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      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

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      Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

      February 18, 2021

      Review

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

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      The Love Zone Thrills fans on Valentine’s Day

      February 21, 2020

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      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

  • Events
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      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

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      Beneath the Baobabs Live: A Kenyan live music…

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      Down memory lane: An Evening Remembering Whitney Houston

      December 2, 2021

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      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

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      An Evening Celebrating Stevie Wonder in Nairobi

      June 10, 2021

  • Artist Spotlight
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      Ngewa: Kasiva Mutua rhythmical tales on percussion

      April 26, 2022

      Artist Spotlight

      Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in…

      December 10, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

      April 26, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology…

      November 26, 2020

  • Classical Music
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      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

      Classical Music

      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

      Classical Music

      A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

      November 17, 2020

      Classical Music

      Beethoven 250 Years on, A Spirited awakening in…

      September 25, 2020

      Classical Music

      David Ralak: A visionary pioneering figure with great…

      June 16, 2020

  • Jazz
    • All Jazz Opinions Jazz Spotlight My Afro Jazz
      Artist Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      Experience Nairobi Horns Project Debut Album – Black…

      July 18, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Artists from the coast revolutionizing Nairobi’s Jazz scene

      April 9, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Jazz in Kenya: A beginner’s guide to artists…

      February 26, 2019

      Jazz Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      ALBUM REVIEW: MAIA AND THE BIG SKY

      September 26, 2019

      My Afro Jazz

      Dan Aceda, Juma Tutu to Grace Ricky na…

      November 17, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      Eric Wainaina Thrills fans at An Evening of…

      August 31, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      You can’t Miss An Evening Of Afro Jazz…

      August 20, 2015

EventsReview

Safaricom Jazz @ 5 gets a splash of electric female energy.

by Maureen Shelmith February 27, 2018
written by Maureen Shelmith February 27, 2018

Femme Fusion electrifying performance at Safaricom Jazz @ 5

Safaricom Limited has a powerful slogan that says, great things happen when people come together. On the 25th of February, jazz aficionados thronged the Kasarani training grounds to experience the Safaricom Jazz Festival. The Safaricom Jazz festival was celebrating its 5th year from what started off as a one-week international festival in 2013 and became a 3 part event in 2014/ 2015 and has grown to a year-long event with 4 major events through the year.

Safaricom Jazz @ 5 was a special edition, as it offered the audience members a buffet of tantalizing music from Blues, swing to our very own Ohangla and Mwanzele. It was a riveting experience to see and dance our hearts out to the sounds and rhythms displayed by the various performers and acts.

Femme Fusion performance at Safaricom Jazz

Three ladies with face painting dancing

Dancing to the rhythm of the beat

Without a doubt, the gender imbalance in the Kenyan jazz scene is pronounced; women are hugely underrepresented in jazz, especially instrumentalists. It was awe-inspiring to see, the rise in the number of women represented on stage; from Gloria Bosman to the Femme Fusion ensemble. During the Safaricom Jazz @ 5, the extraordinary happened; Femme Fusion ensemble burst into the scene with such vivacity and energy. It felt like a moment of progress.

Femme – Fusion is a collaborative project put together by the British Council East African Arts programme. East Africa Arts is the British council’s framework for working with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and the UK. Through three strategic programmes (Creative Hustles, new Art new Audience & Mobility programme) East Africa Arts aims to: create new art to showcase to new audiences; share skills of creatives; and ignite partnerships between the creative sectors of the UK and East Africa.

Femme Fusion comprised of; Kenyan percussion queen, Kasiva Mutua, the goddess of groove, Holly Madge (UK), multi-award winning composer/instrumentalist, Emma-Jean Thackray (UK), and deep sensuous voiced, Gloria Achillah (UG). Femme Fusion’s opening act, Motra, a Kenyan percussion ensemble co-founded by Kasiva Mutua, kick-started the performance with fast rhythmical beats, a true representation of Kenyan musical ‘theatricity’. Kasiva states that “Drums are loud and were used to call people to attention. In the performance, Motra used the drums to call you to the Femme Fusion experience ”

Three ladies on drums

Motra

Femme Fusion percussive rhythmical beats turned people’s attention away from the ‘jazzy’ melodies that were being performed at the festival, offering authentic, captivating songs from their diverse native homes.
Their sound snapped with color, defining the African rhythmic fabric. The beauty of their performance was the communal input each and every girl gave, giving their performance the infectious joie de vivre and entertaining energy. The elated performance was colored with chants of “Sigalagala Sigalagala!” “Girls we run this mother**** yup!” That glided over knots of polyrhythms.

Traditional African music has grown in popularity rapidly over the years, unlocking the inspiring and therapeutic qualities of African rhythms and melodies. The Femme Fusion, performed a traditional folklore from the Luo community titled Sigalagala. The piece composed by Kasiva Mutua evoked a deep meaning. Kasiva, who is not ashamed to say she is a village girl, wrote the piece to celebrate death. “Sigalagala, is a happy and sad song at the same time, quite paradoxical I know”.

Sigalagala which means Ululation is a romantic piece that celebrates the death of her lover. Kasiva a village girl, falls in love with a handsome man who dies tragically. Kasiva’s lover appears in her dream and assures her all is well, in the lyrics ”biro dhi maber”, Kasiva is not ought to mourn his death. Kasiva’s lover advises her to host a party and serve traditional brew. Kasiva, is ought to smile and ensure people admire the gap between her teeth.
Additionally, the song Sigalaga brings out a strong message of unity amongst Kenyans. Kasiva, who hails from the Kamba community, strived to write the piece in the Luo language. The intention of doing a Luo piece instead of her native language was to show the audience that as Kenyans we are one. Tribalism should never be a hindrance to living communally.

“Putting the pieces together, we knew it was going to be fantastic. We didn’t anticipate that we would blow people’s minds away” Kasiva added. The Femme fusion ensemble wowed the crowd with their exhilarating performance befitting the 5th edition of Safaricom Jazz.

Holly Madge from UK

 

Emma Thackray UK Credits: Quaint Photography

 

Gloria Achillah – Uganda Credits: Quaint Photography

Ivy Alexander

Ivy Alexander

 

Lets dance woop!!

Lets dance woop!!

 

An electrified crowd – Credits: Quaint Photography

 

Kasiva Mutua and I

 Special thanks to :

Maureen Anzaye Kubai – Arts Officer, East Africa Arts & Kasiva Mutua

Images: Beatie Li Wacera 🙂 + Quaint Photography 😉

 

British CouncilEast Africa ArtsEmma ThackrayFemme FusionGloria AchillahGloria BosmanHolly MadgeJazz in KenyaKasarani Training groundsKasiva MutuaMotraPeople Stories ProjectSafaricom Jazz at 5Safaricom Jazz FestivalUganda
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Maureen Shelmith

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3 comments

Beatie February 27, 2018 - 12:23 PM

Girls who run the world!!

Reply
Maureen Shelmith February 27, 2018 - 12:30 PM

It is absolutely true. Girls run the world.

Thank you for being part of this piece. 🙂

Reply
Why is Jazz still a very male-dominated art-form and can this change? - AfroMum October 16, 2018 - 8:54 AM

[…] as Safaricom marks 5 years of bringing Jazz to music lovers, although the February edition was a femme fusion which had an all-female ensemble from the vocalists, percussion players, the drummer to […]

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About Me

About Me

Maureen Shelmith

My mission here is to take you on a Kenyan musical journey that is exceptional.

Featured Posts

  • Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in Time

    December 10, 2021
  • Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

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  • Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

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  • WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology of Jazz, improvisation and creativity

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  • A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

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