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The first date is unforgettable and a very crucial one. It determines quite a lot about the future or lack thereof! It is therefore important to do and say only the right things that won’t leave your date thinking you are the biggest jerk ever to exist!
I know being yourself at all times is always the best way to go but if you know that being yourself has offended people in the past, you will need to tone down the “self” a bit…or a lot!

Everyone has a “type”-as much as some people deny it- and the first date will determine whether your types match or not. Some people are just insensitive to other people’s feelings such that after the first encounter you don’t ever want to hear from them or see them.
When on that first date, you have to use your common sense and take your dates feelings into consideration. The first date is more for showing off your beautiful personality, so the insensitive stuff like “…That waiter/waitress is HOT!” you can keep to yourself. You should reveal that nice side of you without coming off as fake or too strong as the aim of the first date is to learn about that stranger sitting across from you for the first time.
PS: Don’t reveal everything as some mystery will be highly valued.

Below are some of the things you DON’T say on that first date:

1. The ex chronicles:

*I cheat once in a while

*I broke up with my ex because I cheated!

*My ex is a psycho

*My ex this, my ex that, my ex this and that!

These just give your date reasons to never want o see you again! Ever!!

2. Your dates appearance:

*I think you could do with a few visits to the gym!

*That hairstyle does nothing for your face

*Your make up is a tad much doesn’t it feel heavy on your face?

*Your shirt has seen better days
*How are you able to walk in those shoes?
*You need a new pair of shoes
*You could use a breath mint!

Whoaaa! the first time you meet someone just don’t say any of the above! They are just so insensitive. No matter how blunt you are…some things are just not said, and especially not to a person who doesn’t know you well.

3. Personal details

*I just got out of rehab

*I’m a ——holic (I love alcohol so much) my hobbies are drinking

*I’m a ——phobic

*I want to get married and get children

*I want to marry two wives

_This will send one bolting for the hills at Usain Bolts speed! Come slowly! Those words just sound too scary for a first date. Even when your dates asks, keep the responses mild…until you are sure you can freely share because you have gotten to know each other better.

4. Financial and Family issues

*Please get this bill, I’m so broke! I’ll get the next one

*Can you loan me some money I’ll pay you back soon

*I swear of late I’ve been so broke, I wonder where my rent will come from

*My brother needs this and that
*I’m paying school fees for my siblings

These issues are too personal and until you get to know someone very well, then let it be your issue/family issue and don’t involve anybody else!

5. Creepy things

*You are so gorgeous; can I take a photo of you?

*What’s the color of your panties?

*Do you have any hot friends?

These might even earn you a few slaps!! I will not even get into it!

6. Plain boring stuff
>

*Are you enjoying the date so far?

*What’s your favorite TV show?

*What do you think of Raila? Ruto? Mudavadi?

These just make you look plain weird!

Eish! Some of the above are just too harsh! If there’s something you don’t like about your date, the secret is that you don’t pursue a second date or consider furthering the relationship-leave things at that! Instead of telling them demeaning things and making them feel lower than dirt!
If you feel like you bonded with your date and there are things you would like them to know, wait until date 5 onwards. If you are a judgmental freak, then go look for a job as a judge!!

Just remember that if you can’t say something nice, then just don’t say anything at all!
Have you experienced or are you guilty of any of the above?
11:36
ICT Board debates slashing connectivity costs
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Victoria Rubadiri) The Kenya ICT Board has called for infrastructure-sharing in the country’s budding ICT industry as a sure way of bringing down the cost of connectivity for end-users.

The Board’s CEO Paul Kukubo says the multiplicity of parallel infrastructure, sometimes connecting the same communication nodes, had resulted in haphazard development, constant damages and heavy cost of maintenance, which was eventually being borne by consumers.

“Players in the ICT industry need to have a common and robust conversation on the merits and demerits of infrastructure-sharing and related costs. There is urgent need for a common infrastructure investment plan that will be complimentary and not destructive and wasteful like the current scenario,” Kukubo said.

He was speaking during the inaugural Soliton Expo, which drew leading ICT organizations from various levels over the weekend.

Kukubo was reacting to remarks by Soliton Telmec CEO Eng. Abdirahman Omar Sheikh, who had observed that the absence of infrastructure-sharing had put the benefits of ICT beyond the reach of most Kenyans.

Eng. Sheikh gave the example of a single street in Nairobi which has fibre optic cable lines put up by six different companies.

After a converged licensing regime was introduced in 2008, the barriers to market entry were lowered, which subsequently increased competition by allowing operators to offer any kind of service in a technology, and service.

As a result, several fibre infrastructure sharing agreements have been forged as way to manage costs.

Last year Safaricom and Telkom Kenya formed a jointly owned tower management company that leases collocated tower space to interested parties wishing to install wireless communication equipment.

The Expo themed “Building networks for life” was aimed at sharing experiences, networking and unveiling of the latest technology and demonstrated solutions entailing Quality and Service Assurance Solutions, deployment and maintenance practices, IP Surveillance, Fibre optic planning, security and data backup services as well as solutions for the real estate industry.
9:57
Record-breaking ‘Avengers’ smashes $1 billion mark
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

“The Avengers” has smashed through the $1 billion mark in global box office earnings, officials figures showed Monday, after the record-breaking movie slayed its rivals again on its second weekend.

The comic book superhero blockbuster made $103.1 million over the weekend in North America, following its $207 million opening weekend, the highest-earning debut on record, said box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Globally the high-thrills Disney action adventure movie, directed by cult favorite Joss Whedon in collaboration withMarvel Comics, has made $1,002,082,000, according to industry website IMDb.

The success of the movie — made for an estimated $220 million — will help mitigate Disney’s huge $200 million loss on sci-fi fantasy film “John Carter” in March, which prompted the departure of Walt Disney Studios boss Rich Ross.

The “Avengers,” a superhero band including Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor, pounded Tim Burton’s new Johnny Depp vampire flick “Dark Shadows,” which earned about $29.7 million in its debut weekend.

Romantic comedy “Think Like A Man” slipped into third place earning $5.8 million.

Smash action hit “The Hunger Games” was in the fourth spot in its eighth week on the big screen. The movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence, earned $4.5 million and has raked in more than $387 million since its opening.

In fifth place was tearjerker drama “The Lucky One,” an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book starring Zac Efron of “High School Musical” fame as a US soldier back from Iraq. The movie made $4.1 million in its fourth weekend.

Emily Blunt and Jason Segel feature “The Five-Year Engagement” stayed in sixth place, with $3.3 million.

“The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” a children’s animation film from the studio that produced the “Wallace and Gromit” series was in the number seven spot earning $3.1 million.

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” a comedic drama about British retirees in India, was in the number eight spot for the week with $2.7 million.

“Chimpanzee,” a true-life, child-friendly adventure about a special chimp in the jungles of Ivory Coast also from the Walt Disney stable, was in ninth, with $1.8 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was “Safe,” an action thriller about a girl pursued by the Triads, Russian mobsters and corrupt police for priceless information only she knows, which netted $1.4 million.
8:52
Kenyans entertain Queen at Jubilee Pageant
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Queen Elizabeth II played host to some Kenyan entertainment as she held a champagne reception at the Cultural Pavilion for charity donors before opening doors to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle on Sunday.

Upon entering the Cultural Pavilion, The Queen was met by sounds from Kenyan tribal musicians, including representatives from the Samburu, Turkana, Njemp, Kikuyu, Borana and Maasai tribes as well as the Kenya Tourist Board team.

KTB officials met the Queen in person and discussed Kenya’s part in the history of the British monarchy when the 25-year old Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya and received news of her father’s death and her subsequent ascension to the throne.

Members from Kenyan tribes were selected to perform in the 90-minute pageant show celebrating state visits to the six continents that she has visited during her reign.

Following her visit to the Cultural Pavilion, Her Majesty was entertained by the highly acclaimed Nairobi Chamber Chorus during the final of the jubilee pageant concerts.

The chorus caused a stir when they arrived into Heathrow Airport on 2nd May and broke into song in the arrivals hall.

Kenya became a part of the history of the British monarchy on 1st February, 1952, when the then Princess travelled to Kenya as part of a Commonwealth tour.

The trip would prove to mark a pivotal event in the Queen’s life, as five days after her arrival in Kenya the Princess received news of her father’s death and learnt of her ascension to the throne.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years of Her Majesty’s reign over the UK and as head of the Commonwealth.
May 14, 2012
16:24
TZ chucked from BBA, as Manetta moves to Upville
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Tanzanians Julio and Hilda and Zimbabwean ‘Queen of Zamunda’ Teclar were chucked out of the Big Brother Stargame Sunday night as the very good looking Manetta was made a surprise guest in Upville.

The trio was tongue-tied at having been told to go home after watching fellow ‘evictee’ Manetta make her way into the Celeb Stargame House.

It was a short seven-day ride for the three, who barely had time to show their true selves to the African audience before they were given the boot. Former Downville Housemates were both stunned and sad to let them go; South Africa’s Lee joking that now they would have more food.

A teary Hilda waved the Tanzanian flag as she walked down the stairs, while Julio and Teclar were clearly disappointed. The question begged an answer, how were the evictions done Biggie?

Manetta meanwhile was the one being asked the questions in Upville. The guys, Prezzo, Roki and DKB and the strange Lady may were happy to see her. Her presence may not sit well with the ladies though, but that remains to be seen. No romances have formed, but Roki has declared his attraction for Lady May, Ghana’s DKB seems to be pulling the moves on Barbz, while Prezzo and Nigerian Goldie seem to be hitting it off smartly.

Mampi of Upville is not an odd one out as she seems to see a friend in Prezzo; whose ‘hate’ relationship with Barbz is also raising eyebrows. Manetta’s arrival may well tip the scales this week.

Back at the Downville House newcomers Liberia and Sierra Leone are both up for eviction after a random nomination process. The foursome is not very hopeful of staying in the House after Sunday night’s evictions spared no one.

Liberia’s Yadel sought brief solace from Kenya’s Alex, whom she has taken a liking to. Downville will be looking for a new head of house as well, with Hilda’s exit. With Tanzania out, will Kenya rely on one country vote there?

You can vote to keep your preferred housemates in by logging on to www.africamagic.tv/bigbrother.
11:55
Social media rewards are like food and sex, study says
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Posting views on Facebook and other social media sites delivers a powerful reward to the brain similar to the pleasure from food and sex, a Harvard study concludes.

The study led by two neuroscientists and published this week concluded that “self disclosure” produces a response in the region of the brain associated with dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure or the anticipation of a reward.

The researchers said most people devote 30 to 40 percent of their speech to “informing others of their own subjective experiences” but that on social media, this is closer to 80 percent.

They conclude “that humans so willingly self-disclose because doing so represents an event with intrinsic value, in the same way as with primary rewards such as food and sex.”

Although Facebook was not specifically cited in the study, it focused on the brain response of people’s “opportunities to communicate their thoughts and feelings to others.”

“To the extent that humans are motivated to propagate the products of their minds, opportunities to disclose one’s thoughts should be experienced as a powerful form of subjective reward,” wrote Diana Tamir and Jason Mitchell of Harvard’s Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab.

The research, published in the May 7 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said the study support the notion that humans, like some other primates, will give up some rewards because of a powerful brain response.

The study gave people a small cash reward for answering certain factual questions about things they observe, and a lower reward for offering their own views about a subject. But in many cases, the participants chose a smaller reward if they could talk about themselves.

“Just as monkeys are willing to forgo juice rewards to view dominant groupmates and college students are willing to give up money to view attractive members of the opposite sex, our participants were willing to forgo money to think and talk about themselves,” the researchers wrote.
11:36
Chef Saurabh from Jaipur visits The Norfolk
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It’s been a 16-year journey for Saurabh Saxena. The young, handsome cordon bleu transformed from a young man unimpressed with prospects of being a successful engineer to a Senior Sous Chef, running a massive kitchen at the Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur.

Hailing from a small village in India, Saurabh – the second born in a family of three boys – studied engineering in his father’s footsteps. It didn’t take long for him to realise that that was not his cup of tea.

With encouragement from his father, he dropped out and took up a culinary management course at Mangalore University, where he graduated with honours.

“While I was not in school, I used to help my mom prepare the meals in my free time. I used to like it when she was baking and would help her when I could. I think that’s where the interest for cooking came from. I decided that that’s what I want to study,” he told Capital Lifestyle Magazine.

Bight eyed and bushy tailed, Saurabh’s first job was at the Hyatt Regency, in the Indian capital New Delhi. After a two year stint, he had grown enough to land a job in the land of opportunity for any Indian – Dubai.

“I got a job at the Jumeirah International in 2000. I was happy to go out of the country (India), it was a dream. I was exposed to a lot of styles of cooking and it was exciting for me. I started as a Tex Mex chef with lots of Paprika and all.”

He was then promoted to another Jumeirah hotel after two years, the Burj Al Arab, which is the only 7 star hotel in the world.

“The chefs there were from all over the world. We had German chefs, French chefs, Italian chefs and everything. I stayed there for another two years, learning all the different techniques. I worked in the meat section, cold section…”

His work there was very demanding, just by virtue of the hotel’s prestige.

“The guests there wanted only the best. So there was no hanky panky allowed on their food. The other amazing thing about that hotel is the fact that you could get any spice or ingredient you wanted; anything from anywhere in the world. This makes the food first class.”

Saurabh’s adventures also saw him learn Spanish, because one of the chefs he had to work under could only speak Spanish. The language was necessary for Saurabh to ask questions, which he believes is the best way to hone his own talent, shape his style and expand his knowledge.

Not long after, the young Indian chef moved to the Fairmont Palm Hotel in Dubai. Recognising his talent, he was moved to be the pre opening chef for Fairmont Abu Dhabi and now, the Senior Sous Chef at the first Fairmont property in India.

Ahead of the hotel’s opening in July, Saurabh has been holding fort at Fairmont the Norfolk in Nairobi, whose head chef Hubert Des Marais transferred to Hawaii. The young chef is coming up with a massive work-force and setting up a delectable menu for the upcoming Jaipur Royal Cuisine Festival at the Hotel.

“We shall be showcasing food from Jaipur from 26 May to June 10. The food is typical cuisine from Jaipur, which is a very hot place but which has been known to have very good food because that is where all the royal palaces used to be. Some of the menus have been there for centuries, but I like to develop my own style.”

The 34-year-old has interacted with Kenyan chefs in Dubai, and was excited to come to Kenya, where he saw his first lion outside of the Discovery Channel. He learnt about Ugali through the Kenyan chefs, and is hoping to spice it up by making the staple food with an olive paste or with sun-dried tomatoes.

“I don’t know if Kenyans realise this but they have so many ingredients here. Herbs, fruits, spices, meat, you have it all here. It makes the food get amazing taste.”

Saurabh says that one day he hopes to be able open his own restaurant, which he will run with his mother, whom he says is a spectacular cook.

The sports lover has met celebrities like Roger Federer, Kanye West and Akon during his work, but he is most impressed by people’s stories and the history behind food recipes.
11:16
‘Discovered in Africa’ New online shop by Vogue and Yoox
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

We have been watching what Franca Sozzani Editor of Vogue Italia has been up to recently. There have been many reports, articles interviews and videos of her travelling to various countries on the African continent (such as Nigeria,Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa) and now we can see a small snippet of the developments of her travels.

We introduce you to ‘Discovered in Africa’ a project in collaboration with yoox.com, to raise awareness of African design talents and provide them with sales opportunities in Europe and even globally. This project began and stems from a larger initiative Franca is involved with called Fashion for Development which started in 1996 by former Bangladeshi model Bibi Russell and promotes development in emerging countries through fashion. With the help of Unesco F4D is a development campaign for the textile sector started specifically as a means to help female workers free themselves from poverty. They have chosen Franca Sozzani as a Fashion for Development Goodwill Ambassador who has recently travelled to various African countries to seek out and create a network of small and medium-size businesses working in fashion in Africa. She aimed to ‘discover the small productions that are already active but do not enjoy the visibility and distribution that are necessary for their own development and that of the surrounding territory.’ (Vogue Italia online)
Global Mamas on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’ Le Collane Di Betta on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’ Tiffany Amber on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’ Lanre Da Silva Ajayi on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’ Lemlem on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’ Lanre Da Silva Ajayi on Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’

So this week Yoox.com launched the project ‘Discovered in Africa’ which presents and sells African made product such as that by womens cooperative Global Mamas in Ghana, Nigerian designer Tiffany Amber (one of my personal favourites) who has a great eye for print and textiles, Sabahar an Ethiopian company we recently visited (stay connected for our Ethiopia report next week) who make beautiful scarves that I just had to purchase made from silk worms silk and vegetable dyes, Again in Ethiopia, there are the beautiful creations of the top model Liya Kebede and much more.

The project will be presented yoox.com in conjunction with the May edition of Vogue. Marina Spadafora is an Italian fashion designer who has collaborated with F4D on the first selection of products sold online exclusively onYoox.com. Her experience for years has been working with sustainable productions across the world and says: “To produce in Africa it takes months, there are no seasonal collections; realities such as Global Mamas in Ghana weave, dye and print their fabrics by hand and this also conditions the distribution”.
Yoox.com ‘Discovered in Africa’
The title ‘Discovered’ in Africa is debatable but the concept and the market opportunities is one that we highly support. We look forward to seeing more collections coming to the site and new designers and made in Africa product too.

Source: Africa Fashion Guide
10:24
Too much porn can result in poor sexual performance
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Porn is predictable and full of fantasies, relationships and imagery that only could be lived out if you were starring in a porn film.

An Italian study showed that the more porn men watched, the less likely they were able to have an erection when they wanted to have sexual intercourse in real life. What does that mean for you? Long-term exposure to erotic images and films in the media increases the chances of you being unable to become excited by ordinary sexual encounters, researchers concluded.

Suffering from impotent is no longer an issue that only plagues older men or those with poor health, being hopeless in bed is also affecting young men in the prime of their lives, 20s and 30s.

Thanks to the free-reaching internet, available erotic pictures and videos can be accessible with simply a click on your mobile device or computer to stimulate peoples’ brains, which creates a pleasurable spike of dopamine in a porn-user’s brain.

Researchers described the dopamine spike as a ‘paradoxical effect’ whereby with each new stimulation, the brain loses its ability to respond to dopamine signals, resulting in porn-users requiring increasingly extreme experiences to become sexually aroused.

So what are the researchers really saying?

Pornography can be a source of sexual performance problems. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Journal Source: Psychology Today
9:12
‘Otelo Burning’ a searing tale of apartheid’s end
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The violent years leading to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison provide the backdrop for a coming of age story about black teenagers looking for their own freedom, on surfboards.

The Zulu-language film “Otelo Burning”, which opens Friday in South Africa, was inspired by true events and filmed in the style of the documentaries which director Sara Blecher made previously.

“It’s a very important story for SA now because it talks about freedom and what you do with freedom. It resonates with what happens now in the country. If you don’t guard against it, you are at risk to loose your freedom”, she said.

“I wanted the audience not to feel like it’s watching movie but it’s real. It’s like a journey, a real experience. You can’t go back in the 1990s so you are going to experience it,” she said.

The appalling violence that pushed South Africa to the brink of civil war is the setting for a searing drama about Otelo Buthelezi and his two friends living in the late 1980s in the Durban township of Lamontville.

The film intimately follows their personal search for freedom, which begins with Otelo discovering a natural talent in the water in a city famed for its surf.

Surfing opens a world of new experiences: a first swim, a first kiss, a first competition, a first victory.

Success for Otelo and his friends comes during the bloodiest violence in South Africa, with Durban especially hit by clashes between Mandela’s African National Congress and the mainly-Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party, secretly backed by the white government.

Otelo shares a surname with Inkatha leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

“That period was of incredible violence, the country was nearly going into civil war,” Blecher told AFP.

“It was insane, there were just bodies and up to 100 people killed in one day.”

“I lived through that time. With the actors, they are young and things have changed so much. They have the knowledge of being black, but not what happened at that time,” said Blecher.

Blecher, who is white, directed the actors with the help of an interpreter who also checked the dialogue.

“For me, the words are just one part of the scene. The scene is what is really going on, and not necessarily what the actors say,” she said.

She worked for more than seven years on her latest film, including several writing workshops with Lamontville residents.

Aside from the surfing scenes, the film sweeps viewers along with a fluid cinematography that almost caresses the actors.

The style has its roots in Blecher’s documentaries, including 2011′s “Surfing Soweto”, about teenagers who ride on top of trains.

The film is the latest fruit of South Africa’s efforts to promote cinema.

Half of Blecher’s one-million-dollar budget was financed through a government programme launched in 2008, which has helped South Africa make more than 20 films a year.

“My film is indicative of the beginning of a really exciting time in SA,” Blecher said.

“Otelo burning” is only the third movie made entirely in Zulu, after “Izulu Lami” in 2008 and “Yesterday” in 2004. It’s already made a start internationally on the festival circuit, including screenings in Pusan, London and Dubai.
May 11, 2012
13:28
Avengers, boosts Shawarma sales!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Aside from smashing box office records, it seems that the recently released superhero flick, The Avengers, has also bumped up sales in another business – selling Shawarmas.

“Have you ever tried shawarma?” Iron Man asks Captain America during some comic relief after an intense fighting scene, “There’s a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don’t know what it is, but I want to try it.”

Shawarma joints in Hollywood have seen a dramatic increase in sales, as much as 80 per cent at Ro-Ro’s Chicken, as reported by TMZ.

So what’s the big fuss?

What is Shawarma

Known as the “Arabian Taco” to some, others know it as Shawarma, Shawerma, Shawrma, and even Doner Kebab. So which one is it?

Depending on the country and even the neighbourhood, the Shawarma experience will vary from the taste to its texture.

A favourite street-eat thanks to the recognizable massive towering logs of revolving meat roasting in vertical cookers outside restaurants, Shawarma calls for skilled chefs to carefully shave off bits of the sizzling meat.

Imagine, slowly roasted meat, whether it’s lamb, beef or even chicken; its shavings piled up high in a giant flat pita-like bread, smoothed with a delicious chickpea paste – Humus, topped with chopped cucumber and tomato salad, and then rolled up into a delicious package, allowing the vegetables and the bread to soak up the meat juices, giving Shawarma that distinctive and heavenly taste. Now that’s what a “taco” made for foodies should taste like!

All this talk about Shawarmas is getting us hungry! So where’s your favourite Shawarma joint in Nairobi?
12:24
Your lips, your trademark!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Your lips, your eyes, your nose (not in that particular order) are the most prominent features on anybody’s face and those are what one will keep looking at when talking to you.

Although nowadays money can buy you even a set of new lips, it is sort of hard to change your God given natural features. And since we already have them on us, the only thing we can do is to make them pop out in a beautiful way because we appreciate having them, by wearing a little bit of make-up.

There are people who just don’t give a hoot about their looks hence they neglect even their face and especially their lips!The lips are a very crucial feature on the face. In order to make out clearly what somebody is saying you will always look at their lips! Hence,dry busted lips won’t give you the full attention as the person talking to you will just be turned off. People like looking at beautiful well taken care of lips you know?

When it comes to making your lips stand out as a beautiful feature on your face, you can either gloss them, balm them or apply lipstick on them! Anything but neglect them.

Depending on your preferred colors,flavors and the size of your lips you can choose either one or all lip-popping tricks.

Lip Balm: These give you a natural look and just work to give your lips some needed moisture. Vaseline and petroleum jelly’s can also fall in this moisturizing category. Most of them have protective properties that actually help give your lips a break from the harsh weather conditions. Nowadays you will find flavored and colored ones as well to suit your taste.

Lip Gloss: These are super shiny and give your lips a glow. There are different types of glosses depending on the base used to make them. There are those really thick, sticky ones with a heavy base that can almost glue your lips together and those that are more water based that are quite bearable but don’t last long on the lips. You have to keep on re-applying. Most of the thick based lip glosses are used in photo shoots to make the lips or the base lip color pop out. There are also those with a little extra something like glitter or actual fruit flavor and fragrance. They come in a very wide variety.

Lipstick: These have been around since forever! They keep making new ones with a little added something here and there trying to make them better and better. There are endless shades of lipstick and these I believe are only for the bold! Lipstick can be a bit too much for some people, so only those who know and love to wear them should do so. Not amateurs! Lipstick should be worn with swag and confidence.
For best results lipstick is best worn on top of a base (lip balm) and for a full pop of color, some gloss will come in handy.
Lipsticks can help you pull a few beauty tricks, whether you want to create a fuller or a slimmer pout…lipstick will help you achieve it! It should be applied with expertise and within the lip line (in which case if you don’t you might just end up looking like a clown).

Lips are very sensitive and so they need extra care. They need to look good and even kissable at all times and at the same time they should hold some mystery.They tend to get affected by weather conditions and lack of proper nutrition or moisture. Do take care of your lips. They are your “eye catcher”.

Your lips are yours, so do whatever you want to do with them just as long as you take care of them and don’t come out looking like a joke or malnourished

Below are images of Rihanna wearing different lip colors:
12:02
Blood clot risks to some birth control labels
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

US health authorities on Tuesday ordered revised labels on some types of birth control including German pharmaceutical giant Bayer’s Yaz pills to advise of a possibly higher risk of blood clots.

“Women who use birth control pills with drospirenone (like Yaz) may have a higher risk of getting a blood clot,” said a new Yaz label on the US Food and Drug Administration website.

“Some studies reported that the risk of blood clots was higher for women who use birth control pills that contain drospirenone than for women who use birth control pills that do not contain drospirenone.”

However, the regulatory agency pointed out that studies have shown mixed results.

“The studies reviewed did not provide consistent estimates of the comparative risk of blood clots between birth control pills that contain drospirenone and those that do not,” the FDA said in a statement.

“The studies also did not account for important patient characteristics (known and unknown) that may influence prescribing and that likely affect the risk of blood clots,” it added.

“For these reasons, it is unclear whether the increased risk seen for blood clots in some of the epidemiologic studies is actually due to drospirenone-containing birth control pills.”

Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin which can suppress ovulation and thereby prevent pregnancy either when used alone or in combination with an estrogen component.

There are 11 approved versions of such pills on the US market, including names such as Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Safyral, Syeda, and Zarah.

In December, a panel of experts that advises the FDA urged stronger labeling on drospirenone-containing pills, voting 21-5 that the current labels did not adequately reflect the risks and benefits.

The panel was divided on the question of whether the benefits of such pills outweighed the risks, with 15 saying “yes” and 11 saying “no.”

The pills have been marketed on the basis they help alleviate premenstrual symptoms, reduce acne and cause less weight gain than competitors. They have also been the focus of numerous lawsuits.

Two recent studies in the British Medical Journal found that drugs like Yaz and Yasmin increase the risk of serious blood clots three-fold or two-fold compared to earlier-generation oral contraceptives.

The European Medicines Agency concluded last year that such birth control pills carry a higher risk of venous thromboembolism and that warning labels should be updated accordingly.

However, it noted the overall risk of blood clot from any birth control method remains small and stopped short of advising women to stop taking pills containing drospirenone.

Yaz is the second biggest selling product made by Bayer, with $1.56 billion in global sales.
11:15
Ivory Coast has its first all-women band
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It took a mother’s last wish, and a man to make it happen, but Ivory Coast now has it’s first all-women musical ensemble in what is hailed as a little “revolution” in this fiercely patriarchal society.

“Why is it so surprising to see women play instruments?” asked Landry Louoba, one of the 10 women in the Bella Mondo band.

The energetic Louoba plays percussion — and has the biceps to prove it — alongside a drummer, a pianist, a bassist, singers and other musicians, most in their 30s.

The man who got things started is promoter Charly Maiwan, a Canadian from Montreal who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and made a promise to his mother, a passionate music lover, on her deathbed.

“You always told me you’d have me sing, but my time has come, I’m leaving. Promise me that now you’ll make the women of the world sing,” he told AFP, recalling his mother’s words.

In 2007, Maiwan, who travels regularly to Africa, contactedNadine Levry, an Ivorian singing in nightclubs in the economic capital Abidjan. She liked the idea and contacted bass player Prisca Allou.

Bella Mondo was born, and quickly recruited eight other members with a repertoire that ranges from reggae, afro-zouk and a local dance music called zouglou, to oldies and some of their own compositions.

“This adventure must continue and attract other women,” said percussionist Louoba.

“It’s the right time for our revolution,” added Josiane Labi Luo, one of the group’s four singers whose goes by the stage name “Jo Labi”.

“Revolution”, in fact, is the title the women chose for their first album, scheduled for release in 2013 and a testament to their will to overcome both the country’s unbending macho ethic and the turmoil from a decade of armed rebellion and political conflict that claimed 3,000 lives last year alone.

A hairdresser by trade, Levry, the band leader and a mother, recalls the difficulty she had selling the idea to her own family. Through sheer perseverance she finally obtained their “blessing”, but blamed such trouble on Ivorian society as a whole.

Women remain sidelined in both political and economic circles in the Ivory Coast, said Salimata Porquet, a women’s rights activist who heads a non-governmental organisation called the Peace and Security Network for Women in ECOWAS (the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States).

“There is still much to do to reach male-female parity, a promise that was never kept” by President Alassane Ouattara since he took office last May, she charged, noting there are only six women in the 35-member government and 30 in the 253-member parliament.

Yet “in Ivory Coast, 60% of households are headed by women, after a decade of political, military and socio-economic turbulence that has disrupted social structures, triggered layoffs, closed factories and torn apart families,” Porquet said, adding: “This is the state of affairs in much of the continent.”

As for the ensemble, “the attitude of men was oppressive at first,” said Levry. “Society viewed us so badly… Women are only meant to cook, make children and take care of the house.”

The “revolution” they’ve undertaken is “to show that women can play instruments, sometimes even better than men!” she said.

The women perform in elegant dresses of African wax cloth and have played across Abidjan, but their “headquarters”, as they call it, is a club called “Pams” in the trendy district of Il-Plateaux.

March 8, International Women’s Day, brought an official “blessing” of sorts when they were asked to perform at a government-planned gala hosted by former prime minister and now speaker of parliament Guillaume Soro.

And the milestones continue. In July the band is scheduled to play in Montreal at a women’s music festival organised by Maiwan, as well as some gigs in Europe.

Other requests are coming in but the group’s manager, Dominique Tahi, said the band “lacks instruments” and is pressing authorities for help.

For band leader Levry, there’s another wish: “If Ivorian people would have a positive attitude towards what we’re doing and support us, that would really help.”
10:13
Communication is key in any relationship
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(THITU KARIBA) – To begin a relationship of any kind we have to communicate. We relate through communication. Communication lets you know in on things, it provides you with information, knowledge and with that, you can then know how to apply what you know to get what you want. In a way courting is just that, getting information, and then applying that information to get the object of your affection. Communication is there for the passing on of information and the receiving of information, but it does not end there, this information has to be understood by the recipient and feedback must be giving to the sender of the information.

If the two of you do not understand each other then you are not communicating. Many times this is just what the problem is in relationships be it with friends or more. The messages are not being clearly understood. I mean how many times have we heard someone state that what one was getting is not what they meant to say, or that it came out wrong? Yes, breakdown in communication can leave your relationship on shaky ground.

One of the key communication skills that we too often over look, is that of listening. We have senses that help us to do that, the tongue tastes and tell us the flavor of things, the ear hears and we get to know what someone is saying and the tone too. The eyes allow as to read written messages and also body language and other non verbal messages like colors, the nose tells us one scents from another, and there is more, our spirit, we can use our spirit to listen, discern as see beyond what others can’t. We get stirred up inside and just know something is wrong, or that someone is hurting. If we can put all these skills to work to listen, to our loved ones, our relationships would be transformed.

There are things that can hinder us from listening and this is considered as noise. Anything that prevents a message from being transmitted is understood as noise. This can come in the form of stress, anger, pain, weariness and more. For you to communicate effectively you have to listen well and to do that there cannot be any noise. So ladies let him wind down after work before you need to have a talk, men let her just put the kids to bed, or clean the dishes or finish cooking before you need to share about the great day you had at work.

It sounds easy but it does take work, work that is well worth it because as I mention it will revolutionize your relationship.

Follow the author on Facebook Thitu Kariba ( Coach) and Twitter @Thitu_k
8:47
Rihanna briefly hospitalized after New York party
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Pop star Rihanna was briefly hospitalized in the US this week and posted a picture on Twitter showing her arm hooked up to an intravenous drip, with media reports citing “exhaustion” and “dehydration.”

Several entertainment news websites reported Wednesday that the Barbados-born singer was admitted after attending the Met Costume Ball in New York on Monday night. She had for several days told her Twitter followers that she had been feeling sick.

But when the updates stopped on Tuesday one fan who tweeted Rihanna to ask what was going on prompted the singer to post the picture which showed her trademark long black fake nails and a fluids drip taped up to her arm.

The mediatakeout.com website reported that Rihanna had suffered exhaustion and dehydration after a night of hard partying at the Met, but said she was now “doing better” and had flown back to her home in Los Angeles.

The New York Post, meanwhile, quoted an anonymous source as saying the singer had become sick from “excessive partying and not slowing down.”
May 10, 2012
15:05
ONE on ONE: DJ Protege
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

One could argue that House music originated from all over the world, simultaneously, evenly and gradually mushrooming to develop the identities it now has in the various regions.

In America, it may have emanated from the key board, and even incorporated some aspects of native American chant-like singing. In Africa, it could have come from the Luhya isukuti drums or the South African version of it. It could have. These beats were then developed to suit the modern times, making the likes of DJ Cleo, Professor and Oskido nothing less than rock stars.

That is my uneducated opinion, and I have salted it generously. But one thing I do know, is that house music is extremely popular here in Kenya, and thanks to music mixers like DJ Protégé, this genre can only keep growing and morphing to become more African.

You may have seen him wearing a tee-shirt, shorts and loafers. A neat looking light skinned guy revving the crowd by telling them to throw their hands in the air and wave them, vigorously.

DJ Protégé loves his House music, and his love for it is infectious. He spared a few minutes to chat with Capital Lifestyle on what it takes to be him.

“Sleep is key! Hours before a gig, I make sure I get some good rest. I usually prepare a playlist for the evening as a guideline, and I play this as I get ready. In the shower, as I dress, in the car as I drive there with the volume very loud. That puts me in the zone,” he said.

Dressed for comfort and with his eyes on the prize, DJ Protégé takes a couple of energy drinks over the hours that he works. “You have to have energy. That is one important thing. You also have to read the crowd well. One mistake that most DJs make is that they play music that they like rather than what people like.”

The first born in a family of two, DJ Protégé thinks his skills as a disc jockey must be genetic. “My dad was a DJ a long time ago, he used to DJ with tapes,” he said, chuckling.

But it’s not only genes that did a good DJ make; it took a lot of hard work and a lot of patience too.

“It took seven months of hustling and meeting clients and doing free gigs to get noticed. I would do mix-tapes and really go out there, before I was recognized.”

The DJ, who plays regularly at Brew Bistro and Il Covo in Mombasa, says that work coupled with humility, is what keeps opening doors in a DJ’s career. Protégé’s career as a DJ is now two and a half years old, and it’s far from over.

“Even now, every day you have about 10 new dance tracks coming out. You have to sample them and see what works with the Kenyan crowd. That keeps the content fresh. With songs that are popular over a long period of time, you have to look for a way to re-invent them.”

Protégé is excited about a project he’s working on with a host of other DJs, to produce a CD of local house music. The aim is steer clear of the South African sound that dominates Kenyan clubs nowadays.

“Dance music is growing and just like we own Kapuka and Genge, we are working on something amazing. There are new levels of creativity in Kenyan music currently.”

Protégé looks just as swanky in shorts as he does in a suit, which he often puts on for his day job as the Business Development Manager for Capital Digital Media.

(Pictures by Rizwan Ibrahim for Kenya Nights).
14:58
Muhibbah at Sankara embraces Asian fusion
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Asian fusion cuisine isn’t a new concept anymore in the world, but it is in Nairobi where palates are only enjoying the numerous Asian restaurants sprouting up all over the city – namely, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

At Muhibbah at the sleek hotel, Sankara Nairobi, the vibrant flavours and rich culinary heritage of South East Asia are all infused in an East-East menu, representing the evolving Asian fusion cuisine. Muhibbah’s menu represents the emerging identity of all of us as global citizens, whom palates are no longer only defined by merely where our ancestors are from, but instead from the diverse experiences and places we encounter – removing cultural barriers and encouraging open-minds to embrace the best if what Asian cuisine has to offer.

From Thailand to Hong Kong to Vietnam to Malaysia, the nearly fifty-item menu proved difficult to choose only one or two items to try. The huge menu on a playful clipboard had boxes for you to easily check-off and offers something for everyone who has a taste for the Orient.

Muhibbah is situated in a discreet and small corner of the hotel with it’s tastefully sleek and contemporary décor making up for the lack of space. The airy space has high ceilings accompanied by a focal glossy auburn-coloured wall that reflects a warm glow back into the dining space. The open-concept kitchen allowed the fragrant aromas spread into the dining room and the methodical sounds of woks hard at work enticed hungry diners.

The staff are extremely friendly, competent and very helpful. Our service wasn’t the fastest in Nairobi (nearly 30 minutes before our starters came to the table), but the staffs’ lovely presence made that more bearable.

The foodies in Nairobi are a tough crowd, very knowledgeable and hard to please. But for those that are looking for a diverse selection of Asian cuisine and a little bit of authenticity, like Singapore Noodles, Muhibbah may just be the right choice.

Singapore Noodles

Though these delicious fried vermicielli noodles bears Singapore’s name, it’s actually more of a favourite in Cantonese-speaking regions. So what makes this vibrant stir-fry different from the countless other noodle dishes? The curry powder.

Instead of starting the dish with curry paste or cooking the curry powder for an extended period of time, Singapore noodles calls for frying the curry powder together with minced garlic for only 20-30 seconds before adding the rest of the colourful ingredients, resulting in that distinctive dried, charred and spicy flavour that coats every strand of noodle.

The distinctive flavour isn’t for everyone, but Muhibbah’s version is as close as you can get to the Hong Kong-favourite in Nairobi – definitely worth a try if you’re feeing adventurous!

For location details, prices, and how you can book online – make sure you check out Eat Out Kenya! Check it out now! http://www.eatout.co.ke/Muhibbah

FOODBlog

Fried stuffed chicken wings filled with glass noodles and minced chicken

Glass noodle salad with mushroom, peanuts, onions, tomatoes and coriander with a chili lime dressing

Roasted duck curry with pineapple, cherry tomatoes, grapes and basil

Lemongrass creme brule with giant almond tuille
12:21
Man uses juju to catch cheating wife?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A man got stuck “inside” a woman while doing the deed somewhere in a guest house in Nairobi. Apparently, he was “juju’d” by the woman’s husband who had suspected that his wife was cheating.
After being stuck for quite some time… with just a touch from the husband (the said juju man) they got free. It is said that the “stuck man” offered some amount of money if only he could be let free and that’s when the juju man decided to set them free.

Some people have referred to the saga as “kwamasutra” ! That must have been super embarrassing for the two cheats thinks the Capital Lifestyle crew. If you are a cheat then beware!

Below is the “kwamasutra” video.
May 09, 2012
18:34
Men’s 10 wardrobe essentials
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(BY SUNNY DOLAT) This list consists of items that EVERY man should have in his wardrobe; they’re classic pieces that will never go out of style. If you miss something in this list then you need to do something about it like last week! Yah?

Let’s get started….

1.White button-down shirt:

every man NEEDS this staple (clean and pressed) white shirt in his life! Most of us wore white shirts all the way from primary and we will probably continue to throughout our lives so better stock them up. They look classy, crisp & never go out of style!

2. Dress shirts:

Dress shirts are great for an evening party and can either be dressed up or down. They look good and they make a bold statement. There’s a wide variety of styles and patterns you can choose from, like floral, paisley, textures like silk or taffeta, colors etc so find what suits you best and rock that party!

3. V-Neck sweater:

These are the MOST fabulous sweaters ever!!!! You can wear them by themselves or you can layer them up with a polo shirt, dress shirt, blazer… as in, the options are endless! You can use them to inject colour into an outfit, you can use them to tone down an outfit, you can wear them with jeans, linen pants, cargo pants, shorts, formal pants… as in…. wow. *Sigh* V-neck sweaters are MAJOR.

NOTE: Please don’t wear baggy sweaters…please…you’ll look really bad…and fat, and no one wants that…. I think

4. Tailored Blazer/Suit:

Nothing looks better on a man than a tailored jacket!!! The best thing a man can do is get himself a tailored suit. Even if you buy a suit from a store, you should take it to the tailor to be fitted. The suit can be worn as separates. Now you know what to do…go on now…

5. Overcoat:

For those days that you need to go out and there’s some drizzle, there’s no need to put on a shady ass coat, invest in a good overcoat, it’ll keep you dry AND fly.

6. Well Fitting blue jeans:

Ok, most of you think you have these but no, you don’t… A good pair of jeans should fit well, not too baggy and not too tight, if you have to jump around a room just so that you can get into your jeans, then there’s a problem. If your jeans need to be held up by a belt, then there’s a problem also. A good pair of jeans fit well and are the right length. Avoid jeans with logos or all those ‘madoidos’ the have all over.

Pick a style that’s classy, like a straight cut jean as opposed to boot leg or skinny jean. A good pair of jeans can be dressed up by throwing on a blazer or a dress shirt and you can dress them down by wearing a polo shirt, so they’re really quite… erm … versatile

7. Cargo Pants:

These are probably THE most comfy pants ever!!! Inspired by military uniforms, cargo pants have the whole multiple pocket thing going on plus they have some extra volume around the leg area so that makes them extra comfy. Great for the outdoors.

8. Linen:

No man’s wardrobe is complete without a linen item, be it a shirt, slack or even a suit. Linen is a great summer fabric coz it’s so light and airy. It does however crease like crazy but that’s the beauty of linen picture yourself laying along the shores somewhere in the Caribbean, sipping on your Cuba Libre…ok now open your eyes…you were wearing linen, weren’t you?

9. Black Shoes:

Every man needs a pair of smart black dress shoes for attending a black tie event in. Good thing with such shoes is that you can wear them with a pair of jeans or linen pants and still look stellar, as opposed to wearing a suit with sneakers…*cringe* So whether its a pair of shiny patent leather brogues or a matt lace up, make sure you step out in style.

I’ve decided instead of writing a number 10, I’ll leave it to you guys to give your opinions of what that other item is, I’m sure we’ll have some interesting stuff so go ahead…what’s number 10?…

Article courtesy of: http://oshinity.wordpress.com/
14:46
Prezzo flaunts cash at BBA celeb-mate
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Bad blood is brewing between Kenyan musician Prezzo and South African socialite Barbz, who had somewhat of an altercation in Upville last night.

It was only hours after the ‘King of Bling’ raised an issue to Biggie about the South African celeb, that the two went at each other’s throats because Prezzo couldn’t keep the bile down.

Trouble started, according to the official BBA website, when Prezzo took the liberty to give Barbz the nicknames “Miss Mademoiselle” and “Tyra Banks”. The lady was not pleased by the references and told him as much and the back and forth nearly got ugly.

Goldie who went to placate Prezzo in the garden was told that the words “sorry” and “I love you” don’t come easy for him and that “if it’s $300,000 she wants, she must talk to me nicely and I’ll hook her up!.”

Barbz seems to be the only housemate rubbing Prezzo the wrong way, as he dedicated about five minutes of his session with Big Brother to confess that he feels she is intimidating the other female Upville-mates.

“The girls do all the work and Barbz just sits there looking at herself in the mirror,” he complained, adding that it was not right because ‘everybody here is the same’.

In Downville, however, the Kenyans seem to be having a good time. Brothers Alex and Malonza have both managed to kiss the same girl, Junia from Namibia. That all happened on day one. It is now Day 4 and Junia seems to have taken a liking to Nigerian giant Ola.

Do the Kenyans like Junia enough to let it get in between them? According to a friend of theirs, who spoke to Capital Lifestyle, absolutely not!

“Those two are so close. I doubt whether a woman can get in between them,” he said.

Alex (Kenya) getting to know Yadel (Liberia)
11:58
InMobi launches InMobi AdTracker
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle
Free, UDID independent, conversion tracking platform for advertisers
Mobile is big in Europe, Asia and the USand it is for this reason that InMobi, the world’s largest independent mobile advertising network, recently announced the launch of its new mobile conversion tracking platform. This new tracking platform provides real-time analytics and allows advertisers to measure multiple conversions on both mobile web and app campaigns, across virtually all advertising networks and publishers.

It is worth noting that that the InMobi AdTracker is separate from the InMobi ad network, not reliant on UDIDs (Unique Device Identifiers), and is completely free to integrate and use.

This combination marks this service as the only independent, scalable and cost-effective solution for managing mobile campaign performance in a rapidly growing market.

The industry has been aware for some time that UDID deprecation was on its way. With this in mind, it was critical for InMobi to create a solution with long-term benefits for both advertisers and publishers. InMobi Ad Tracker is a UDID free solution that is independent from the InMobi Ad Network and tracks conversions across all mobile ad networks and publishers. By integrating with the InMobi Ad Tracker, ad networks can get real time feedback on all conversions that they attribute, giving them accurate insights into their mobile campaign results and allowing them to optimise campaigns in real time.This will in turn drive more accountability for spend in mobile, benefiting the entire mobile ecosystem; from advertisers to publishers and app developers.” says ChandrashekharVattikuti, VP of Products at InMobi.

InMobi Ad Tracker benefits include:
- It is network agnostic and it works across all mobile ad networks
- It tracks multiple conversion types across mobile web and app inventory
- It combines multiple tracking technologies to ensure no dependencies on UDID
- It only requires a single login to access conversion data across all mobile ad networks
- Includes a real-time dashboard view of all conversion events
- Includes ability to define bespoke goals, like downloads, registrations, payments etc.
- Conversion data can be passed back to the originating mobile ad networks to enable real-time optimisation
- EasySDK integration for iOS and Android Apps and JavaScript integration for mobile web campaigns
- Completely free to integrate and use
Vattikuti concludes by adding that “InMobi has been able to deliver a solution that addresses advertiser, app developer and publisher conversion tracking requirements. With analytics solutions, first mover advantage is not as important as building a highly scalable and accurate solution to solve customer problems, hence our timing for this launch. In its first release, InMobi Ad Tracker uses browser cookies to track conversions across apps and the mobile web as the primary conversion tracking technology. It also combines ODIN1 and market referrer tracking technologies for app download campaigns. By using multiple tracking technologies, itis able to produce the highest level of accuracy and scale that is possible through mobile devices.The Ad Tracker solution is cloud based, allowing it unparalleled scalability for inventory across the globe.”

Further information on this product as can found on www.inmobi.com/adtracker and/or and email to AdTracker@InMobi.com
11:29
Can your relationship survive an affair?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

*Jennifer, forgot her phone at home one Wednesday morning and she just couldn’t cope without it as she kept thinking of the business she might be losing out on. So after her 10 o’clock meeting she dashed home to pick it up. When she got home however, her husband’s car was parked outside (which was strange as he was supposed to be at work). She thought quickly and decided to park hers across the street. She stealthily crept inside the house and realized her husband was in the bedroom as there was some noise coming from that direction.

Since her phone was in the bedroom as well, she peeped through the door crack and saw her husband busy working on another woman. She decided not to panic, so after catching her breath she burst into the bedroom and announced “Don’t mind me I’m just grabbing my phone. Carry on.” She however made sure she saw the face of the woman in bed with her husband.

Her husband didn’t follow her to try and get her sympathy or maybe explain and Jen didn’t care to wait. When she got home in the evening she pretended like nothing had happened. She even made dinner and set a place for her husband and went to bed without even bringing up the issue. Her husband tried to apologize once or twice during dinner and calmly and almost playing dumb she told him that she had no idea what he was apologizing for.

When asked by her friends later why she didn’t leave the cheating husband she explained that “Nowadays you don’t walk out on your marriage because you’ve been cheated on. Instead, you stay and persevere as you wait to return the favor and if he happens to be loaded then that is your opportunity to splurge on whatever you want and squander all his money. That’s when you get that Tiguan you’ve been dreaming of.”

**James is not the most faithful person on earth but he is a humble guy who is thankful for everything he has. He knew he had a good girlfriend until he found out that she was having an affair with his friend who happens to be married. When he found out what *Jane was doing he broke up with her. Jane was so sorry though and regretted her behavior terribly! So much so that she spent a whole year apologizing to James tirelessly and trying to make things work again.

After a while James thought things through and took her back. They got married two months ago but everybody who knows their story swears that the marriage won’t last. That James is just planning his revenge or he found something that will serve as leverage later in the marriage.

***Just two weeks after her massive elegant wedding *Maria started experiencing marital woes. *Bill (Maria’s new husband) started a funny behavior of going out clubbing until morning. Bill was always a party animal and Maria, well, a born again Christian so partying has always been out of the question for her.

Together they have a one year old daughter but being married to each other has always been pure tricks.

One day as Maria was driving to work she received an MMS from a number she did not recognize. She decided to check it out the minute she got to work. When she finally got to it, she couldn’t believe what she saw! Image after image of Bill in bed with another woman! That day was just hell for her as she couldn’t comprehend what it is that she did to deserve that.

A bad fight later, she decided that she would stay for her daughter’s sake.

She has been married to Bill for two years now, they live in the same house but haven’t slept in the same room for one and a quarter years.

****Sophia, a very beautiful housewife and a mother of two happens to be in a case of “unhappily ever after!” She constantly has to prepare to go fight off a woman from her husband at some bar or restaurant. She has become quite popular because of that.

Every other week she has to pay people to tip her off when they see her husband with another woman. The problem is, instead of taking it up with her husband who is the womanizer, she fights the women her husband moves around with making an idiot of herself. Little does she know that she is the laughing stock of the town. And she won’t listen to anyone!

When you look at these stories, you will be convinced that people have accepted cheating. It has almost become part and parcel of relationships. And shockingly most relationships can survive even several affairs. But I ask myself has anyone ever died of loving themselves so much that they have balls to leave a bad relationship? Has anyone ever died of being single?

I have asked around and everybody swears that they would walk out on a cheating partner but when that time comes, it will be a different story. They will just make up an excuse or another for their cheating partners who just can’t keep their pants on and why they have to stay and persevere. My question to you is…Since cheating is like stealing! would you forgive a thief who robbed you of everything you owned?
8:25
Dustin Hoffman displays heroics in London
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman came to the rescue of a jogger who suffered a cardiac arrest in London’s Hyde Park, it emerged on Tuesday.

The Oscar-winning US actor, who owns a house in the British capital, was passing when Sam Dempster collapsed while running in the park on April 27, Dempster wrote on his blog.

The 27-year-old lawyer said he was “indebted” to the “Rain Man” star, who “waited by my side until paramedics arrived”.

Paramedic Martin Macarthur said Hoffman, 74, who starred as a keen runner himself in the 1976 film “Marathon Man”, had described to him how Dempster crashed to the ground, frothing at the mouth.

“It is essential to get a history of what has happened and he witnessed the jogger go down,” said Macarthur.

“He stayed on the scene for the whole duration of the resuscitation, which was about 15 minutes. He was very concerned,” he added.

“And at the end Mr Hoffman was kind enough to come up to all the crews and said, ‘Great job, guys!’”

Dempster — who was unconscious during his encounter with Hoffman and was only told about it later — blogged that the actor had telephoned emergency services, but Macarthur clarified that another passer-by had made the call.

Dempster wrote on Tuesday that he was “back home and on the road to recovery”, adding that he hoped to be running again soon.

A friend added on the website: “It is understood that the paramedic crew… accidentally packed up Dustin Hoffman’s iPod, sunglasses and other possessions in the excitement of loading Sam in to the ambulance.”

“We hope these items have found themselves back in your hands Mr Hoffman!”

Paramedics said the possessions had since been returned to the actor.

Hoffman is the second Hollywood star to come to a Briton’s aid in recent weeks. “Drive” star Ryan Gosling stopped a British journalist from being hit by a New York cab last month.
May 08, 2012
15:22
Bathrooms: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

When it comes to Kenyan interior decorating most bathrooms are not given much attention. Most of bathrooms are small, have little light coming in through an opaque window high up on the wall and are definitely not stylish. However, this does not need to be the case. You can add color to the bathroom and bring in style without spending much money. One of the ways to turn a small dingy bathroom into an elegant room is to use mirrors. Granted most bathrooms come with a wall mirror above the sink, however, there is nothing attractive about a plain mirror stuck on a wall. There are things you can do to make your bathroom look great.
To begin with, you can check out mirror frames that have decorative molding. These will go a long way in enhancing your decorating style. For those who are looking for a contemporary look, chrome is a great choice. For those who prefer a country bath then pine is an excellent choice. For a cottage style bathroom go for a white frame and for pure elegance try silver, gold or dark wood. Because of the fact that most bathrooms have little light, using a mirror will reflect the light making the room look much livelier, brighter and larger.
If you already have a mirror on the wall and don’t have the money to have it framed, try decorating it with silk flowers or a garland for a whole new look. If the bathroom is small but has a wall space, putting a large mirror going from one end to the other can open up the room and make it brighter. In addition to the mirrors, paint your walls a light color as this also reflects light. Have different lighting in the bathroom as well to make it brighter with a dimming option for those mellow, relaxing, intimate times.

BY CYNTHIA MUGI
For more ideas on how to bring life to your home check out our blog http://pambaboma.blogspot.com/ and website www.pambaboma.com
14:12
New Music Alert: Mercy Myra and Muthoni DQ
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Mercy Myra has made a shaky comeback to music, with her new single Afrikan Tango, which simply celebrates music and especially that which is authentically African.

Since moving to the United States in 2005, Mercy’s music has taken a back seat as the lady once labeled as a Kenyan diva focused on her new family.

With a tummy as flat as her Kenyan fans remember and some afro-fusion beats put together, the “Tie Dero” hit singer is working on her latest album which is due out later this year.

Mercy’s voice lacks its trademark oomph in this track, but Capital Lifestyle is braced for better things as her new releases stream in.

What’s do you think of the track? Rate it below.

Meanwhile, the Drummer Queen also known as Muthoni has teamed up with Octopizzo for a new track called Vile Inafaa. Jazzy, funky and most definitely a step up in Kenyan hip-hop. This is how they roll…

http://soundcloud.com/muthonithedrummerqueen/muthoni-dq-ft-octopizzo-vile
13:23
Makerere uni winners of 2012 Microsoft Imagine Cup
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The winning team of the 2012 Microsoft East and Southern Africa Imagine Cup, a student competition which centers on the use of imagination, creativity and technology to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, was picked today in Nairobi.

Team WinSenga fromMakereUniversitywas crowned the regional champs for their application which focuses on how to detect ectopic pregnancies in women as well as monitor baby movements and position in the womb during pregnancy. The team was also voted the best online by facebook and twitter users who were following the competition online.

In total, 14 teams from the region, representing Kenya and Uganda, competed during a challenging day of presentations on May 3rd, which brought together students from universities across the East and Southern Africa. This year’s competition focused on software design and the winners will go on to compete in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals, which will take place in Sydney, Australia in July 2012.

“We are very excited to win today. As a team we have a clear goal; it is not about the UN Millenium goals anymore, its our goal: ‘Reduced Maternal Mortality by 2015. Its Possible! Parter with us today’,” said an elated Aaron Tushabe after collecting the team’s award. “We are ready for the global stage and to show the world that Africa has great talent,” said the team.

Afrosilicon from JKUAT were the runners up and bagged the Best Mobile Application award for their application that allows a user in distress or in an accident to call for help from other users using the same application.

Team whiskers also from JKUAT were number 3 with their software design focused on an embedded system that aids in navigation for the blind.

Inspired by real problems facing the East African region, each one in the 14 teams was honored for their work to address some of toughest challenges in Kenya and Uganda.

Speaking after the awards, Dele Akinsade of Director, Developer Platforms – West, East & Central Africa andIndian Ocean Islands, said he was impressed with the level of talent in the region. “I am very impressed by the solutions provided by the winning team. They are very simple but out of the box which is why they won the competition,” he said.

“As judges we were also impressed by the fact that the students were already factoring in the economic aspect of their solutions which means they can sustain them,” he added.

Now in its tenth year, the Imagine Cup has grown to become the world’s premier student technology competition. Since 2003, over 1.4 million students have participated in the Imagine Cup with 358,000 students representing 183 countries and regions registering for the Imagine Cup 2011 competition. With a competition theme inspired by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems,” the Imagine Cup spans one year, beginning with local, regional and online contests, the Worldwide Finals take place in Sydney, Australia in July 2012.

As an example of the type of real-world solutions the Imagine Cup judges are looking for, in 2011, the winning team at the Worldwide Finals from Ireland developed a project designed to improve road safety by tracking an individual’s journey and giving the driver (and other stakeholders) a report of driving behavior. The report shows any dangerous or erratic driving on a particular trip – information which can be shared with insurance companies, parents or law enforcement agencies. Using a mix of embedded technology, mobile devices along with cloud technology; the solution has the ability to change driving habits to reduce road deaths around the world.

Team WinSenga will join thebrightest young minds to compete on the world stage in July at the worldwide Finals in Sydney Australia. The 2012 competitors will gain real life experience, make new friends, and harness the power of technology to take on the world’s toughest problems.
11:49
Estée Lauder now in Kenya
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Estée Lauder South Africa is delighted to announce its entry intoKenya. And the full line Branded counter will be available at Lintons Beauty World, Junction Mall– Nairobi from this month. The counter marks a new standard for High Touch service, innovation and is evidence of the continuous pursuit of excellence for Estée Lauder.

With expert advice from Estée Lauder’s Beauty Advisors in skin care, make-up and fragrance, the launch of the full service offering at Lintons Beauty World, Junction Mall allows for a true high touch consultation experience – the type of service that has become synonymous with Estée Lauder.

Estée Lauder believes that Every Woman can be Beautiful, so whether you are looking for skincare advice, the perfect foundation shade, the latest make up trend or an addition to your fragrance wardrobe – Estée Lauder’s expert advice and Signature Services from the Beauty Advisors will make the experience extra special.
8:53
Travolta denies sexually assaulting another man
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

John Travolta dismissed as a “baseless lie” Monday a lawsuit seeking $2 million for alleged assault and sexual battery of a masseur, during a massage session at a Beverly Hills hotel.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles claims Travolta tried to have sex with the male masseur, whom he had allegedly hired for a $200-an-hour massage in January. Travolta’s statement said the actor was not even in Los Angeles.

The “Saturday Night Fever” and “Pulp Fiction” star met the masseur, who was only anonymously identified as “John Doe,” in his black Lexus SUV on January 16, according to the legal document published by celebrity news website TMZ.

The actor took the masseur to a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and was given a normal one-hour massage — but then Travolta offered to give a “reverse massage.”

The masseur told Travolta he did not have sex with clients. The 58-year-old actor called him a “loser,” but paid him double the hourly rate and left, the document claimed.

“This lawsuit is a complete fiction and fabrication. None of the events claimed in the suit ever occurred,” Travolta’s publicist said in a statement cited by celebrity bible People magazine and others.

“The plaintiff, who refuses to give their name, knows that the suit is a baseless lie. It is for that reason that the plaintiff hasn’t been identified with a name even though it is required to do so.”

The publicist said Travolta was not in California, but on the other side of the country on the US East Coast, when the masseur claims the encounter took place.

“Plaintiff’s attorney has filed this suit to try and get his 15 minutes of fame,” the statement added.

“John intends to get this case thrown out and then he will sue the attorney and plaintiff for malicious prosecution.”
May 07, 2012
13:59
Tips on how to get her the perfect engagement ring
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Honey, I hate my engagement ring! … Those are words you would never want to hear from your fiancée that you’ve newly engaged.

A friend of mine got engaged last Friday and all we could tell her was “wow congratulations girl!” with happy yet quizzical expressions on our faces. Ask any woman… that was a rather lackluster congratulations from us and I explain that that was because her ring – to put it mildly – is way less than gorgeous. Who am I kidding? That ring is super HIDEOUS! And the worst part is that she knows it too but can’t say anything! An engagement ring is always a big deal! The next big deal after the wedding of course.

I mean you have been waiting for that proposal since forever and it is always a long long hopeful wait and when it comes it had better be worth it! It is normal that when a woman is engaged she will scream in delight, jump up and down, hug and kiss her new fiancé, jump and scream again, admire her ring, say a thousand “OMG’s”, admire her ring again and again then call her friends and half blushing, half ecstatic show off her ring and of course expecting the ohhhs and ahhhs and a million “OMG’s”.

In my friend’s case.. she was just smiling and saying thanks and almost hiding her hands behind her back and fidgeting with her fingers just wishing she could run and hide the ring somewhere dark.

That ring is a “suspect” gold color that makes it look fake and cheap and like it will discolor in 2.5 months, has a strange detail and markings on the band and a strange looking rock that looks like it will fall off in a week or less. If you ask me that ring didn’t cost more than ksh1000 (I will be killed for this but my intention is to save other hopeful souls )

She is in a fix though as she is too nice to tell her fiancé that she hates the ring! She loves and is euphoric with the new status the ring symbolizes so she has decided that after some time she will buy herself another ring. A ring she likes.

Gentlemen, to avoid putting yourself in such a mess (this is thinking that your intention when engaging your girl is to make her the happiest woman in the world)…

Here is how you can go about getting the perfect engagement ring:

*Pay attention to your girls’ style and what she likes.

Women buy themselves jewellery all the time so take it from there. Check out her style and preference and if you can’t afford what you know she would like, take your time and look for a cheaper replica.

*Women throw hints all the time, she can open a magazine page and point at something she likes. Take notes…it may come in handy one day.

*Ask her indirectly and well in advance to tell you what she would like and take note! Or ask someone to find out for you in a way she won’t suspect.

*If the above proves to be rocket science, make good use of her best friend or her sister (they would know what she likes), or your girl pal who you are sure has extremely good taste when it comes to jewelery to help you choose.

*Just the way you take your time to look for the perfect car, take your time to look for that engagement ring. Keep window shopping (remember the internet is your friend) until you find exactly what you are looking for.

*If all else fails, propose without a ring then make a point of taking her with you to the jeweler’s so that she can choose the ring she likes… but that will kill the romantic bit.

*Don’t go too over the top just because you want to feel good when your girl shows off her bling. Get her something that she will love. If she is not into bold rings, don’t get her a bold, huge rock because she might feel uncomfortable wearing it. If she likes delicate yet opulent looking jewelery then go for just that as you know the odds will only be against you.

*Keep in mind that an engagement ring is forever, and it is supposed to remind you of when you decided to take the leap and ask her to become one with you. Therefore, it should be worth it and should be able to withstand time and other conditions that might work against it.

You don’t have to go all Harry Winston if you can’t afford it and you don’t have to break banks and immerse yourself in debt either …go for what will work (you know what I mean) and remember, if it is an expensive one…insure it!
12:09
LG launches cloud streaming for mobile, TV and PC
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

LG Electronics has announced the opening of ‘LG Cloud’ service that will host streaming access to all digital content across various electronic devices – mobile, TV and PC.

Users will have access to seamless digital content across the different platforms through the LG Cloud.

LG Cloud is the first is the first of its kind that allows users to manage and consume all types of content on “three screens” which includes Android smartphones, PCs and smart TVs (including but not limited to CINEMA 3D models) without a separate set-top box.

The cloud platform allows integration of content across platforms that will allow users to synchronize smartphone content with their PC’s and TV. Photos and videos taken with the smartphone can be viewed and streamed to the PC or TV almost instantaneously. Videos edited on a PC can be uploaded to LG Cloud for viewing seconds later on a smartphone.

Unlike other cloud services, there’s very little waiting or lag time since the content is streamed to the TV, PC or smartphone, not downloaded first.

The difference, says LG, is the real-time Streaming Transcoding technology.

“The conversion happens on the server in realtime, not on the device. There is no need to worry about installing codecs or converters, everything happens seamlessly and in the background with no involvement from the user,” stated a statement from LG.

It will now be possible to take 3D videos on an LG smartphone while on vacation and upload the clips via 3G or Wi-Fi to the LG Cloud server. Back home in the comforts of the living room, the family can watch the vacation footage as it streams from LG Cloud to their LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV in superb three dimensions.

“Most companies today only see the cloud as a storage device or in the case of YouTube or Flickr, only for one type of content,” said LG’s Mr. Kwon, President and CEO of LG’s Home Entertainment Company.

“LG makes the devices that millions of people watch content on so we can set a new yardstick for ease of use by setting up our own cloud service. Tomorrow’s consumers don’t want to go to one cloud for music, another cloud for video, another location for photos and yet another cloud for their office files. In the end, our solution is about making life more convenient.” He said.

LG Cloud will be offered as both a free and paid service. Free storage space and pricing will differ market to market and will be announced separately as the service becomes available in that country.
11:51
Kenyan trio go ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ Big Brother
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Kenyan musician Prezzo sauntered into the Big Brother ‘Upville’ House in a bright red Maasai shuka, promising to leta action with 90 days left in the BBA contest. He had a reportedly ‘snobbish’ first night in the house, which he shares with 6 other celebrities from across Africa.

His competitors are entertainer DKB from Ghana, musician Lady May from Namibia, singer Goldie from Nigeria, socialite and model Barbz from South Africa, R&B diva Mampi from Zambia, and musician Roki from Zimbabwe.

It’s not clear how they will contest for the Sh25 million prize, but biggie has promised to let us know soon.

Meanwhile, in the noisy ‘Downville’ house, brothers Alex and Malonza who are representing Kenya have already been flagged for speaking too much Kiswahili.

Alex, 23, and Malonza, 22, are hoping to be Kenya’s most successful candidates yet.

Alex describes himself as caring, patient, jealous, determined and strict and thinks his best trait is his ability to socialise with others. Malonza meanwhile, is single, enjoys watching Jacob’s Cross, Big Brother and Modern Family and his favourite musicians include Chris Brown, Sauti Sol and Camp Mulla.

The two join another 22 wannabe stars who will be residing in Downville until they are chucked from the show.

The Downville residence buzzed with excitement despite a lackluster performance by American superstar J Cole, which left fans confused and audiences unimpressed.

Some contestants pulled an all nighter with booze in good supply, trying to retire only minutes before an alarm sounded, summoning them for morning exercise.

The contestants are as follows:

Angola couple – Esperanca and Seydou

Botswana – Edith and Eve

Ghana couple – Keitta and Mildred

Liberia – Luke and Yadel

Malawi – Nafe and Wati

Namibia – Junia and Jesica

Nigeria – Chris and Ola

Sierra Leone – Dalphin and Zainab

South Africa – Keagan and Lee

Tanzania – Hilda and Julio (up for eviction)

Uganda – Kyle and Jannette

Zambia – Talia and Tamara

Zimbabwe – Maneta and Teclar (up for eviction)

Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on the two Kenyans?
9:30
Clutch it! you can never go wrong
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Clutch or clutch bag, whatever you prefer to call them are the tiniest and yet to some extent the most expensive fashion accessories in the handbags department. But a very useful accessory as they come in very handy I must say.

I always find it unlady-like and tacky for any woman to hold so much stuff in her hands or fill her pockets with a million things while they can simply invest in a clutch bag. These tiny bags can be such lifesavers and just know that they can make you look with it and make you look effortlessly tres chic while at it.

There are all sorts of shapes, designs and sizes of clutch bags and nowadays you can even get one to suit the occasion. There are clutches small enough to just fit a mobile phone and a credit card (that is if you really need to use your phone and find it tacky to just carry it in your hands) and some that are big enough to even carry a notebook or two, keys, make-up etc.

Some clutches go through a thorough detailing process and depending on this factor the more detailed a clutch is, the most expensive the clutch will be.

The “gistiest” of this lot are the minaudiere’s which are the tiny box shaped clutches that seem to have a lot going on them such as the ones using precious gems and the fastening detail. Most of them are tiny but they ooze such sophistication.

When it comes to the different Shapes of the clutch,the clutch makers will not disappoint you as there are different kinds of clutches to suit your need.

You will need a clutch if you need to:

*Spruce up your outfit or brighten up a dull outfit

*Look chic and appropriately dressed instead of tacky

*Carry important items such as a mobile phone,compact powder, car keys…etc

A lot can be said about you and what you clutch at. It should always suit your outfit and the occasion.

It would look so wrong to be in a jeans and t-shirt combo and then carry a minaudiere. Or pair a very elegant ball gown with an oversize clutch or worse yet a handbag, how wrong you’d look my sister.

Clutch bags can help bring out other accessories that are on you like belts and scarves and also break monotony of a monochrome outfit.

Check out the images below of Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks ….A clutch for every occasion
9:25
‘Avengers’ smashes US box office record
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Earth’s mightiest comic book heroes smashed North American box office records as “The Avengers” pummeled the competition to haul in $200.3 million on its opening weekend, industry analysts said Sunday.

Directed by cult favorite Joss Whedon, the Walt Disney high-thrills action adventure made in collaboration with Marvel Comics looked set to become the highest grossing US debut of all time.

Heroes Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Thor are brought together as an international peacekeeping agency of superheroes battling to save Earth from Thor’s evil brother Loki and his army of aliens.

The film’s all-star cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), and Chris Hemsworth (Thor), most of the latter reprising roles from earlier stand-alone movies.

Walt Disney said the film, which was released first abroad before hitting US shores, had already raked in some $641.8 million and reports said it was on target to join the elite club of the world’s few billion dollar movies.

Takings from its first three days meant “The Avengers” had outstripped expectations and surpassed the $168.2 million taken on its opening weekend by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2″ — the eighth and final film in the hugely-popular series.

“Such strong grosses signaled that this was not just a fan movie — not just a guy movie — but a movie for everyone,” Dave Hollis, Disney’s executive vice president for distribution told the Los Angeles Times.

It will be a huge relief to Disney, which spent some $220 million to produce the film, after its very public box office flop “John Carter” earlier this year which caused a $200 million write-down — one of the biggest losses of all time, according to the LA Times.

“The Avengers” kicked romantic comedy “Think Like A Man” into second place earning $8 million, according to Exhibitor Relations. That brings its three-week total to $73.0 million, the box office tracker said.

Smash action hit “The Hunger Games” remained in third place in its seventh week on the big screen. The movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence, earned $5.7 million and has raked in more than $380 million since its opening.

Legions of fans have flocked to see the film, based on a book by Suzanne Collins, in which a teenage girl played by Lawrence fights to win a deadly television reality show featuring children in a post-apocalyptic world.

Tearjerker drama “The Lucky One,” an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book starring Zac Efron of “High School Musical” fame as a US soldier back from Iraq, held onto fourth place. The movie made $5.5 million in its third weekend.

In fifth place was “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” a children’s animation film from the studio that produced the “Wallace and Gromit” series earning $5.4 million on its second weekend and moving down from second place.

“The Five-Year Engagement,” starring Emily Blunt and Jason Segel, dropped to sixth place, with $5 million.

“The Raven” starring John Cusack as 19th century American author Edgar Allan Poe, which has had mediocre reviews, lingered in seventh place with $2.5 million.

And the Jason Statham action flick “Safe” dropped down from sixth to eighth place with $2.4 million.

“Chimpanzee,” a true-life, child-friendly adventure about a special chimp in the jungles of Ivory Coast also from the Walt Disney stable, sank to ninth, with $2.3 million.

The Farrelly brothers’ comedy “The Three Stooges” rounded out the week’s top 10, taking bottom place in its fourth week. The tribute to the legendary US comedy trio brought in $1.8 million.
May 04, 2012
12:53
Samsung Galaxy SIII to hit stores in Kenya by June
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Samsung Galaxy SIII that was launched in London yesterday and is due to roll out to other parts of the world in June, is expected to touch down in Nairobi later this month thanks to tech-crazed Kenyans.

The local Samsung office says the first phones are expected towards the end of May.

“We already have orders and first stocks shall be in the country from the last week of this month,” according to Samsung East Africa Deputy MD Robert Ngeru who spoke to Capital Lifestyle today.

The new edition of the Samsung Galaxy comes barely since the launch of the Galaxy SII and hot on the heels of news that the Korean company had overtaken market leaders Nokia in handset sales.

Samsung has managed to coin a reputation as an easy-to-use phone with cool complicated features available for those who care to venture.

The new SIII seems to make their case even easier; with features such as S Voice, social tag, direct call, S Beam, Smart Alert and the 4.8 HD Super AMOLED.

The S Voice is like a talking phone that can also hear you speak, which is usually what we want as human beings living in the modern world. This feature goes a step further than what phones do now in reading messages out loud.

Some of the things you can do with the S Voice include telling your phone to turn off the alarm for a few minutes and let you sleep a bit more, answer or reject a call, adjust the volume on your music and even tell the camera when to shoot.

Direct call is a feature that lets you call the person you are messaging. With the SIII all you need to do mid-sms is raise the phone to your ear and let your phone do the calling.

Another cool feature we though to highlight at Capital Lifestyle is the Smart alert. This is simply a brief vibrate nudge to let you know once you pick up your phone that you have missed a few calls and sms’ etc. Samsung is of the opinion that they are being very thoughtful.

Take a look at the video below and let us know what you think? Is this SIII man enough to give the iPhone some strong competition? Prices will be announced at a later date.
12:05
Naija’s Omawumi brings malaria fight to Kenya
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Assertive Nigerian musician Omawumi visited expectant mothers at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital on Thursday, launching an education exercise on preventing malaria.

Omawumi, who is the Malaria Cause Ambassador for Mortein Doom, appealed to the mothers to join her in the fight against malaria, and went on to show them how to protect themselves and their families.

The main messages were: use your nets, use insecticides like Mortein and keep your environment clean.

“Although malaria related deaths in Africa have fallen by an estimated 33% since the year 2000, we have a long way to go before we can proudly announce that we have won the fight against malaria,” said the mother of one at a media briefing in Nairobi.

She explained that expectant mothers and children under the age of five remain the most vulnerable group, and communication to encourage them to take preventive measures needed to be scaled up, as African countries strive to meet the Millennium Development Goals on Malaria.

“The proper usage of the insecticide treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, everyday use of Mortein Doom insecticide and taking proactive vector control measures by keeping your environment clean and free of stagnant water; are among the measures that mothers need to start implementing now,” she said.

Her visit comes as activities continue rolling out since World Malaria Day on April 25.

Among the activities was the launch of a theme song featuring mothers from Africa.

Omawumi is well known for her hit songs, If You Ask Me and Bottom Belle, which merge African music with modern pop culture.

Reckitt Benckiser’s Country Manager Richard Pereira said they were proud to have Omawumi on board.

“Through our flagship brand Mortein Doom, we have been involved in many activities aimed at helping lower the deaths attributed to malaria. With Omawumi’s appointment as our Cause Ambassador this year, I am sure we will register a more significant reduction in malaria infections going forward.”
11:48
Rainy, lazy weekend: Breakfast in Bed ideas
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Gloomy, wet and cold days. The Rainy Season is well on its course in Nairobi, and while we have been blessed with many gorgeous afternoons, it has also been a struggle to navigate through traffic jams, potholes and flooded roads. So, with another predictably wet weekend to look forward to, what can chase away this blues?

A deliciously sultry and sexy breakfast in bed, cooked to perfection!

Whether you’re cooking up a feast for your lover or for yourself, dirtying up those sheets this weekend with breadcrumbs and bacon drippings is definitely the way to go.

It’s All in the Details

No breakfast in bed is complete unless you’re serving juice, freshly squeezed of course. For the tea, make sure you steep it in a beautiful teapot that’s good enough to look at; and for coffee, grind the roasted beans fresh and serve in a sophisticated French press. Unearth the beautiful sugar bowl and attractive driftwood tray that you’ve purchased from your last garage sale. Forget the ugly mugs with tacky motifs, break out your best cups and sugar spoons for the occasion!

Whether you’re serving pastries, crepes, omelettes or something more decadent; don’t forget to garnish the plate with some colourful fresh fruits and vibrant herbs. Feasting with your eyes is what makes Breakfast in Bed such a memorable and desirable thing to do.

Lastly, be good to yourself and neatly fold linen napkins for you and your guest, prepare your favourite vase with beautiful flowers from the garden. Open up your windows for a refreshing breeze, put on your favourite tune, leave the mess in the kitchen for later, and jump back into bed with your perfect meal!

Happy breakfast-ing in bed everyone :)
10:53
Marriage: Be prepared and equipped
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Thitu Kariba) - When we go for weddings we always here these couples who are so in love read out these wonderful vows to one another that they are to upkeep till death do them part. Considering no one knows when they are going to die unless they make plans to, that could be a long or short period. Once you get married, live together and you come out of the honeymoon phase, your eyes begin to open to just how annoying, frustrating and even selfish your spouse can be. I mean you have to share a space now; you have been single longer than you have been married and one prepared you for the adjusting that needs doing. It will take more than a pretty dress, and suit, some unity candle or whatever to get you by, and get you to uphold the vows.

Marriage is a force to be reckoned with and it take two, it also takes being prepared and equipped to ride that wave. If marriage is a force then there has to be principles set out to govern it, and there are. There is a principle that if applied right will govern marriage as God intended it. That principle is love. It may sound simple; you may think you know it but it’s deeper than that.

It’s been broken down for us in 8 principles to help govern the other forces that come up in a marriage:

Patience

Kindness

Humility

Resilience / Poise

Selflessness

Forgiveness

Justice

Perseverance

All these are principles which when applied in wisdom will govern the force and you will see the desired results. I cannot go through each and every one, that is a book for another day; however, I can take you through one.

If in a marriage you can apply patience, you can govern time. You will be able to wait and see change without being intimidated or irritated by the waiting. In marriage, as I mentioned two people who have been use to being alone now are together sharing their most intimate space, there is no privacy and patience is key. If we can use when and how to use all the principles then we can govern marriage successfully.

Follow the author on Facebook Thitu Kariba ( Coach) and Twitter @Thitu_k
9:42
Snack-maker sorry for Kutcher ‘racist’ ad
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The makers of a trendy California snack food have apologized for their Internet advertisement featuring Ashton Kutcher in brownface as a goofy but lovelorn Bollywood film producer.

Popchips acknowledged “a lot of feedback” to its new ad campaign this week in which the “Two and a Half Men” star and soon-to-be divorcee plays five different bachelors in a spoof dating-service commercial.

One’s a hippy. Another a biker. The third a fashion designer called Darl who looks like Karl Lagerfeld, and a fourth is Kutcher himself. But it was the Hollywood actor playing “Raj” that triggered online outrage.

“Don’t watch it; It’s a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface … with the entire punchline being that he’s doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice,” New York tech consultant Anil Dash blogged.

On Twitter, the rap group Das Racist asked Kutcher, who is in the midst of a divorce from fellow thespian Demi Moore: “Hey @aplusk, what’s with the racist brownface video?”

On his corporate blog, Popchips founder Keith Belling responded: “Our team worked hard to create a light-hearted parody featuring a variety of characters that was meant to provide a few laughs.”

“We did not intend to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended.”

Popchips pulled an 88-second video of “Raj” from its YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/popchipsfans) — but kept a compilation in which Kutcher affects a Hindi accent, scratches his foot and declares he’s “looking for the most delicious thing on the planet … like Kardashian hot.” See the video here.

Meanwhile, veteran Hollywood action star Bruce Willis has become a father again at 57 after his second wife Emma gave birth to a baby girl, the couple’s first child together, a spokesman has said.

Designer and model Heming-Willis, 33, gave birth to Mabel Ray Willis on Sunday in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, adding that both parents “are overjoyed about the newest member of their family.

“Both mother and baby are healthy and doing beautifully,” he added. The baby weighed in at a healthy 9 lbs., 1 oz.

Willis, who married the designer and model three years ago, already has three daughters — Rumer, 23, 20-year-old Scout, and Tallulah Belle, 17 — from his first marriage to Demi Moore, which ended in 2000.

The “Die Hard” star tied the knot with Heming in March 2009, in a Caribbean island ceremony attended by Moore and their three daughters. Her new husband, actor Ashton Kutcher whom she wed in 2005, also attended.

Kutcher and Moore announced their separation in November.
9:38
Vogue slaps worldwide ban on under-16 models
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The editors of all 19 editions of Vogue around the world pledged Thursday to use only healthy models no younger than 16 on their editorial pages in an attempt to shift fashion’s approach to body image.

Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue’s flagship US edition, and Emmanuelle Alt of Paris Vogue, which touched off a furor in 2010 with a photo spread featuring a 10-year-old girl, are among the editors who agreed to the pact.

“Vogue believes that good health is beautiful,” said Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Conde Nast International and a scion of the New York publishing family that privately owns the world’s most influential fashion title.

“Vogue editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers,” he said in a statement.

The editors said that in a six-point pact to appear in their respective June issues, they would pledge not to knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or with those “who appear to have an eating disorder.”

“We will work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help us to promote a healthy body image,” they said.

The editors will also instruct modeling agencies not to send them underage models, require casting directors to check models’ ID prior to photo shoots and encourage “healthy backstage working conditions,” including food options.

Fashion designers, meanwhile, will be encouraged — though not obliged — to “consider the consequences of unrealistically small sample (dress) sizes… which encourages the use of extremely thin models.”

“We will be ambassadors for the message of healthy body image,” the editors’ pact concludes.

In an email to AFP, a Conde Nast spokeswoman said the initiative was being “implemented locally as is appropriate in each market by the individual editions.”

The Model Alliance, launched by New York-based fashion models in February to campaign for better working conditions, said it welcomed Vogue’s “impressive lead” and hoped other magazines would follow suit.

“The use of underaged models is linked to financial exploitation, eating disorders, interrupted schooling, and contributes to models’ overall lack of empowerment in the workplace,” it said in a statement.

“We simply believe that 14 is too young to be working in this very grown-up industry, and we’re glad that Conde Nast International is making this commitment.”

In a recent survey of 241 New York-based models posted on its website (www.modelalliance.org), the Model Alliance found that 54.7 percent had started working between the ages of 13 to 16.

Sixty-four percent said they’d been asked by their agencies to lose weight.

“Eating disorders are not uncommon,” according to the survey. “Models report that drug use in the workplace is rampant. And more than two-thirds of models say they suffer from anxiety or depression.”
May 03, 2012
13:44
Is Prezzo landing at BBA 7 ‘fo sho’?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

With less than 3 days to go before the curtains rise to reveal Big Brother Africa Stargame, speculation is rife as to who Kenya’s contestants are.

The contenders chosen from more than 200 pairs that auditioned in Nairobi and other parts of the country; are a tightly kept secret, but one bunny may have been let out of the bag.

Rumour has it that musician Prezzo will be part of this year’s Big Brother installment ‘fo sho, fo shizzy’.

Others rumoured to be in the show are Grace Makosewe, Nini Wacera, musicians Avril and Collo, and even radio Presenter Joey Muthengi, but those tall tales have fallen flat on their faces.

Prezzo’s popularity has earned Kenyan tweets yet another spot on the worldwide trends list, fluctuating on Thursday mid-morning between 2nd and 3rd place.

The trend #ContestantsBetterThanPrezzoForBBA has also attracted spammers, who have latched onto it but stick out like a sore thumb, or a gold tooth. The tooth fairy meanwhile also alleged that there could be a celeb segment to the show, into which Prezzo will be going, for free – but this information could not be verified.

Multichoice Kenya has offered no comment on the speculation, promising only to issue a statement on the matter later on Thursday.

The seventh edition of BBA starts on Sunday May 6, with 14 pairs of contestants eyeing a grand prize of Sh25 million ~ approximately.

Nigerian celebrity IK returns as the host of the show, Osakioduwa, making his fourth appearance at the studio, which will be home to a large group of contestants for three months.

The House this year, according to a statement, is retro-inspired with 53 cameras and 120 microphones.

The retro however is a far cry from a 1950s Hollywood get-up, which can also be seen in other parts of the house. Does this mean Biggie is up to something? Is there a second house?

The only sure thing, for now, is that J Cole will be the main opening act on Sunday. I hope they carry a stretcher for them swooning girls. Let’s watch some Prezzo while we wait…
13:36
Wholesome lunch at Corner Affair Bistro
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It’s been a few months since Capital Lifestyle Magazine’s last visit to Corner Affair Bistro, a cozy and earthy hideaway nestled in Westlands, away from the city’s traffic-strewn streets.

Not much has changed. Generous al fresco dining space covered delicately with branches still surround the converted villa; comfy white pillows still invite you to lounge in front of the fireplace and outside on the patio; service is still tardy and thankfully, the kitchen still creates delicious, simple and wholesome dishes.

Welcomed new additions include the outdoor bakery, which pushes out fresh artisan breads, pastries and delicious oven-baked pizza on a daily basis. Replacing the old paper menus, the laser-etched wooden versions eloquently echoed the earthy theme of the restaurant.

Unfortunately for the dedicated salad lovers, the refreshing Walnut and Apple Salad that stood out on the entire menu from our last visit, no longer is available. However, with over thirteen oven-baked pizza selections and seven sandwich choices, the extensive selection makes up for the retired salad, and ensures that the Corner Affair Bistro is still the best choice for lunch if you’re in the neighbourhood.

The Capital Lifestyle Magazine favourite was the Chicken Schnitzel. The flattened-chicken covered with bread crumbs was deep fried until golden brown – crispy on the outside and mouth-wateringly juicy on the inside. Served with a healthy portion of potatoe wedges, this will definitely be a lunch favourite.

The disappointment was the Chicken Escalope. As reviewed last time, Capital Lifestyle Magazine fell in love with the deliciously moist chicken, stuffed with basil and wrapped with bacon. However, this visit, our Chicken Escalope was dry on the inside and outside. Fortunately, the sides of creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed greens saved the day.

FOODBlog

Pumpkin Corn Soup – The savoury creamy pumpkin soup base lacked depth in seasoning, like traditional nutmeg. However, the sweet-corn twist infused a natural sweetness into the steamy hot bowl of soup that was distinctly hearty.

The spiced prawns as a starter were delicious! The traditional Moroccan spiced grilled king prawns were on the overcooked side – rubbery, but the flavours of chilli and citrus were incredible. The prawns were completely de-shelled, including the entire tale – great attention to detail!

Finally, for dessert, the Apple Pie was surprisingly different. The memorable and refreshingly sweet apple filling was accentuated with Sultanas soaked in a “secret ingredient.” Perfect ending to a rich and hearty lunch!

For location details, prices, and how you can book online – make sure you check out Eat Out Kenya! Check it out now!
http://www.eatout.co.ke/corneraffairbistro
11:32
Thanks to Ashton Kutcher, online dating is cool again
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Online dating has never sounded appealing. Dating online is always accompanied by looking at fake profiles, warding off scammers and chatting with perhaps those that are up to no good. Not to mention, the pitiful advertisement images of lonely singles – what a turn off.

In an attempt to make dating cool again, the newest campaign taking the internet by storm from WorldWideLovers.com features a short video with the very single and ready to mingle funny-man Ashton Kutcher.

Kutcher plays five different single characters looking for love: a flamboyant fashion designer, a sensitve Harley-loving biker, a new age hippie and a Bollywood director that wants to find his own Kardashian – genius! Together, along with Kutcher himself, they are all in search of love.

Aside from highlighting the lighter side of dating online, Kutcher and World Wide Lovers hopes to inspire daters to play matchmaker by giving friends a chance to hook up their single friends through a personalized video – like the one Kutcher and his characters have made.

The next stratum of online dating? Personalized video content.

If you’re single and looking to give online dating a try, check out World Wide Lovers, which Ashton Kutcher has joined!

Watch Ashton Kutcher’s video here:
11:22
Watch out for that Nairobi Fly
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(AON) The rainy season has gifted Kenyans with the Nairobi Fly, aka the paederus eximius beetle, once again. The fact that the toxin they release is worse than a cobra’s venom, should convince you to be extra careful.

Approximately 1cm in length, these red and black insects can neither sting nor bite, but they can cause a skin irritation known as Paederus dermatitis, when crushed against the skin. This is because their haemolymph contains pederin, which is a potent toxin.

The paederusbeetle is commonly found in humid areas, and is attracted to fluorescent light, which is why so many are found in people’s homes.

The sight of them and the damage they cause is enough to stop grown human beings in their tracks.

The skin irritations caused by the beetle usually affect the neck, arms and face.

A person may not experience any symptoms for the first 12 to 24 hours, but thereafter, you may experience severe burning and itching around the affected area.

Two to three days after contact with the beetle, the area may redden and swell, and small blisters may appear, which may progress to look like boils.

For areas around the joints, where the Nairobi fly may have been crushed, lesions may appear, and these can usually be seen only when the affected area begins to look like a burn.

Further crusting and scaling may occur, but most symptoms resolve in two to three weeks.

Occasionally, areas affected by the Nairobi fly may develop secondary bacterial infection, and this may seem like a skin infection. In addition, the affected area may develop dark patches.

A condition known as Nairobi eye will occur when you come into contact with the beetle’s body fluid or blood. This is when you touch your eye with hands that have come into contact with the Nairobi fly’s toxins, leading to the swelling of the eye, redness, or further complications.

You don’t need to worry, though, because you can tone down its effects. Once contact has been made with the fly, or if you crush the fly against your skin, wash your hands and the affected area immediately with soap and water.

Apply a mild topical steroid ointment and where there is likelihood of bacterial super infection, apply an antibiotic ointment. Usually, oral antihistamines will reduce the itchiness that results in scratching.

To be completely safe, avoid contact with the beetles in the first place. Here are a few tips:

– During the rainy season when the Nairobi fly is prevalent, close all doors and windows before it gets dark.

– Sleep under a mosquito net.

– If you see one crawling on your skin, blow it off rather than brush it away. This reduces the risk of crushing it. You can also use a piece of paper to remove it from your skin.

– Should you crush one, avoid touching your eyes. Wash your hands and the affected area with water and soap immediately.

– Check areas for the beetle around beds and ceilings before going to bed.

– Clear excess vegetation from and around houses.
9:29
Kenyan app that helps you confess to paying a bribe
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Would you publicly come clean you paid a bribe to get a service? Probably not. But an app customized for Kenya is making it easier for citizens to report bribery incidences across the country, anonymously.

I Paid a Bribe (IPaB) is a desktop, mobile web and SMS app that gives Kenyans a platform to share their experiences with bribery. Through a user-friendly interface, a user can post an incident where they had to pay a bribe because a public officer expressly asked for it or a situation where the officer asked for it but they refused to pay the bribe.

The app also allows users to report an incidence where no bribe was asked, and the service was delivered on time.

Since the launch of the website in December 2011, 630 bribery incidences worth Ksh 20 million have been posted on the website.

The Police, municipal services, immigration and registration of persons and lands departments are the leading bribery hotspots as reported by citizens.

Interestingly, there are quite a high number of witness reports showing high bribery prevalence in the private sector, according to IPaB.

“Once a user files a bribe report on the site, the system takes it up automatically and edits out any names. IPaB does not target individuals but seeks to expose weaknesses in the system and advocate for them to be rectified,” says Anthony Ragui, developer of IPaB.

After users send their experience, either through the IPaB website, mobile site or SMS, the story is published on the website after a 10 minute lag. Specific data from the story (county, amount paid and department) is logged in and added to the analytics.

“I paid a Bribe Kenya as a platform aims to get Kenyans to report and talk about the problem of corruption,” says Ragui, who came up with idea after seeing a similar initiative in India.

A Transparency International (TI) report on East African Bribery Index revealed while a vast majority of Kenyans perceived Kenya as a corrupt county, only 7 per cent reported corruption incidences, probably for fear of victimization.
8:55
Scarlett Johansson gets Hollywood star
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Scarlett Johansson was honored with her own star on Hollywood’s storied Walk of Fame on Wednesday, saying it proved she must have “made it to the big time.”

The 27-year-old star, who reprises her role of the Black Widow in the latest Marvel Comics blockbuster “The Avengers,” was joined by co-star Jeremy Renner at the ceremony.

“When I was told I was getting this star, I thought to myself, man, I really made it to the big time,” said Johansson, dressed in a figure-hugging black and white ensemble with dizzying geometric patterns.

“You know, no matter what happens from here on out, I made my mark, I’m here to stay, and my family for generations to come will always be able to visit me right here, always. What a deeply, deeply touching gift,” she added.

Johansson, star of “The Horse Whisperer,” “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and “Lost in Translation,” first played the Black Widow in 2010′s “Iron Man 2″ starring Robert Downey Jr.

Renner, who co-stars as Hawkeye in “The Avengers” — due out in the United States on Friday — paid teasing tribute to Johansson. “Working with her was tremendous…ly awful,” he joked.

“For six months, she continuously threw me around, beat me, stepped on me and wiped the floor with my dignity and self-respect every day — all with a smile on her face.”

The Avengers: a group of superheroes who come together to save the world from an alien invasion; aliens that are no longer green and slimy. These aliens are as technologically advanced as they come and Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) knows five super-humans who can take them down and save the world via the United States.

Director Joss Whedon dives straight into the story plot when the 142 minute-film begins. A power-seeking Loki (Thor’s half-brother) teams up with villains from outer space to take over the world, not even for its resources, but just to flex some muscle.

In a panic, Fury summons super agent Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to help assemble, The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Iron Man (Robert Downing Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) into a special mission.

It takes a while for the super-heroes to gel and be the formidable force that Fury had in mind, and what happens in between is super funny.

Mark is most unlikely as the Hulk, but does a fantastic job teetering between amazing doctor Bruce Banner and the Green Monster. Captain America, who did a not so good job in his own movie, came through in the Avengers; making rights for the wrongs he committed as a lone super-hero.

Iron Man never looked younger, Thor was a bit confused and the lovely Scarlett put shame to Angelina Jolie’s performance in Salt, in a seemingly effortless man. I hope the young lady wins some awards soon.

The Avengers is an all American film that can be enjoyed by the rest of the world, and has earned 8.5 out of 10 from Capital Lifestyle.

The movie launched on IMAX on Friday, in an event hosted by Capital FM Kenya. The Station’s clients and lucky winners sampled the gigantic screen with superior quality that gives home DVDs a bad name.

Watching a movie on IMAX and IMAX 3D is like picking up a window and moving onto the movie set, literally. Make sure you try it for Sh1,000 a piece. Don’t waste the experience on love stories, only action or block-busters can cut it on the tall screens.

(Additional words by Laura Walubengo)
May 02, 2012
15:21
Sound deal: Dolby puts name on Oscars venue
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Hollywood venue that hosts the annual Oscars show was renamed the Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, after the audio pioneer gained naming rights previously held by bankrupt camera company Kodak.

Kodak pulled out weeks before this year’s Academy Awards show in February, and talks have been ongoing to find a new backer for the venue, next to the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Britain-founded, California-based audio technology pioneer Dolby announced a deal with the CIM Group, which owns the Hollywood & Highland Center of which the Oscars venue is part, to put its name on the theatre for the next 20 years.

“Dolby is a brand recognized around the world for creating the best, most life-like entertainment sound experiences in any environment,” said Dolby Laboratories chief Kevin Yeaman.

“This partnership with CIM allows the Dolby Theatre to be not only the world stage for the Academy Awards, but for Dolby innovations for decades to come,” he added.

Dolby said it would use the deal to showcase its latest Dolby Atmos sound system, which it described as “a break-through audio technology that delivers the most natural, life-like sensory experience,” in the 3,400-seat theater.

The accord was welcomed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which organizes Hollywood’s top annual awards show.

“The Academy’s Board of Governors believes that the home for our awards is in Hollywood. It is where the Academy and the motion picture industry are rooted,” said AMPAS head Tom Sherak.

“We are pleased to have a new agreement with CIM that will continue our longstanding partnership,” he added.

CIM Group co-founder Shaul Kuba added: “Dolby Laboratories has a long history in Hollywood and has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry.

“It is a respected international brand and technology innovator. We are proud to welcome them as our partner on the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center,” he said.

A bankruptcy court in February approved Kodak’s request to cancel its contract with the until-then Kodak Theatre, ruling that it was “in the best interests of the debtors, their estates, their creditors and other parties.”

The contract between Eastman Kodak and theater owner CIM was valued at $72 million — $3.6 million per year for 20 years.

The theater, inaugurated in November 2001 with seating for 3,332, has hosted the Academy Awards since 2002.

Kodak, an iconic American firm that introduced generations of consumers to mass-market cameras, filed for bankruptcy in January.
13:18
From banker to tattoo artist, meet Newton…
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

His dark skin slightly conceals his tattoos, but a closer look reveals the variety of art forms chiseled on his body. In the same way, shaggy dreadlocks, thick rimmed glasses, and an easy smile that glistens like the shiny stud below it, conceal the extreme talent vested in tattoo artist Newton Omondi Wasonga.

Newton, who travels around East Africa and recently, South Africa to draw fine detailed tattoos on body art lovers, is easily one of the Kenya’s finest in the trade.

After eight-years of dedicated service for Barclays Bank, Newton hung his white collar and donned a Tusker T-shirt, ready for what life would throw at him.

“My parents were not amused, especially since I did not know what I wanted to do when I quit the bank. I began work as a hairdresser and used to help a lady who worked at the salon, doing tattoos,” he told Capital Lifestyle.

“I soon realized that I could do it on my own, and that’s where my career started.”

Newton did not know how things would go at the time, but looking at his records now and the work he has done since he started in 2004, he knows that he should have a ‘Lexus hiding somewhere’.

“I slowly got better at what I was doing. I would always be drawing and teamed up with my brother Abraham, to be among the first tattoo artists in Kenya. We both learnt how to tattoo by hand and we do a lot of online research, to keep up with the trends and techniques.”

Newton loves his job, but sometimes regrets being away from his home in Malindi, where he lives with his girlfriend of seven years.

“She was my assistant for about two years at some point. As I get more exposure, I travel a lot more. I often come to Nairobi to visit clients; I go to Mombasa, Lamu, Diani and even Jinja, Uganda. I was also the first Kenyan (and black) tattoo artist to participate in the annual Cape Town Tattoo Convention this year.”

Newton was among hundreds of artists at the Cape Town get-together, which was in its 4th year, and said his exposure, work and networking with big names at the venue was invaluable.

The Kenyan artist, who was featured in the Rolling Stone magazine in SA, will also feature in British artist Anne Stokes’ new book, showcasing tattoos that have been drawn from her paintings.

Newton’s work on Detlef, which took about a week to complete, made him qualify for that honour.

Newton’s formula is to trace the design from the screen of his laptop, place the trace on a stencil and replicate the design on his client’s skin, before starting work. He uses machines and special ink imported from the United States.

“The ink is called kurosumi, which just means black ink in Japanese.” Horiyoshi III, 66, is Newton’s all-time favourite tattoo artist.

After a tattoo by Newton, clients are advised to firmly apply Vaseline on the design two-three times a day until it heals. Asked whether he was worried about the market getting too crammed, Newton simply said: “The extra mile is never crowded.”
12:21
Naturopathic methods of enhancing one’s fertility
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Ameet Aggarwal) - Boosting fertility is a common goal of many couples today. There are many naturopathic methods of enhancing fertility which also make your body healthier. Keeping your body healthy also ensures you can carry the pregnancy to term.

Male infertility is a common problem overlooked when couples are trying to get pregnant. It is often the woman who will go through all the tests and hormone treatments. Males suffer from low sperm count, improper sperm structure and also low sperm motility (movement capacity), which all contribute to infertility. Male infertility is commonly caused by poor diet, excessive alcohol and drug use, emotional issues, lack of exercise, tight clothing and numerous other factors which naturopathic doctors assess on an individual basis. Nutritional supplementation with arginine, zinc and various other nutritional supplements can enhance sperm health.

Infertility in women can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, blocked fallopian tubes, improper diet and various other factors which cause hormonal imbalances. Emotional holding patterns can also hinder fertility in both men and women. Naturopathic medicine aims to improve nutritional status and hormonal balance in women and to remove inflammation and toxins which may be hindering pregnancy. This is done best through diet changes (removing inflammatory foods), using Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture and herbs), Bowen therapy to enhance hormonal balance and lifestyle changes.

Clomid is a drug commonly used to enhance fertility in women. It works by promoting ovulation through estrogen receptor modulation. Clomid is about 80% successful in enhancing ovulation, but only about 40% successful in creating pregnancies. In addition, clomid causes certain nutritional deficiencies and does come with its side effects. There are naturopathic supplements and herbs which can enhance the effects of clomid and reduce the nutrient depletion experienced with clomid.

All in all, it is best to seek out comprehensive advice on your individual situation. Get your nutritional state assessed as well as lifestyle factors which might be affecting fertility. Balance your hormones through natural methods because they often enhance your overall health. Issues such as ovarian cysts, irregular periods, breast tenderness, menstrual clotting and abdominal cramps can all point to hormonal and systemic imbalances leading to infertility.

Ameet Aggarwal ND is a naturopathic doctor, advanced Bowen Therapist and practices Gestalt psychotherapy in Nairobi and Nanyuki. Book your appointment through +254 727 701002 or email ameet@fimafrica.org. Read more about naturopathic medicine on http://www.healthretreatsafrica.com and stay engaged with health tips on www.facebook.com/healthretreatsafrica.
10:45
Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012 Breaking Barriers
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

From August 30th–September 1st, 2012 the largest city wide fashion show in Zimbabwe will return for its 3rd edition! The annual Zimbabwe Fashion Week is going strong now with regular annual shows and returns to the city of Harare to feature nationally and internationally designers and creative talent. The non-profit organisation Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust, aims to create and to develop the growing fashion industries in Zimbabwe, to help advance the career of select local talent and celebrate the thriving fashion retail community.

The ZFW Trust, was founded by model and renowned designer Priscilla Chigariro, (see image below left) who will use this event to link international partners, local buyers, agents, editors and more to this vibrant fashion industry in Zimbabwe. Her aim and “the underlying idea behind Zimbabwe Fashion Week is to create a sustainable project which will work like a well oiled machine.” It is her opportunity and desire to give back to her birth country by establishing a solid fashion platform that presents new design talent.
She originally came up with the idea in 2009 where it took place at FTV Café Village Walk in Sandton, South Africa. And her experience includes her winning a contract to model, age just 18years old in South Africa, as well as working on various campaigns, advertisements and shows like the Vukani Fashion Show, SA Fashion Week, Guess Jeans campaign, Virgin Mobile, Coca cola lite and done shoots in publications such as Destiny Magazine, True Love, Elle Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Y Mag.
So with now focusing on Zimbabwe Fashion Week she created awareness of Zimbabwe’s fashion designers and she wished to get buyers interested in what the local designers had to offer.

Zimbabwe Fashion Week (ZFW) jets into 2012 with a new pace. Striving to exceed previous events, expectations and step into the international fashion industry, Breaking Barriers.

The focus of this years theme “Breaking Barriers” is on technology and its’ progression and affect, not only in the fashion world but all areas. As we all know, the creative mind has no limits. The smartest computers and gadgets are no smarter than man’s brain. So, ZFW are dedicating 2012 to streaking forward, not only in technology

ZFW tells us in their recent newsletter that

“We Zimbabweans have an inert, unsurpassable drive to succeed.”

Priscilla Chigariro, sole owner and executive producer of ZFW has a dream. A dream of giving back her fashion and modelling experience to her birth country, Zimbabwe. She has taken on this enormous task of bringing fashion to Zimbabwe, creating a platform for young designers, careers for models and so many more aspects linked to the event. Launched in 2009, this has not been an easy road, but she perseveres. By the sounds of it every other Zimbabwean out there who has a dream and so it is fitting for ZFW theme for 2012 to be called Breaking Barriers. Keep posted with us to hear more about what is happening and who will be showcasing.

For more information on ZFW 2012 check out Africa Fashion Guide

For General Enquiries email: info@zimbabwefashionweek.com

Website: www.zimfashionweek.com
10:25
Falling madly, deeply in love with objects
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Meet Eija-Riita Berliner-Mauer, whose surname means Berlin Wall in German. Eija-Riita 54, wed the actual structure Berlin Wall three decades ago in front of a handful of guests, and claims she is still happily married.

Diagnosed with Ojectum-Sexuality, Eija-Riita first “fell in love” with the concrete structure when she saw it on television at the tender age of seven. She remains a virgin with humans, however she has insisted that she has a full, loving relationship with the wall.

Objectum sexuals (OS) are people who fall in love with objects, developing significant relationships and sometimes even sexual ones. OS people believe their love with the objects are reciprocal and that they can communicate with them.

Meet Erika La Tour Eiffel, 37, who wedded the Eiffel Tower. Her wedding ceremony was attended by a handful of friends, and she has since changed her name legally to reflect the bond. In the documentary, Woman Who Married the Eiffel Tower, Erika is seen on their one-year anniversary, visiting the Eiffel Tower to consummate their marriage. Erika lifts up her skirt, and straddles one of the beams with literally nothing between them.

Guess people who fall in love with real dolls aren’t that strange after all.

“Someone who falls in love with objects are in control of that relationship on their own terms. Their objects will not let them down,” explains Jerry Brooker, one of the psychotherapists interviewed in the documentary.

So if a good friend or family member invites you to their wedding with, let’s say KICC, would you attend?

You can see and excerpt from Woman Who Married the Eiffel Tower below:
9:42
Rapper Flo Rida served legal notice via Facebook
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

An Australian music festival promoter has served a damages claim against American rapper Flo Rida via Facebook, after a court allowed the social networking site to be used.

The 32-year-old singer, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, received a Aus$55,000 (US$56,800) fee to perform at the Fat as Butter festival last October but failed to show up, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

The New South Wales District Court last month imposed a freeze on assets Dillard has in Australia, but the singer has yet to respond, prompting the court to allow a claim to be served on him via Facebook rather than in person.

The claim seeking damages for breach of contract for his non-appearance at the concert was then sent to Dillard via a link on his official Facebook page, the paper said.

Matthew Hourn, a lawyer for festival promoter Mothership Music, said officials had tried to contact the rapper during a recent visit Down Under for Australia’s television awards but were unsuccessful.

“Our process server tried arranging meetings with his agents and attended appearances in Melbourne — but due to his large entourage and security, we were unable to serve him personally,” Hourn said.

Flo Rida has more than 5.9 million likes on his Facebook site, which is regularly updated with photos of the star.

It is not the first time Australian officials have resorted to using Facebook, a social networking giant with more than 800 million active users, but Hourn said it could be a first for a damages case in New South Wales.

In 2010, Australian police served a court order on an alleged cyber bully using Facebook after attempts to serve it in person, over the telephone or via the post failed in what was believed to be a national first.

Two years earlier, an Australian lawyer won the right to serve legal documents via Facebook, while also in 2008 a Sydney court allowed lawyers to serve rugby player Sonny Bill Williams with a subpoena via SMS text message.
May 01, 2012
13:15
Winner crowned in Beyonce’s ‘End of Time’ contest
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Remember back in February, Capital Lifestyle Magazine told you about Beyonce’s remix competition where the diva gave her fans a chance to remix her single “End of time”?

Well the results are in and after four weeks of submissions, nearly 3,000 mixes were judged and 351,000 downloads later, a winner has been crowned.

Unfortunately Kenya’s Robert Keingati didn’t win, but Jimek, a Poland native will take home $4,000 as the winner, and also appear on Beyonce’s latest EP “4: The Remix.”

Check out the video below to see how Beyonce surprised Jimek with the news:
12:34
Dutch stop dope tourism with new ‘cannabis card’
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Keen to stub out an era of dope tourism, the Netherlands on Tuesday starts restricting cannabis sales in the country’s south to residents only, despite opposition from pro-pot lobby groups.

Famous for decades for its laid-back attitude to marijuana, the Netherlands will now require so-called coffee shops in some regions to only sell to signed-up members who live in the country, not to foreign visitors.

The tougher rules, set to take effect nationwide from next year, effectively turn coffee shops into private clubs with no more than 2,000 members, who must be over 18 and legal residents of the country.

Starting Tuesday in three provinces, coffee shops will have to turn away those without the so-called “cannabis cards”, which allow locals and foreigners living in the country to enter and light up.

A last-minute challenge seeking to declare the law discriminatory by coffee shop owners — including in the Limburg, North-Brabant and Zeeland provinces on the Belgian and German borders — failed last week.

Coffee shop owners say the ban on foreigners will cut into profits. But many local residents have welcomed the change, saying they have had enough of traffic jams, nocturnal disturbances and drug pushers catering to the millions of foreign visitors drawn by the relaxed cannabis laws.

The southern city of Maastricht, a popular destination for some 1.4 million “drug tourists” every year from Germany, France and Belgium, said last week it was ready to enforce the “weed-pass” legislation.

It said in a press release that from May 1 “Maastricht adjusts its policy on coffee shops” and warned that violators face administrative sanctions, including having their business shut down.

Some coffee shops have already signalled they intend to break the law.

The centre-right government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has for years prepared the ground for making the “cannabis card” obligatory when visiting one of the country’s 670 licensed coffee shops.

Although cannabis is technically illegal in the Netherlands, the country in 1976 decriminalised possession of less than five grams (0.18 ounces) of the substance under a so-called tolerance policy.

In neighbouring Belgium, Home Affairs Minister Joelle Milquet on Monday warned the country was ready to take action against drug tourists, saying: “Slipping in an illegal supply will not be tolerated in Belgium.”

Dutch authorities have also set up large signs over the weekend announcing the ban under a slogan that read: “New rules, no drugs,” while the police presence has been increased on both sides of the border.
12:23
‘Think Like A Man’ tops N. America box office
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The romantic comedy ”Think Like A Man” topped the North American box office for the second weekend in a row, industry figures showed Monday.

The ensemble date movie based on the best-selling book by actor and radio talk show host Steve Harvey made $17.6 million in its second week despite mediocre reviews, according to Exhibitor Relations.

That brings its two-week total to $60.5 million, the box office tracker said.

In second place was “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” a children’s stop-motion animated film from the studio that produced the “Wallace and Gromit” series that earned $11.1 million in its opening weekend.

Smash action hit “The Hunger Games” remained in third place in its sixth week on the big screen. The movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence, earned just over $10.8 million and has raked in a total of $372 million since its opening.

Legions of fans have flocked to see the movie, based on a book by Suzanne Collins, in which a teenage girl played by Lawrence fights to win a deadly television reality show featuring children in a post-apocalyptic world.

In fourth place was tearjerker drama “The Lucky One,” an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book starring Zac Efron as a US soldier back from Iraq. The movie made $10.8 million in its second weekend.

“The Five-Year Engagement,” starring Emily Blunt and Jason Segel, opened in fifth place, pulling in $10.6 million.

In sixth place was another debut, the Jason Statham action flick “Safe,” which pulled in $7.9 million.

It was followed by yet another new movie with mediocre reviews, “The Raven” starring John Cusack as 19th century American author Edgar Allan Poe, which collected $7.3 million.

“Chimpanzee,” a true-life, child-friendly adventure about a special chimp in the jungles of Ivory Coast, sank to eighth place, pulling in $5.2 million.

Ninth was the Farrelly brothers’ comedy “The Three Stooges,” in its third week. The tribute to the legendary US comedy trio brought in a little under $5.2 million, and a total of $36.9 million since opening.

Rounding off the top 10 was “The Cabin in the Woods,” a horror movie co-produced by Joss Whedon of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fame. The film, which plays with stereotypes from teen slasher movies, pulled in $4.6 million.
April 30, 2012
16:00
Early signs of malaria drug resistance in Africa
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Africa’s deadliest malaria parasite has shown resistance in lab tests to one of the most powerful drugs on the market — a warning of possible resistance to follow in patients, scientists said Friday.

Researchers in London found resistance to artemether in test tube analysis of blood from 11 of 28 patients who had fallen ill after travelling in countries mainly in sub-Saharan Africa — what they said was a “statistically significant” result.

Artemether is one of the most effective drugs in the artemisinin group most commonly used in malaria cocktails known as ACTs.

“Resistance in a test tube usually leads to resistance at some stage down the line in patients,” study leader Sanjeev Krishna told AFP of the findings published in BioMed Central publishers’ Malaria Journal.

“The question is how far down the line.”

The study did not look at the patients’ actual response to drugs, and “what that might mean in terms of treatment failure, we have yet to assess. We don’t know.”

A statement said the resistance was caused by genetic mutations in a parasite transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and meant that “the best weapons against malaria could become obsolete.”

The laboratory tests on the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, which causes the deadliest form of malaria and is responsible for 90 percent of deaths, showed artemether’s effectiveness reduced by about half in the infected samples.

“This study confirms our fears of how the parasite is mutating to develop resistance,” said Krishna, adding the genetic changes “occurred relatively recently”.

“Drug resistance could eventually become a devastating problem in Africa, and not just in east Asia where most of the world is watching for resistance.”

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 90 percent of people killed by malaria every year.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Tuesday it was optimistic drug-resistant malaria that has emerged along Thailand’s borders with Cambodia and Myanmar could be contained within the region.

While global campaigning and wide distributions of mosquito nets have helped curb malaria, it is still regarded as the worst parasitic disease in the world.

The WHO says 655,000 people died of malaria in 2010, making it the world’s fifth biggest killer in low-income countries.

“What we should be doing is to use the drugs we have as effectively as we can, to make sure they are working and to stop using combinations that are not working,” said Krishna.

And the focus should be on monitoring and further research.

“We must be very alert to the risk of there being increased treatment failures,” the scientist warned.

“We need to know more, we need to know it fairly quickly.”
15:40
Australian billionaire to build Titanic II
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

One of Australia’s richest men, Clive Palmer, on Monday unveiled plans to build a 21st century version of the doomed Titanic in China, with its first voyage from England to New York set for 2016.

Palmer, a self-made mining billionaire, said he had commissioned state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard to construct Titanic II with the same dimensions as its predecessor.

“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Palmer said in a statement.

“Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016.”

He added that he had invited the Chinese navy to escort the Titanic II to New York.

The announcement comes just weeks after the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, which went down on April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg on its first voyage, from Southampton to New York.

Palmer said the new ship would be a tribute to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original, which sank with the loss of 1,514 passengers and crew.

“These people produced work that is still marvelled at more than 100 years later and we want that spirit to go on for another 100 years,” he said.

Titanic was commissioned by White Star Line and was the largest liner in the world at the time.

Palmer said he has established his own shipping company, Blue Star Line, with the new vessel having the same specifications as its predecessor — 270 metres long (885 feet), 53 metres high and weighing some 40,000 tonnes.

It will have 840 rooms and nine decks with design work in conjunction with an historical research team underway. No figure was given on how much it would cost.

The only changes to the original would be below the water line including welding and not riveting, a bulbous bow for greater fuel efficiency, diesel generation and enlarged rudder and bow thrusters for increased manoeuvrability.

“Titanic II will be the ultimate in comfort and luxury with on-board gymnasiums and swimming pools, libraries, high class restaurants and luxury cabins,” Palmer said.

The ship would also include an exhibition room which will be located in the space of the original’s coal boilers which will showcase his home state of Queensland.

Palmer is estimated to be Australia’s fifth richest person, worth more than Aus$5 billion (US$5.2 billion), thanks to his vast coal and other mining assets in Queensland and Western Australia.

He has also branched out into tourism and owns the luxury Coolum resort on the Sunshine Coast, while recently saying he wants to move into the media industry, a sector dominated by Fairfax and Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited.

His decision to commission a Chinese shipbuilding yard, which will also construct other luxury liners for the tycoon, reinforces his ties to the country, which is a key buyer of his coal and iron ore.

“The Chinese are renowned for building commercial cargo and container ships,” he said.

“China currently produces around two to three percent of the world’s luxury ships but is looking to challenge the Europeans who have around 75 percent of this market.

“The Chinese ship building industry with our assistance wants to be a major player in this market.”

The original Titanic was built in Belfast.
13:23
Top 5 strangest divorce laws in the world
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Some people marry their spouses for love, some marry over a “dare,” some marry over desperation, and some divorce and re-marry because they realize they’ve made the wrong decision, again.

Whatever the reason may be, going through a divorce is a bewildering experience with a very sharp learning curve.

To assist in easing that learning curve, here are a few of the world’s strangest divorce laws:

1. In New Mexico and Mississippi, when a third party (e.g. the other woman or man) is held responsible for the failure of a marriage – spouses have the right to sue their ex spouse’s LOVER for damages. Yes, here’s your chance to get back at that B****

2. In Kentucky, it’s illegal to remarry the same person 4 times – perhaps Kentuckians marry their spouses many times? Can’t they just make up their minds?!

3. In Kansas, it’s written into law that a man’s mistreatment of his mother-in-law can’t be used as grounds for divorce – guess husbands and mother-in-laws don’t get along very well in Kansas.

4. In the state of Delaware, a couple can file to have their marriage annulled if they entered into it as a “dare” – seriously, to have this penned in law ultimately suggests that a lot of people in Delaware “dare” each other to get married. ”If you love me, then I DARE YOU TO MARRY ME!” Does that line still work?

5. In Tennessee, claiming that your spouse made an attempt on your life “by poison or any other means showing malice” is grounds for divorce – Poisoning their spouses in Tennessee must’ve been a popular thing to do. Can’t people just get along?
12:16
SAWA Shoes: Footwear in Africa
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

With the Hub of Africa Fashion Week and the Origin Africa trade event wrapping up in Ethiopia, we thought it would be fitting to highlight a reputable brand that is taking the shoewear market by storm out there.

SAWA Shoes.

They are not a charity brand nor a fairtrade brand, they are a normal shoe company doing business in Africa, sourcing their materials, production and even web design and communications in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and sees this as a real way to support Africa and not to use Africa as a means to glorify their own brand. The philosophy of SAWA Shoes is not one of audacious philanthropy or using Africa to glorify themselves, it is about taking on the challenge of doing business in Africa. The vast majority of Africa’s exports are raw materials such as agricultural goods, minerals and metals, there is comparatively very little manufacturing in Africa and very little value is added to these raw materials before they leave the continent, this minimises the benefits to the local economies and hinders economic growth. By ensuring that as much of the value added in shoe production stays within African hands, SAWA are helping the Ethiopian shoe industry to grow and develop as well as maximizing job creation. So to add value in Africa they buy the materials in Ethiopia and transform them into finished products there.

The company is based in Paris, France and was established in November 2009. Mehdi, founder of SAWA Shoes is keen that their sneakers are bought not only because they are made in Africa and help to support the growth the growth of an industry but also because they are a stylish and high quality product, and on this aspect they certainly don’t disappoint. Taking inspiration from vintage designs they have created a range of classic low and high ankle trainers, combining leather and woven uppers in a number of colourways.
SAWA Shoes 2012 SAWA Shoes 2012 SAWA Shoes 2012 SAWA Shoes 2012 “Vintage attitude is the best description of our line. When I look to our shoes, I have always the famous picture of Bob Marley playing football in his super tight to body Adidas suit.” Mehdi explains.
On the quality front, an independent study gave them top marks on 4 points of strength and wear and tear, they even scored 3 times the average on one point (for more details check out the Quality page on the website).

Although the brand is now producing in Ethiopia it was originally born in Cameroon in November 2009, in Cameroon the native people of Douala city are known as sawa, the founders of the company fell in love with the name and when they later found out it also means ‘togetherness’ in Arabic they knew it was perfect. I wonder if they are also aware that it means ‘equal’ or ‘the same’ in Swahili, and usawa means equality – another sentiment reflected in their company ethos.

Overall SAWA Shoes area an inspiring brand that are taking on huge challenges that face the shoe industry in Ethiopia whilst also providing much needed employment as well as much needed high quality stylish sneakers! SAWA Shoes are also featured in Fashion Africa a book by Africa Fashion Guide founder, Jacqueline Shaw. We are really looking forward to seeing the Womens’ collection with specific colors and materials, when it’s finished, and wish SAWA Shoes all the best for the future.

SAWA Shoes 2012
To find out more about SAWA Shoes visit their website at www.sawashoes.com,or www.facebook.com/SAWASHOES

The shoes ares purchasable online from www.sawashoes-shop.com or you can find them in Dover Street Market in the UK, J Crew in the US or Printemps de l’Homme in Paris ranging in price for shoes from 75 to 115 euros.

Author: Imogen Butler

For more, make sure you check out Africa Fashion Guide
11:59
‘James Bond’ returns to Istanbul on 50th anniversary
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

James Bond has once again returned to Istanbul for “Skyfall”, the latest film in the longest running series that this year celebrates half a century of the legendary spy in action, its director said Sunday.

“We wanted to be here because it is the most magnificent place, it is an incredible city… I can’t get enough of it,” saiddirector Sam Mendes, who spoke to the press in Istanbul after more than 100 days of shooting “Skyfall” in Turkey.

The 23rd film in the Bond series was shot on several locations in Turkey, between the southern province of Adana and the southwestern coastal town of Fethiye, as well as in the historical Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.

“Bond has had a close relationship with Istanbul… It has been 49 years to the day since they were last here.. Bond was last here,” said Daniel Craig, who took over the Bond character in 2006 with “Casino Royal”.

Barbara Broccoli, one of the producers, noted that Istanbul was chosen as the venue for “Skyfall” to mark the 50th anniversary of the legend in “the favorite city of Ian Flemming”, the British author who invented “James Bond” in 1953.

Bond may even have a car chase scene on the very epitome of Istanbul, the Bosphorus bridge, Mendes said in response to a question, hinting that the city may continue to appear in forthcoming Bond movies.

The Bond series briefly featured Istanbul in 1999 for “The World is Not Enough”, after Bond’s first appearance in the city in 1963 for the second film of the series, “From Russia With Love“.

“Skyfall” is expected to be released in late 2012.
April 27, 2012
17:43
Zuku beefs up Kenyan content
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Zuku has announced new projects to boost its local footprint with a cluster of Kenyan programmes, including a Swahili Movie channel and a regional basketball tournament.

The new initiatives include a partnership with Steps Entertainment in Tanzania to develop Zuku Swahili Movies, a second series of popular talk show, Mentality, a travel / cooking series hosted by chef Kiran Jethwa, and two very different music shows.

“As a local brand it makes absolute sense for us to invest in originating fresh, relevant and highly entertaining programming for the East African region” said Mwananchi Group CEO Richard Bell at the launch event, which took place at the Crown Plaza on Wednesday.

Zuku launched in Nairobi in 2009 and countrywide in Kenya and Uganda in late 2011; just getting to Tanzania this year. Up to 400,000 people are now able to watch its channels, and Bell hopes to double that number by the December.

Zuku is also looking to make its presence more tangible through a sponsorship of Nite of a Thousand Laughs, and Zuku Slamfest, an ambitious regional basketball tournament, to be held at Kasarani in July. The tournament will bring together some of the best players around Africa to compete for the grand prize of $100,000.

“Our offering has been structured to meet a need – and we see a truly exciting opportunity in this. As an East African company we are committed to maintaining a close focus on this market, and are delighted to be a part of its growth” concluded Bell.

The new programmes include:

• Nite of 1000 laughs live comedy show featuring top comics from Africa including ‘Klint da Drunk’ Mandy Uzonitsha, Eric Omondi, Patrick Salvador, funny face amongst others. Zuku is an event sponsor and will also be broadcasting a series from May.

• Mentality – The show is purposely designed to create controversy or confrontations as the 3 panelists push the envelope where discussions of topics deemed to be taboo are readily explored on mainstream TV. Presenters are Ian Mbugua, Pastor Simon Mbuvi and Edward Kwach.

• Bush Larder – takes the viewer on a tour of Kenya and her more unusual and unknown gastronomic delights. The series is led by Kiran Jethwa, a Kenya born and internationally trained Chef who has returned from a global gastronomic education to settle in the country he loves, Kenya.

• Slamfest – in collaboration with Vision 21 Sports Consulting – an avenue to showcase talent and skills in basketball. 8 countries will compete

o Passport – a documentary series that visits the diverse cultural backgrounds of those participating in the slam fest series
o Black medley – will bring to light the diverse interests of the African Diaspora through film, webisodes and music.

• Zuku Swahili movies – the first Kiswahili Movie channel done in partnership with Steps Entertainment from Dar es Salaam.

• Hyped East Africa – a music travel show that showcases the different nightlife in cities and clubs.

• AfroFuse – an African music show that will feature Africa Fusion music and is aimed at celebrating African Music.
13:32
Egypt: Husbands can have sex with dead wives?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

As reported by Al Arabiya News, the women of Egypt are up in arms with two proposed controversial laws: legalizing the marriage of girls starting from the age of 14, and permitting husbands to have sex with their dead wives within the first 6 hours following their deaths.

Controversial in this case is an understatement. Since when did people want to have sex with their DECEASED partners?

Physically speaking, even if it was during the first 6 hours of their death, Rigor Mortis, the tightening and stiffening of the muscles due to chemical reactions that takes place within one’s body after death will gradually take place – in other words you will be having sex with a stiff body, no different than a blow-up doll. Cold, stiff and with their blood congealing – your deceased wife will look pale and yellow.

Emotionally speaking, your partner is dead, don’t plan on your wife calling out your name now.

Location-wise, where would you have your last rendezvous? In the city morgue?

Practically speaking, how does one even become sexually aroused? Your wife just passed away in the last 6 hours – shouldn’t you be stricken with grief and in deep mourning?

FACT or FICTION?

Of course, with such controversial reports surfacing all over the internet, how valid are these claims? According to CSMONITOR.com, the published piece was strictly an opinion piece up to no good, “ Egypt’s state-owned Al Ahram newspaper published an opinion piece by Amr Abdul Samea, a past stalwart supporter of the deposed Hosni Mubarak, that contained a bombshell: Egypt’s parliament is considering passing a law that would allow husbands to have sex with their wives after death.”

The truth of the matter is that necrophilia, obsession with and usually erotic interest in or stimulation by corpses, exists. However, whether a law will be passed supporting such practices is yet to be seen.
12:44
Coke makes party-crashing cool again
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

To “crash a party” is an expression that basically means to attend a party without receiving an invitation. Party crashers are often seen as those that screw up the whole party, and since they’ve never even been invited, it makes them that much more annoying. Party crashing has never been “cool” per se, but Coca-Cola Kenya and Capital FM are revolutionizing that perception by literally “crashing” parties all over Kenya.

So far the Coke team have raided numerous parties in Voi, Nyeri, Naivasha and Nairobi, where together with a local celebrity and a Capital FM DJ, “Makes it happen” through giving away lots of Coke and prizes, at no extra cost to the host of the party and in complete surprise.

Too good to be true? If you want the Coke and Capital FM team to “surprise” you and your friends at your next party, make sure to register your party at www.partiesrock.co.ke Get the most votes and the Coke team will come to show you how crashing parties should really be!

PARTYBlog: This could be you
10:05
Herbie Hancock kicks off International Jazz Day
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Legendary bandleader Herbie Hancock will get the first International Jazz Day off to a melodious start Monday with a dawn concert in the cradle of the music, New Orleans.

April 30 was designated International Jazz Day by UNESCO in December, but the events surrounding the first celebration will begin on Friday, at the oddly early hour for jazzmen of 10:00 a.m. with a Hancock gig in Paris.

On Monday, Hancock, Diane Reeves, Terence Blanchard, Ellis Wynton Marsalis will play as the sun comes up over Congo Square in the Big Easy, before the main event that night at UN Headquarters in New York.

There, Hancock will be joined by musicians from five continents, including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Romero Lubamo, Esperanza Spalding, Angelique Kidjo and Zakir Hussain for a concert broadcast globally.

Although the United States cut off funding for UNESCO over its recognition of Palestine, the agency will celebrate this most American artform as a force for “peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.”

“I believe that it is very important for young people to learn about music in all of its rich and varied aspects,” said singer Barbara Hendricks, who will take part in the Paris opening party.

“It is very clear that when you hear music from Africa, from Mali, Senegal Nigeria, or you listen to delta blues from Mississippi, they’re speaking the same language.

“So all we have to do is to play more together, listen to each other play, play for others, and let that conversation continue to happen.”

UNESCO’s 1,200-seat concert hall in Paris has been fully booked for weeks, with fans keen to catch Hancock playing with legends like South Africa’s Hugh Masekela and singers Hendricks and Tania Maria.

Hendricks began her career as a classical opera singer, but wants young people to follow her into jazz, which she she says forms part of “humanity’s cultural heritage”.
9:56
Gabon research centre says antimalarial drug within reach
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A scientist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital’s medical research unit said Wednesday that trials of a new antimalarial drug were encouraging and paved the way for licensing.

“These preliminary results are relatively encouraging and lead us to believe… that we could have something licensed,” Dr Jose Fernandez said in Libreville at an event marking World Malaria Day.

He said the drug had been in the final of three clinical trial phases for the past two years at the research centre in Lambarene, the Gabon jungle town where Nobel Peace Prize winner Schweitzer founded the hospital 99 years ago.

The RTS,S/AS01E vaccine is manufactured by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and the research — which is led by the University of Tubingen — is being financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Fernandez said the vaccine had achieved 56 percent protection from malaria and 46 percent against severe malaria.

While global campaigning and wide distributions of mosquito nets have helped curb malaria, it is still regarded as the worst parasitic disease in the world.

The World Health Organisation says 655,000 people died of malaria in 2010, making the mosquito-borne disease the world’s fifth biggest killer in low-income countries.

Speaking at the same event in Libreville, Gabonese Health Minister Leon Nzouba described malaria as his country’s top public health problem.

Schweitzer, who was born a German and later became French, was also a respected philosopher, organist, musicologist and theologian. He died in the hospital he founded in 1965 at the age of 90.
April 26, 2012
13:58
Ladies of Jazz heat up Nairobi
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A comfortable crowd attended an intimate performance by Jazz Ladies Christine Kamau and Valerie Kimani in Nairobi last night, where the atmosphere was definitely warmer than the dark storm outside.

Sponsored by Sierra, Kamau – who is launching her album at the Michael Joseph centre tonight – connected with the crowd and affirmed her growing status in Nairobi’s jazz arena.

On her prized music maker, a saxophone, Christine easily bonded with the audience for a solid one and half hours, but still saving some of the best for tonight’s jazzy launch.

Despite the high anticipation, the duo did not sing together at the Yaya Sierra Lounge.

A scarce and much sought after Valerie Kimani came on next in a flowing floral gown, complete with a brown leather belt revealing her contours.

She mostly performed renditions of popular blues tracks such as Hit the Road Jack and the well known Besame Mucho.

As the music flowed freely, so did delectable bitings in the form of prawns, fish fingers, soft crunchy meat pies, courtesy of the establishment.

This is the third edition of the Sierra Jazz concert which has served up talents like Gerard Albright and Jonathan Butler.

Photos by Paul Munene, see more from the event here…
12:26
Mount Kilimanjaro rises above Nairobi horizon
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Some were dumb-founded, others refused to believe that it was possible and a few stood in awe with their faces pressed against the Capital FM office windows, pointing at Mount Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa and the highest mountain on the continent.

There she was, as if on cue right when all the clouds hovering above Nairobi parted early Thursday morning after Wednesday evening’s heavy downpour, the warm golden sun shone down on The World Heritage Site rising up from its surrounding savannah plains, capped in snow, and visible from many kilometres away – as far as the Central Business District (CBD) in Nairobi.

Thursday morning from 7:25am to 7:30am, the few early birds in their highly perched CBD offices, enjoyed a glimpse of the majesty that radiated from Mount Kilimanjaro.

“I thought I was dreaming last time,” commented Paul, an employee at Capital FM who last saw Mount Kilimanjaro from the same offices 2 years ago.

A trek up Mount Kilimanjaro does not require any technical mountaineering a skill, however taking between 5-9 days on average and with the highest failure rate in regards to summiting a mountain in Africa, many only dream of seeing Mount Kilimanjaro from the glossy pages of a magazine.

So, next time you wake up to clear skies in Nairobi, look in the southeast direction and you may be lucky enough to see the stunning site of the 5,895m high mountain in Tanzania – an inspiring way to start your morning.

Photo credit: George Fisher
12:03
Our shoes, our men
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Women are naturally amorous creatures and that is no word for a lie. Of all the things we love and lust though, none compare to men and footwear! We love our different men and our different shoes in very similar ways if I may be so bold to state and no, I do not mean this as an insult to the fellas.

As women we have that “staple” shoe that we love! The comfortable pair that fit so perfectly that sometimes we barely remember their presence on our delicate feet. They were probably quite pocket friendly and have withstood the test of time as we’ve been wearing them for years. We can walk, run, jump, skip, dance and stand in line with them. They are suitable to wear to a picnic, to the office, to the movies, on a date-whatever! They don’t wear fast, they go with most of our outfits and they never ever dare blemish us with nasty blisters or callouses. However, much as we do love these shoes, we don’t really regard them highly. We take them for granted and never truly appreciate them for what simple pleasures and ease they afford us. We always get and exalt fancier shoes that may not be as comfortable and when we get overwhelmed we go back to them only to jilt them when the next hot number catches our eyes.

Ditto with those men in our lives that we’ve known so long and have become amazingly familiar and cosy with. You know them: our best friends, our “brothers from another mother” and whichever other sweet, dependable, loyal man we have relegated to the infamous friend zone! We get on like a house on fire and are so used to them always being there for us that we end up being unappreciative of it. The relationships blossomed effortlessly without the need to apply special measures and have lasted us through the years. We can count on them for anything. They stick around during whatever conditions or moods we oscillate between and are always up for a plan from the movies to clubbing to just a quiet brunch on a boring Sunday. Our friends like them and vice versa and God bless them they almost never hurt us or our sensitive feelings. Being who we are though, we almost always assume they will always be there and never take the chance to fully revel in the love and care they so openly and irrevocably shower us with. We refuse to see them as more than just friends and go out in heart-breaking searches of true love when in reality it was always right there by our side wiping away the tears of heartache and disappointment. And what do we do? We jump from their secure embrace into the reluctant arms of yet another short-lived encounter. Oh di fouf!

They say men are visual creatures but I think ultimately, we take the crown, especially when hot shoes are involved! Those shoes that make us go gaga (definitely not the type Gaga wears though, someone should talk to her eish). Universally gorgeous to any and every woman. Universally gorgeous on any woman! High heeled, sturdy, dressy, painful on the poor feet but they just look so amazing and give you a fabulous validation! They cost us an arm and another arm (because we need the leg to wear them). No matter what the price we pay we want them so bad we’ll sell blood, a spleen and our children’s hair to get them! Did I mention they hurt? Different pains too: toes, heel, ankles, calves etc! But that is beside the point: beauty is pain right? We take the pain in stride (literally), grit our teeth into a weird smile and try to last in them. After all, they are to-die-for and everyone has their eyes on you and there is some gratification in the fact that you are the one wearing those hot numbers! Until we cannot stand them anymore, maybe even stand altogether from the suffering. We cannot take any more neither have we more to give. We retire them and swear off such until we see the other even more gorgeous pair that we just have to have!

Then we have those men that we love to lust! Every woman’s object of desire, every man’s source of insecurity. Tall, well built, wonderful dressers, not at all gentlemen but every bit the charmers. The ones that make our knees go weak, our hearts break Usain Bolt’s records and our pride and resolve take a hike! We see these men and we want them immediately. We do everything in our power to get them even for a fleeting second at the price of our ego. They cost us a lot to finally get and when we do manage to be with them they hurt us but we bite the bullet and withstand the agony for as long as we can because we know everyone is watching and it feels great to be the one with him. after a while though we get drained and cannot stand them anymore. Are they worth the discomfort? The stress? The heartache? Plus, there is that other hotter guy that just walked in! Hunk du jour! He must be better than this loser! So yesterday!

Of course there are the amazing shoes that our sister/friend owns and we’ve always wanted! Perfect pair! Color, height, fabric and design. We wonder where they found them that we never got around to. And they always have the cutest story too: not your typical “I was at the mall and saw these lush shoes on display and just had to get them” tale. We cannot help but think how much better a certain outfit we have would look if paired with those particular pairs or get jealous every time they tell us how comfortable or durable the shoes are. We may try them on from time to time but the shoes just won’t fit quite right! Or perhaps they don’t look as good on us much as we may have better legs than the owner. So we appreciate them from a distance and wonder if we’ll ever get them in our size or if they’re out of stock. . .

Which brings us to the taken men. They may be dating/married to someone very close to us and yet we still can’t help longing for them. It’s almost always because the women they’re with tell us about how lovely they are, dependable, strong, etc. Plus they just look so good together and we muse about whether we would look just as good if not better if one of them was in our life or if we’d have the same dynamics. Alas, it never happens that way. So we console ourselves with dreams of finding our very own like them, assuming such men still exist because let’s face it, the good ones are always taken!

Lastly, remember the pair of shoes we had that were cute but nothing special and not so high as we like them, and the nude that we thought would be fabulous turned out to look like cold tea, and just a right damp squib? The ones we probably gave away to our friends or co-worker? Then just like that they put them on and the shoes look quite stunning-the perfect hue and everything? And we kick ourselves for not seeing that earlier and giving them away without a second thought because they were not exactly what we wanted? And we now want them back?

Yeah, like those guys that wanted us but we didn’t think they measured up so we set them up with other women we know. Then we start noticing that all the things we dismissed about them are actually quite charming, endearing and striking! We probably never paid attention but seeing them happy with and making the other women happy makes us regret acting in haste. We think of reclaiming them but alas! ’tis too late. We have only our shortsightedness to blame.

Well, like our shoes, our men do drive us crazy and keep us on our toes so cheers to that! And just like our shoes, there is that one man out there that is perfect for us, classic, timeless, and forever! And when the shoes fit . . . you may just wear them down the aisle

BY OSHIN

For more pieces from the author Click HERE
11:33
Kylie Minogue in race for Cannes gold
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Australia will be racing for Cannes gold this year with Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue lighting up the red carpet and two directors from Down Under competing for the Palme d’Or.

With a month to go until the May 16-27 event on the French Riviera, organisers Thursday named the 22 films in the main competition at the world cinema showcase, with Australia looming large in the selection.

Kidman stars in the 1960s-set thriller “The Paperboy” by Lee Daniels, alongside Zav Efron and John Cusack. The US director won a warm reception in Cannes three years ago for his last film “Precious”, about an obese black girl from Harlem.

The Australian-American actress also stars in Philip Kaufman’s “Hemingway and Gellhorn”, shown out of competition, in which she plays the American writer’s war reporter third wife Martha Gellhorn, opposite the British actor Clive Owen.

Pop icon Minogue stars opposite Eva Mendes in “Holy Motors”, by the edgy French director Leos Carax, about a man who constantly changes identities.

Andrew Dominik, the Australian director of “The Assassination of Jesse James”, reteamed with Brad Pitt for the gangster thriller “Killing Them Softly”, set to inject a dose of stylish violence to the race for the Palme d’Or.

And Jessica Chastain, co-star of last year’s Palme d’Or winner “The Tree of Life”, returns to Cannes in “Lawless”, a film about bootleggers by Australia’s John Hillcoat, also competing for the top prize.
10:17
World’s most peculiar social networks
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The world has strange people, with even stranger interests. But it’s a free world, especially on the world wide web where social networks are uniting people from all walks of life. Here is just five of the interesting social networks, most of them originating from the US and also quite active members.

ncludr.com – where everyone and everything is your friend

No friend request, no follow back, no special connections. Ncludr (I guess its pronounced includer) uses an advanced synchronization algorithm to link you to people with the same interest.

If you have self-esteem issues, this is the site for you. You will never be rejected or unfollowed. “Here, everyone and everything is your friend. Even unstable past life hotties. Deal with it,” states ncludr.

stachepassions.com – moustache touché

So you fancy growing a moustache and you want to connect with similar newbies or get advice from veterans? Well, stachepassions.com is just the place to let your (facial) hair go. The site has different moustache groups including Dali, Walrus or Pencil where members discuss all things moustache. Also featured on the site is the stache chat, message boards and e-mail.

divorce360.com – calculate your marriage expiry date

Divorce360 is a social networking site for people contemplating, going through or recovering from divorce. The catch phrase is ‘If its over, what’s next?’. With over 27,000 members of different marital status, the site offers a platform for people to share their experiences in issues of custody, child support, alimony and litigation. There is a widget on the site that calculate’s your chances of getting divorced!

eons.com – old is not boring!

Feeling facebook is too immature for you? Meet eons.com, social networking site for people over 40 years old, or more commonly known as Boomers. Members build profiles, share photos, talk about their kids, share gardening tips, discuss arthritis and all the exciting things boomers find interesting. There is a ‘longevity calculator’ that determines your life expectancy and offers personalized advice for ‘living longer and healthier’.

lineforheaven.com – click to enter heaven

“Congratulations on being inducted into heaven at 7Pm on August 2.” This is the welcome message to new members on the “heavenly” social networking site – lineforheaven.com. Members of the site earn karma points by “blessing” people, confessing sins, starting a good cause or spreading the cause. Enough Karma points helps save your ‘soul’, increasing your chance of getting to ‘heaven’ – on Sunday’s. And ya, there is an online counter to remind you time is running short for this weeks heaven intake.

Three letters: SMH
April 25, 2012
15:25
Juliani makes ‘connection’ with US gospel artist
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Self styled street preacher Juliani is all set to shoot the video for his new single ‘Connection’ with US gospel musician Antony Faulkner.

The video for the track, which was recorded at the Homeboyz Studios last year, is due for release in mid-May.

The message behind Connection is that music is a ‘common ground for people to relate irrespective of their cultural differences’.

Faulkner has already collaborated with an African artist before, namely GWay Cooper Ssalli of Uganda, and their song featured in Faulkner’s latest album Chemistry of Change.

The US musician has toured Ghana with Gospel Legend Andrae Crouch, Durban, South Africa with Joyous Celebration, and Uganda with GWay.

His first solo project released his #1 song STOP SEARCHING, which held the number 1 spot for 3 months on Yahoo Launchcast Gospel Charts.
12:59
Putting Africa’s textile and apparel industry on the global map
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation, (ACTIF) the voice of the textile industry in Africa, brings “Origin Africa” — a four-day event showcasing the best in Africa fashion, textiles, and accessories. Its objective is to put Africa on the map as a preferred place to do business in the international textile and apparel industry. Ethiopia is the heart of Origin Africa – celebrating the spirit, style and innovation that is modern Africa.

Now in its third year, Origin Africa 2012 will feature one of the largest and most comprehensive trade expos in Africa, with more than 60 exhibitors from Africa, the U.S, Europe,India and China covering the entire fiber/textile/apparel supply chain as well as the home decor and fashion accessories sector. The Trade Expo is complemented by a world-class seminar series as well as the Origin Africa Designer Showcase, which features the best in African design talent. The event will roll out from 24 – 27 April at the Sheraton Addis and the African Union Conference Center.

“We are thrilled to launch our first Origin Africa Trade Expo in Ethiopia,” says Skander Negasi of Trade and Fairs East Africa, the official representative of global trade fair giant Messe Frankfurt. “Ethiopiais a dynamic market for the textile and apparel industry. The Trade Expo offers a forum for buyers and sellers to come together under one roof to do business.”

Recognizing the important economic role that the fiber/ textile/apparel sector plays in the region, the Origin Africa Designer Showcase will be held in the new African Union Conference Center– the first of its kind commercial event in this world-class facility.

“The textiles and clothing industry in Africa can be important in economic and social terms in the short run by providing incomes, jobs and foreign currency receipts and in the long run by providing the opportunity for sustained economic development , ,” notes Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Hundreds of delegates are expected to attend the event, along with buyers from U.S. and European retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, PPR Gucci, Redcats, Oakley, JC Penney, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Elis and Otto Versand, to name but a few. More than 20 international buyers are slated to visit the Trade Expo.

“Anyone in the textile and apparel sector in Africa cannot afford to miss this show. The opportunities to meet with regional suppliers and international buyers are unmatched,” says Barry Fisher, fiber/textile/apparel specialist from USAID’s Competitiveness and Trade Expansion program (USAID/COMPETE), one of the organizers of the event. “Buyers are encouraged to ‘Write Your Orders in Africa,’ and we expect blockbuster business deals to take place during the conference.”

ACTIF has partnered with the Ethiopian Textile and Garments and Manufacturing Association (ETGAMA) and the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute (TIDI) to bring the best Ethiopian firms to the expo. ETGAMA and TIDI are the leading representatives of the textile and garment industry in Ethiopia.

ACTIF’s Executive Director Rajeev Arora observes that, “We have been pleased with the outstanding support and cooperation from our partners ETGAMA and TIDI. They have helped put together a fine program that puts the spotlight on African innovation in textiles and design. We are certain that this will help put Africa on the map as a sourcing destination for the world’s apparel demands.”

A highlight of the week-long event is the Origin Africa Designer Showcase, to be held over two nights: April 24 and April 25. This year, ACTIF has partnered with Hub of Africa Fashion Week to present the Designer Showcase around the theme of eco-fashion. Eco-fashion is part of a global design trend to use environmentally sensitive fabrics and production techniques.

Ethiopia’s Fikirte Addis won this event at the 2011 Origin Africa –Mauritius. With her win, Fikirte earned a chance to exhibit her collection, inspired by traditional Ethiopian cotton fabrics, at Africa Fashion Week New York. Fikirte will join 34 other designers from around the continent including Kenya’s Kiko Romeo, Wambui Mukenyi, KIPUSA and the Association of Fashion Designers of Kenya ,Tanzania’s Jamila Vera Swa, Esakado Bird, Jose Rui Lopez and Doreen Mashika, andUganda’s SOLOME for this year’s event, at which designers will show how they are embracing sustainable and environmentally conscious manufacturing and design.

The Designer Showcase continues to gain global prestige and it will recognize top designers by awarding 3 prizes: the US Retailers Award, from OneStopPlus.com complete with a commercial supply contract; the Origin Africa Award, with participation at Africa Fashion Week New York; and the Ethical Fashion Award from Messe Frankfurt France, with participation at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris.

“As the lion economy awakes, global investors know that it is time to start learning about Africa. Origin Africa represents a powerful trend in social entrepreneurship and empowerment and is helping to make Africa the new frontier for business,” says Fisher.
12:28
Vipingo Ridge: A coastal golfing destination
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Victor Okwaro) - There are obvious things that come to mind when you think of Mombasa, including beaches, palm trees, sand and ocean. Get ready to have your perception of the coast changed forever when you visit the breathtaking 5 star private residential golfing destination Vipingo Ridge.

Vipingo Ridge is located approximately 20 minutes drive past Mtwapa in the Vipingo area on the way to Kilifi. It’s surrounded by massive sisal plantations. You can’t miss the large ‘Vipingo Ridge’ sign on the left, and its less than a minutes drive from the main road. As you reach the towering gates with a high number of security personnel that could give the Department of Defence a run for their money – you realize this is no ordinary development.

Vipingo Ridge sits on an expansive 2,500 acre residential estate, with luxury homes and two 18 hole championship golf courses. It’s a sight to behold. The long 5 minute drive to the Club house is lined by luxury Mediterranean styled homes. Each holiday home is built on a quarter acre or more, with green lawns and very well planned in-roads. The homes have no fences or security gates, giving you the impression you are in a first world luxury development inEurope.

The club house is a wonderful structure that keeps with the Mediterranean styled theme, with an extremely high entrance and walls that seems to go on forever. The old architecture of the building mixes well with the contemporary African inspired furniture in the large and welcoming lobby area, with the sun’s rays coming through the centre of the building.

There is a choice of dining areas, all of which give an excellent view of the golf course. The 2^nd floor is open with no roof, with a large bar area and comfortable couches that would be perfect for watching the sun go down as you sip on your favourite drink and marvel at the view of the ocean in the far distance.

The world class golf courses at Vipingo Ridge are breathtaking and very well designed, and even if you’re not a golfer, you’d be tempted to take it up just to walk on the manicured grass that seems almost unreal.

We visited on Easter Sunday, and they were serving a delicious brunch that included barbecued seafood, roast goat, and a wide variety of salads and side dishes. On a regularl day one can order from the a la carte menu, and the prices of food and drinks are not overly expensive.

Whether you’re a serious buyer who wants to own a home on a world class gold development, an avid golfer, or just someone who is curious, make sure you visit Vipingo Ridge the next time you’re in the coast. It’s an experience that you won’t soon forget.

Author: Victor Okwaro
11:44
Defying nature: Preserving penile length and girth
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Vacuum erection devices (VEDs), known to the layman as a “penis pump,” has been used for improving erectile functions for more than a century. You probably haven’t heard about VEDs until the last two decades, primarily because VEDs were never an approved treatment option by various drug and administration boards for erectile dysfunction until recently.

If you have erectile dysfunction, there’s nothing to be ashamed about it, dear men. There are a bunch of treatment options including VEDs on the market that have been proven effective. But what if you’re not suffering from erectile dysfunction, and just want to boost your performance a bit? You know what I mean…

Well good news gentlemen, in a recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, VEDs were shown as a successful alternative therapy for patients suffering from erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer therapy. The most encouraging finding was that researchers found VEDs to be effective in the preservation of penile length and girth. Researchers went on to conclude that early use of VEDs may help to maintain one’s penile length and girth – defying the natural aging process.

So for those that just want to ensure that they remain in tip-top shape, investing in a vacuum erection device might just be a good idea.

The device: Side effects

VEDs are carefully constructed so that a limited amount of pressure is allowed to develop. To ensure that you reduce the likelihood of suffering from a pressure-induced penile injury, make sure you only invest in devices that are FDA- or other acclaimed drug and administration board-approved. Medical community supported devices generally only create pressure up to 250mmHg, anything higher could prove risky.

Don’t be freaked out if your erected penis looks a bit strange. Your erection is obtained by the vacuum and will not be the same as one achieved naturally. Looking a bit bruised is normal. Other things to be expected? Feeling numb or cold may occur.

SOURCE
Journal Reference:
1. Geetu Pahlajani. Vacuum Erection Devices Revisited: Its Emerging Role in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction and Early Penile Rehabilitation Following Prostate Cancer Therapy. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, March 2012.
9:21
Facebook to pay Microsoft $550M for patents
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Facebook struck a $550 million deal Monday to get its hands on hundreds of AOL patents from Microsoft as the social network hardened its defenses before it goes public on the Nasdaq.

Facebook will pick up around 650 of the 925 patents Microsoft bought earlier this month in an auction from AOL in a nearly $1.1 billion deal, Facebook and Microsoft said in a statement.

Facebook’s general counsel called the move “another significant step in our ongoing process of building an intellectual property portfolio to protect Facebook’s interests over the long term.”

“Today’s agreement with Facebook enables us to recoup over half of our costs while achieving our goals from the AOL auction,” added Microsoft Executive Vice President Brad Smith.

Facebook also arranged to license the remaining 275 remaining patents or applications in the portfolio being bought by Microsoft, which gets the right to use the patented technology going to the California-based social network.

“Today’s agreement with Microsoft represents an important acquisition for Facebook,” said the social network’s general counsel Ted Ullyot.

While the companies did not disclose specifics on the patents, AOL’s trove of intellectual property is believed to include technology for messaging, search, imaging, and Internet telephony.

Facebook is expected to go public next month in a much-anticipated stock market debut. The company will trade on the technology-heavy Nasdaq exchange under the symbol “FB,” it said in a filing with US regulators.

Facebook in February filed to go public and could raise as much as $10 billion in the largest flotation ever by an Internet company on Wall Street.

The paperwork filed for the initial public offering provided the first glimpse of the financial details of the web giant launched eight years ago by Mark Zuckerberg from his Harvard University dorm room.

Facebook amended its filing on Monday to report quarterly profit slipped to $205 million despite a surge in revenue as it bumped up research and promotion expenses ahead of its stock market debut.

Facebook has also been incurring the cost of shifting operations to a former Sun Microsystems campus in the California city of Menlo Park.

Facebook said that net income in the quarter ended March 31 dipped from the $233 million logged in the same period last year despite revenue vaulting to $1.06 billion.

While revenue improved year-on-year, it was down about six percent from the prior quarter.

Revenue nearly doubled to $3.7 billion in 2011, with most of it coming from targeted advertising gleaned from personal information shared by the hundreds of millions of users of the platform.

Facebook — the leading social network in all but six countries, notably China and Russia — has been valued between $75 billion and $100 billion.

Facebook recently filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to warn potential investors that patent litigation being pursued by Yahoo! could deliver a significant blow to its business.

Early this month, Facebook fired back at Yahoo! with a countersuit charging that the floundering Internet pioneer is violating the social network’s patents — and not the other way around.

The move came after Yahoo! filed suit against Facebook in a California court last month accusing the social networking giant of infringing on 10 patents in several areas including advertising, privacy and messaging.

Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo! asked the court to order Facebook to halt its alleged patent-infringing activities and to assess unspecified damages.

“Nothing about today’s action changes the fact that Facebook continues to infringe our patents,” Yahoo! said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

“Companies who purchase patents are often working from a position of weakness and take these actions to strengthen their portfolio.”

The Internet Age is becoming as known for patent litigation as it is for online innovation.

From the makers of computer chips to creators of smartphones and designers of videogames, rivalries have spread from marketplaces to courtrooms with combatants warring over rights to use technology.
8:49
ANDY RURI: the next best playwright?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Kinyanjui Kombani) – Andy Ruri’s name may not ring a bell to theatre lovers, but we at Capital Lifestyle are warning: Watch this space!

When I was invited to watch ‘The Homecoming’, a play by the Kenyatta University Performing Arts group, I was not excited. The storyline did not seem appealing – ati a story set in heaven.

It is only when I sat to watch the performance that I realised the great talent that is Andy, the playwright. The plot is riveting, the comedy outrageous, and the twists nerve wrecking.

In heaven, there is a mixture of happiness and worry. Life revolves around The Secretary who coordinates ‘heavenly activities’ including keeping tabs on the many angels, including the comic Angel Michel and watchful Angel Gabriel. When Jesus went to earth thirty three years earlier, he left his prized room to the care of Angel Gabriel, who in turn handed the responsibility to the rather careless Angel Michael. Now, the worry is that Jesus is coming back, and Angel has painted the room pink, and sold some properties to Karis, the heavenly merchant who is so enterprising that he even trades in Angels’ wings. Everything has to be returned to order before Jesus comes back and without God knowing.

Add the confusion of having all those biblical characters – the stammering Moses and his cunning brother Aaron, Adam and Eve (who is planning to make a Fruitcake for Jesus’ arrival), and King Solomon and you have the audience in stitches. I had to find out from Andy what else he has up his sleeve.

The multi-talented thespian and playwright has just finished his Degree in Theatre Arts and Film Technology at KU.

He is a happy man today. His new play ‘Hallo Adults’ is the overall winner at the just concluded National Drama Festivals.

The storyline of the new play is very simple. We all remember ‘Hallo Children’ which most of us studied in primary school. Have you ever thought about what happened to the children all these years later? Well, Andy has.

‘Hallo Adults’ which won four awards at the festivals including the best Play, takes a comic slap at the family we all know. Years later, Mr. Kamau is still trying to make a living from his bus despite the Michuki rules. Tom is a ‘hustler’ trying to get a job, Mary is into phone dating, and Peter has turned gay!

Their lives are just about to be changed when the publisher of ‘Hallo Children’ approaches the family to play starring roles in the new book ‘Hallo Adults’. The comedy also won the Best Production Award, Best Comedy and Most Original Play.

Andy is already planning his next production. He has also prepared a remake of what he calls his classic: ‘The Devil’s Compound’. He also wrote ‘The Beginning’ which was also played to respectable audiences at KU.

When does he plan to take ‘Homecoming’ to the public?

“We are looking for sponsors,” the modest Andy tells me. “We should take it to the National Theatre soon!”

Having completed his studies, Andy has started his theatre career on a strong note. He may be the next best playwright.
April 24, 2012
16:33
Kenya scoops two AMAA awards, amid drama
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Kenya only scooped two awards from a total eight nominations at Sunday’s Africa Movie Academy Awards, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Kwame Nyongo’s animation The Legend of Ngong Hills beat competition from Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana to take the gong, received on his behalf by animator Alfred Muchilwa.

“Kwame could not be here to receive the award, but he sent to say that he is deeply honoured to be feted,” said Alfred, revealing also that Kwame’s wife was expecting a baby any time soon.

Kenyan Sarah Wanjiru was awarded for Achievement in Make-Up for the film Shattered; a Nigerian flick shot in Kenya in collaboration with local talent.

Jimmy Louis from TV series Heroes was the host for the evening, and he was accompanied to venue by Rockmond Dunbar (Soul Food, Prison Break), Morris Chestnut, Maya Gilbert and Lynn Whitfield (Thin Line between Love and Hate). The stars each presented an award much to the delight of the audience.

But despite the Hollywood muscle it is Nigerian actress Rita Dominic who completely stole the show. From the moment she set foot on the star-studded red carpet to her eventual victory, she struck one pose after the other for photographers.

Rita bagged the best actress award for her performance in the film Shattered, and she received it in a stunning pink dress with a black bow at midriff. Popular Ghanaian actor Majid Michael scored top marks for his double role in comedy Somewhere in Africa.

“I must say I didn’t see it coming,” he said fawning over the wooden black AMAA statuette. “I have been nominated four times! Now I finally have it!”

Michael, whose mother and sister accompanied him to the awards, looked suave in a navy blue tuxedo when he went up on stage.

Musicians Asa and 2 Face also performed at the arena, a neatly decked out auditorium at the Eko Hotel and Suites at Victoria Island, Lagos.

Kenya was represented at the event by Rugged Priest Director Bob Nyanja, Rugged Priest Actor Lwanda Jawar, Cinematographer Martin Munyua, Costume Designer Sophie Oprisanu and Wanjiku Njendu for short film Look Again, which was put together in the US.

“The industry is growing and for me it’s a booster. Being nominated shows me that I am getting better and better. Now we’re waiting for the Oscars,” he told Capital Lifestyle.

But the event also proved to be a logistical nightmare. Guests and journalists complained that the organization of the event was poorly done.

“The communication was not very good. By the time the event started the Kenyan team was still standing, waiting for a table. It’s like they had forgotten us,” stated Munyua.

The team was also not served or given dinner until the four-hour event came to a close. Tickets were also handed to the team with just hours left to the trip.

Kenya’s AMAA representative Ogova Ondego promised to look into the matter saying all the mishaps experienced in the trip including lack of food, transportation and communication were a first.

The event was sponsored by Airtel, whose top officials hailed the African movie industry as having ‘grown so big’.

The rest of the winners for the evening were: Best Short Film, Braids on a Bald Head; Best Documentary: African Election – Germany/Nigeria; Best Diaspora Feature: Toussaint Loventure – France and Best Diaspora Documentary: The Education of Auma Obama – Nigeria/Germany.

The Best Short Film in Diaspora was: White Sugar in a Black Pot; Best Film by An African Living Abroad: Mystery of Birds – US/Nigeria; Best Achievement in Production Design: Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap; Achievement in Costume Design: Adesuwa; and Best Achievement in Soundtrack: Alero’s Symphony (soundtrack done by ex-Plantashun Boiz star, Faze).

Prize for Achievement in Visual Effects: Adesuwa; Best Achievement in Sound: State of Violence – South Africa; Achievement in Cinematography: Othello Burning – South Africa; Achievement in Editing: How to Steal 2 Million; Best Child Actor: Tshepang Mohlomi (South Africa);Achievement In Screenplay: Ties That Bind – Ghana and Best Actress In A Supporting Role: Terry Phetto – How To Steal 2 Million.

Best Actor in A Supporting Role: Fano Mokoena – Man on Ground; Best Film: How to Steal 2 Million (South Africa); Best Nigerian Film: Adesuwa; Best Promising Actor: Ivie Okujaye; Best Film In An African Language: State of Violence; Best Director: Charlie Vundla For How to Steal 2 Million and Special jury Award: Akin Omotosho.
14:45
African designers defy cliches and ‘come of age’
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

African designers are fast re-defining styles emerging from the continent as they defy stereotypes and move beyond outsiders’ cliched ideas of how Africans dress.

Without abandoning their roots, designers have long embraced a range of new ideas and continue to expand, spreading their influence globally while staying in sync with evolving tastes back home.

“The African designer and African fashion in general is moving in a more global direction,” said Tsemaye Binitie, a Britain-based Nigerian designer who launched his label by the same name two years ago.

“We are doing more contemporary work … moving with a more global feel.”

Influenced by traditional, long wrap-around skirts, matching blouses and head wraps for women, designers are creating body-hugging jumpsuits, or mini pencil skirts in the much-loved ankara fabrics, prints with bold colours and energetic designs once known as Dutch Wax cloth.

Their message aims at those whose only perception of the continent is an outdated one:Africa’s style and creativity goes far beyond what is often shown on Western television sets.

A recent fashion week in Nigeria’s largest city of Lagos put these trends — and diversity — on display. More than 70 designers lined up for the event, including some from outside of Africa.

The African collections at the shows included hints of the traditional with a modern flair — an approach that has proven successful at home and abroad.

Dresses in ankara fabrics were embellished with precious stones or sequins, while animal prints or tribal-themed fabric were used for collars on bespoke suits.

“African designers have definitely come of age,” said Penny McDonald, organiser of the event known as Arise Magazine Fashion Week.

“Our chosen designers all created contemporary, wearable, creative African designs that are commercial enough to transport internationally.”

– People are respecting us –

Traditional African prints are also moving with the times.

“In Bangkok, people love it because it’s something different. It’s something new. It’s something vibrant,” said Maureen Ikem Okogwu-Ikokwu, a Nigerian designer based in Thailand.

“We are much more appreciated right now. People are looking to us, respecting us.”

Ivory Coast designer Loza Maleombho was one of the few who showcased a collection made exclusively from traditional African textiles, notably the colourful, interwoven silk and cotton kente cloth from Ghana and her native country. Her models strutted the catwalk with heads wrapped in brown turbans, recalling those worn by Tuareg nomads.

“It’s about West Africa,” she said.

Maki Oh, another Nigerian designer, showed pieces of sensualAfrican streetfashion with baggy trousers suggestive of men’s agbada suits made from antique aso-oke — a traditional loom-woven fabric.

“Africa is quite a new emerging fashion centre. Europe and America are quite saturated in terms of fashion. If you think of Prada and Gucci — there’s almost one in every street corner now,” said South African designer Malcolm Kluk.

If one is looking for new fashion frontiers, “maybe Africa will be that,” he said.

As interest in African designers grows, some still have to deal with tough working conditions that have prompted others to move shop to overseas bases.

Infrastructure problems like a lack of consistent electricity have dogged designers in countries like Nigeria. Others have had to deal with copyright problems, since many African countries have no such laws that cover the fashion industry.

Nkwo Onwuka, a Nigerian designer based inBritain, has developed a ruse for beating the copycats.

“You just have to stay one step ahead and just create your own look,” she said. “Try to do it in such a way that nobody will follow you, and even if they try, it wouldn’t be the same.”
13:46
Legendary dining at Tamarind Nairobi
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Practically synonymous with the term “fine dining” in Kenya, the iconic Tamarind Nairobi has built a culinary legacy and withstood the test of time. Since 1977, the Tamarind has entertained the social elite of Nairobi and those from all over the world. Presidents, prime ministers, dignitaries, musicians, sports heroes and movie stars have graced the dining room of Tamarind, most famously US President Barack Obama and Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta and first lady Mama Ngina. It wouldn’t be surprising if political and business decisions that have impacted the world were quietly made over a delicious meal, cognac and cigars in the private dining room overlooking the lofty restaurant space.

With such history and tradition, a visit to Tamarind may seem a bit intimidating at first to some, but if you’re a genuine food lover, you’ll go home with raving reviews as long as you remember to switch off your mobile phone as the subtle sign suggests on every table – there’s absolutely no room for blaring Rihanna ringtones here.

Blue walls and colourful stained glass windows of the restaurant keep the historic space light and airy. The numerous original lanterns continue to glow and hang from the high ceilings like they did almost three decades ago, creating that familiar intimacy that dedicated Tamarind followers have come to love.

Deliciously rich paté and shrimp with olives kept the Capital Lifestyle Magazine team occupied as we skimmed through the oversized menu in black, which was as large as a newspaper. A separate vegetarian menu ensured everyone was taken care of.

For starters, the new addition on the menu, Hibiscus Flamed Seafood was particularly memorable. Lightly flamed tuna, calamari, prawns, octopus served with a rhubarb, hibiscus dressing and finished with a sprinkling of pine nut kernels. There’s nothing better than the slight smoky and charred flavours from a hot grill paired with a sweet and savoury dressing. Exotic!

If you’re a soup person, the Amaranth and Prawn soup was incredibly flavourful where the layers of infused amaranth (wild spinach), prawn broth and the drizzling of black pepper oil left our palettes’ begging for more.

The team branched away from the regular steak mainstays of Tamarind and sampled some seafood favourites like Mama Regina’s Masala Prawns, named after a retired Tamarind chef. The dish packed a light spicy punch, which didn’t mask the natural sweetness of the fresh prawns. The Red Snapper and Prawns Harissa showcased exotic Morocccan spices with a Brandy-infused green peppercorn cream. The green peppercorn sauce was very delicious and aromatic, but not pungent like other pepper-based creams.

For dessert, whole tree tomatoes poached in red wine and spices served with vanilla ice cream was undoubtedly refreshing, especially with the light undertones of fresh mint. For the chocolate lovers, Capital Lifestyle Magazine suggests the Chocolate Explosion for a healthy cocoa fix.

FOODBLOG: Photo credit Susan Wong

Hibiscus Flamed Seafood

Amaranth and Prawn Soup

Classic Caesar Salad

Mama Regina’s Masala Prawns

Pwani Vegetable Swahili

Chocolate Explosion

For location details, prices, and how you can book online – make sure you check out Eat Out Kenya! Check it out now!
http://www.eatout.co.ke/tamarindnairobi
9:26
Palm-size base stations to replace cell towers
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The massive, expensive and energy hungry mobile base stations will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new technology launched by Alcatel-Lucent.

The LightRadio is a cube-shaped miniature base station that was launched in February last year. Alcatel’s own research shows lightRadio reduces energy consumption of mobile networks by up to 50 percent, and costs less than half to build and maintain than conventional cell towers.

Alcatel-Lucent’s technology bundles frequencies into smaller but powerful antennas which can be mounted on pole or sides of buildings. This will allow off-grid communities access broadband through wireless networks.

“LightRadio uses IP microwave which really helps because many parts in Africa have not been reached by the fibre cable,” said Daniel Jaeger, Alcatel-Lucent’s Vice-President for Africa.

Jaeger says Alcatel-Lucent has been working with four of the biggest telecommunications company in Europe, Asia and Middle East to deploy lightRadio.

“We have embarked in a co-creation program with the telecom players to push forward the realization of the vision of the next generation mobile access network on lightRadio,” explains Jaeger.

It is expected operators will pass the cost savings to the end users as a result of cheaper and more efficient technology, enabling more people in Africa to access services and information through mobile broadband
9:22
Tearful Hudson testifies at family murder trial
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, choking back tears, testified Monday how no one in her family wanted her sister to marry the man who is accused of murdering her mother, brother and nephew.

“We didn’t like the way he treated her, and I didn’t like the way he treated my nephew,” the 30-year-old singer and actress told a Chicago court where William Balfour stands accused of first-degree murder.

Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, is charged with the October 2008 multiple gunshot killings of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, 57; her brother Jason Hudson, 29; and seven-year-old nephew Julian King.

Prosecutors alleged that Balfour, also 30, who pleaded not guilty, acted out of spite after his estranged wife — the mother of Julian King — told him she wanted a divorce.

Jennifer Hudson was the first witness to take the stand on day one of the much-anticipated trial, which opened with Judge Charles Burns sternly advising jurors to reserve judgment until they hear all the evidence.

In their opening statements, prosecutors offered a chilling account of the murders, attempting to paint Balfour as a violent, cold-blooded killer who repeatedly threatened his alleged victims in the months before they died.

Defense lawyers were expected to raise questions about the relationship between Balfour and Hudson’s sister Julia.

The murders in Chicago’s South Side upended Hudson’s life less than two years after the one-time “American Idol” contestant collected a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls.”

Her testimony Monday offered little insight into the murders that shocked Chicago and garnered international attention, but they painted a picture of a close-knit family torn apart by a violent crime.

Hudson recalled how, after a frantic telephone call from her sister, she flew immediately to Chicago to identify the remains of her mother and brother and to post a $100,000 reward for her then-missing nephew.

The youngster was found shot dead and covered with a shower curtain three days later in the back of a stolen vehicle.

“We were trying everything, anything we could do to get him back,” said Hudson.

Hudson, who released her second studio album “I Remember Me” in March 2011, and sang “I Will Always Love You” in memory of the late Whitney Houston at this year’s Grammy awards, is expected to attend the entire trial.

She was accompanied to court Monday by her longtime partner, professional wrestler David Otunga. They sat together in the fourth row of the courtroom after her half-hour on the witness stand.

In opening statements earlier Monday, Balfour’s lawyers criticized law enforcement officials for not looking into the possibility that the killings might be connected to drug dealing on the part of Jason Hudson.

Prosecutors led by Cook County assistant state’s attorney Veryl Gambino contend that Balfour stole the murder weapon from Jason Hudson.

Balfour was upset that his estranged wife had begun dating someone else, despite having cheated on her throughout their marriage, Gambino said in his opening statement.

But Balfour’s lawyer Amy Thompson said police failed to fully investigate the crime because they were so desperate to solve the murders in light of Jennifer Hudson’s star power.

“This is not your guy,” Thompson told jurors, citing a lack of DNA evidence, fingerprints or gunshot residue linking her client to the crime. “William Balfour is not the killer.”
April 23, 2012
16:54
How to deal with a commitment phobic
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

I recently shed some light on COMMITMENT PHOBIA but I may have forgotten to mention that most commitment phobic people don’t even know that they are sufferers and sadly if this is the case then there’s no helping them snap out of it and as a result of this they will never realize that they hurt people unforgivably.

It is important to let someone know that they are commitment phobic because these are people who can actually make you go crazy because of their behavior. What with the making you second guess yourself and often sending you on guilt trips and other trips where you try to figuring out whatever it is that you did wrong this time around?

The only way to live a normal happy life, albeit with a bit of stress as God intended us to live is by handling our phobias. Therefore, a commitment phobe has to realize that they are suffering from commitment phobia in the first place in order to help them change their ways. After all, it is true that when you deal with a phobia or a problem you feel like a heavy burden has been lifted off your shoulders and you can then live and breathe easy. In which case you even get to realize your full potential and live a full quality life because when you heal, you have room to grow and change.

For a commitment phobe to change, he/she has to:

#Admit that he/she has a problem

#want to kick the phobia to the curb and be prepared to do the kicking

#Take responsibility for his/her behavior towards the people he/she has put through hell and back because of the phobia

#Figure out where the cause of the phobia stemmed from

#Be prepared to go through therapy in order to help them change their views on relationships as well as their negative and irrational thoughts about commitments and about life in general.

#Do without being in a relationship for a while until they have kicked the phobia

#Allow self to be honest and upfront with people they get involved with at the very beginning of meeting.

Tips on how to cope with a commitment phobe so as to maintain sanity (Before, During and After)

B: Remember that in order for anything to change, effort has to be applied. It is always up to you to protect yourself from heartbreak so self control has to be practiced. If you have your best interest at heart then you will spot this commitment phobe pretty early and you shall save yourself tears and keep yourself sane. The writing is always on the wall.

B:Take your time before getting into a relationship and listen with both your heart and head.

D:The best medicine to deal with such is to know that love and attention do absolutely nothing for these people but showing that you don’t need them is just the trick. Remember that they are selfish and only look out for themselves so look out for yourself as well.

D:Never make excuses for their behavior…or for anyone’s behavior for that matter.

A: Dealing with a commitment phobe might make you one as well because of the experiences they may have put you through. So…once you are strong enough to leave and move on, it would help to speak to a professional who will help you in more ways than you could imagine.

A: Never regret dating that commitment phobe, instead learn from your experience and you know what? when you look at it you will have acquired the virtue of patience and you will know how rejection feels so in turn you will learn to love yourself in a different way and also never to expect anything from anyone but yourself.

D: Try setting the pace in the relationship and don’t let the “phobe” become your bag of air. Make your thoughts and ideas count as well because there’s two of you in the relationship regardless of the phobia!

D: If you can train yourself to treat the commitment phobe as an occasional lover and not as a potential partner (because you will just be wasting your precious time) the better. If you don’t, you will never get to experience emotional security which can eventually drive you insane.

A: If the commitment phobic person is not capable of changing (this is after giving them several chances) RUN and HIDE! and if this is the type of person you keep on attracting change your game and be very keen to learn from your bad experiences.
13:29
P. Diddy poised to enter the billionaires club
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

When Sean John Combs, better known as P. Diddy, was born in Harlem, New York, his neighbours probably never thought that he’d be a billionaire. In fact, Diddy is projected to enter the billionaire club possibly as early as 2013, once his cable channel Revolt launches. That’s right, Diddy tops the Forbes annual Hip Hop’s Wealthiest Artists 2012 list.

Jay-Z who topped the annual list three years in a row was overthrown by Diddy’s net worth of $550 million, thanks to ventures such as Ciroc vodka and some of his new tech startups. Diddy’s staples continue to be his clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, and record label Bad Boy.

Though Jay-Z slipped to second on the list, his net-worth of $460 million, unlike his fellow high-rollers, is primarily form his music ventures. After a widely successful tour with Kanye West, Jay-Z continues to add to his pockets with his stakes in the New Jersey Nets, ad firm Translation and even a cosmetics company.

Coming in number three is Dr. Dre with a not too shabby $270 million. Dre’s Beats Electronics was sold to Taiwanese handset maker HTC in August. Don’t be surprised if Dre doubles his worth by next year with Beats Electronics continuing to expand and push out innovative music products.

Source: Forbes Magazine
12:40
Innovative green mobile that wears like a bracelet
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

With multi-national South Korean firms leading the way in design and advanced technology recently, there’s no doubt that South Koreans have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the tech world.

The latest innovative design and technology solution out ofSouth Koreais The Leaf, a wearable bracelet phone that incorporates solar cells. Designed by Seungkyun Woo and Junyi Heo, the main objective of the basic phone that only can call and message, is to remind people that they can contribute to energy efficiency.

With solar cells on the phone and also on the dock for charging, searching for an electrical socket to charge your phone will not be an issue anymore. For gloomy days during the rainy season, The Leaf is also equipped to charge via electricity.

What really makes The Leaf an interesting product is its wearability as a bracelet. No more dropping your mobile in the toilet or getting it snatched out of your hands. The keypad is designed in an organic layout like the spaces marked by the veins of leaf.

What do you think?
12:34
And the best Kenyan fashion blogger is…
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

For the first time ever there will be a BAKE Awards complete with a gala event to recognize the best Kenyan bloggers in various categories. Interestingly, for the first time as well the best Kenyan fashion blogger will be awarded under the Best fashion blog category. Brilliant news huh!

In this category, the best blog that highlights current trends in fashion as well as grooming and fashion shows will be recognized and so for the first time you will have the right to exercise your fashion skills and vote for the fashion blog that does it for you.

In the category of Best fashion blog we have:

www.sharzville.wordpress.com

The blog is run by Shiko Gitata Sharville has an affair with fashion so… sue her!

www.nanciemwai.com. The Fashion Notebook blog is run by Nancie Mwai.

www.kurlykichana.com which is run by two afro-bearing Kenyan girls

www.geeksfashion.blogspot.com which is run anonymous going by the name fashion geek

www.ourstylekenya.blogspot.com is a blog run by Joy Kendi

May the best fashion blog win.
12:07
Kitchen Tip: Use an address book for recipes
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It’s rare these days to see cookbooks getting covered in flour, placed precariously next to the greasy cooker, and getting its pages splashed with milk and oil. Computers and laptops have now become the modern version of a cookbook. With recipes easily accessible on the internet, bookmarking made easy with just a click of a button, and practically an infinite database of recipes to choose from – old school cookbooks are more for decorating the bookshelves and coffee tables than for the kitchen.

The internet may be great for recipe beginners, but for the more seasoned home chefs, going old-school with paper and pen is sometimes more convenient. Let’s say you’ve prepared the same recipe a few times, you know what you’re doing, but you need a quick reminder of the long list of ingredients – looking up the same recipe online might be more complicated than you need. What if you didn’t have access to a printer? Or, just in case you find yourself in the kitchen during a blackout because a nearby transformer blew during a thunderstorm, your computer or internet is out of service, and finding that recipe now is practically impossible – an address book will go a long way.

A simple address book is perfect for your arsenal of go-to recipes. Small and conveniently organized in alphabetical order, this small book is perfect for jotting down the ingredients and quick tips for your recipes. The address book is even small enough for you to carry your recipes on family holidays or any time you’re expected to cook.

Do you have interesting ways of keeping tabs on your most-used recipes?
8:49
“Think Like A Man” takes over US box office
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Smash hit “The Hunger Games” finally lost its position a top the North American box office, as newcomer “Think Like A Man” stormed to the number one slot, weekend estimates showed Sunday.

The ensemble comedy “Think Like A Man,” that garnered mediocre reviews, made $33 million in its opening weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

In second place was another debut, romantic drama “The Lucky One,” starring teen heart throbs Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling, which made $22.8 million in its opening few days.

Falling to the third spot was the Jennifer Lawrence-starring blockbuster “Hunger Games,” with just $14.5 million this week but a whopping $356.9 million total over its five-week release.

Legions of fans have flocked to see the movie, based on a book by Suzanne Collins, in which a teenaged girl played by Lawrence fights to win a death match/television reality show featuring children in a post-apocalyptic world.

In fourth was another debut, “Chimpanzee,” a true-life child-friendly adventure tale of a special chimp, which brought in $10.2 million. It came in just ahead of fifth place “The Three Stooges,” in its second week. The Farrelly brothers’ tribute to the US comedy trio brought in $9.2 million.

Sixth position went to the much-hyped horror comedy “The Cabin in the Woods,” with $7.7 million, written and produced by “Avengers” director Joss Whedon, while “American Reunion” — the sequel to the 1999 hit “American Pie” — came in seventh with $5.2 million.

In eighth was the 3D-enhanced re-release of 1997′s “Titanic” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet – which debuted in theaters last week in time for the 100th anniversary of the liner’s sinking –with $5 million.

”Think Like A Man” is set to be released in Kenya in June.
April 20, 2012
17:58
Mama Gee and IK hang out at CFM
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

“You can’t even play your real life. You can only play what you see others do,” said Nigerian actress Patience Ozokwor aka Mama Gee, when she paid a visit to the Capital FM studios on Thursday.

The renowned actress told Capital in the Morning presenter Chris Foot that she was nothing like the mostly scary characters she plays in Nollywood movies.

“I am a practicing Christian. I think the reason I play bad characters so well is because I am trying to tell the girls not to be bad.”

She played out the dialogue from one of the scenes of her movies that rattled Chris and even

Big Brother host IK, who was in Kenya with Mama Gee for the launch of four new Africa Magic channels.

IK, a comic ladies man, demanded to be introduced as: tall, dark and handsome.

With a name too long to remember at first encounter, IK said he too was a Christian, preaching to girls all the time to lead them to Christ.

“When I say my name people are always like ‘I don’t speak Nigerian’”, he laughed.

The presenter detailed that he first got onto TV by accident. He said he had just gotten to work for his radio show when the Programmes Controller there told him he had the day off and had to go for an audition for Studio 53.

“That was how it started. I went for the auditions and it was intimidating. But I thank God that I pulled through.”

On his experiences as Big Brother host, he said that contestants from the last two years were the most provocative. He said he was looking forward to the upcoming season, which he is happily hosting again.

Meanwhile, while admonishing Chris for being single, Mama Gee went on to talk about what she does away from acting.

“I have four biological children. But I also help girls who want to get rid of their babies. I give them a place to stay and a place to reflect. I tell them that you never known what the baby will get to be in future.”

Mama Gee said it was blessing to be able to do what she does.

“I’m not about to retire, I’m still strong. I love acting and I love people. Of course I can’t help everyone, but I do my best.”

The two were in town for the launch of four new Africa Magic channels and the repositioning of others totaling. These include, AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Movies 1 and AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Yoruba and AfricaMagic Swahili.

Actor Desmond Elliot was also in town for the same event.
14:12
Poisa to exhibit at the Shipley Art Gallery, UK
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A garment and piece of jewellery from one of Kenya’s leading fashion designer Patricia Mbela, head designer of Poisa, was chosen to be part of the Journeys in Beadwork: Contemporary Style Dialogues exhibit at the Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead (North East of London),UK.

Poisa’s invitation was as a result of showcasing the Native Essence – Fire and Ice collection at the ARISE Magazine Fashion Week 2012 held in Lagos,Nigeria, back in March. The exhibition will explore the fascinating history of South African Beadwork sponsored byNelsonMandelaMetropolitanArt Museum and Poisa is the only Kenyan invited to display.

“It is an achievement that a garment, jewellery and unique styling attracted the curators of the gallery. The piece will make people take a serious look at Kenyan fashion and beading,” says the designer.

Photographs of Poisa’s work by Barbara Minishi will be complimenting the backdrop of the exhibit.

This contemporary fashion exhibition will start on 21^st April – 2^nd September 2012. It seeks to explore dialogues and cultural exchanges between contemporary African and Western fashion specifically using the beadwork as an expression African identity.

According toPatricia,Kenyais a country of beaders and beading plays a big part in the country’s culture. She uses the near-forgotten art of traditional Taita beading.

“I like pushing the design boundaries, but it takes excellent work, patience and a good team creating the stunning Poisa pieces,” she says.

The exhibition seeks to look at how the West has interpreted Africa in haute couture and high fashion, looking at how Western designers have appropriated images or perceptions of Africa
13:20
10 sure signs he/she is a commitment phobic
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

People will often confuse a commitment phobic with a person who is not into you. These two characters have great similarities but believe it or not there is Love involved when dealing with a commitment phobe only it is the short-lived kind.

Commitment phobics are just normal people who are struck by fear of commitments because of one reason or the other. They get freaked out by so many things and are constantly in emotional conflict especially with themselves as their beliefs about love and commitments have been altered either by experience or observation. To some extent commitment phobes suffer a personality disorder due to this.

They are famous for creating confusion, pain and havoc in other people’s lives because their behaviors are unpredictable and insensitive.

Spotting a commitment phobe:

*1. They are very charming and they know how to get their needs met. They can easily win you over. They make the perfect boy/girlfriends in the beginning. They are very romantic and they do and say all the right things but all this is short-lived. Whenever things start to get serious they scamper!

*2. They are very attractive and successful yet they have many excuses of not having married yet considering they are past the age of marrying. They claim to not have met the right person or that there’s no need to rush things as there’s plenty of time for such stuff as marriage.

*3. They have a history of very brief relationships all of which just ended suddenly and in most cases they sabotaged themselves out of those relationships. Their sabotage behaviors include finding fault with you, working long hours and/or during weekends such that they don’t have time for you, not calling you or not returning your calls anymore.

*4. They are normally trapped between choices. Sort of like they want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to be with you yet they don’t. They love and miss you when they are away from you but when you are together they freak out again telling you that you deserve to be with someone better and when you are away they will be the first to call you. They like to feel in control and only pick time frames that work for them.

*5. They are quick to spot what they want in a potential person but then they often exude indecisiveness. They want to be in a relationship because otherwise they will be so lonely but at the same time they want their space and freedom. They would rather date busy people who are rarely there or be in long distant relationships.

*6. They are very loving and in their mind they know that what you have won’t last long and so within that short time they try to give you their all. Then the calls reduce, the texts become scarce and its like they just disappeared from the face of the earth. Of course they say they will call you back but they never do. They just stop caring and ignore you completely.

*7. They are super unpredictable and often get bored very easily. They are often moody and hate planning ahead as planning ahead equals commitment! They are unreliable and are always late and sometimes they might not even turn up. They are like this with everyone including with family and friends but they are not like this with work though.

*8. They can’t handle rejection hence when you threaten or decide to leave; they are very apologetic and promise to change as they don’t want you leaving them. They prefer to do the leaving and when in a relationship with them you always feel like you are not a priority at all. In fact you often feel like the jump-off. They also prefer affairs as opposed to full on relationships.

*9. Because of their phobia they tend to be unfaithful in relationships and they lie and are evasive about where they are, what they are doing and who they are with. They are famous for playing mind games especially when their time to run is up!

*10. They often pair up with people who are not their type at all. Either people who are married, too old or too young etc, so that it is not easy to commit fully. These same differences are what they use as their weapons for excuses to end relationships.

These commitment phobes (especially the severe cases) should be spotted early before they break your heart because they are very good at that.

Remember though that sometimes, its not about them being selfish intentionally as they could be having a personality disorder and the word “forever” freaks them out!
12:39
3D game SPARX designed to battle depression
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A computer game designed to lift teenagers out of depression is as effective as one-on-one counselling, New Zealand doctors reported on Thursday in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Researchers at the University of Auckland tested an interactive 3-D fantasy game called SPARX on a 94 youngsters diagnosed with depression whose average age was 15 and a half.

SPARX invites a user to take on a series of seven challenges over four to seven weeks in which an avatar has to learn to deal with anger and hurt feelings and swap negative thoughts for helpful ones.

Used for three months, SPARX was at least as effective as face-to-face conventional counselling, according to several depression rating scales.

In addition, 44 percent of the SPARX group who carried out at least four of the seven challenges recovered completely. In the conventional treatment group, only 26 percent recovered fully.

“Use of the programme resulted in a clinically significant reduction in depression, anxiety and hopelessness, and an improvement in quality of life,” according to the study led by Sally Merry, an associate professor at the Department of Psychological Medicine.

The adolescents also gave a high rating to SPARX, saying they liked being able to use it at home and to learn at their own pace.

Eighty percent said they would recommend the computer therapy to others, although the treatment-as-usual group had similarly high approval ratings.
9:56
Kenyans, miracle hangover remedy in a tablet?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

‘Tis the most wonderful time of the week, Kenya- Friday has finally come. During the long stretch days between Monday and Friday, our work week, it’s totally socially appropriate to stay out too late, drink a lot of alcohol, waltz into home drunk, and walk into work the next day smelling like a brewery and struggling to be coherent with a gripping hangover. Finally, tonight, you can drink to your heart’s desire and sleep-in on the weekend, not worrying about how people at work think of you, and be able to nurse that hangover like how your Mama taught you.

The morning after simply sucks. It doesn’t matter how much of a seasoned alcoholic you are, fighting that hangover is like as tough as recovering from being hit by a bus, and for the one’s who decide to brave the office with a plastered face – good luck.

Dear Kenyans, there’s a new hangover pill on the market and perhaps, some will hope that the miracle pill, Blowfish, will make its way over here the sooner the better.

Enter: Miracle hangover remedy Blowfish

For only, $11.99, a 12-tablet box will gladly cure six hangovers. And for the ambitious drunks out there, how about saving some money with a 50-tablet box, enough for twenty-five hangovers for just under $50? A deal I’d say.

The hangover remedy Blowfish is a tablet meant to be dissolved in water that combines aspirin and caffeine, which taken in the morning, will work to soothe your aching stomach, calm your pounding headache, and give you a shot of extra perkiness.

US Food and Drug Administration-approved, Blowfish is so confident that it’ll work, it even comes with a money-back guarantee. Now, what drug promised that?

Seriously, if Blowfish comes toKenya, you bet there will be long queues at every chemist!
9:01
Adele, Messi, Pippa Middleton on Time 100 list
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

What do singer Adele, soccer genius Lionel Messi and British royalty celebrity Pippa Middleton have in common? They’re among the 100 most influential people in the world, according to Time magazine.

Time published its annual list Wednesday, showcasing a typically eclectic mix of personalities, ranging from the rich and powerful, like financier Warren Buffett or US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake, to popular entertainers like Adele and Beyonce.

The list, broken into moguls, breakouts, icons, pioneers and leader categories, is compiled by Time after an online poll of readers.

This year Time chose 38 women for the top 100, which was more than in previous years.

Although the list is still heavily US-centric, featuring popular Asian-American basketball player Jeremy Lin and politicians like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, it had 54 international names — the first time they outweighed the American contingent.

Those range from Middleton, sister of Prince William’s wife Kate, to Samira Ibrahim, an Egyptian activist, and Barcelona goal scoring machine Messi.

The shadowy group of activist computer hackers Anonymous also earned a place, despite the list technically being for influential people.

Time managing editor Rick Stengel said the list was “about the infinite possibilities of influence and the power of influence to change the world.

“Now [one] can tweet a phrase that reaches millions in a flash. Influence was never easier — or more ephemeral. Which is why we try to choose those people whose influence is both lasting and, with a few notable exceptions, laudable.”

The full list can be viewed at:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2111975,00.html
April 19, 2012
13:20
MOVIE REVIEW: The Hunger Games
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

If you’re sucker for action movies, The Hunger Games, adapted from a novel, is definitely a #mustwatch! It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a 142-minute direct hit of adrenaline. And nothing, not even the frightful dress codes and hair styles in this movie, can put you off.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, a slightly irritating Woody Harrelson that you kind of grow to love later, a sexy Lenny Kravitz and a nasty game; The Hunger Games will demand your attention from the start.

Jennifer (Katniss) lives in District 12. It reeks of poverty and the food there is tightly rationed. For a bite to eat, residents submit their names for a draw that picks two candidates each year and takes them to an arena where the only way to stay alive is to kill your opponents.

To spice up the game, the show’s producers tweak it here and there so that contestants cannot lie low, but have to go at each other’s throats to stay alive.

All the characters fit their roles perfectly, including Donald Sutherland (President Snow), who is the brains behind the outfit. (Not the bad dress code; the reality show).

In the brief training session before the games begin, the contestants are paraded in front of an audience in the Capital, gladiator-style. They then size each other up and prey on their opponent’s weaknesses, so that they kill them as the entire country watches.

Director Gary Ross, who helped write the screenplay alongside book author Suzanne Collins, did a sterling job patching scenes up and the story builds up to a crescendo before letting you breathe at the end.

Some of the hurdles were a bit too easy to overcome however, but the unexpected twists and turns in the movie plot make you easily forget that.

The Hunger Games is almost like a poetic depiction of the world we live in today, how those with money run it and the rest of us dance to their songs hoping to get at least a bite to eat.

I’d give it an 8 out of 10; and only because I had a hard time making friends on screen with Katniss. Watch it and leave your ratings in the comments box below.

Its earnings have so far topped Sh26 billion.
13:08
I loathe my son and my mother!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

I have a handsome, smart, hardworking and well behaved 11 year old son. H e is everything a mother would want in a child and I know I should be a proud mother but I’m not. See, my son is a rape child.

I got raped by my stepdad when I was just 19! My mum took his side and of course after calling me names such as ‘prostitute’ etc she kicked me out of her house.

I’ve never been as miserable as I was at that time. I remember very clearly, after a bout of morning sickness, I found my mother waiting for me outside the bathroom, venom in her eyes and all demanding to know if I was pregnant and the man responsible for the pregnancy. I had tried talking to her earlier, just to confide in her and let her know what her husband had been doing to me in the middle of every night.

I don’t know what she was going through herself or what she was afraid of but she didn’t take my side. Instead she called me names and accused me of seducing that ugly man of hers with the type of clothes I wear (Jeans and t-shirts).

When I got kicked out of home I had nowhere to go, so in my new unprepared for condition I had to fight for my life and seeked refuge at a friends whose both folks are out of the country and just send her money for upkeep house. I didn’t want to be a burden so I started looking for a job and got one as a cashier at a supermarket. A tough life it was because I had to work several hours a day at a job that didn’t pay well at all and in my condition. Abortion was out of the question as #1. I was too scared and #2. I didn’t have the money

Fast forward to the baby who I’ve never allowed myself to have a bond with. I never breastfed him and I never did anything mothers do for their new born babies. No celebrating birthdays, no taking hundreds of photos, no treats and definitely no hugs or kisses. In fact my friend named him and helped take care of him as I was too busy being battered and bruised by life.

My son knows that I don’t like him – he even tells his friends so – therefore he chooses to live his life. I know its not his fault that he was born but I guess in his short life he is wiser than his 11 years and knows not to interfere. I keep toying with the idea of sending him somewhere, like to a children’s home, because every time I see him I’m reminded of that man..creeping inside my room, lifting my duvet, touching me inappropriately and then forcing himself on me all the while his firm hand tightly covering my mouth lest I screamed out loud.

I know I should have put an end to that torture by maybe running away from home when it just started or when mum didn’t believe me and insulted me but I don’t know what I was thinking then. Maybe I was too scared of other things like not having a home at such a tender age.

I recently heard that the man suffered a stroke and is a vegetable on a wheelchair. I guess that is his punishment. That is why I didn’t mention that I hate him. He is slowly being punished. My mother is there with him taking care of it (the vegetable) and a very sad woman she is. She once looked for me to apologize (maybe because she heard that I’m now doing so well in life and wanted funds ) but I’m just not the forgiving type.

As for my son, I just don’t know what to do as I know clearly well that nothing is his fault. He is just an innocent boy. He does deserve some love but I refuse to give it to him and my husband is not allowed to love him either!
13:01
Shocking video: Before and after makeup
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Chinese concubines use to bathe in milk to improve the softness of their skin and medieval nobelwomen dabbed-on bats’ blood to improve their complexions. The desire to be beautiful and look flawless is as old as civilization, and even featured in fairy tales such as Snow White where the vain Queen asks, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who in this land is fairest of all?”

The global beauty industry is worth an estimated $160 billion a year, encompassing all things appearance-obsessed. Such spending is not mere vanity. Being attractive gives you a better chance at getting an interview for a job, statistically will earn more, and are more likely to marry. No wonder both men and women spend so much on their appearances.

The beauty industry feasts on the fear of looking ugly.

Take for instance acne. Rewind back to your awkward pubescent years, yes, that time when you’d wake up looking in the mirror in horror to find a puss-filled pimple. Surely, someone was going to notice, and most likely that boy you liked would call you “zit face.” The horror.

Acne and in general, perception of beauty, go beyond being only skin deep. Peer acceptance is very important to all of us. If we’re not accepted, as shown in recent studies, will have a negative impact on one’s psyche. Those with acne may face low self esteem, social withdrawal and perhaps even depression.

Enter: Happiness in jars

The beauty industry has come up with every remedy you could think of to make one’s skin look flawless. Products like primers fill in pores and evens out bumps for a flawless canvas to apply makeup on, anti-shine products soak up excess oil, foundations are literally like paint, concealer hides imperfections, contouring powders play with light and gives the illusion of a sculpted face, and finishing powder ensures everything is set in place - and that’s only one’s foundation regime. What about blush and the various different products for eye makeup? Seriously, there’s just too many to go through.

The point is, the beauty industry has brainwashed consumers to believe that if you’re not happy with yourself, don’t worry, because we can make you happy from our jars of products. All you have to do is pay.

What happened to natural beauty? Meet Cassandra Bankson

When Capital Lifestyle Magazine discovered Cassandra Bankson’s acne makeup tutorial, we were blown away. A fresh-faced honey-brunette with striking ocean-blue eyes, perfect smile and flowing curls – a beauty to behold. But, what really impressed us was the fact that in the Youtube video, now watched by nearly 6.5 million people, Bankson removed all the layers of her makeup, revealing a blotchy face with a very bad case of acne-covered skin, it was even on her neck. Completely naked of her makeup – unimaginable to even naturally flawless celebrities.

Bankson’s video is truly inspiring to both men and women who are suffering from skin problems. Though in her makeup tutorial video, she demonstrates how to conceal her imperfections, Bankson also reveals that makeup is simply skin deep – what really matters is to be able to let go and embrace the skin that you’ve been born with.
9:48
Oreo’s provocative bare-breasted campaign
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

As reported a few weeks ago, the famous Oreo cookie has turned 100 years old, and in celebration of the century milestone, Kraft has launched a limited-edition Birthday Cake Oreo flavour and a bunch of new advertising campaigns.

The “twist, lick and dunk” ritual has definitely been part of many nostalgic childhood memories. From snacking on the cookie for a daily chocolate fix, to licking the white filling, to dunking the cookie in milk as a midnight snack – eating the famous cookie has become an art form and a symbol of the spirit of childhood.

But inSouth Korea, the typically kid-friendly cookie has launched a provocative and not-so PG13 ad campaign showing a baby sucking on a naked breast, partial nipple exposed and breastfeeding with Oreo’s slogan: “Milk’s favourite cookie.”

Touché!

Kudos to Oreo for an interesting campaign, and really pushing the limits. One just has to laugh at the fact that they used something else than store-bought milk, but really?

In theory, this campaign may be targeting mothers; but in reality, the only people stopping in their tracks to take in the ad will be men. One thing is sure, Oreo isn’t bothered with the millions of lactose-intolerant consumers.

Tell us what you think: Has Oreo gone too far?

Photo Credit: Cheil Worldwide
April 18, 2012
17:37
Fashion slimming tricks
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

There are several ways to make you look slimmer without working out or going on a diet. All you have to exercise is your fashion skills and play with what you already have in your closet to create a different look and feel on you. I call them…Fashion slimming tricks. Here goes:

Dealing with Color

*Of course the number one trick to looking slimmer and perhaps toned when you really are not is the black dress!

LBD

*Black is a flattering color, it helps hide flaws and it will slim you down regardless of whether it is a little dress or not.

The same effect of a slimmed down illusion can also be achieved through wearing dark shades like purple, navy blue and brown.

*Lighter colors and especially when worn too fitting to the body can give the illusion of a larger frame. They are not to be worn around the areas you consider “flawy” as you don’t want people’s focus there.

For example: Avoid a white blouse if you want to camouflage a big chest and khaki colors if you want to camouflage big hips or a big bottom.

*If you are short with a large build try as much as possible to avoid a dramatic contrast of a light blouse and dark bottom as this will shorten you some more. It will cut you into half hence making you disappear.

*Wear a monochrome color from top to bottom if you want to appear taller but do not do the same with prints as you might just end up looking like a busy bush or a clown. A flower print shirt should be paired with black pants or a black skirt.

Design and cut of your clothes

*In case you have figure flaws, some sewing techniques such as ruching can help sort them out. Ruching is simply pleating, gathering or ruffling a fabric to create a certain look and it helps to hide a multitude of flaws.

*Between slightly baggy and super tight…it is better to go with slightly baggy pants. You can imagine your pants straining at the seams and making you look fat and overgrown for it as well as giving you a muffin top.

*If you have love handles or a bulging tummy invest in wrap around tops and wear textured fabrics.

*Leather pants will not flatter your bum..avoid them if you have lots of junk in the trunk!

pinstripes

Stripes and prints

Choose Vertical stripes as opposed to horizontal stripes if you have a fuller figure.

Leave the Horizontal stripes for the skinny who want to add a couple of pounds to their really slim frame and Vertical stripes if you want to appear taller.

Stripes as a slimming trick are best in black , navy blue and dark brown and if you want to disguise your curves completely just stay away from any stripes altogether.

Accessories to create a slimmer illusion

If full figured and big boned avoid tiny purses and skinny belts as these will just draw more attention to your size. Medium to oversize accessories are what you want to go for. A medium purse and wide belt and perhaps a statement necklace and big bangles/watch will give you a balanced/smaller look.

Believe it or not the size of your heel also matters. You do know that heels make you appear taller hence slimmer (it’s a no brainer) but if you are huge stay away from delicate looking heels as you’ll look as though you are forcing issues and stressing the poor heels. Your posture will also be altered and you’ll end up looking wrong! Also avoid kitten heels if you are bulky.

Choose the heels that you can walk comfortably and gracefully in.

If you have a wide or short neck, wear tops that are open at the neck to make your neck appear longer. Also avoid choker as you’ll look neck-less hence fuller.

Wear a bra that is your exact size as this will help lift your boobs hence defining your waist you don’t want bulging boobs which just make you look wrong!

Opt for longer earrings if you have a chubby face.
16:41
Camp Mulla hold it down in the CBD
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Foursome and a manager Camp Mulla have released their latest video, a tribute track called ‘Hold It Down’ in honour of the city that made them: Nairobi.

They have somehow managed to make Mama Ngina Street look sexy, but I guess they have Nigerian director Clarence Peters to thank for that.

The track features Miss Karun, Yung Kass (Shappa Man), The Taio Tripper and K’Cous, who also produced the song.

It’s a kicker off their FuNkYToWN album, and is the latest in their string of releases featuring the Nigerian director.

Camp Mulla is undoubtedly among the hottest new bands in Africa, with videos constantly on rotation whether in local broadcast or on cable TV.

The video was shot on Mama Ngina Street and Wabera Street in the Nairobi CBD. On a scale of 1-20, how would you rate the video?
13:38
Jolie’s engagement ring took one year to make!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Angelina Jolie’s engagement ring took a year to make because hubby-to-be Brad Pitt said he wanted it to be perfect.

Talk about a pair of lips! Brad proposed over the weekend and Jolie said yes. The diamond ring was designed by famous Beverly Hills jeweler Robert Procop, who knows exactly what the sultry actress would like after recently working with her on her just-released jewellery collection.

According to Brad’s manager Cynthia Pett-Dante, the actor and director “wanted every aspect of it to be perfect.”

“Robert was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suit Angelina’s hand,” read a statement.

After six years of co-habiting and bringing up babies, it was only right for them to take it to the next step.

No date and location has been announced as yet, but it’s expected to be a very private and non-extravagant affair.

Brad’s manager told People Magazine that the wedding seemed to mean ‘more and more to their kids’, and that’s why they had to do it.

The couple had initially said that they would never tie the knot until gay marriage was completely legalized in the US, but pressure from their six kids and Brad’s own excitement made them reconsider.

Their kids may want a nice big wedding cake but the rest of the world will be looking to see how fairytale the event will be.

I can’t wait to see the wedding pictures already! (Whoever buys them) And don’t you think Brad Jolie has a better ring to it than Angelina Pitt?

Anyway, Pitt told the AFP news agency in February, that this year he is taking a break to spend more time with his family and so it’s pretty obvious the wedding bells are not too far away.
11:56
Do chains and whips excite you?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Sex seems to be everywhere these days – on the billboards, on the internet, in sultry food recipes, in fashion, in the way your colleagues choose to dress suggestively, and of course in music like the raunchy Bajan singer Rihanna so famously sang, “Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me.”

Touché.

S & M, sadomasochism, usually kept on the down low or even downright secretive, receiving of pleasure from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain has been apart of us since the days of early human evolution and the “scene” is very much making it to Kenya, if it hasn’t already.

S&M has always received a bad wrap, partly because the sexual escapades have always been surrounded by scandal and dismay. But as psychologists have shown in recent studies, the pain and challenge of S&M generates endorphins in our brains, which boosts pleasure, perhaps making the negative critique from prude onlookers all the more worth it.

Special Fetish Parties

Ann, a university student, describes her first run-in at a private house party in Nairobi where cheap aluminum handcuffs were given away as party gifts as “kinky” and “arousing.”

Though there was no actual orgy or any nudity at the party, the small gift was certainly intriguing to partygoers, including the fresh-faced Ann.

“I’m not into hardcore stuff like people think, but most people, including myself, even if we don’t admit it, enjoy a bit of pain – there’s something about feeling like you’re not in control when you’re having sex – and even my guy friends say the same,” explains Ann. “I wouldn’t mind trying a whip next time, just lightly though.”

Are Kenyans becoming more liberal when it comes to sex? So tell us, really, do you enjoy a bit of chain and whip action? A spanking perhaps?
9:48
Lucky Kenyan shoppers attend Cape Town Jazz Fest
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Three Nakumatt shoppers had the experience of a lifetime after winning a fully paid trip to South Africa to attend the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. The winners were picked from over 15,000 entries received from Nakumatt outlets around the country during the one week joint marketing campaign by the South African Tourism and Nakumatt Holdings Ltd.

Capital Lifestyle Magazine caught up with the lucky winners during the 13^th Cape Town Jazz Festival just before Hugh Masekela took to the stage with his special guests for a tribute to Mama Afrika.

Lucy Mureithi, winner from the Junction outlet said that the city tour aroundCape Townand the jazz festival were more than she expected.

“Cape Townis a beautiful city and I loved how the city came alive with the festive mood of the festival. I enjoyed most of the performances but my best shows however were by Marcus Miller, the renowned jazz artist Dave Koz and the legendary Hugh Masekela,” said Ms Mureithi.

The winners also took a tour to the famous South African Winelands and enjoyed the views of the popular tourist destination, Table Mountain.

(L-R) Kimathi Mureithi, Catherine Githiomi & Lucy Mureithi

Note: Third winner Schnid Inge not in picture.
April 17, 2012
16:12
Launch to boost Kenya-Naija entertainment ties
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Nollywood superstars Patience Ozokwor and Desmond Elliot touchdown in Nairobi on Wednesday to grace the official launch of the new Africa Magic channels on DStv.

The thespians are brand ambassadors for the channels, given their years on-screen in the Africa-wide loved Nigerian flicks.

Both stars have been to Nairobi several times, and they will be joined by compatriot IK who is the current host of the annual Big Brother reality show.

DStv introduced five new channels this week, namely AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Movies 1 and AfricaMagic World.

Though Africa Magic and Africa Magic Plus were previously available, all the channels have been re-organized into eight, including the language specific AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Yoruba and AfricaMagic Swahili.

The new channels are expected to open up the continent’s entertainment offering in terms of music videos, documentaries, talk-shows, indigenous programmes and sitcoms among others.

It is hoped that the Kenyan film industry, which has a potential worth billions of shillings will benefit from these channels, which will only showcase African programming.

Nollywood and South African films dominate the channels, but Kenyan programmes like Changes and Mashariki Mix have been coming up significantly.

A lot more Kenyan music videos and Kenyan actors in Nigerian series can be seen.

The launch of the new channels will take place at a swanky event at a Nairobi hotel on Thursday.
12:28
BAKE Awards to recognize Kenyan bloggers launched
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle
Remember this man does not care about you, he only cares about himself. He doesn’t add any value to your life whatsoever and once he has milked your finances dry you cease to exist to him! So by any means if you spot him early…avoid him like the plague.

The first ever Blog Awards will be held in April 2012 to recognize outstanding Kenyan bloggers in different fields.

The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) have organised the awards to promote and encourage creation of local content.

“The idea is to recognize bloggers that post consistently, have great and useful content, and creative and innovative,” says BAKE.

Participants submitted their blogs from mid March to April 10^th. Judges are now in the process of picking the top five in each of the 14 categories.

The public will then vote through an online system where the winners will be picked and awarded at a Gala on May 5^th.

The BAKE Blogs Awards will be an opportunity for upcoming bloggers to get exposure and recognition, according to Mwirigi, one of the organizers of the awards.

“Blogs that are not in the “elitist, exclusive blogroll”, blogs written by people who may not be very well known or popular on Social Media but have great content…we feel the awards will be a great opportunity for new blogs/bloggers to showcase themselves,” says Mwirigi.

The 14 blog categories are:
1. Technology blog
2. Photography
3. Creative Writing
4. Business
5. Food
6. Agriculture
7. Fashion
8. Politics
9. Best new blog
10. Best Corporate blog
11. Best General blog
12. Best Sportst blog
13. Tweep of the Year – Individual (Best Twitter user inKenya)
14. Tweep of the Year – Corporate
11:05
Kenyan male gold diggers on the rise
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Often, people brand women who like to date particular men, shop in particular stores, live only in particular areas and wine and dine at particular retaurants as gold diggers! That is not the case always. There are women who do all the above with their own hard earned cash.

Well, for the past couple of months I have been noticing and studying a certain species of Kenyan men… the Kenyan male gold diggers! As a woman I can be excused if I choose to marry a man because of the size of his pockets as I know I will compensate for it in other ways such as carry his children in my womb for some million weeks and of course I will humble myself and cater to him for many years. But a man who is blatantly after a woman for her money…there’s something absolutely wrong with that picture and it’s just plain wrong!

So, the members of this new male species are very comfortable with “being kept” by a woman -who does not necessarily have to be so well off or older but just does better than him financially.)

They will prey on you and be all over you like white on rice just because you have Benjamins and those Benjamins can do something huge for them. A lavish life of fast cars, sexy blings and opulent environs… while they sit back and wait for it to fall on their laps. To the Kenyan male gold digger…because you have your own stylish apartment, you dress well and own keys to anything with four wheels…you are the jackpot!

*I know there are those men who are hunted down innocently by well off cougars but that’s an article for another day. Today I am all about the young male who will go hunting for the lady with a lot pocket money to spare. And guts, they have this lot I must say.

Who exactly is this male gold digger?

They are all over the place and they are multiplying fast!

*A male gold digger is often very handsome and attractive and he knows it. Besides that, he has a very flashy lifestyle and this is what attracts you to him in the beginning. He lies a lot and especially about what he does for a living and his achievements and he is very elusive when asked anything about himself.

*He will tell you about where he lives and even invites you over to his place hoping you’ll say no, but just in case you say yes, imaginary meetings that keep him out of his house at all hours of the day and night emerge! He is simply what musician Wahu would call a “kibow-wow”.

*The male gold digger doesn’t necessarily have to be poor, he could have been rich but has recently bumped into difficult financial times and what matters to him is that he maintains his lifestyle pre-hard times.

*He always knows how to spot a woman with insecurities and so he decides to do something to make you feel better about yourself (i.e offer you fake love) but only to his benefit.

*He does not love you, he loves your money and especially if you are considered socially unattractive and perhaps overweight…ahh…the better!

How to spot the male gold digger from a mile

#He is very keen to know about your finances, job description and your employer. It’s even better if you are self employed or a prominent member in the society.

#He feels he has the right to know about your bank details and how much money you have in your account even before you get to second base with him.

#He asks for money to invest in non-existent schemes claiming he will give it back with interest.

#He is always asking for a loan every now and then and is always in a financial mess that needs urgent attention. If you fail to release the funds or ask for more explanations you will get a dumping but not before some emotional torture.

#He is always “saving” somebody’s a** or constantly his family members fall sick or die…he often just needs money for crises!

#He is very ostentatious in his ways and mark you he doesn’t have a job.

#He never gives you anything or gives you something that will benefit both of you…but him more.

#Whenever he gets money (which you lovingly gave him) he spends it all very fast knowing that when you ask you will give him some more. After all you are his breathing ATM machine.

#He shamelessly asks you to send him airtime or money for fuel or for cab fare when you ask him to meet you.

#He only likes hanging out at your place and will even entertain his friends at your place and at your expense.

#He has a trail of heartbroken women who he has milked, played and dumped in the past.

#He is always unavailable unless he needs something from you.

Remember this man does not care about you, he only cares about himself. He doesn’t add any value to your life whatsoever and once he has milked your finances dry you cease to exist to him! So by any means if you spot him early…avoid him like the plague. Extinguish the male gold digger!!!
9:10
Disbelief over Tupac Shakur’s hologram performance
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Twittersphere was alive Monday with discussion about an eye-popping performance by rapper Tupac Shakur at a US music festival — 16 years after he died.

The vividly life-like hologram performance, which was in the top 10 trending topics on Twitter and mentioned at least 40 times a minute, shocked some fans at the Coachella music and arts festival in Indio, California.

Tupac, who was gunned down in 1996 in Las Vegas, appeared to rise from the stage, asking “What up,Coachella?” before being joined on stage by flesh-and-blood rap stars Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre.

As fans looked on in disbelief, the bare-topped star, with pants sagging and neckchain swinging, then joined Snoop Dogg on “Come With Me,” “Hail Mary” and “Gangsta Party” at the performance Sunday.

“That hologram form of tupac look sooooo real!!!!!!! Technology is a beast!” commented @iamPink_Lipss, while @AyyOnline added: “This is insane!!”

A November 1994 attack on Shakur in New York triggered a rap war pitting West Coast rappers including Shakur against East Coast rivals represented by superstar rapper Notorious B.I.G, whose real name was Christopher Wallace.

Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in September 1996 and Wallace was shot dead in Los Angeles six months later. Both murders remain unsolved.

The annual Coachella festival is being held over two weekends in Indio, east of Los Angeles. As well as the from-beyond-the-grave rap show, the first weekend also saw British bands Radiohead and Kaiser Chiefs take the stage.

Not everyone on Twitter was excited about the hologram show. “Tupac is still dead you idiots,” commented @maulingmueller, while @ChrisRRegan joked: “Right after it was unplugged, the Tupac hologram released another four albums.”
8:59
English Premier League Trophy tours Kenya
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Manchester United fans got some star treatment recently, spending time and posing with the English Premier League Trophy and club brand ambassadors Andy Cole and Quinton Fortune.

It was naturally a star-studded event, hosted by Airtel, who are one of the official sponsors for Man U.

Gospel musician Daddy Owen provided the entertainment for the evening, and managed to get the two footballers to do a little jig!

Cole and Fortune spent a few days in Kenya, snapping pictures with fans, signing jerseys and going on safari.
April 16, 2012
16:55
Why I wouldn’t mind a co-wife…
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Wangui Gitei) – One of the biggest stories this weekend was of course South African president Jacob Zuma’s intended nuptials to wifey number four. This is actually his 6th marriage, as one naughty wife was divorced and another committed suicide (we can only speculate why). Zuma is, of course, a confessed polygamist, which means that he has the license to marry as many women and sire as many children as South Africa’s national budget can afford.

I ain’t mad at the dude for his serial wifing. I am mad at his serial philandering which he is also famous for (no matter how many wives you have, you still should be faithful to them).

The one thing our favourite Zulu dancer has done that irked me to no end was when, in 2006, he was acquitted of rape charges but admitted he had consensual sex with a H.I.V positive family friend. He then proceeded to say (in court, no less ) that he had a shower afterwards to protect himself against infection. In a continent ravaged by HIV/AIDS, the carelessness of that statement cannot be overemphasized.

Anyhoo, I know there are men who wish they could go back to the good old days when one wife was never enough. What they don’t realize is that many women kinda want to go back to those days as well. Think about it.

Even in our so called uber modern 2012, a progressive woman will still end up cooking and cleaning and taking care of a man’s needs. That’s just how it works. And let’s face it ladies, there is no relationship that will survive when a woman is not submissive. Two alphas will never make a successful relationship; you have to know when to be a boss lady and when to leave your boss status at the door when you get home.

Which is why being a co-wife would be so damn convenient. There are nights you come home dog-tired and the other wife has made a delicious, hot meal, your clothes (and his) are clean and ironed and your kids are clean and fed. So you sigh and put your feet up, guy style.

And then there are days you’re just not in the mood (and really, why is it a man only ever wants a blow job when you’re the most tired?) and can’t even be bothered to grunt and porn-sigh until he’s done (roll your eyes all you want, everyone does it) -your co-wife will gladly take over; in high heels, negligee and all that jazz.

Then there are those Sunday afternoons you have to endure a football match when you would much rather be anywhere else in the world. Co-wife, who is a sports junkie, will gladly cheer, jeer and burp beer while you sip cocktails at a poolside somewhere. And that means you can have as many girls’ night outs as possible, guilt-free.

I’m sure polygamous marriages work in a different way. But the fact is, being in a monogamous relationship means being different people for the same person – their friend, their lover, their wife, their mistress, etc.

And there are days you don’t want to play every role, hence the attractiveness of a co-wife. This is why relationships are hard work. They’re worth it, but you have to put in the time and the effort.

So don’t feel bad for Zuma’s wives. The latest, Nkandla, had her house renovated for eight million dollars and is as comfortable as they come. And since she will probably only see her husband about once a week, she has all the time to be the perfect wife, lover and friend, because she has the other six days off. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t share. But there are some days I wonder, just wonder, how awfully convenient it would be to have a co-wife.
14:21
Start writing and win up to Sh 300,000
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Kwani Trust has announced a new literary prize for African writing dubbed ‘The Kwani? Manuscript Project’.

Writers have a chance of winning up to Kshs. 300,000 as prize money. Other winners will take home Kshs. 75,000 and Kshs. 150,000 for 2^nd runners up and 1^st Runners Up respectively. Kwani? Will also be publishing not just the winning manuscripts, but also some from across the shortlist and the longlist. Writers have the chance to gain international visibility through Kwani?’s global network.

The deadline for submissions is 20^th August 2012. Writers should submit manuscripts to manuscript@kwani.org.

The Kwani? Manuscript Project was initially conceptualised after Kwani Trust received the Prince Claus Award in December 2010. The award has provided seed money for this prize.

Kwani Trust is a Kenyan based literary network that is dedicated to developing quality creative writing and committed to the growth of the creative industry. Since establishment in 2003, the network has been involved in the publishing and distribution of contemporary African writing, offering training opportunities, producing literary events and establishing and maintaining global literary networks.

Winners will be announced in December 2012 at the Kwani? Litfest.

For more information, visit www.kwani.org
13:59
Africa’s ancient art included in Google’s virtual museum
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Lovers of art can now explore the mystic ancient African art and sculptures at the comfort of their desk thanks to Google’s amazing virtual museum.

Launched last year, the Google Art Project initially brought 1,000 images from nine countries online, allowing art fans to explore the high resolution images at the click of the button.

The Art Project has rapidly expanded to include 30,000 artworks from 46 museums across the world, including the Tate Gallery in London, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City and Uffizi museum in Florence.

Works of art available online include world renowned artiste Vincent van Gogh, Hans Holbein the Younger and Vittore Carpaccio.

Now African art will be included in the virtual museum, allowing users to take virtual surreal tours of partner museums and get details of the artworks on display. The walk-through feature on the art project uses Google’s Street view technology.

“We are particularly excited to have collaborated with the Rock Art Research Institute in Johannesburg and with the South African National Gallery in Cape Town,” announced Google Africa in a blog post.

Google has upgraded the art site (www.googleartproject.com) to include G+ integration, hangouts, personalized art galleries and more educational features.

“The Art Project is no longer just about students in Africa and Asia wanting to visit, for example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is now also about the American students wanting to explore African artistic heritage,” said Google.
13:34
Fashion and the zodiac: What’s your top style?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Fashion is always about personality and what better way to link your fashion sense to your character than astrology…which is always a fun way to define character. Check out the tops that would best suit your style and personality:

Capricorn December 23 – January 20

You are: Practical, ambitious and careful. You also tend to be a pessimist and you hold grudges.
When it comes to fashion, you are all about quality and will always go for designer labels. Comfortable and luxurious clothing are your middle name perhaps?

Capricorn

Aquarius – January 21- February 19

You are : Independent, friendly and inventive almost unpredictable. Most likely to try this and that, mix this and match that hence your style shifts with fashion trends. Whatever attracts your eyes fashion-wise goes.

Aquarius

Pisces February 20 – March 20

You are: Imaginative, selfless and unworldly. You tend to be secretive and you get easily influenced. When it comes to fashion you go for romantic fabrics such as chiffons and satins

Pisces

Aries March 21 – April 20

You are: Adventurous, courageous and confident. You are also impulsive and a daredevil. You are into sexy and bold styles and you are a trend setter.

Aries

Taurus April 21-May 21

You are: Persistent and determined, placid and security loving but you are also jealous, possessive and greedy.

You are into comfortable yet feminine clothing and you always dress according to the occasion and according to what your role at that occasion is. Star sign colors are red, blue and pink.

Taurus

Gemini May 22- June 21

You are: adaptable, versatile, intellectual youthful and lively. You also tend to be nervous superficial, inconsistent, and cunning.

Your personality favors all sorts of styles. You are not afraid of color and funky retro styles. Tank tops are mostly your thing.

Gemini

Cancer June 22 – July 22

You are: Emotional, loving, intuitive and imaginative. You are also changeable, moody, clingy and overemotional.

You are not at all showy and a comfortable lady-like blouse will do it absolutely for you. Pastel colors are also your thing.

Cancer

Leo July 23- Aug 21

You are: Creative, enthusiastic, broad minded and expansive you can also be patronizing and pompous.

Your fashion sense has a regal air about it. Gold or red do it for you…striking colors. Dark shades of whatever color also suit you very well.

Leo

Virgo August 22- September 23

You are: modest, shy, meticulous and reliable but you are also overcritical, a perfectionist and conservative. You are also quick to spot something good and sometimes you wear daring clothes. White adds to your vaginal appeal.

Virgo

Libra Sept 24 – October 23

You are: Romantic and charming, easy going and sociable. You can also be Indecisive and easily influenced. You love creating balance hence the colors that work for you are black and navy hues which help strike a balance to the rest of your outfit.

Libra

Scorpio October 24 – November 22

You are: determined, forceful, powerful, exciting but also magnetic compulsive and obstinate

You ooze seduction in every single thing you wear, even if it’s the simplest of pieces. Lace, cut outs, crop tops and ruffles are your thing.

Scorpio

Sagittarius November 23- December 22

You are: Jovial, honest and straightforward but you can also be quite Careless, irresponsible, tactless and restless. You are into Bohemian styles and especially ones which are sheer.

Sagittarius

All images from www.revolveclothing.com
13:27
Restaurant Review: Stanley’s Thai Chi
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Located in the bustling city hotel Sarova Stanley, Thai Chi – one of Nairobi’s most exotic restaurants and boasts one of the most transportive and tranquil dining experiences – is safely nestled away from the gridlock, pollution and the constant flow of inquisitive tourists that stream through the doors of the historic hotel.

As its name proposes, like the Chinese ancient martial arts of Tai Chi that uses gentle flowing movements to reduce stress and improve health, Thai Chi restaurant mesmerizes all your senses enchanting you with its sensuous Thai exotica, reflecting the journey of meditation through food.

The stately wooden doors flanked by a beautiful pot of thoughtfully strewn flower petals floating in water, open into an exquisite dining room designed to transport you into a courtyard of traditional wooden Thai villas. Cascading wooden roofs, faux terraces, earthen pottery, soothing music and a lengthy menu of aromatic traditional Thai dishes completes one’s temporary visit to Thailand.

Thai Chi’s exquisite service is just icing on the cake. Capital Lifestyle Magazine had originally ordered a dish with beef, but moments later, our waiter came back with a polite suggestion from the chef, “For the sake of the recipe, fresh prawns would actually bring out the flavours more. Would you consider prawns instead of the beef?” With such thoughtfulness and commitment to creating the best dish possible, how could anyone say no?

For starters, the team ordered Deep Fried Prawns on Tender Sugar Cane Stick accompanied with Sweet Chili Sauce – Goong Pan Ooi. Similar to another Chinese delicacy, fresh prawns are whipped into a mousse with herbs and spices, wrapped on sugar cane and fried. The natural sweetness of the sugar cane is subtly released and matches deliciously with the well-balanced sweet chilli sauce – removing any fishy aromas of the prawns.

Our second starter was the Lab Gai – Spicy Chicken Mince with Fresh Mint dressed in a Lime Sauce served with Organic Greens. One of the Thai people’s favourite recipes, Lab Gai is a spicy and lightly sour dish – creating an exciting starter where extreme flavours result into a refreshing experience.

For our mains, the Capital Lifestyle Magazine had the Traditional Thai Red Curry with Basil; Stir-fried Pork with Fresh Chili and Basil; and the Thai signature dish of wok tossed noodles with shrimps, tofu, spring onions, palm sugar, egg; and finished with tamarind sauce, fresh bean sprouts and peanuts – Phad Thai – a must-try!

Thai Chi’s Phad Thai is one of the more memorable renditions that I have personally come across through my travels! All of the elements of distinctive flavours and ingredients blended together in harmony. Usually served with a wedge of lemon or lime for extra tartness to mellow out the sweet and spiciness of the dish, in this case, the lemon wasn’t necessary. A light sprinkling of crushed roasted peanuts added a delicious crunch to the noodles. One word – mouth-watering.

Our meal ended with homemade fortune cookies with hidden messages, which was a unique ending to an almost perfect Thai experience. Not exactly sure what fortune cookies have to do with traditional Thai cuisine, but extra points for the novelty.

FOODBLOG: photo credits Susan Wong

Deep Fried Prawns on Tender Sugar Cane Stick

Spicy Chicken Mince with Fresh Mint dressed in a Lime Sauce served with Organic Greens

Stir Fried Pork with Fresh Chilli and Basil

Phad Thai with Prawns

Deep Fried Vanilla Ice Cream

For location details, prices, save an extra 15% discount on weekend lunches, and how you can book online – make sure you check out Eat Out Kenya! Check it out now!
http://www.eatout.co.ke/thaichi
8:47
Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb in coma
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Robin Gibb, singer with the legendary British band the Bee Gees, was in a coma in hospital Sunday after contracting pneumonia in his battle against cancer.

“Sadly the reports are true that Robin has contracted pneumonia and is in a coma. We are all hoping and praying that he will pull through,” said a brief statement on RobinGibb.com.

British media reported Sunday that the 62-year-old was at a private hospital in Chelsea, west London, where wife Dwina, his three children and brother Barry — also of the group — were keeping a bedside vigil.

Gibb, part of one of the biggest-selling groups of all time, had bowel surgery 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a tumour was found and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and the liver.

Back in February, Gibb said he had made a “spectacular” recovery from his treatment, sparking hopes that his cancer was in remission, but he has since experienced a sharp deterioration.

Gibb was too ill to attend Tuesday’s premiere of his first classical work, “The Titanic Requiem”, composed with his son Robin-John Gibb to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner on April 15, 1912.

The work, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, took more than two years to complete.

Gibb had been due to perform in person the song “Don’t Cry Alone” at the premiere, staged at the Central Hall Westminster in London.

“The one place he really wanted to be in two and a half years he couldn’t be and it was heartbreaking,” his son RJ Gibb told BBC television on Thursday.

“He’s still in hospital. He’s fighting a lung infection. As a lot of people who’ve had family members or friends who have been through a cancer bout know, there are a lot of periphery problems afterwards that you have to deal with.

“He will have to keep scrutiny on this for his entire life and, God willing and we’re all praying for him, he comes through and makes a speedy recovery.”

Actor Leslie Phillips, 87, a close friend of the singer, was returning from a holiday in Spain to visit Gibb, newspapers said.

“It saddens me deeply — poor Robin has taken a serious turn for the worse. I feel very sad if it is true that he has only days to live,” he was quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper.

The Bee Gee underwent surgery for an ongoing problem with a twisted intestine in 2010.

The same hereditary condition led to the death of his twin brother Maurice at the age of 53 in 2003, while younger brother Andy died in 1988 following a battle against cocaine addiction.

Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb scaled the heights of the pop world in the 1970s with disco hits including “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Night Fever”.

The band notched up record sales of more than 200 million since their first hits in the the 1960s.
April 13, 2012
17:33
New magazine highlights Kenyan film industry
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A magazine has been launched to cater to the diverse film industry in the country, and the author’s hope it will help put a spotlight on the immense talent displayed on Kenyan screens.

The first edition of the magazine, Film Kenya, was released last week and it documents upcoming films, local TV shows, insights into the industry as well as one on one interviews with the faces behind the characters seen on the TV screens.

“Basically anything you want to know about anything you can do on a television screen, you can find it in Film Kenya. Talk about movies, TV series, dramas, and even gaming, the magazine talks about what’s happening in those spheres and more,” says Editor-in-chief Eddie Irura.

“One thing we are pleased to highlight is theatre, because all acting talent comes from there mostly,” he added.

The premier copy, which is a complimentary free edition, takes a closer look at the puppet show XYZ and also features behind the scenes info on one of the few action offerings in Kenya – Simiyu Samurai.

Focus is also placed on why and how movies are a good business venture, as well as the latest games in the video gaming scene.

“Most of the fantastic things done here in Kenya get very little publicity. With this kind of in-depth coverage and stories on what is happening and what is coming up, we hope to highlight the industry more and play our part in growing the industry,” he told Capital Lifestyle.

Subsequent issues will have a price tag of Sh280 and be available at regular vendors and supermarkets across the country, starting with Nairobi.

Eddie is excited to have the Kenya Film Commission’s backing on the venture and the Brand Kenya Board as well.

“It’s only our first issue but we’ve gotten so much positive feedback and ideas on what topics we should consider covering. We’re not messing about. Our articles will be as in-depth as discussing the technical audio-visual aspects of film-making. In fact, our entertainment offering will be colossal. “

As usual the challenge with this ingenious platform is to get solid distribution channels, but Eddie says that that is something they are working on.

As far back as 2008, the Kenyan film industry had been identified as a key economic growth area, and was contributing as much as 4% to the GDP (Gross domestic Product), both directly and indirectly.

“The vast potential has been evident by the growth of film production companies from 20 to over 200 of varying sizes as well the more frequent occurrence of premiers and film related events concerning locally produced features and programming,” Eddie added.

“An information gap exists though that will be filled through a regional, collaborative magazine and online portal that discusses opportunities and efforts of the Kenyan film industry.

The publication, by Broad Space Interactive Limited, is intended for an assorted target audience between the ages of 21 and 65 years.

www.facebook.com/filmkenyamagazine
www.twitter.com/filmkenyamag
13:37
3 tips on flying etiquette
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Flying etiquette has always been a topic of debate. When you’re sitting in the middle seat, who gets the armrest? You’re travelling with your kids and you’re sitting in different aisles, shouldn’t the other passengers move for you? The large burly man sitting by the window keeps on getting out of his seat assuming you’re not there, do you tell him to park his oversized bottom? The passenger sitting next to you keeps on looking over your shoulder to read your magazine, do you tell her to go buy her own? The list continues – it’s a jungle up there.

Time-changes, delays, overcrowding and lost luggage only compound the problem and continue to test the patience of a polite traveler, which is like an endangered species. These days, air travel is far from civilized.

But, if you’re flying with Emirates, there’s no need to fret. A brand synonymous with luxury and innovation, Emirates was the first to offer inflight telephony across all classes, individual TV screen on every seat, First Class suites and an onboard Shower Spa, on its A380 aircraft – no need to worry about smelly passengers that clearly need a freshing-up anymore. From its home base in Dubai, Emirates is geographically located within an eight hour direct flight of 75 per cent of the world’s population – cutting air travel drastically, ensuring that you won’t have to deal with too many uncivilized travelers and truly capturing the essence of connecting people, like their “Hello Tomorrow” campaign suggests.

If you’re not fortunate enough to travel with Emirates in business class on your next flight, here are just a few tips on flying etiquette:

Overhead Bins

To avoid the inevitable “space-grabbing rush” and risking limited space for your hand luggage, try to be one of the first to board the plane.

Trading Places

Passengers need to realize that it’s not required of them to move if someone asks them to switch seats. Don’t swap simply to avoid embarrassment or conflict. There’s no point in being nice if at the end of the day you’ll be unhappy for the next 8 hours. Only swap seats if it’s a legitimate reason like if a mother wants to sit with her child. If a couple wants to sit with each other for a 1 hour flight – they can stand to be separated.

Armrests

Why do people engage in such jockeying. If you’re sitting in the window or aisle seats, then you’re lucky – you have at least one of your armrests. If you’re in the middle, you should even be luckier with two armrests to yourself. Those to your right should just be happy with the armrest on their right, and if you’re on the left of the middle passenger simply be happy with your left armrest.
13:22
Man in Germany calls police over sex-mad date
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

A desperate man inMunichfled onto a balcony and called police for protection after his insatiable companion for a one-night stand refused to let him leave her flat, police said Thursday.

The 43-year-old man had met a woman four years his senior in a bar in the southern German city on Monday and she took him back to her apartment for sex, a police spokesman said in a statement.

“There they had sexual intercourse several times,” the spokesman said.

“When the 47-year-old wanted even more, her partner said no.”

The man then attempted to leave the apartment but the woman prevented him from escaping and demanded he sleep with her again.

“Because the 43-year-old saw no other alternative, he complied with the woman’s wishes another few times so he could finally leave the apartment,” the spokesman said.

“But when she continued to refuse and demanded even more sex from him, he fled to the balcony and alerted the police.”

The woman “then tried to talk the dispatched officers into similar activity but was unsuccessful”.

She is now facing possible charges of sexual assault and illegal restraint.
9:34
Shakira launches $36M education project for children
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Pop superstar Shakira helped launch a $36 million education project for Colombian children Thursday as part of a series of events linked to the weekend Summit of the Americas.

The Colombian singer, who is scheduled to meet with US President Barack Obama, will also sing her country’s national anthem at the opening ceremony for the gathering of 33 democratically elected leaders of the Western Hemisphere Saturday in Cartagena.

Her appearance Thursday sparked joy among residents of Ciudad Bicentenario, an Afro-Colombian district on the outskirts of Cartagena.

Joined by Colombia’s First Lady, Maria Clemencia Rodriguez, unveiled “FIRST THINGS FIRST,” an initiative in which the Colombian government is contributing nearly $25 million while 18 private institutions are providing another $12 million to build 13 educational centers for 6,260 students.

At the summit focused on regional integration, poverty reduction and drugs, Shakira hopes to lobby on behalf of disadvantaged children and promote early childhood development, a venture she started with her Barefoot Foundation.

The first five years of life are “the most important in the life of a human being and decisive for his future,” Shakira said in brief remarks. “We are convinced that investing in children early is better so they can develop all their potential in life.”

Shakira was later to have a private dinner with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera, according to her spokesman.

Saturday, the star was also to take part in a forum with the private sector and the following day, she was scheduled to join a bilateral session between Santos and Obama.
April 12, 2012
17:22
Patti Austin’s secret to longevity in music
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Unlike Lauryn Hill, Patti Austin wowed concertgoers during her guest performance with Dave Koz, and continued to during her hour-long set on Day 2 of the 13^th Cape Town Jazz Festival.

A veteran in the music industry,Austin, 61, first made her debut at the Apollo Theater at the tender age of 4. With both musical greats like Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington proclaiming as her godparents,Austin’s talent was moulded into perfection.

By her teens, Austinhad already matured into a prolific musician, and by the late 1960s, the R&B and jazz musician started to chart hits. Fans will remember her duet with James Ingram, “Baby, Come To Me”, which peaked at number one in 1983 and even her singles being featured on the soundtrack of Two of a Kind. The younger generation may remember her duet “It’s the Falling in Love” with the late Michael Jackson on his album Off The Wall.

Whatever the age or generation, Austin’s music has undoubtedly touched many.

Austin credited her success and longevity to being good to herself, “We have recently lost such a great artist and friend [Whitney Houston] and we can see what forgetting about yourself can do to someone.”

Austin has not only withstood the test of time, but as a jazz and R&B musician, has passed it with flying colours.

PHOTOBLOG: photo credits Susan Wong
13:26
Help! I made my hubby hate sex
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

I have a very good, loving husband who I have been married to for five long years now. We have had a pretty good seven year relationship so far and together we created the most beautiful daughter who is now four years old.

It sounds like a match made in heaven right? It is anything but! There’s a huge problem in our marriage that I haven’t been able to sort in the last four years despite racking the very interior of my brains and I’ve run out of ideas to try to sort it out hence this letter to Capital Lifestyle. I haven’t had sex with my husband in the last 4 years! Yes… since I gave birth to our daughter.

My husband went off me completely and he won’t even touch me in that way. As much as I try to make moves on him to get him to make love to me… he will just not go there.

The worst part is that he has refused to offer any explanations as to why he went off me. But sure as hell I know he doesn’t sleep around and he is not involved with anyone else.

For the longest time I was sure he was gay and was just using our marriage to remain in the closet until it was safe to come out but it turns out he is not.

See, I am now 27 years old and my plan was to have three children before I turned 30 but that seems like a dream that will never happen…unless I think of other alternatives.

I tried to seek help from everyone I could trust with my problem and also tried to find out what was happening and if I was indeed the problem. I even went to his family and talked to his mother and sister for a possible divine intervention but no one could help me until recently when my hubby’s best friend returned to the country. When I shared my worries with him or is it problems…? He was very supportive and promised to help me find out what’s up.

The finding was horrific! Apparently, it had something to do with the birth of our daughter!!

See, my daughter’s delivery was very difficult. I was in labor for the longest time and she had refused to come out. I had to push, huff and puff for what seemed like forever (TMI I know) and she would still not come out until it became dangerous…a do or die kind of situation as lots of blood was lost .

It reached a point where it was either we lose me, or our daughter, or both of us. It was all up to the doctors or my daughter (she is a fighter that one) and I to put up a fight for our dear lives and the doctors tried very hard to at least keep one of us in this world. I’m glad to report that we are both alive and kicking (otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this ).

My husband was traumatized during that whole birth experience and the thought of losing me or the baby just didn’t go very well with him and up to date, the images he saw, the doctor announcing the terrible news about saving one of us… just haunts him to date.

The no sex came as a result of that difficult birth because in his head the thought of me getting preggers again and having to go through that dreadful experience and maybe not getting lucky the next time around tears him into pieces. He vowed never to get anyone pregnant…ever! but he just won’t share that info with me.

I have since rested easy since the findings but at the same time I still have a right to conjugal rights with my husband right? I have tried to convince him to talk to someone if not me about what could be bugging him…a psychologist or someone but he keeps telling me he’s just not ready yet and whenever he will be ready I will be the first to know.

There’s something called patience which I am very fast running out of! I’m thinking I want another baby soon and I have only three options.

#To adopt

#To walk out on my marriage and find someone else before it’s too late

#To bear with the current sexless marriage situation for the rest of my life!

HELP??
12:13
Tobago’s romance on the water in Cape Town
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

There’s a reason why “long walks on the beach” is such a dating cliché – sand between the toes, strolling into the golden glow of the sunset and listening to soft whisperings from your beau – walking on the beach is really that romantic!

There’s simply something about the waterfront of coastal communities that exude romance. If you are looking for a romantic evening, nothing says romance better than a candlelit classic dinner date on the water.

Perhaps it’s the refreshing ocean breezes that rejuvenate the spirit, the gentle coos of seagulls, the hypnotic waves crashing into the marina, the dancing glow on your partner’s face from the candlelight, or the mesmerizing sunset with its rays of glorious colours reflecting off of the water. Romance on the water is the ultimate in elegance.

In Cape Town, one of the most romantic cities in South Africa, take your sweetie to the breathtaking Tobago’s Bar and Terrace for a whirlwind evening neither of you will forget.

On the waterfront, Tobago’s Bar and Terrace offers a transporting experience defined by the romance of the waterfront, graciously refined service and exuberant dishes that blend a bit of the old with new. A popular local spot for Sunday brunch, Tobago’s fabulous location at the Radisson Blu Waterfront – a beautiful seaside hotel overlooking Table Mountain, Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island – is just the icing on the cake.

It really can’t get better than this. From the moment you walk into Tobago’s you’re welcomed by an oversized wooden country table covered with various cold cuts, appetizers and delicacies – plated on simple china and beautifully presented with flowing fresh flowers and candles in between – a scene straight out of the world’s most refined and picturesque cook books.

One of Capital Lifestyle Magazine’s favourites was the fresh Atlantic mussels salad on the half shell tossed in an aromatic herb dressing. Plump, sweet and not even close to being over-cooked, the mussels were a great way to start the meal.

Then came another fabulous starter, the fresh and subtle flavour of cold-smoked salmon. It tasted like smoke salmon before it became the mass-market product that it is today. Succulent, not over salted, and flavoursome with clean flavours – unique to lines only caught in the pristine Atlantic waters.

If you aren’t heading down to Cape Town any time soon, try romance on the water in other Kenyan costal communities. Though in much warmer climates, a romantic evening by the Indian Ocean will be just as memorable. However, a word of advice, make sure the food is as good as Tobago’s.

PHOTOBLOG: photo credits Susan Wong
8:47
Marc Anthony files for divorce from J-Lo
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Jennifer Lopez’s salsa star husband Marc Anthony has filed for divorce from the actress-singer-presenter, citing “irreconcilable differences” for the split, a court spokesman said Wednesday.

Anthony, 43, a Grammy-winning singer now also working as an actor, filed legal papers in Los Angeles, nine months after the pair announced last July that they were ending their seven-year marriage, said the spokesman.

According to the divorce petition filed Monday and published by celebrity news website TMZ, he is asking Lopez, 42, for joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s 4-year-old twins Emme and Max.

The couple, both New Yorkers whose parents are from Puerto Rico, dated briefly in the 1990s and then rekindled their romance in 2004. They were married in a June 2004 secret ceremony at Lopez’s Beverly Hills home.

After taking time off to become a mother in 2008, Lopez returned to the public eye last year year with a star turn as one of three talent judges on “American Idol.”

Also in 2011 Lopez topped People’s magazine’s annual list of the most beautiful people. She also released her seventh studio album, “Love?”

Anthony has sold more than 11 million records, kicking off his career as a salsa musician and Spanish-language performer. His 1999 hit single “I Need to Know” was his first English-language crossover success.

In 2006, the couple co-starred in “El Cantante,” a biopic about salsa legend Hector Lavoe. Anthony played Lavoe and Lopez played Lavoe’s wife, Nilda “Puchi” Roman.

It was the third marriage for Lopez and the second for Anthony.
8:42
The real reason why Facebook bought Instagram
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The simple and straight forward answer; Instagram was the biggest threat to Facebook’s mobile photo sharing feature.

What makes Instagram so cool and popular is the ability to customize the photos by applying filters, making the photos appear very professional and instantly sharing on social networks including Instagram’s own.

The growth of Instagram has been phenomenal. Just two years after its launch, Instagram hit 30 million accounts this month with users uploading over 150 million photos. Instagram’s free iPhone app became the number one app in the App store with over 15 million downloads, immediately Facebook acquired it.

When Instagram launched the Android app, over 1 million downloads happened within the first 24 hours.

The success has come with just a staff of 13 people led by the co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition (in cash and stock) of Instragram has raised eyebrows especially seeing the photo sharing startup was valued at $100 million a year ago, and with no concrete business model.

Unlike other companies that have been bought (and killed) by Facebook, Instagram will be allowed to continue on its success path, as Mark Zuckerberg said as he announced the acquisition;

“We believe these (facebook and Instagram photo sharing) different experiences that complement each other. But in order to do this well, we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just integrate everything into Facebook.”

It seems part of the deal was for Instagram to operate independently of Facebook, but leverage on each other’s strength.

“It’s important to be clear that Instagram is not going away. We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network…the Instagram app will be same you know and love. You’ll have the all the same people you follow and that follow you. You’ll still be able to share other social networks,” said Kevin Systrom, CEO Instagram.
April 11, 2012
18:08
Pretty in florals
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Flowers are really beautiful to look at but it would be very difficult and super uncomfortable to wear clothes made out of actual flowers right? Enter the floral print.

Not many are crazy about floral prints as they remind one of their grandmothers furniture and curtains and certainly not many can pull them off either.

It takes knowing yourself, your fashion sense and what colors look good on you to pull of florals.

As with the case with flowers being colorful, the floral print can be quite colorful as well.

How to wear florals

It is usually best to have minimal floral print on you hence a skirt and a plain top is always the safest way to go. With a skirt, and especially a mini the show of skin helps the flowers blend in well with your outfit hence you don’t get to look so busy.

When it comes to choosing a busy flower print it is advisable to have white as a dominant color on your outfit as this will make the flowers look minimal.

It gets a bit tricky when it comes to jumpsuits and pants/pantsuits as they make you look super busy. Don’t be surprised if a bee came and landed on you. Here you really have to know your fashion and not just try something because it is in vogue. You might end up either looking like a flower garden, a rainbow or like flowers threw up all their color all over you.

*Floral prints can help liven up a rather dull look… so adding on a floral scarf to a rather plain outfit will add a pop of much needed color to your outfit.

Pulling off florals will require that the rest of your outfit is in monotone.

Floral shoes should be worn with a monotone outfit, or an outfit with very minimal print. You seriously don’t want to attract the bees.

Florals are so bright that wearing a floral print can liven up your moods and make you look all bright and bubbly try it!
15:31
When to send a woman flowers
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Gentlemen, knowing when to send flowers is almost as important as knowing when not to send them. There’s always a place and time for everything.

I know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Who gives a F*** whether my chick likes them or not, she should just be grateful that I’ve bothered going to buy them and even managed to pay extra to send them to her office” or “it’s an amazing gesture” or even “every woman loves flowers.”

Truth of the matter is that it’s not that simple.

Through my own trials and many errors later, I have realized that giving your potential, girlfriend or wifey flowers, may not be the best gift after all.

One of my good female friends told me the worst is when a guy buys flowers for someone they hardly know: “Might as well just buy me a scented candle for Christmas,” she said as she shrugged her shoulders.

I know right?! What an ungrateful B****. Actually, come to think of it – she may not be such a “female dog” after all. Let’s try to understand her side of the story.

My friend goes on to explain to me that all woman appreciate the fact that someone is thinking of them. Whether it’s just a sms or flowers sent to the office, it is undoubtedly a great gesture. However, if everyone gets flowers, doesn’t the gesture then seem a bit predictable and generic?

“What if I have pollen allergies?”

That’s true. The worst thing a man could do is be the reason that the beautiful woman’s skin breaks out into rashes. She’ll never forgive you then.

“I hate roses and love lilies. The guy didn’t even bother to get to know me first, so what purpose does the bouquet of random flowers serve? It doesn’t matter what the price tag was.”

Being a man who has learned from most of my mistakes, the advice I can give you, gentlemen, is to always customize your gift. Make it personal. Otherwise, the impact is often unfortunately lost in translation. Don’t try to push things too quickly. You never know, maybe you’re adding pressure and straining your barely there relationship. Be original and most importantly, be genuine.

Good luck Boys!
13:25
The Hunger Games premieres in Nairobi
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Hunger Games premieres in Nairobi cinemas this weekend, nearly a fortnight after it first came on the North American silver screen.

It has amassed a total of Sh25.2 billion shillings – yes billion – at the US box office so far and is expected to replicate that popularity in Kenya too.

The movie, based on a book by Suzanne Collins, tells the tale of a teenage girl who has to battle to stay alive in a reality TV show set in a post apocalyptic world. Does that make sense?

Basically, from action, to suspense to tears, every moment is a popcorn moment.

Starring Jennifer Lawrence and singer turning actor Lenny Kravitz among others, The Hunger Games has received raving reviews across the board. US fans of the book were however upset that one of the lead characters in the flick was ‘black’ but that shouldn’t be an issue for Kenyan movie-goers.

The Hunger Games premieres at the Fox Theatres at 5pm Friday, amid other new releases sensitive to the fact that schools are closed this month.

American Pie: Reunion, animated film Dr Seuss’ The Lorax and adventure film Hugo starring Jude Law are all rated PG, or thereabouts.

Even the Bollywood release this week Housefull 2 is a rib-cracker.

Oldies Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Chunky Pandey, and Johnnie Lever have been brought back to life and lord it over eight young men and women who kinda look like.

Here’s the trailer.

So what will you be watching?
11:19
Don’t just drink Aloe vera, cook it!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

You have an upset stomach, your parents or your house girl cuts you a fresh leaf from the Aloe vera tree just outside your front door, plops it in front of you, and tells you to put it in water and drink it.

You have a sore throat, your people cut another fresh leaf from the Aloe vera tree from the garden, plops it in front of you, and tells you to make a concoction and drink it.

You’re feeling under the weather, a bit of fatigue and a lot of headaches, and again, you’re directed to the nearest Aloe vera tree behind the guest house. Only this time, your people have told you to cut the leaf by yourself.

Kenyans love Aloe vera

It doesn’t matter how sick you are or what you’re sick with or if you simply want to maintain your health, most Kenyans swear by drinking the bitter slimy substance. Even supermarkets have jumped on the bandwagon and have stocked up on ready-made Aloe vera juices.

Thanks to anti-inflammatory fatty acids and other therapeutic compounds, Aloe vera is highly effective as an antibiotic and antifungal agent, which ultimately boosts the immune system and has the ability to protect against various kinds of infections.

Though a bit on the bitter side, Aloe vera juice is undoubtedly a powerful quick-fix to a lot of health issues including constipation.

But aside from applying Aloe vera externally to ease skin problems and drinking it, did you know you could also cook it?

Cooking Aloe vera

The texture of Aloe vera is really nothing to be too excited about. Slimy, clear and extremely slimy – peeling the fibrous and bitter green peel reveals the inner flesh that looks less than appetizing.

After cutting the Aloe vera into 1 inch cubes, you can poach them in some sugar and lime juice for refreshing additions to yogurt and jello desserts. A nice sweet treat.

Aside from desserts, you can also add it to most stews and soup recipes. For a more savoury and rich option, try poaching the Aloe vera in your favourite spices first before adding them to your favourite soup 30 minutes before the dish is finished cooking.

Photo Credit: Norecipes.com
10:10
Coca-Cola launch ‘A billion reasons to believe’
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Coca-Cola on Sunday launched its ‘Billion Reasons to Believe’ campaign with an African Carnival at Nairobi’s Central Park on Sunday.

Recording artists Wyre, P-Unit and Size 8 were the main performing acts alongside comedians Eric Omondi and Otoyo were also on hand to provide entertainment alongside radio presenter DNG and DJ Wesley.

The television commercial for the campaign was also unveiled at the venue giving those in attendance a preview of what is set to be one of Coca-Cola’s most inspiring promotions to date.

There were also performances from Mejja and Kendi and the legendary comedy troupe ‘Vitimbi.’

DNG Mcee’ing at the event

Coca Cola’s Catherine Mudachi and artist Mejja

Size 8 performing

DJ Wesley spinning at the event

Stephanie and Maggie
9:58
Hollywood looks to China for box office growth
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

China’s booming movie industry is attracting interest from Hollywood heavyweights, as they chase bigger box-office returns to offset tighter margins at home.

Films with Asian and especially Chinese themes are becoming more prominent after Hollywood hit a 16-year low in movie tickets sales last year, while some of its biggest studios are setting up shop in the country.

DreamWorks Animation is setting up a China base while Legendary, the studio behind Christopher Nolan’s wildly successful “Batman” series as well as “Clash of the Titans” and “The Hangover” franchises, is also developing a venture.

Keanu Reeves is making his directorial debut with “Man of Tai Chi” which is currently filming in China and Hong Kong, while Aamir Khan’s Bollywood comedy drama “3 Idiots” is in talks for a Hollywood remake.

“It’s a hugely interesting time now,” said executive producer Tracey Trench, whose projects have included “Just Married” and “Ever After”.

“The United States is still the biggest market. Within the next 10 years, we are not going to be the biggest market place, everything is going to change,” she told a forum at the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART) in March.

China’s rapidly expanding film industry continues to break new ground and set new records, collecting an estimated 13.1 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) in 2011 — up by around 30 percent on-year.

Around 2,500 more cinema screens are expected to be unveiled across the country this year, with its market now the third largest behind Japan and the United States.

This compares with a clear slowdown in North America.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) says box office takings from 2007 to 2011 in the United States and Canada grew only 6.3 percent to $10.2 billion, while the Asia-Pacific region saw 38-percent growth to $9 billion.

Zhang Yimou’s “The Flowers of War” was China’s biggest box office smash of the past 12 months, starring Oscar-winning American actor Christian Bale.

It collected around $90 million from the Chinese box office while picking up a nomination for best foreign language film at the prestigious Golden Globes in the United States.

It comes as Hollywood looks to increasingly give a Chinese angle to its output.

“There are so many stories that you can tell and right now China is hot, so many people want to know more,” said screenwriter Glenn Berger, who wrote the popular 2008 animated Hollywood comedy “Kung Fu Panda” and its 2011 sequel.

A box-office hit in China, the film told the story of Po, an oversize and unfit panda who dreams of becoming a martial arts hero. But Berger said the movie was never really about China or kung fu.

“We were just trying to tell a classic underdog story, not particularly a Chinese story,” he said of the film.

“But it was very well received in the Chinese market because they thought it was very respectful of Chinese culture,” he said.

Kung Fu Panda raked in an estimated $630 million, with $26 million from the Chinese mainland alone.

Hong Kong’s FILMART exhibition is Asia’s major entertainment industry market and one of the top three events of its kind in the world.

This year it attracted a record 648 exhibitors and more than 5,700 buyers, up 14 percent from last year. The US pavilion had over 40 US exhibitors, or about 25 percent more than last year.

Industry veterans say Chinese audiences are particularly drawn to movies that include Chinese references or elements of Chinese culture.

“People want to feel connected,” said Chinese American writer Rita Hsiao, who wrote the screenplay for “Toy Story 2″ and 1998 animated musical “Mulan”, a story about a legendary Chinese girl-warrior.

“If you have that universal message and it’s interesting, everybody everywhere can connect with it,” she said.

One of the main obstacles for foreign filmmakers wanting to crack the Chinese market is a law limiting the number of international films that can be screened in the country to just 20 a year.

It forces studios to co-produce films with Chinese partners or risk having their films blocked at the border.

But all the pandas in the world won’t guarantee a hit in China.

“It has to succeed on all the fundamentals of a movie, not just because it is shot in China,” Berger said.
9:33
Medical doctors win ICT innovation award
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Two medical doctors have bagged the top ICT innovation award for their remote health solution that makes it possible for doctors to diagnose patients without physically meeting them.

Partnering with an IT professional, the physicians built Medisoft East Africa to encourage the use of ICT in the medical field, after the two radiologists realized that main reasons why practices have not tapped existing technology to improve productivity was mainly limited information on available solutions and time to find the information.

“Our aim was never to make money but on offering a solution. The award has really motivated us,” says Dr. Kanake Ndii, a radiologist and one of the firms’ directors. Kanake is currently a Masters student at the University of Nairobi.

MediSoft, which also won in the Health Care Delivery category, specializes in radiology services and integrated archiving services. Some of the services include a filmless printing solution and a radiology information system that can be deployed by hospitals and clinics.

Other winners include Green Dreams Tech Ltd with their product (icow) in the Agriculture category, Digital Divide Data Kenya in the Business Process Outsourcing sector, Kuza Biashara who bagged an award in Education and Training.

The winners were recognized at a ceremony held at Leisure Lodge, Diani at the Connected Kenya Summit 2012.

The awards, on their second year running, hopes to recognize and celebrate Kenyans, who have developed ICT solutions that drive economic growth and social development as outlined in Kenya’s Vision 2030.

This year the judges reviewed more than 400 entries in a stiff competition that saw thousands of entries made at the online platform.

In last year awards, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), was the overall winner.
April 10, 2012
18:26
Juliani launches his tour under Kama Si Sisi
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Juliani recently launched his mtaa tour at the YMCA Shauri Moyo under his Kama Si Sisi campaign.

African Alliance of YMCA’s co-sponsored the event, which was well attended with over 500 young people drawn from Nairobi, aimed at boosting youth involvement in national affairs.

“If we – the youth – don’t participate in the affairs of this country, who will? We have a stake. We matter and therefore must contribute and engage. We are the people who will script the aspirations and dreams of a new republic,” said Juliani, during the event dubbed “Shauri Moyo S2C Mtaa Tour.”

The General Secretary of AAYMCA, Carlos Sarvee, challenged the youth in Kenya to participate in as many fields as possible.

“YMCA Africa has a programme known as Subject to Citizen (S2C) whose objective is to move young people from subjects to citizens who have influence and voice in their countries. We have been working in several countries in Africa, Kenya being one of them. It is our pleasure to see so many youth showing leadership in diverse fields such as business and politics in their countries,” he said.

Also in attendance were observers constituting of over 70 top leaders from the World Alliance of YMCAs who were in Kenya attending a conference directed at making them more responsive to matters affecting young people.
13:19
Red Location Museum: Reconciliation via design
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

From the list of reasonable entry fees, with Wednesday afternoons free to the unemployed, it’s clear the that the Red Location Museum is not only built for tourists, but also as an integral part of the surrounding community through making education, arts and culture available to everyone.

Located in the heart of the Red Location shack settlement, a low-income community, the Red Location Museum complex is located in New Brighton’s oldest neighbourhood and there’s no enchanting way of saying “the ghetto,” where one of the first displays of public disobedience against the apartheid took place.

Designed by Jo Noero of Cape Town-based Noero Wolff Architects, the Red Location Museum complex is a RIBA International Award winner, and is an incredible display of architecture that merges the old with new and encourages reconciliation through design, which challenges conventional views of museum design. There’s nothing glamourous about the Red Location Museum, and deliberately so.

As you enter the main hall of the museum, guests are welcomed with striking high ceilings and tall concrete columns that look like totems, celebrating important heroes that gave their lives during the struggle. Exhibition halls are cleverly situated in pod-like memory boxes constructed out of oxidized corrugated iron; which echoes the feel of informal settlements, the red tinge reminds you of the bloodshed, and together illustrates how raw the struggle against the apartheid was.

The most powerful of the exhibitions was the one with wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling police files of those who were murdered during the struggle against apartheid. Above the towering stacks of paper and names hung three nooses. The feeling in the room was incredibly morbid, stale and uncomfortably full of grief.

The exposed structural details of the museum – wood, corrugated iron, steel and bolts – ensured that visitors would not feel removed from the shanty surroundings, which ultimately made one feel entrenched in the exhibits.

Why you should visit the Red Location Museum?

Aside from being a great educative experience for the community and also foreign visitors, the Red Location Museum complex has a lot to offer – library, adult literacy program, conference center and even a restaurant.

It’s really an extraordinary achievement that the architects were able to design a museum that eloquently emoted what the apartheid struggle would have felt like. And, to erect the complex which housed all these negative memories of the struggle in the midst of the very community that acted as the catalyst for the fight, makes this museum even more worthy of a visit.

The Red Location Museum touches everyone a little differently. Some may leave the museum with tears, like the group of retired ladies in pink that we came across, and some may leave with renewed excitement from their new knowledge.

One thing is for sure, you must have an open mind. If you can look past the ghetto that surrounds the complex and the deathly stares that you may meet as you drive through the streets – the Red Location Museum is well worth a visit!

PHOTOBLOG: Photo Credits Susan Wong
13:04
Ladies, here are 5 tips to better your sex life
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

At a party during the long Easter weekend I met a Sexologist who is visiting friends in the country. We got talking and of course I got a couple of answers. We even talked about why African women are said to be rigid in bed. This she explained was so because #1. Africans are not so comfortable with nudity and #2. since we tend to be fuller in body proportions than our Caucasian sisters we are sort of shy when it comes to being naked in front of somebody else. Some women can’t even keep eye contact with their partner after intercourse.

The sexologist continued to explain that sex is important and it gives you that special bond with your significant other hence should be enjoyed by all means. Her “tips” to enjoying sex fully was actually just one broad tip “Taking your sex life into your own hands” which she further broke down into 5 tips as follows:

#Work on your body

Feeling good about yourself and having confidence in yourself is the key to having amazing sex. And how do we achieve this? By working out of course! Walking, hitting the gym, cycling etc… Working out does wonders to your whole being! You look and feel great always. Once you work your body into shape, everything else will fall into place.

#Love yourself

Stand in front of the mirror completely stackers and check yourself out. Check out both the front and rear thoroughly… spend about 15 minutes just looking at yourself and admiring or otherwise …and note the areas of your body that you like or don’t like but mainly the aim is to know your body and feel comfortable in your own skin. The person staring back at you is none other than yourself. Understanding your body will go a long way into understanding the kind of sex that you like.

#Speak to your doctor

Sometimes we let ourselves suffer in silence when it comes to sex because we are shy to talk about it to anyone. Sex is something so natural so it should be an enjoyable experience. If you have symptoms that make sex a weird experience for you say… pain, difficulty reaching an orgasm, dryness, problems with genital sensation, or difficulty feeling your partner … by all means talk to your doctor about it. Doctors are human beings like you and they also have sex so they won’t judge you and the best part is that they will help you with a solution.

#Allow yourself to enjoy and love sex fully!

Ask for what you want and don’t be afraid to guide your partner. If you enjoy a particular style, let your partner know and even let him know how it makes you feel. Letting him know what you like helps both of you to even make it better the next time and the next. This also helps you to take your own pleasure into your own hands which is totally allowed. Speak the truth because at the end of it we always want what we want right? In the same breath, try out new styles and decide whether you like it or not.

Tell yourself things like:

*I’m allowed to enjoy this

*This is good for my body

*This is good for my relationship

*I am entitled to sexual pleasure

#Turn your bedroom into a sexual haven

Bedrooms are for sleeping and having sex! So it should be without clutter of any kind. No files and books, no clothes all over the place, no computers and laptops and the room should be well aired. Choose a nice romantic piece of artwork to hang on your bedroom wall, invest in good quality bedsheets, your curtains should be on point to help create that romantic mood. In fact take time to make your bedroom a sexual retreat of a kind. A place where you can have amazing sex and enjoy every minute of.
9:02
Facebook buys Instagram photo app for $1 bn
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Facebook on Monday announced a billion-dollar-deal to buy the startup behind wildly popular smartphone photo sharing application Instagram.

The big ticket purchase was seen by some as a move by Facebook to strengthen defenses against Google and blazingly hot newcomer Pinterest in the weeks ahead of what promises to be a history-making stock market debut.

“For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family,” Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg said in announcing the deal.

“Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.”

Zuckerberg called the acquisition “an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users” but promised it was a rare acquisition.

An Instagram application tuned to Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices has been downloaded more than 30 million times since the first version was released in late 2010 by the San Francisco startup.

A version of the application tailored for smartphones power by Google-backed Android software racked up more than a million users in the 24 hours after its release last week.

“Instagram has built a sizable mobile photo sharing community,” said NPD analyst Linda Barrabee.

“Clearly the value-proposition of Instagram’s offering is a solid fit for Facebook.”

The free mini-program lets people give classic looks to square photos using “filters” and then share them at Twitter, Facebook or other social networks.

Apple crowned Instagram its app-of-the-year for 2011.

“We’re psyched to be joining Facebook,” Systrom said in a message at the Instagram website.

“It’s important to be clear that Instagram is not going away,” he continued. “We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network.”

Facebook users flood the world’s largest social network with images to share with friends, but the website hasn’t proven to be an ideal stage for organizing pictures around topics — a forte that has made Pinterest a star.

“Facebook is pushing into the Pinterest space,” said analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies.

“The thing about Instagram and Pinterest is that they are really interesting in the context of posting pictures around topics,” he continued.

Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle said that Facebook is building a defense against Pinterest, which has been luring people’s attention from the social network.

Facebook in February filed for a stock offering and could raise as much as $10 billion in the largest flotation ever by an Internet company on Wall Street.

Facebook — the leading social network in all but six countries, notably China and Russia — claims more than 845 million users.

Facebook’s value has been estimated at between $75 billion and $100 billion.

“The Instagram buy could be worth tens of billions of dollars if it holds off Pinterest and Facebook remains on top, Enderle said.

“Given what Facebook is trying to do — get a massive valuation when it goes public — a billion dollars is a trivial sum.”
8:58
Pacific island goes gaga for the Lady
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The tiny Pacific atoll of Niue is attempting to lure US pop superstar Lady Gaga to its shores by pledging every single person from the island will attend if she performs there.

The island, about 2,500 kilometers northeast of New Zealand, has about 1,600 inhabitants and Niue Tourism spokesman Mike Hogan said they were all keen to see a concert by the chart-topping diva.

“It’s not a promise many places could make, every person coming along,” Auckland-based Hogan told AFP.

“She’s really struck a chord with the kids on the island. She’s so unusual and she thinks outside the box. So we thought we’d think outside the box and invite her here.”

The hope is that Lady Gaga will add an appearance in Niue after performing concerts in New Zealand in June.

Hogan said Niue would be thrilled to pamper the singer at one of its resorts if she did make the trip.

“We’d reserve a whole wing for her, of course,” he said. “There’s only one flight a week from New Zealand but I presume she’d have her own jet, so she could stay as long as she liked.”

Known locally as “The Rock”, Niue was settled by Polynesian seafarers more than 1,000 years ago and the palm-dotted island’s name in the local language means “behold, the coconut”.

The British explorer captain James Cook tried to land there three times in 1774 but was deterred by fearsome warriors, eventually giving up to set sail for more welcoming shores and naming Niue “Savage Island” on his charts.

Modern day Niueans are desperate for visitors, with the population dropping from a high of about 5,000 in the mid-1960s as people seek better economic opportunities in places such as New Zealand and Australia.
April 06, 2012
18:46
Teenage Somali refugee dreams of stardom
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Saber has his future mapped out. “It’s clear to me I’m going to be a big star,” says the budding hip hop artist. But then he adds, “Without my family, my dream is nothing,” and it hits you that however confident he may be, he’s still a vulnerable teenager who needs help.

The 17-year-old refugee has been stuck at the Choucha transit centre near the Tunisian-Libya border crossing for a year and now waits anxiously to hear if the United States – the home of hip hop – has accepted him for resettlement. It’s a slow process, but as an unaccompanied minor he is regarded by the UN refugee agency as particularly vulnerable.

Saber fled the war in his native Somalia five years ago, ending up in Libya before fleeing to Tunisia in March last year after anti-government protests that led to the eventual downfall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. He clearly wants to get out of Choucha. “It’s too cold, or too hot. It’s windy. I don’t feel happy in this place.” Seeing other unaccompanied children leave for resettlement in Europe recently has been difficult.

But the teenager has been making the most of his time, gathering a loyal following among the more than 3,000 refugees and asylum-seekers – mainly single young males from sub-Saharan Africa – for his hip hop wizardry. The young man, as “S’Joe,” performs once a week at a community centre run at the site by the Danish Refugee Council. When UNHCR visited, he was entertaining dozens of young children at a party held to keep spirits up for those awaiting news on resettlement to third countries.

Saber has clearly never suffered from a lack of self-belief. When he was just 12 he decided to leave Mogadishu without telling his family, as “I was afraid they would say I couldn’t go because I was too young,” and headed off with a neighbouring family to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

After two months in Ethiopia, his Mogadishu neighbours left for Europe, leaving the youngster on his own. He fell in with a group of young Somali men who agreed to take him with them to the Sudan capital, Khartoum. “I stayed in Khartoum for eight months and I tried to get work, but employers said I was too young.” So he joined another group who were going to Libya. “I didn’t have to pay. We entered Libya at Kufra [in the south-east].”

His luck ran out near the eastern town of Ajdabiya, where he and his guardians were arrested and detained for six months, only being released after paying money. Saber’s next stop was Tripoli, at the end of 2008, where his musical career began.

“I liked music so I created a group called ‘Oncod Again’ [Thunder Again],” he said. The teen rapped in Somali, while his older bandmates – three girls and one guy – provided backing. He also learned “from Libyan friends, who bought me a guitar” and says now that, “When people saw me, I said I was trying to be a musician and they supported me.”

The band performed mostly in people’s homes, but were ready to move to the next level. “On March 17, we were planning to do a big concert,” Saber recalled, “But the war intervened.” Nine days before the gig, he had joined the tens of thousands of other foreigners streaming across the border into Tunisia at Ras Adjir, just seven kilometres from Choucha. “I was afraid about the war and sought safety,” he explained.

There’s not a lot to do in Choucha, but Saber has been pursuing his dream here. And he’s found a mentor and teacher, a 30-year-old rapper who introduced himself as “SD.” The Nigerian has been teaching “S’Joe” how to rap and write lyrics. SD saw his pupil performing at the Danish Refugee Council’s community centre.

“I thought this guy is good,” but lacked musical training and decent equipment, said SD, who has been sharing his knowledge. For starters, they have to use a mobile phone to download backing music because they don’t have a computer that would allow them to create their own sounds.

“We look for beats and then do whatever we want,” SD said, adding: “We sing about the things around us.” Saber also regularly watches MTV on a neighbour’s set for inspiration. And the two have already created a portfolio of work, with titles like “Tears of Pain,” “Disguise my Limits,” “Choucha Gospel” and “Don’t Go Back,” which is a message to those in Choucha who think of returning to Libya to make the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.

And aside from fuelling his ambition and optimism, hip hop is also helping with Saber’s education. He sings mostly in Somali, but notes that for real success “there is something missing – English.” So he’s been attending language classes, determined to add another string to his hip hop bow.

By Leo Dobbs via UNHCR
18:17
What’s so interesting about Pinterest?
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

While everyone thinks Facebook and Twitter have gobbled up online sharing, a simple idea of pinboard is transforming sharing, rapidly claiming its share of faithful users in the social sharing sphere.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets users organize and share images of stuff they find interesting on the web. Interests can be as varied as the individuals; from wedding decorations, recipes, fashion, cars, art etc. Members create and view pinboards created by other people, making it fun to discover and learn new things from people that share their interest.

The online pinboard has experienced phenomenal growth over the last one year, mostly in the US. It hit the ten million monthly unique visitors faster that any other website. Comscore, the communications research company, says Pinterest’s unique users grew by 85 percent between mid-January and mid-February to 11.5 million users.

“Our goal is to connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests,” says the Pinterest mission statement.

Interestingly, 85 percent of US users are women – partly attributable to the site’s user-friendly interface that makes posting of images, sharing and commenting easier than most similar site.

The site was founded by Ben Silbermann in March 2010, but remained in closed beta before it opened to the public. Nine months after the launch the website had 10,000 users.

It was in 2011 that Pinterest really took off, featuring in Time Magazine of ’50 Best Websites of 2011’ and named the best startup of 2011 by Techcrunch.

Lately, copyright issues have threatened to curtail the growth of Pinterest because users tend to share photos they find online, sometimes infringing on copyright laws.

Do you use Pinterest? What makes it different? Please share.
14:49
Seeing South Africa aboard a floating hotel
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Going on a cruise has surged in popularity as a holidaying option. Whether you’re a family will toddlers and teenagers, retired or traveling alone – cruising offers an experience that’s enjoyable to all.

Undeniably a more passive and relaxed way to tour different destinations with short stopovers to accommodate day excursions, cruises allow you to see the hustle and bustle of a tourist destination without the stress of finding accommodation and allows you to retire back in your cabin aboard a grand ship, whilst being mesmerized by the tranquil waves of the ocean.

As you line up in preparation of boarding, you’re overwhelmed with the sheer size of the ship as its pristine hull dwarfs you. The breathtaking steel and glass spectacle is a beautiful sight to behold – brilliantly white and glistening in the afternoon sun. Once aboard, most guests rush to the top deck, twelve floors up, to bid farewell as the ship blasts its horn, which unmistakably welcomes you aboard the MSC Sinfonia.

Capital Lifestyle Magazine boarded the last trip of MSC Sinfonia in South African waters from Durban and headed to Cape Town via a short 8-hour stopover in Port Elizabeth.

MSC Sinfonia is home to 716 crew members of 39 nationalities and can accommodate 2180 guests. Thanks to the ship’s completely electric navigation system, MSC Sinfonia’s eco-friendly commitment also results in an extremely quiet engine room – guests usually can’t even hear if the engines are on or not.

Food
Food is plentiful aboard the MSC Sinfonia. Although the ship is the second smallest ship in the company’s fleet, MSC Sinfonia still easily blows through 140,000 to 160,000 kilos of food per week. That’s approximately 5,000 eggs to cook and 30,000 dishes to clean per day! From 7-course evening meals to unlimited buffets to daily tea services, gaining a few pounds aboard is part of the cruising culture.

A Capital Lifestyle Magazine must-try would be to try the oven-fresh pizza at Pizzeria where the dough is hand-kneaded and the tomato sauce is made fresh.

Shopping
With shops and even discounts, the shopping arcade is a must visit for duty-free items. If you’re not planning to spend any money, visit the arcade just for the novelty of watching the waves pass by as you’re window shopping.

Activities
Activities aboard include mini golf, plenty of time to swim in the pools and Jacuzzis, lounge in the sun on the multi-level decks, attend dance lessons, win some cash at the casino, enjoy daily Broadway-like productions at the theatre, shed your extra weight at the gym, enjoy a cocktail and the various bars, and rejuvenate at the spa – all in the middle of the ocean aboard a giant floating hotel.

Convenience
Forget about carrying those bulky wallets and heavy purses around when you’re travelling, the MSC Sinfonia onboard payment system makes your life as a tourist easy and ensures that you’ll have a good time. Every guest is issued a cruise card that is unique to only the guest, and serves as your on-board multi-purpose payment and id card. You can leave your passports and money in the safe and simply carry around your cruise card. Just a word of advice, make sure you keep track of what you spend considering it’s very easy to just charge everything to your card without feeling that you’ve spent anything. The last thing you want is to be surprised with a 5 page invoice the morning you disembark.

PHOTO CREDITS: Susan Wong
April 05, 2012
15:17
Peep at them sexy toes
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

There are people have a fetish for feet and shoes, then there are those who have a fetish for toes. So what better way to satisfy the latter with some cute peep toe pumps?

Peep toe pumps have been around for a while but everyday, more stylish ones are coming up. Something Christian Louboutin is a pro at and he always makes sure he does a super job.

Peep toe pumps are sexy and chic all at the same time and they have a reputation of adding some va-va-voom to your look!

Peep toes do divert attention to your toes therefore:

*Your toes need to be clean and presentable

*A good Pedicure is necessary

*If you have half a toe or defective toes, stay away from them

There are different types of peep toes.

Very tiny peep – These literally give a peep at your toes perhaps only your big toenail gets to peep. They are comfortable to wear and easy to walk in.

Wide peep – These require that you wear them with swag as your toes might protrude all the way outside the shoes (maybe even too much that your toes touch the ground). They are slightly hard to walk in…you need to apply more effort and balance hence you might end up curling your toes which does not look cute at all.

Midi peep- These only allow about three toes to peep. They give good support to your feet and they fit well. They are easy to walk in too.

Whatever peep toe style suits you, wear it like you were meant for each other. When it comes to the heel go for the inches you feel comfortable wearing.
11:18
Exotic teambuilding aboard a dhow in Mombasa
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The benefits of teamwork are undeniable. According to Kwintessential, an international business services company, “business success is now more and more about creating and nurturing strong relationships with international and multicultural colleagues.” It’s simple really, when employees work well together, the company benefits.

Some managers consider teamwork building outings a waste of time. It’s true that some activities aimed at building teamwork may seem ridiculous and borderline ineffective, but outdoor options have surged in popularity amongst corporate groups and are seen as the preferred way to promote real, tangible teamwork.

Teamwork building trips no longer mean traveling to a vacation destination with your peers and being forced to stay indoors in a stuffy conference room, listening to someone whom you’ve never met, telling you how you should work together and how much more productive you will be after the bonding session.

So what’s the newest teambuilding trend? A day trip on a historic handcrafted dhow, sailing in the tranquil settings of the Wasini Channel with carefree dolphins swimming along, exploring the marine life and colourful corals through snorkelling and scuba diving, enjoying a lazy seafood lunch with plentiful fresh crab and drinks, and sailing back to the shore as the sun sets on the endless horizon – now that’s a teambuilding session courtesy of Charlie Claw’s in Mombasa.

Organizational specialists suggest that team building and learning how to work together as a team in outdoor environments is the ideal way of bringing a company together. Relaxing, fun, adventurous and memorable – 12 hours stuck on a dhow with your colleagues in a picturesque setting is the best way to learn how to enjoy each other’s company without the mandatory politeness of a rigid corporate environment, and surely, by the end of the day, tanned and relaxed, you would’ve been able to work out all your issues.

So, next time you’re planning a teambuilding trip on behalf of your company, remember that when you’re told to do something, you may forget; but when you’re involved, you’ll understand. Find a memorable destination and hands-on activity that your group of colleagues can experience together.

Check out Charlie’s Claws here, and make sure you take advantage of their Easter specials!

Photo Credits: Susan Wong
10:12
Google shows off internet glasses
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Google has given the world a glimpse of its vision for letting people look at life through Internet-tinted glasses.

A video posted at a Project Glass page at Google+ social network confirmed the rumor that the technology titan is working on eyewear that meshes the online world with the real world.

“We think technology should work for you — be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t,” members of the project team said in a Google+ post.

“A group of us from Google X (Labs) started Project Glass to build this kind of technology; one that helps you explore and share your world.”

Images showed people wearing eyeglasses with stylish silver frames that featured tiny cameras and on-lens displays to discretely show information such as walking directions, weather forecasts or messages from friends.

Built-in microphones let wearers command the Internet-linked glasses by speaking.

“We took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do,” Google said, stressing that the glasses were a concept far from being brought to market.

“We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input.”

The project team invited people to express ideas for the glasses at the Google+ page.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is deeply involved with the California company’s X Labs, best known for its work on a self-driving car.

A YouTube video of legally blind Steve Mahan “driving” an autonomous Google car in his California neighborhood has been viewed more than 1.2 million times since it was uploaded on March 27.
8:58
Whitney died face down in bath, on drug cocktail
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Pop legend Whitney Houston may have overdosed on drugs and alcohol before drowning face-down in her bathtub, coroners said Wednesday, giving grisly details of her shocking death in February.

The 48-year-old was found lying face down in her bathtub in the Beverly Hilton hotel, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said in a full report on her death.

The 42-page document gave more details than an initial report released last month, which concluded that the Grammy-winning singer died from accidental drowning after taking cocaine, which could have triggered a heart attack.

“The decedent possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and alcohol,” said the full report, adding that there were no signs of foul play.

It cited the star’s personal assistant as having found her lifeless in her hotel room on February 11, hours before a star-studded party on the eve of the music industry’s annual Grammys awards show.

“The personal assistant… went into the bathroom, and she found the decedent lying face down in the bathtub, unresponsive. (…) The bathtub was filled with water, and there was water on the bathroom floor,” it said.

Detailing the condition of Houston’s body, it noted that “there was a bloody purge coming from her nose.”

The report noted that a substance — which was later determined to be cocaine — was found in the bedroom.

“Located on the south portion of the counter was a small spoon with a white crystal-like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper, along with other miscellaneous items,” it said.

Various bottles were found in the hotel room — in all some 12 different medications, the report said.

It described in gruesome detail the scene when investigators arrived, after the body had been taken out of the bathtub and placed on the bedroom floor — where the carpet was soaked from water overflowing from the tub.

Efforts to re-start her heart had apparently already been made. “The bathroom floor was flooded and … much of the carpeted area of the living room was moist also, even up to where the body lay,” it noted.

“The decedent was nude, lying supine on the living room floor. There was a defibrillator patch on the upper right side of her chest and there was another defibrillator patch on the left central portion of her torso.

The coroner noted “skin slippage” on various parts of her body, and a “possible old puncture wound to her inner left elbow,” but said that overall the singer was “well built, muscular and fairly well nourished.”

“The outlines of bilateral breast prostheses are visible,” it added.

Houston’s sudden death cast a pall over the annual gathering at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, with several tributes to the singer — and a public prayer — added to the show at the last minute.

The singer of hits such as “I Will Always Love You” sold more than 170 million records during a nearly three-decade career, but also fought a long battle against substance abuse.

Last month it emerged that Houston had left all of her assets to her daughter Bobbi Kristina, born from her troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown, who gets nothing.

A few days later Bobbi Kristina said she plans to follow her mother into show business.
6:57
Kenya’s first digital IMAX theatre opens
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Charles Gichane) – There’s a new show in town that promises a true “shock and awe treatment” experience to your senses.

Kenya’s first digital IMAX theatre system opened at the 20th Century Plaza in Nairobi on March 30 with the flair and glamour fitted for a Hollywood red carpet event.

The launch of Africa’s second IMAX theatre at the 20th Century Auditorium offered a glimpse of what viewers can expect by shelling out Sh1000 to watch the latest blockbusters and educational movies being produced.

Those who turned up for the launch were treated to snacks and drinks, complimented by traditional Kenyan music, which created a lively yet relaxed atmosphere; an ironic setting serving as a prelude to the mind blowing experience we were about to get treated to.

What’s the difference between watching a movie at an IMAX theatre and a regular movie theatre other than the 30 percent price difference?

Simply put, it’s the same magnitude as the difference between watching a VHS on a 13 inch cathode ray tube (CRT) television on low volume and watching BluRay on a 60 inch plasma television with 7.1 surround sound.

What makes IMAX stand out from the rest of the field is the quality of their productions, which are shown on curved screens that are typically 16 meters high by 22 meters wide (approximately 52 by 72 feet), about six times the size of a traditional movie screen.

The screen at the 20th Century Auditorium is 17 by 9 metres (slightly over 55 feet wide) and its massive size is the first thing you notice when you first enter the auditorium.

Though impressive, the biggest IMAX screen in North America is in Toronto (4th largest in the world), Canada and it is 60 feet high and 85 feet wide, while the largest one in the world is in Australia and is 95 feet high and 117 feet wide.

Imagine standing next to an eight-story apartment building that is wider than it is tall. Yeah, it’s HUGE.

The IMAX theatre features a hemispherical screen that can be up to 30 metres in diameter that wraps the front of the theatre, and this allows for an incredible feeling of immersion (there is nothing outside the film to distract your attention), and it also enhances the feeling of motion.

In fact, the feeling of motion is so strong that it often feels like you’re on a roller coaster ride and it’s common to hear people who are experiencing IMAX for the first time complaining that it makes them ill.

Once the awe of the screen’s size subsides, the next thing you will notice about the IMAX experience is the sound quality, which feels like what’s taking place in the movie is happening inside your mind at the highest possible volume.

IMAX films move the soundtrack from the video track inside the film onto its own 35 millimeter strip or hard disk drive, which is then carefully synced with the video either by computer or within the projector to ensure better picture and explosive sound.

IMAX theatres utilize six channel surround sound, with between 40 and 50 speakers and at least 12,000 watts of ear-pounding sound.

The speakers are placed in all directions, including behind the screens to support a fuller three-dimensional sound effect.

Most standard AMC theatres are 8000 watts, while IMAX theatres have 12,000 to 15,000 watts and the one in Toronto has a 25,000 watt sound system.

It’s important to consider that outdoor concerts often use 15,000 watt amps, so you can only imagine what it feels like since IMAX showings are enclosed and sometimes in dome like structures for even more acoustics.

For the launch of IMAX in Nairobi, they opted to show previews of various types of films to allow viewers to see how different types of features (action, animated, documentary) will look on the platform.

The audience was given specially made IMAX 3D glasses (which we were asked to return) upon entering the theatre and many of us put them on as soon as the previews started playing.

Gasps of surprise and elation accompanied each thrilling action sequence, followed by applause and cheers as we were shown clips from 2D movies that had been adapted to the IMAX screen.

After the first several previews, the MC of the event announced that we should now put on our 3D glasses, which elicited laughter and curiosity from audience members who must have been wondering how much more realistic the images on the screen could possibly get.

To say IMAX 3D movies are different from regular IMAX movies would be an understatement.

As soon as the first 3D scene appeared, objects literally seemed to pop out of the screen appearing as if you can touch them, an effect that will probably appeal most to children.

In another scene involving Spiderman from the Amazing Spiderman 3D to be released in July, the masked superhero dove off a skyscraper and seemingly took the whole audience with him as several viewers screamed unintentionally, while others gripped their chairs in anxious anticipation of a crash.

There is a sense of awe to be had when taking part in the IMAX experience, from the breathtaking colossal screen to the mind blowing sound.

I can’t say enough good things about the sound and the clarity of films on the IMAX platform, but at too close a distance, I feel like one needs to work too hard to comprehend what’s on the screen.

Your eyes need to dart from one side to the other and you occasionally need to crane your neck just to take in the whole image.

In my opinion, there are only a few rows of seats that really offer a truly pleasurable viewing experience so it’s important to arrive to the theatre early in order to reserve the seats near the back and center of the auditorium.

With that being said, when you have the exact right spot in the theater and the print of the movie is good and the state-of-the-art sound system is firing on all cylinders, it can be an absolutely magical experience that will leave you wondering how you will be able to watch a movie at a regular theatre ever again.
April 04, 2012
17:00
Snapp ties up sponsorship of Miss World Kenya
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

EABL today announced that they have tied up title sponsorship of the Miss World Kenya 2012 pageant. At a press conference Caroline Ndung’u, EABL-Kenya’s Marketing Director said, “We are excited to announce that SNAPP will be the title sponsor for the Miss World Kenya 2012 pageant. This is the beginning of a strong partnership with Ashleys Kenya, who are the Miss World Kenya the franchise holder in Kenya.”

The Miss World Kenya pageant is held every year as part of the Miss World competition. The lady crowned as Miss World Kenya 2012 will represent Kenya in the global contest that will be held in August in Macau China.

SNAPP was recently launched as a brand new addition to the EABL portfolio (Read about it HERE). It is a natural fruit-flavored alcoholic beverage targeted at the modern sophisticated woman. “We believe the synergy between SNAPP, and the aspirations of the ladies who join the Miss World Kenya contest are very strong. These women are confident, classy, socially and economically empowered and love to be seen as sophisticated and glamorous,” added Ms. Ndung’u.

Ashleys Kenya Director, Ms. Terry Mungai, who was also present at the press conference said, “We are proud to be associated with SNAPP. Miss World Kenya is a pageant that offers young ladies the opportunity to stand on the world stage and represent their country to vie for a chance to become the next Miss World. The mission for Miss World is “beauty with a purpose” that is something Miss World Kenya will live by.”

As title sponsor of Miss World Kenya 2012 , EABL through their brand SNAPP, have engaged Complete Africa, a leading production house in Kenya who also worked on Tusker All Stars, to produce a 7-part series that highlights the journey from the auditions to the grand finale for the ladies who will successfully make it through past the selection process.

“We will be at the auditions that kick off this Easter weekend in Mombasa and Kisumu, and the following week in Nairobi. We’ll be recording what happens during every stage of the competition and we are very excited about creating a world-class TV production for this year’s Miss World Kenya,” said Stevie Price, CEO of Complete Africa.

The competition is open to ladies aged between 18 and 24 years old. “We urge young ladies who want to pursue their dreams of becoming Miss Kenya 2012 to register online at www.missworldkenya.com . We will also be doing registration at the audition venues,” said Ms. Mungai.
13:11
New Music Alert: Run Run Run
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

“I heard you’re waiting for me,” says Kaz in her latest track Run Run Run, an easy song that she released at the Mercury Junction yesterday.

Kaz, born Karen Lucas, hints that she is making a comeback track, whose video was been done by Mandugu Digital and Bernsoft.

The song from one of Kenya’s pioneers of Afro-fusion, has elements of hip-hop, mild Kenyan pop, and spoken word.

Have a look and listen and tell Capital Lifestyle what you think…
13:07
I wanna be your official girl
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It’s been little over a year now and I’m still his unofficial girl. My boyfriend (or whatever he is to me) has refused to commit fully to me. Our relationship status is pending and has been for the past year. Everybody thinks we have a perfect thing going on , all rosy and a bottle of wine… I’m sad to report that it is anything but!

Dude and I met at some house party as I was just on my way out. We almost butted heads at the door. I smiled and muttered something about being sorry and then he inquired where I was going to in such a hurry, tried to convince me to stay for a bit longer but I had had it with that boring party and I wanted to be out of there ASAP! I wasn’t in the mood of meeting anyone either…in fact that was the last thing on my mind so when he told me his name, I just said nice to meet you and dashed off to my car.

Dude practically hunted me down after that brief encounter at the door. Asking random people at the party if they knew a certain chic who just left and was wearing this and that…with his description and no name he couldn’t get anywhere because he was describing a number of girls at the party. He asked all his friends until he finally found me. It took quite a while of calling and flirting over the phone and playing hard to get before I actually agreed to meet him for coffee.

He then did everything possible to ensure that I got his attention. There were dinners and expensive gifts, a thousand calls a day just to check on me, random flower deliveries at my work place and random mini trips… he went the whole nine yards…and then the uncertainty phase checked in and somehow he got the freaks.

He has never called me his girlfriend! He is the only one who decides when to meet up. He doesn’t call no more he only sends me texts via Whatsapp (a free texting application).

I have no idea where we stand because it is not clear that we are dating or that I’m his official girl.

He texts to say things like “I miss you girl”, “I need to see you girl…it’s important that I do” and I find it all ridiculous.We even hang out with his friends and sometimes my friends but never has he called me his girlfriend officially.
It’s like he’s freaking out and sometimes behaves like a child when I tell him I need to see other people because whatever it is that we have is quite hazardous to both our health.

A year it is and it is still find it weird when I tell my friends that he is not my boyfriend and that what we have is complicated. My friends say things like “he loves you and we can tell by the way he looks at you and by the way he treats you”. I can’t tell them that sometimes he goes quiet on me and I only hear from him once a week or sometimes once in two weeks. That it even feels strange to call him my boyfriend because he’s not!

I try not to call him or text him first because I believe that if you love someone the calling should be frequent and that weird feeling should not be felt and it shouldn’t matter who calls first. We do have fun together but once he leaves I wonder if I dreamt all the fun times.

Men have practically been knocking on my door trying to get me to go out with them. I am flattered and all but at the same time I feel like I might be cheating and I’m not a cheat. I am running out of patience. I feel like this thing that we have only favors him. I need to leave or I need to know if I’m his official girl.

~ Capital Lifestyle Reader~
11:44
More Kenyan enterprises embrace cloud technology
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The cloud technology is fast gaining ground in Kenya as more businesses understand the benefits the cloud brings to their operations. The use of cloud technology to build and access applications hosted on virtual servers is enabling entrepreneurs and developers to cut costs and time.

A regional competition for developers held last year by Microsoft saw 10 of the 12 spots go to Kenyan developers. The 12, competing against other developers in East and Southern Africa, won a six-month free use of Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure.

Africa’s Talking Limited and Olive Technology Limited are two such enterprises that have embraced the cloud to build and manage their platforms.

Olivine Technology aims to provide solutions to SME’s by developing simpler and automated systems.

“By building and running our software on the cloud, we have been able to cut cost and improve efficiency of our system by between 40 and 60 percent,” says Mark Mwaura, Business Development Director

The budding software company has built a supply chain software that helps SME’s manage their sales and inventory in an efficient and seamless manner.

“A lot of SME’s lose massive man hours and money reconciling their records and tracking what they have sold. So we came up with software that will make it easier for small and middle businesses to manage their inventory,” explains Mwaura.

Building on the cloud

As a result of the need-assessment, Olivine came up with the Automated Sales Inventory Manager (ASIM), a software that is accessible on PC and mobile.

Olivine developed the system using Windows Azure and Google cloud. This allowed the company to find a less-expensive platform of running the software which demands huge data traffic.

Joseph Karanja, Director of Sales and Marketing at Olivine says the pay-back-period of using the cloud is less than one year. The alternative would require SME’s to heavily invest in hardware servers and other directly related costs such as IT administrator and server rooms.

“The uptime is 99.9 percent which is really important when running such an operation. You cannot afford to have frequent downtimes,” says Karanja.

ASIM is especially useful for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. Samchi Telecommunications, one of the largest airtime resellers in the country, is using ASIM to interconnect its 55 branches, while Pwani Cellular is using the software to track stock and sales in its four sites.

Africa’s Talking has also built its bulk SMS service on the cloud. Dubbed SMSLeopard, the service is an email approach to bulk and single SMS where users can send and receive SMS’s via an email system.

“With the inbox feature, recipients can reply to SMS’s and they get picked onto an inbox. That way, people receiving large amounts of SMS’s can respond to them from an online platform,” says Teddy Warria, Partner at Africa Talking.

Flexible and scalable

Teddy says hosting the service on the cloud has helped them sort out the issue of scalability.

“We can access higher bandwidth or storage in case of sudden upsurge of users. In addition, we also don’t worry about backup of data since the resources available to us ensure redundancy in back up.”

“In case one server in the cloud crashes a mirror server with same information is availed immediately,” explains Teddy.

The SMSLeopard service offers SME’s a cheaper and effective way of marketing their products and services. 95 percent of SMS’s are read within 4 minutes compared to regular emails.

As more Kenyan companies leverage on the power and flexibility of cloud technology, home-grown solutions will be easier to build and maintain.
7:45
Afro-fusion takes on whole new meaning at B&W
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

“Everyone thinks they’re tall until they stand next to a Sudanese national”. Those were words spoken by keyboard maestro Aaron Rimbui after spending three days with South African musician Claire Philips and her talented band.

Aaron and Claire ushered in a brand new concept called the Mash-Up at this weekend’s Blankets and Wine musical ‘hungama’ where they merged each other’s tracks to produce a whole new sound.

After a performance by Inka, the duo took to the stage with their respective bands for a jazz infusion that was as professional as they come.

“We practiced for two days and that’s how I was able to play her music. It was amazing. I think this mash-up was a good idea. I learnt a lot from it. The energy, the sheer talent; it was very refreshing!” Aaron told Capital Lifestyle.

Claire, whose burly exterior masks her exquisite husky voice, shocked the crowd by getting off the stage to serenade those present. She walked round a few tents, singing her heart out, much to the delight of revelers.

After some hefty applause, former Tusker Project Fame contestant Wendy Kimani was next up on the podium. Her mash-up was an introduction to an even more creative collabo between Jackson the saxophonist, the Electrique DJs and the Beat Parade band. The resulting feel was a mix-up of jazz, salsa, and house music; like an evolved version of South African house.

In true unplugged fashion, these mash-ups created a new music feel, which the Blankets and Wine management say they intend to package and sell the fresh infusions.

“With this first one, we’re testing output, but definitely if all goes well we shall sell them,” said head honcho Muthoni the Drummer Queen.

Turnout was not as near-bloated as usual because of an event loaded calendar for Nairobians, however those who missed out are likely to make their way to Mombasa for the Easter edition at Nyali Beach Hotel.

Anto Neosoul, Atemi, Chris Adwar, The Itch and Nyota Ndogo are performing on the Sunday show, where the genre is predominantly Afro-fusion. The Electrique DJs and the Beat Parade will also be there.

The after-party will not be at Volar, however, but at the hotel itself.

Regarding the mash-up, the audience at Mamba village had mixed reactions. One reveler complained that it was too jazzy, but others felt that the music offered was the best ever since Blankets and Wine’s inauguration.

“It’s a deadly concept. This music for me was the best. I think we should see more mash-ups in future. True story,” expressed another festival fan.

Head of Marketing and Communications for B&W Sandra Chege says the musical kachumbari is here to stay.

“We are very committed to the mash-ups. We feel it is important and interesting for African artists to explore each other’s music in that way and create fresh sounds. Not every Blankets and Wine will be a mash-up, but it will most definitely be a regular feature,” she said.

“We wanted to see if it could work logistically and now that we’ve seen it has, we are planning to have special editions for these mash-ups.”

Several party-goers are likely to travel to Mombasa for B&W this upcoming long Easter weekend, among one or two other beach parties. Advance tickets to Blankets are Sh1,300 while at the door you will have to cough up Sh1,500.

(Photographs by PAUL MUNENE. You can check out more pictures here).
7:39
Michelle Obama on ‘Biggest Loser’ to fight obesity
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

US First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on Tuesday night’s episode of “The Biggest Loser” to promote her campaign against obesity — and has hosted the US diet reality show’s first White House workout.

The six competitors still vying for the title of “Biggest Loser” — the one who loses the most weight — got the shock of their lives when they were invited to Washington by the wife of US President Barack Obama.

After having makeovers for the occasion, the six contestants met Obama and were reunited with loved ones — prompting floods of tears of joy.

“Congratulations, you have shown to millions of Americans that each of us can make positive changes in our lives,” Obama said in a video message to contestants.

“It’s overwhelming for me,” said 43-year-old competitor Mark.

The scenes of Obama working out with contestants at the White House are due to air next Tuesday, according to NBC, which broadcasts the program.
April 03, 2012
16:20
The perfect New Zealand oysters in Cape Town
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Most Kenyans, with exceptions to those from Coasto (coastal communities), hardly appreciate a delicious plate of seafood, let alone creatures from the sea that are raw.

Kenyan foodies often gravitate towards plates of grilled meat or pots of stewed versions. If you thought convincing your dear girlfriends or your beau to a healthy and exotic dinner of sushi was hard enough; try fresh raw oysters.

The allure of the perfect oyster

Perhaps it’s their aphrodisiac qualities, salty brine-like liquor or pungent ocean odours. Maybe it’s their irregular shells, the rough crevices and free-forms mimicking the natural landscapes they inhabit – miniature rocky coastlines. Is it their shiny, plump and opaque bodies that fill up with glycogen during harvesting time? Or, perhaps it’s because they’re so fresh that they’re still alive when you slurp them down your throat. Does any other seafood pack such powerful sense of adventure?

In today’s global food economy, geography is rarely an issue; making it possible for Alaskan crabs to turn up in Sao Paulo, Japanese Bluefin tuna in New York City, and even Chinese Oolong tea in Kenya. So why not New Zealand Pacific oysters in South Africa?

New Zealand Pacific Oysters

I found the perfect New Zealand Pacific Oyster inCape Town, South Africa. Still fresh and very much alive, kept in a tank of circulating water at one of the many Ocean Basket franchises, these Pacific oysters tasted as pristine and distinctive as those I sampled in Toronto. One can only imagine how delicious a fresh half shell would be on the New Zealand coast.

Plump, clean, and slightly sweet – New Zealand oysters have matured into some of the highest quality oysters in the world, supplying some of the best restaurants and hotels.

How to eat a raw oyster

There isn’t really a right or wrong way to eating oysters. If the oysters have been shucked and served on a half shell, simply check if the oyster has been freed from its shell. If the oyster is still attached to the connector muscle, carefully free it with your fork without spilling the brine. Once freed, add toppings to taste and enjoy!
12:59
Lauryn Hill disappoints at Cape Town Jazz Fest
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Though award-winning Lauryn Hill was a last-minute addition to the 13^th Cape Town Jazz Festival after Jill Scott withdrew from the line-up, Capetonians and music lovers from all over the world at the festival on Saturday, despite reservations, remained psyched for her headlining set.

Thousands of concertgoers packed the main stage, Kippies, and truth be told, Hill had the difficult task of following an energetic performance by Hugh Masekela with special guests Thandiswa Mazwai (Blankets and Wine alumni) and Zolani Mahola (Freshly Grounded), which left the crowd begging for more.

The crowd roared in anticipation for the US songwriter and rapper Hill, hoping to listen to renditions of tracks from her critically acclaimed ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’

Hill’s powerful live band and backup singers kicked off the set with impressive beats and intense electric guitar solos, which seemed promising.

Dressed in a flowing purple and auburn silk skirt, brown turtle neck, black leather jacket and too many accessories too count, Hill belted out tracks that seemed less than familiar with the crowd – or perhaps, the crowd simply wasn’t feeling the revamped musical arrangements.

Hill continued her set with multiple interruptions, alleging that sound problems prevented the crowd from “hearing her.” At one point, Hill even left the stage to speak to someone backstage.

By the end of her 3rd track, disgruntled audience members began streaming out of the packed venue and headed to the other headlining acts on the 4 remaining stages. Die-hard fans left the concert and took to social media to express their disappointment.

PHOTOBLOG

Photo Credits: Susan Wong
10:20
Oriflame’s Bioclinic for beautiful, supple skin
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Do you have saggy skin or do you foresee yourself getting all saggy in the future and want to prevent that? Are you male or female and care about having fabulous skin throughout your life? Then there’s a new product by global cosmetics leader Oriflame just for you! Bioclinic is it!

Bioclinic came about as a result of a breakthrough research that was the creation of Oriflame’s first cosmetics-pharmaceutical (cosmeseuticals) and was recently unveiled as a skin care technology which for the first time combines the benefits of cosmetics and medicine.

Inspired by aesthetic medicine, Bioclinic is the result of intensive research involving a huge amount of collaboration between an international panel of experts to ensure that all aspects of the skin were investigated.
It provides exclusive and precise solutions to skin problems such as sagging skin, dilated capillaries, adults acne and dark spots, among others.
Bioclinic offers cosmetics and pharmaceuticals approach to skin care and provide targeted solutions to specific skin problems with a scientifically advanced approach.
The powerful triple action formula contains skin protection factor (SPF) 15 to enhance the skin’s defence mechanisms.
Speaking in Nairobi when he launched the product, Oriflame East Africa Vice President and COO, Mr. Terje Width, said Bioclinic works to deliver instant and lasting lifting action to sagging skin.
“Bioclinic is being launched after 5 years of ‘cosmeceutical’ research including 12 weeks of dermatological testing on a panellist,” said Mr. Width.
The product is expected to be a hit among men and women over the age of 35 who need to protect their skins from signs of early aging while also managing already sagging skin.
“The modern professional woman is exposed to social and work-related stress. There is also the effect of harmful environmental elements. All these cause women to begin showing signs of aging earlier than normal,” said Width.
He added: “We shall constantly work at innovating new products that meet the needs of our customers.”
Oriflame also launched a product catalogue featuring 11 new products designed for the East African market. The catalogue, which is published in both English and Swahili, has more than 400 products. Most of the products are in the skin care range, a response to a survey on the beauty needs of people across East Africa.
The catalogue, which showcases the entire product range, is an indispensable handbook for Oriflame, whose business model is anchored on direct selling.

The model shortens the value chain for the benefit of the consumer and relies on Independent Sales Consultants, who are the link between the company and the consumer. More than 50,000 people have joined the East African operation as Independent Sales Consultants since it launched in Nairobi in 2008. There are more than 4 million independent sales consultants worldwide.
10:04
Smartphones and their Apps help you cheat
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

It use to be called a “black book” – a small notebook bound with glue packaged in an incognito black with all the details of your clandes and sexual escapades. Now, mobile technology has drastically changed the way men and women do things, especially those in the “player” category.

Say goodbye to the stack of paper and business cards, the modern way of managing multiple women or men lies in how smart your mobile phone is.

With password protected contact books, multiple interchangeable interfaces for business or pleasure, different contact lists and even phone apps made for a player’s delight – smartphones have revolutionized the “black book.”

Here are just a couple of apps that you may want to purchase, or be on the look out for when you’re searching through someone else’s phone! Don’t say you haven’t informed!

BlackBook

Here’s an app for your Blackberry that takes a password protected list to the next level! If your clande calls, instead of their real name popping up on the screen, get this, a smoke screen appears instead! Best part? If someone is snooping around on your phone, they won’t find the app unless they know the secret code!

Fox Private Message

This one is for every scenario on your Android. Really a bang for the buck! Let’s say your sexting someone and your girlfriend walks in on you. Instead of looking guilty – deleting the message – you just have to shake the phone and the message disappears! Here’s another scenario. Let’s say you leave your phone accidently with your girlfriend. Whoops! Hakuna matata, just send a text to your phone with your secret code, and all your illicit evidence filed in a hidden list of messages will disappear.
April 02, 2012
15:53
EABL launches SNAPP Just for the divas
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

There’s a new drink in town called SNAPP from EABL that was launched last Friday!

Snapp is an apple cidar that comes in a 300ml bottle and is brewed specially for the ladies. It has a crispy, fresh, apple taste that could make you easily forget it’s an alcoholic beverage and this is purely meant to cater for your diva palette. The new drink will retail at Ksh 160.

Pics by Muthoni Njuki
13:18
Joe Thomas: a thriller at Bomas!
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The frantic screams of more than 2,000 romantics rent through the air at the Bomas of Kenya on Saturday where musician Joe Thomas gave a heartfelt performance.

Men watched in silent envy as their women sang along to all of Joe’s classic hits at the Tusker Lite Experience concert, and the electric vibes were compounded when the singer slipped out of his cream jacket.

He started off with suave sexy tracks like “Let’s Make Love Tonight”, and “I Wanna Know” before getting down to business on his acoustic guitar for “All That I Am” and “The Love Scene”.

With face glistening and shirt buttons open low, a totally-in-the-moment Joe danced and serenaded the crowd, drawing a tear from the ladies now and then.

Festivities kicked off bang on time, as a sizeable crowd had already gathered about 30 minutes to the start of the concert. The fans told Capital Lifestyle that they wanted to get there early to get the best seats in the house. The venue filled up quickly, and first on stage was live band Different Faces, which easily fed off the crowd’s energy to whet musical appetites – impressively.

Up next was a stunning June Gachui in red, who held the stage until the impatient audience began chanting Joe’s name. But only when June joined in the chanting and her band played along, did the 39-year-old multiple Grammy nominee show face. Deep into his performance, as he bent down to shake hands with the fans, one lady quickly took his black face towel from his hand.

Alcohol prices at the venue were sold at the recommended retail price and waiters did their best to serve the masses. Tight security and ample parking made the event a definite success.

As DJ Andre took to the decks after an energetic 75-minute performance by Joe, the 6-man band came down from the stage to mingle with the audience – another treat for all the single ladies in the building.

The event was sponsored by Tusker Lite, G4S, Virgin Atlantic, the Tribe Hotel and Capital FM.
13:02
Cancer from a naturopathic perspective
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

(Ameet Aggarwal) – Cancer is a shift in the way your cells are functioning. Cancer is not something attacking your body, rather, it is a process which your cells have begun which is not healthy for your body. In saying this, cancer is a biological response by your body to certain factors. Natural views of why cancer manifests include:

- Increased toxicity in the body, which causes cell DNA damage, hence causing mutations

- Decreased immunity, therefore an inability for your body to get rid of mutant cells

- Poor diet, which causes sugar imbalances and chronic inflammation, leading to cell mutations and a toxic environment

- Blockages of energetic meridians, which interfere with the flow of energy, or Qi, in your organs, hence creating illness

- And sometimes, cancer is seen as a result of unresolved emotions which are beginning to affect your cells.

A diet of colourful vegetables high in antioxidants quenches free radicals which cause DNA damage. Fish oils reduce inflammation and activate enzymes necessary for cellular detoxification.

Detoxification protocols ensure all your organs start functioning properly and give your cells a chance to breathe – always a good thing. Regular exercise, meditation and yoga oxygenate your tissues and relieve stress.

Oxygenating tissues is always a good thing because cancer cells cannot survive in oxygen rich environments.

Alkalinizing your body with certain foods (celery, Kale, lots of greens, etc) also enhances oxygen transport into your cells.

Talking about your problems and resolving shocking experiences or unnecessary grief gives you a chance to recover from and prevent future illnesses.

Ameet Aggarwal ND is a naturopathic doctor, advanced Bowen Therapist and practices Gestalt psychotherapy in Nairobi and Nanyuki. Book your appointment through +254 727 701002 or email ameet@fimafrica.org. Read more about naturopathic medicine on http://www.healthretreatsafrica.com and stay engaged with health tips on www.facebook.com/healthretreatsafrica.
12:16
Specialty Tea breaks the mold
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The question, “Would you like a cup of tea, Sir?” often conjures up thoughts of old people with stereotypical English accents, dainty tea cups with flavourless brews, and a lot of “sipping”.

Seen as a beverage for the older generations, pretentious, and less “hip” than other options like coffee or even a bottle of soda; tea has definitely been misunderstood and is making a formidable comeback in the beverage market with specialty tea leading the way in its newest image makeover.

With coffee shops, hotels and fashionable cafes in Kenya offering specialty tea blends; younger, affluent, educated, health conscious and socially responsible consumers with sophisticated palettes are making tea “cool” again.

For the first time, 2010 marked the year that the United States surpassed United Kingdom in tea imports thanks to the growing number of medical studies suggesting tea as the healthier beverage option.

So why is specialty tea so popular?

From health benefits to convenience, specialty tea offers a diverse range of products – from black to white, serving the beverage hot or cold, delicious aromas of fruits to flowers, and packed bagged or loose – there’s something for everyone.

With many beverage drinkers told to cut back on sugar and caffeine by their doctors, tea is the next best thing. The growing number of scientific studies suggesting tea playing a preventative role in many chronic human diseases is ensuring that specialty teas continue to surge with popularity.

The Norfolk’s Tea Room offers some of the best specialty teas found in Kenya. The blends are the handiwork of Safari Lounge, who starts off with some of the highest quality tea leaves that can be sourced in Kenya and all over the world. Some of the teas are steeped to perfection unadorned, while others like Pina Colada, Hawaiian Cocktail and Sun da Capo are dressed with dried fruits and other additions – creating a cup of beguiling and balanced flavours.

High Tea at The Norfolk includes an array of tea time favourites served on a two-tier glass stand. Perfectly cut sandwiches like the classic Egg Salad or Smoked Salmon line the top tier, and by the time you move on to the second tier of sweet Cream Puffs and Fruit Tarts, your body will be yearning for a cup of refreshing chilled fruit tea.

After you enjoy a cup of specialty tea, hot or cold, you realize that the raved health benefits of the ingredients are only the icing on the cake.

If you’d like more information on how to reserve a table for High Tea, where you can buy specialty teas, prices and locations – check out Eat Out Kenya!
9:38
Adam Sandler film sets Razzie record
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Adam Sandler and his cross-dressing romp “Jack and Jill” set a Razzies record Sunday by sweeping 10 Golden Raspberry awards, for the worst that Hollywood had to offer in 2011.

For the first time in its 32-year history the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation dishonored the same film in every category, either as a film or for its performances, direction, and writing.

Sandler himself, who had been nominated for a record 11 categories for the Hollywood anti-awards, won Worst Actor and Worst Actress — for playing both the male and female leads in “Jack and Jill.”

The 45-year-old also won for Worst Screen Couple — either with Al Pacino, Katie Holmes, or himself in drag — and Worst Screenplay in the Razzies, billed as an “antidote to Tinseltown’s annual glut of self-congratulatory awards.”

Veteran Pacino — who played himself in the movie — won Worst Supporting Actor, while David Spade won Worst Supporting Actress, as “Monica.”

The “winners” of the awards, nominees for which are chosen by 657 voters in 46 US states and 17 foreign countries, are usually announced on the Saturday before the Oscars.

But this year organizers changed the timetable, announcing the nominees on the eve of the Oscars, while saving the prize-giving show to April 1 — April Fools’ Day.

Nominees for the Razzies rarely turn up to claim their awards up at the spoof event.

Actress Halle Berry turned up in 2005, and Sandra Bullock gamely appeared last year, handing out DVD copies of her offending performance in box office flop “All About Steve.”

Unlike the prestigious gold-plated Oscar statuettes, the Razzie trophy is in the form of a raspberry, roughly the size of a golf ball, sprayed with gold paint and nestled on a reel of old Super 8 film.

It has an estimated value of about five dollars.

Last year’s big Razzie winner was martial arts fantasy flick “The Last Airbender,” for worst movie, worst director, worst screenplay and worst supporting actor, while “Sex and the City 2″ won one of the dubious honors.
March 31, 2012
19:26
Joe Thomas kicks it with CFM presenters
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Multiple Grammy Award nominee Joe Thomas took a trip to the Capital FM Studios on Thursday in what he described as one of his ‘best radio interviews ever’.

The musician shared the studio with Presenters Maqbul Mohammed and Charles Kiarie, and guest Leo Faya who used to be a presenter on the show.

Joe spoke about his life and how hard it is to live up to the lyrics in his music, but how important it is to be an honest man.

He took several pictures with Capital FM Chairman Chris Kirubi, aka DJ CK, and graciously took as many pictures with fans in the station as he could.
March 30, 2012
12:51
Of things cheating and others emotions
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

This week I found myself in unfamiliar territory. You know the type of stimuli you get exposed to for the first time in your life.
I know my friends may be surprised at how well I’m taking it; hell, even I am surprised at me. Had it been in 2009 or 2010 I’d be a series of frayed nerves and on the verge of emotional breakdown. But it’s 2012 and I’m a rock!

So, why am I still cheerful despite having gone through what should be a gut wrenching experience, a horrible breakup? I mean, I just broke up with my best-friend of many many many years, my confidante, and in gay terms – the love of my life! Maybe the experience was so shocking my systems shut down and rebooted on reserve energy where emotions don’t exist. So many maybes. Maybe I’m still in denial (but I know I’m not…at least I don’t think I am). Some part of me still cares, my inner child is probably pining for her, but the rest of me just doesn’t give a hoot!

When Ben loves, he doesn’t do it half way, when Ben cares he doesn’t do it in small doses, when Ben gives he doesn’t do it in portions. He loves with his whole heart; he gives with his whole being. Loving with his whole being is the only thing he can give and the world can’t take that away from whom he gives it to.
He doesn’t just give it to just anyone, hell, he waited his whole life to give it to that special somebody and she blew it.

As the walls build up and get fortified, he realizes it’s gonna be a while before somebody else ever manages to scale them successfully. You see, normal Ben doesn’t just love anybody, he doesn’t just miss anybody. When Ben says he misses you, you better damned believe it he misses you. When he says he loves you, well bring out the band and give the 21 gun salute for you are part of the less than a handful! Ben’s love is not a diamond in the rough, it’s a f**king living planet in the emptiness of the cosmos…i.e hard to find…for the slow ones! Hell, he doesn’t like human beings that much!

Anyway enough of the third person speak, I relate better to my life if I look at it from a 3rd person perspective. But my biggest suspicion over why I’m not emotionally responding appropriately is my medication. Bipolar meds are built to control moods, and moods determine emotions. I’m thinking I stop taking them for a day or two to mourn, but nah. Moving on swiftly…

Cheating is the number one relationship breaker, so I’m led to believe, in the world. In my books cheating is the worst thing you could ever do to your other half (short of murder) and there is no coming back from that. I have written an article on why men cheat, so that base is covered, but why do women cheat?

From experience, women cheat for one or more of the following reasons:
a) she intentionally wants to hurt you
b) she’s emotionally/sexually attracted to somebody else
c) she got drunk
d) financial reasons

I would really love to go through them point by point, but really, there is no f**king excuse to cheat! Just dump somebody! Save them the pain of being cheated on!

Only a stupid woman would cheat to hurt a guy! Do you realize a guy can go loco and kill you and the a** wipe you’re cheating on him with? I mean why not just end it? I’m not the violent type but we see it all the time in the news. If a relationship has reached that plateau point why not end it? Isn’t that why cave people invented the classic “it’s not you, it’s me” line?
I know it’s the emotions finally breaking through, but if you dumped me because you met somebody better (ha, as if) I’d understand, it was probably not meant to be.
If you cheat on me because you got drunk and one thing led to another, I’d understand, sure I’ll dump your cheap ass immediately but I’d understand. Drunk girls do the most stupid of things, we all know that, we’ve all been on the wrong end of a tequila overdose. But if you do it just to hurt me, what do you gain? The sex probably sucks but that is beside the point. You have sex with somebody you don’t care about, somebody you wouldn’t have given the time of day just to prove a point?

Moving on, women also cheat for financial reasons too. Assume you are a couple and between you the money doesn’t seem enough. In comes this guy, a guy your woman would never give it up to under normal circumstances, but he is rich, he dangles a carrot and promises her a job if she gives it up to him, kuonja tu. And here I’m talking to the girls, y’all are just stupid! You know that? STUPID! With a capital S.T.U.P.I.D! Everyone knows those jobs never work out but you are so stupid as to leave or cheat on somebody you love, somebody with promise and somebody who would give the world just for you, based on some stupid promise!

Jeez for Chris’sake, what the HELL is going through your minds? Sex is just sex where no emotion is involved! And take my word for it, from a guy, it’s the cunt count that matters in such circumstances! All we want is the bragging rights. When a guy loves you, he doesn’t do it because you’re the only one who will give it up to him, he does it because you’re all that matters! So next time you’re walking around feeling sweet like you got a golden hymen, remember, you are not that special!!

I’ll stray a bit. For a young couple with no kids, financial constraints are at most (should be) just a stumbling block. You always have the option of moving in together to save on rent and other expenses. But remember you have a lifetime ahead of you to build on the financial bit. Nothing ever comes easy for most people if you want to live the fast life you have to work towards it, don’t take any shortcuts. Shortcuts only lead to disaster and in many cases jail time.

I have never understood why most people assume that one day you will wake up and everything will be sorted out. The journey to the top takes blood, sweat and tears. But really that is a concept many women will never understand. They are pretty much happy to be the trophy girlfriend or clande, not realizing thousands of girls are hitting 18 everyday, and their nectar is much fresher and innocent and their boobs perkier than your wrinkly ass, so you will get replaced sooner than you think, and what will you do then? Try to rebuild the bridges you burnt?

People, this world we live in, is mean! It will eat you up and spit you if you’re not careful. Be careful the toes you step on, they might be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.
I believe I covered this in the why men cheat article but women, you are responsible for the monsters men become! Men are emotional beings too, very emotional, but destroy that part and you and your gender become just life support and adding notches to the bedpost. So beware lest your stupidity becomes the undoing of your gender.

There is never an excuse for cheating whether a dude or a chick. Remember, you always have the option of breaking up first if you feel the need to have sex with other people. Don’t create a monster. Don’t destroy another human emotionally…some things can’t be fixed, especially not with an ‘I’m sorry’!

More from the author HERE
11:36
Virgins for clean drinking water in Sikikar village
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Water shortage in Kenya has been a problem for decades with a small percentage of people accessing clean water. The scarcity of water has seen a large population of women and children spend up to one third of their day fetching water from the nearest fresh water source.

40 members of staff from Virgin Atlantic Kenya and UK climbed Mt. Kenya in a six- day challenge in an effort to raise Kshs. 13 million that will help over 7,500 people access clean, disease free drinking water in Sikirar Village.

Speaking after the climb, Virgin Atlantic’s Country Manager in Kenya, David Rose said “ Our heart goes to those women and children who walk long hours in search of water and I’m so proud of the Virgin Atlantic staff who have raised money to contribute to a long term solution. With the Kshs. 13 million intended to be raised from this cause, we believe it will go a long way in providing communities in Sikirar with safe and clean water; as result the children will utilize the time spent on searching for studying and parents engaging in activities that will help in economic growth.”

Also speaking, Alfred Mwalili Sales and Marketing Manager Kenya said “The plight of the women and children undertaking the back breaking task of looking for water gave me the strength to go on and reach the peak, because I knew every step I take is one day less of agony for another person in search of the all important ingredient.”

Virgin Atlantic entered into a partnership with Free the Children Organization to help change the environment and the lives of many communities through providing support for such causes.

This year the Mt. Kenya climb was also supported by Savage Wilderness Safaris who offered mountain guides and accommodation.
11:34
Blankets & Wine mashing African talent
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

To celebrate their 33rd edition, Blankets and Wine will this weekend introduce their Africa mash-up project where two African artists consolidate their talent and come up with a fresh new sound.

For the first mash-up South African jazz/ soul/ funk musican Claire Phillips collaborating with our very own jazz composer and instrumentalist Aaron Rimbui. They shall work in a rehearsal environment that will allow them to co-create/re arrange each other’s music and then to present the result as a live performance at a Blankets& Wine event. The end result should feel like a live remix-mash up of each artist’s songs.

The live show will then be recorded in video and audio and will be mixed, mastered and packaged by Blankest & Wine who will then sell the music exclusively to the audience at Blankets & Wine with a percentage of sales going to the artists.

“All over the African continent, ethnic sounds are merging with western sounds to create unique musical offerings that capture the spirit of modern urban Africa such as South African House, Kuduro and Afrobeat. Our aim is to fuse Urban African Sounds with ethnic and urban Kenyan Sounds with the end aim of club ready music from Africa with a distinct East African flavour,” said B&W organiser Sandra Chege.

On stage at the Mamba Village on Sunday will be:

The ever inspired Inka: http://www.reverbnation.com/InkaKenya

The captivating Asali: http://www.melissa-asali.webs.com/

and multi-talented award winning South African funk jazz artist Claire Phillips, collaborating with Aaron “Crucial Keys” Rimbui.

http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=233

Electrique DJs and the beat parade band are also going to be making their debut performance on the Blankets & Wine stage.

Advance tickets are available on tickets sasa for Sh1,300.

At the gate, charges are Sh1,500 for adults and Sh500 for children.
11:05
Jaleel White speaks out about abuse allegations
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

If Steve Urkel were in this situation, he would ask, “Did I do that?”

But Jaleel White has a lot more to say when it comes to his ex-girlfriend and baby mama, Bridget Hardy, telling Star magazine that White verbally and physically abused her in 2010.

(By the way, when we say a lot, we mean a lot)

“The allegations made against me back in 2010 have suspiciously resurfaced in time to coincide with my new show on Syfy and Dancing With the Stars; Bridget Hardy has consistently shown a knack for timing throughout our child custody disputes,” he tells E! News in a statement.

“When you’re doing well in life it’s par for the course certain individuals will try and knock you down. When the individual is also the mother of your only child it is particularly hurtful. I have co-parented in peace and compliance with the law for over two years now.”

The Dancing With the Stars competitor went on to elaborate on the relationship he’s had with Hardy—who, his rep tells us, he hasn’t seen physically in almost six months and only contacts through emails—thus far and why he felt it took a turn for the worse.

“In the summer of 2010, my 11 month old daughter was taken to Seattle, Washington for what was supposed to have been a planned vacation and as Ms. Hardy declared herself in her recent exclusive interview, she told me emphatically, ‘I’m done.’ Our relationship came to an end.

“Ms. Hardy has lived in the greater Los Angeles area for over eight years. My daughter was born in California and, thanks to our judicial process, my daughter remains a California resident. Up until now, we have had a workable joint custody arrangement.

“As much as I would love to go detail for detail refuting Ms. Hardy’s claims about the specifics of what was our relationship, the family court judge made it very clear to me any public discussion of our case and ordeal would be held against me in a court of law. Ms. Hardy’s attempts at greater sums of money above and beyond child support have continued now for two years. And I guess my most recent successes have been too much for her to stomach. I’m assuming I have not received her votes these past Monday nights.

“My only hope is that when my daughter Googles her parents one day in her future, she sees that her father acted with class and dignity when pressed to the fire. Bridget Hardy is the mother of my only daughter in this world and without Ms. Hardy I would not have the treasure that is my daughter. God knows the truth, the authorities swift dismissal of her police report are 2 years in my past. I ask for your sensitivity during this time, I can assure all of my fans this is only residue from a child custody matter.”
March 29, 2012
14:24
Joe promises fans a great performance
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The Virgin that crossed the Atlantic with Multiple Grammy Award winning RnB crooner Joe Thomas chilling somewhere in First Class, touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport this morning.

Joe was mobbed by reporters and fans who had converged at the airport to await his arrival from as early as 7am.

He told reporters that he was excited to be in Kenya – his first visit – and that he would make the stopover worthwhile for his fans.

“For my first trip you know I like to go over and beyond to give a great performance so, look forward to that… The most important thing is that you leave feeling something.”

Joe will be the main act at the second edition of the Tusker Lite Experience at the Bomas of Kenya on Saturday.

Musician June Gachui, guitarist Eddie Grey and the Different Faces band will curtain raise for Joe at the intimate show arranged to ensure all fans get as close to the singer as possible.

Joe, who has already released nine albums, says he’s planning to present a tenth album this year.

Tickets to the Joe concert are retailing at Sh3,000 and are available HERE , the Capital FM Offices or the Bartons and Mellabloom stores at Junction, Prestige Plaza, Westgate and Village Market.

(Picture and video by Muthoni Njuki.)
14:11
The Night: a Smirnoff VIP reveal party
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

They call it The Night; an entry into Kenya by Smirnoff’s party animals to introduce a Nightlife experience, something that has already been launched across more than 50 countries worldwide.

The brand’s Marketing Manager Kendi Kilonzo says the Smirnoff Nightlife experience is a project intended to share and improve the party experience across the globe, and on top of the fun, responsibility is key.

Two female international DJs will be hosted in Nairobi by Smirnoff for the first ever experience, which will feature state-of-the-art 3D projection mapping and lasers, at an exclusive event on April 6.

Dj Cheryice who specializes in Hip hop/RnB music as well as Old school and Vocal Funky/house will be the headline act, with Emma Feline who runs her own night Decks in the City at different venues in London.

They will team up with Capital FM’s DJ Joe Mfalme, and DJs Chuckie and Mobi.

As a precursor to the main experience, Smirnoff hosted an exclusive get together at Toby’s Place, a private club in Nairobi’s Runda Estate.

The exclusive party was attended by leading personalities in the arts and entertainment industry, under the theme ‘All white and sexy’.

“Karen Galleria will be transformed into a spectacular party zone for ‘The Night’,” said Kendi.
13:04
Tichina Arnold: Every person deserves two marriages
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

We all remember Tichina Arnold from the hit TV show Martin, where she played Pam Jones, Martin’s arch nemesis. After winning us over in the 90s as Pam, she went on to land one memorable TV role after another. These days, she calls the set of TV Land’s Happily Divorced home. On the show, she plays star Fran Drescher’s best friend Judi Mann, and they’re both 40-something woman still single and looking for love. In real life, Arnold’s found true love with her fiancé Rico Hines, an assistant NCAA basketball coach with whom she is planning a dreamy Hawaiian wedding.

Essence.com recently caught up with the Queens native and asked her to open up about her romantic past and how it has shaped her present day relationship. She even revealed some juicy wedding details. Here’s what she had to say about relationships, marriage and her upcoming wedding:

ESSENCE: What have you learned from past relationships that has prepared you for the one you have today?
ARNOLD: To not be so bossy. You know, when you’re single, you’re very independent. Very independent women raised me. We didn’t have a lot of male figures as the head of our household, so I got, and took on, a lot of that strong spirit from the matriarchs in my family. It allows you to get on through life a lot easier, but the downside is that you don’t have that experience of watching a male figure interact with women in the home. When you come from an all-female household, when you’re in a relationship, you get into situations you don’t really know how to handle, which I didn’t. A long time ago, when I was married, in the beginning it was bliss. I eloped after one month, and I married for security. I thought, I finally met a man who loves God and comes from a great family. I’m working, I love God, and I’m out here in California by myself, and I’ve met this great man. So, I said yes. And we eloped. The first three months were great, but then after the third month: Whoa. It got physical and it was just not a good situation.

ESSENCE: What went wrong?
ARNOLD: I’m a go-getter, and I move like lightning. I’m used to operating in my own space on my own time. But when you’re married, that dynamic completely changes. So there I was sharing a house, sharing a car, and sharing the money. Sharing everything. That was an adjustment. So one day I made plans for us to travel, because I love to travel. He came home and I told him, “Hey babe, we’re going to go to Mexico!” He’s staring at me, and I go, “What’s wrong? What’s the problem?” He says to me, “Babe, you never even asked me if I wanted to go.” That was wow. That type of sharing is important. I call myself taking control of a situation, but sometimes you really have to learn to humble yourself, and to submit yourself. I’m not really good with submission, so that’s the part of marriage and relationships that I’ve found very hard to deal with.

Most times, when you marry, you don’t know who you are, and there’s no way you can have a successful relationship that way. If you don’t know who you are, how the hell are you going to give to somebody else? I think every person deserves two marriages, because you may not get the first one right. You really never knew. That’s why divorce is so big. We all want it to last, but that’ not always the reality of it. But when I met Rico, I knew what to say to him, and I knew what I wanted out of the relationship. And, when he said he was able to fulfill that, I trusted him. With relationships, it’s all a matter of building trust. Before him, I didn’t trust relationships anymore. I wasn’t willing to put my trust in another person.

ESSENCE.COM: How did you get through those types of experiences?
ARNOLD: My worst experience with relationships was actually dealing with my daughter’s father. I dated him for two years and my attraction to him was just so strong. I didn’t get pregnant with her until after we broke up. But while we were together, it was at the worst point in my life. Financially I was messed up. I wasn’t settled at home. My life was in chaos. Complete chaos. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. He called me one day and was like, “I don’t want this relationship anymore.” That was it for me.

It took me two years to really get through that, because that was kind of the nail in the coffin. I was really depressed – and I’m never depressed – but that was truly a rough moment in time. So I thought to myself, how am I going to get out of this? How do I get through this? But, I got through it. You know, you get through it. You get passed it. You just gotta learn from it. I’m the type of person who doesn’t want to make the same mistakes twice. Now, when it comes to relationships, I know what to look for. Having a daughter, I have no room to see a man that’s not going to provide something beneficial to my daughter and me. I know what it feels like to hit that rock bottom where you have nothing else to give anybody. I had nothing back then. I couldn’t help myself. But getting through that really taught me so much about relationships. You need different things at different points in your life. What I needed back in the 90s is not the same thing I need in 2012.

ESSENCE: Congrats on your engagement! Tell us about the wedding plans.
ARNOLD: Most of his friends are in the basketball world. All of the people who he loves and who are close to him are in the basketball world, so they’re not off-season until August. So initially I said, let’s do a nice private small destination wedding in Hawaii or something. But then I thought to myself, Tichina, there you go again, taking control. So I asked him, but he really was serious about Hawii. So I planned this big island thing. Then the wedding started turning into something really huge. I started to want a concert theme and I thought about having people like Fantasia perform. Then I started getting the numbers, and I said, oh no. So we’re back to an intimate affair in Hawaii with about 30 people, and we’ll call it a day. I blew through a lot of money, and I don’t want to do that again.

Anita Baker is one of Rico’s favorite singers, and I walked into the Four Seasons one day and she was standing there. She came up to me and said, “Girl, I love you. My sons love you. Can I please take a picture with you?” I couldn’t believe it. It made me feel like a star. We became friends and talked on the phone. I told her, “My fiancé loves you and he has listened to Anita Baker music all his life.” She sang happy birthday to him once, and when I told her we got engaged, she said, “I’m singing at your wedding!” So, I just have to call her. I would love to fly her to Hawaii and just have her sing. We’ll see.

I really don’t know about the whole two marriages thing. She may have opened a Pandora’s Box with this one. I understand that not all marriages work, but aren’t you supposed to give your all to your first marriage before you finally throw in the towel? Some people might be tempted to get into practice marriages and then what?

More from Annemarie HERE
10:42
Red Carpet: 7th Groove Awards nominations
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

The 7th Groove Awards gala night is just around the corner. The nominees for various categories for the awards were recently announced and at such events there’s always a red carpet. The event was on Tuesday hence not so many people went all out when it came to dressing up but still there were some candy to the eyes.

Below is a peek at the red carpet courtesy of Muthoni Njuki. Be the judge.
March 28, 2012
17:18
And the nominees for the 7th annual Groove Awards are…
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Groove awards with Skiza continues to expose, promote and celebrate gospel talent in Kenya and beyond enters its 7th year this year. Nominees of the 29 categories were announced last night at a simple yet well attended evening event that was held at the Nairobi Museum.

The black-tie evening gala event will take place on the 28th of April at a venue to be announced later.

Some of the nominees in the main category include:

Male artist of the year
Daddy Owen
Ekodydda
Holy Dave
Jimmy Gait
Juliani
Man Ingwe

Female artist of the year
Emmy Kosgei
Gloria Muliro
Jambua
Mercy Linah
Mercy Wairegi
Sarah Kiarie

Song of the year
Exponential Potential- Juliani
Furifuri- DK and Jimmy Gait
Ghetto- Ekodydda
Liseme- Sarah K
My Call- MOG
Ololo – Emmy Kosgei

Group of the year
Adawnage
BMF
Kelele takatifu
MOG
Maximum Melodies
Tetete

Album of the year
Ebenezer – Mercylinah
Kibali – Gloria Muliro
Liseme – Serah K
Ololo – Emmy Kosgei
Pulpit kwa street – Juliani
Utamu wa maisha – Daddy Owen

Hip Hop Song of the year
Exponential potential – Juliani
Ghetto – Ekodydda
Mara hio hio – Bantu and Holy Dave
Mmh baba – Kriss ehh baba
Ni msoo – Kelele takatifu and Holy Dave
Press on – Izo and Holy Dave

Video of the year
Exponential potential – Juliani
Holy Ghost fire – BMF
My call – MOG
Safari – Adawnage
Umetenda – Kambua
Walking – Alemba and Exodus

Collabo of the year
Fresh and clean – Kevo Juice and Jimmy man
Furi furi – DK and Jimmy Gait
My call – MOG and Juliani
Ni msoo – Bantu and Holy Dave
Walking – Alemba and Exodus
Welwelo – Mr Seed and Danco

Other categories include :
*New artist/new group of the year,
*Video producer of the year,
*Audio producer of the year,
*Worship song of the year,
*Ragga/reggae song of the year,
*Dj of the year,
*Gospel tv how of the year,
*Radio presenter of the year,
*Gospel radio show of the year,
*Nyanza song of the year,
*Rift Valley song of the year,
*Central song of the year,
*Easten song of the year,
*Pwani song of the year,
*Western song of the year
Other countries included in this years awards categories are Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and Southern Sudan

For the full list and the various ways to vote check out www.grooveawards.co.ke or www.facebook.com/grooveaward

Voting closes on Friday, April 27, 2012 at midnight.

From the look of things, the competition will be tough so…vote vote vote! For your favorite artist.

This year’s road to groove ‘Groove tours with Skiza’ will travel through five major towns.

Events schedules are as follows:

Sunday 1st April – Kisumu
Sunday, 8th April – Mombasa
Saturday 14th April – Meru
Sunday 15th April – Thika
Sunday 22nd April – Eldoret
14:32
Brand new from the VIDEO shelves
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Clarence Peter’s video mastery is unmistakable in the new collabo by Ugandan swagger mistress Keko and Kenyan creative Madtraxx.

‘Make You Dance’ was shot in Nairobi earlier this year and launched in Club Amnesia, Kampala two weeks ago.

“Africa watch out!” musician Madtraxx stated when the two day shooting was done, and said the joint effort was a big move for both artists in the region.

The song was produced by Just Jose under SupaNova Music Group. What do you think, is it worth the fuss?

The second new track we have in store today is Ogopa Girl Marya’s Sishiki Simu.

Marya looks exceptionally sultry in almost all the shots, thanks to the tiny shorts, but it reveals a growing problem in the country – insecure men.

This video will be popular with girls whose men snoop through their phones, while the guys will try and distance themselves from this.

How would you rate this video?
14:19
Football app wins developer competition
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Spot Kick, a football mobile app, won the inaugural Ignite Hackathon held this past weekend at the Startup Garage along Ngong Road.

The winning app is a product of Steven Mugo, who walked away with a cash prize of $5,000 (400,000). Ignite Hackathon was sponsored by Nokia, eMobilis and CapitalFM and aimed at creating mass apps for the S40 Nokia platform.

The two-day event saw over 80 developers, mainly University students, set camp at the Startup Garage. Judges assessed the apps based on the mass applicability, business viability, user interface and deployment on the S40 platform.

Spot Kick is a simple mobile game that allows players to shoot or play goal keeper. The app can also be played by multi-players and can be extended on PC’s.

“The greatest challenge was to develop the multiplayer aspect,” says Steven.

BriteSkills took the first runner’s up position taking home $3,000 (Sh240,000). Joe Okatch, Asmeret Gebre and Victor Karanja developed the app from the BriteSkills software that facilitates learning and teaching online.

Allan Onchuru and Dickson Ng’ang’a won the top media app, sponsored by CapitalFM. The two won a contract to develop the app further for CapitalFM.

In addition to the cash prizes, Nokia will help the developers publish their apps on the Nokia Store.
13:44
IMAX cinema opens in Nairobi on Friday
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Kenyans will be able to enjoy cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies starting Friday March 30 when the country’s first digital IMAX theatre system opens at the 20th Century Plaza in Nairobi.

IMAX Theatre Development Vice President John Schreiner said they will showcase only the best Hollywood blockbusters and educational documentaries and they have made significant changes to the 20th Century Auditorium to ensure viewers get a mind blowing experience.

“We’ve combined two cinema halls into one, raised the roof and we’ve installed a screen which goes from wall to wall; floor to ceiling,” he revealed.

“We changed the angle of the seating deck so that everything in the auditorium is completely different from what was there before and when the lights go down, the really powerful projectors light up the screen in a way where you can’t see anything else but the movie screen,” he added.

Two digital projectors will simultaneously project images onto the screen to simulate the left and right eye, which creates the 3D effect.

“The projectors make it so that light is polarized at two different angles and it’s reflected back to viewers wearing special 3D glasses, which filter out the two types of lights creating an optical illusion,” he said.

Shreiner confirmed that there’s currently an IMAX theatre in Morocco which opened in December and one is expected to be launched in Cairo, Egypt later this year.

IMAX hopes to drive profitability for studios, exhibitors and theatres by eliminating the need for film prints, increasing program flexibility and ultimately increasing the number of movies shown on IMAX screens.

If the venture proves to be successful in Nairobi, entertainment investor Blue Sky World Ltd. plans to open two IMAX theatres in Mombasa in two years’ time and establish another screen in Nairobi.

The new theatre in the heart of the city has a capacity of 255 seats and features the biggest movie screen in Kenya, which is 17 by 9 meters. Schreiner said that the 1.2 Kilowatt speakers emit such clear sound that audiences will feel immersed in the films.

“It’s the most powerful sound system of any movie theatre today so you’ll feel it when a rocket ship takes off. You will feel it right in your chest and the sound is so sensitive that you can even hear a pin drop,” he explained.

In addition to the IMAX theatre, customers will also be able to enjoy an ultra-modern 24 hour lounge where patrons can enjoy sheesha, drinks, sports games on large projectors, DJ sets, karaoke and live entertainment by singers, bands and comedians.

The theatre will be open to the general public this Friday for the showing of the Wrath of Titans 3D and tickets will be priced at Sh1,000.

By Charles Gichane
March 27, 2012
16:49
Mandela immortalized in digital archives
» ‎ Capital Lifestyle

Google and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory (NMCM) announced today that the new Nelson Mandela Digital Archive is now live on the web, freely accessible to the global public.

The archives include never-seen sequel manuscripts to Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom autobiography.

Google gave a $1.25m grant to the Johannesburg-based NMCM in 2011 to help preserve and digitize thousands of archival documents, photographs and videos about Mr. Mandela.

Along with historians, educationalists, researchers and activists, users from around the world now have access to extensive information about the life and legacy of this extraordinary African statesman.

“It is invigorating to see our combined efforts become a reality,” said Verne Harris from the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. “This digital initiative will make it possible for us to reach the full spectrum of our stakeholders, from the global elite to systemically disadvantage South Africans.”

The digital archive explores different parts of Mr. Mandela’s life and work in depth: Early life, prison years, presidential years, retirement, books for Mandela, young people and My Moments with a Legend.

The technology used for the Mandela Archive allows for hosting of mixed-media material, making those materials searchable and browsable, and also allows curators to curate the materials into exhibits. It uses Google Search, Google+ Photos for image serving, and YouTube for video streaming and serving.

Steve Crossan, Director of the Google Cultural Institute said: “The Mandela Digital Archive Project shows how the Internet can help preserve historical heritage and make it available to the world. We’ve worked closely with the NMCM to create an interactive online experience with powerful search and browsing tools, so that users can explore Mr. Mandela’s inspiring life story.”

“The Archive currently includes over 1900 unique images, documents and videos, and will grow over time,” said Luke Mckend, Country Manager for Google South Africa. “South Africans from all walks of life can now engage with important parts of our country’s history. For example, reading handwritten pages of a letter smuggled from Robben Island in 1977, or seeing Warrant documents that sent Mandela to jail first for 5 years and then for life.”

To start exploring the Nelson Mandela archive visit: http://archive.nelsonmandela.org

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