Mafikizolo headlining next months edition of Blankets & Wine XXIX

August 29th, 2011.....

Mafikizolo, the legendary musical act from South Africa will be headlining next month’s edition of Blankets & Wine XXIX that takes place at the Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village in Nairobi.

Also expected at the twenty ninth edition of the musical extravaganza, on September 4th 200, are new local acts Aziza and the soulful Maia Von Lekkow, alongside the ever captivating Muthoni - The Drummer Queen.

This is the third instalment of the KCB Advantage sponsored series of Blankets & Wine concerts following on the shows in April and June that featured celebrated artists Thandiswa Mazwai and Belgium based Ivorian strummer, Manou Gallo respectively.

Blankets & Wine is East Africa's premier music experience designed to showcase outstanding musicians in the emerging genres of afro-based music.

Happening every first Sunday of the month, the afternoon event features outstanding afro-based bands that range from afro soul, afro-fusion, afro-jazz, ethnic, experimental and other emerging genres.

Blankets & Wine has this year partnered with KCB Advantage Banking and which targets high net worth customers with offers such as a selection of accounts, discounts on mortgages and personal loans, waivers on credit cards and up to 40% discounts at select hotels, restaurants, spas and other outlets across East Africa through a partnership with Go-Places.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Aziza
The name ‘Aziza’ is derived from a Giriama word meaning wonderful. This young trio consists of three gentlemen - Sequiera Mogere, Maurice Manani and Enos Olik. With its begins as an accapella group, and a wide array of ecelectic mentors this band has in time become more dynamic and added to their the guitar, the Violin to their harmonies, and now the Saxophone became the emblem and signature of Aziza. Their growing popularity has seen them play more events in Nairobi and co-write with artists like Wendy Kiman, Dela, and Sauti Sol.

Maia Von Lekkow
Maia represents another amazing side to Kenya’s dynamic musical scene. Her voice and style has an affinity with female jazz vocalists of the 1930s and soul and folk music of the 1960s. In all her compositions, Maia is blazing new trails in Kenya; experimenting with different styles, and creating a hybrid sound that is her very own.
Her latest composition "Uko Wapi?" was featured in the much-acclaimed Kenyan production, "From a Whisper", depicting events of the 1998 bombing in Kenya.

Drift, Maia’s first album, is a culmination of her travels, her meetings, her collaborations and her experiences; a global cross-pollinated vibe. Maia weaves her adventures, stories and memories with the help of young guitarist Kato Change, producing jazzy riffs with folk licks to soulful percussive dub, to produce a unique addition to Kenya’s music scene.

Mafikizolo
Formed in the late 90s, Mafikizolo is one of the most prolific pop acts of the past decade. Their first release came in 1997 with a self-titled album that was followed by Music Revolution in 1999. In 2000 they released their most successful album Gate Crashers, which put them in the spotlight with hits like “Majika” and “Loot”.  This award winning group have performed the world over and their song, Ndihamba Nawe is however the song that put then on the Kenyan map.

In 2001 a horrific car accident killed one of the group members, Tebogo Madingoane, and took them out of the scene for a long period. They returned with the award winning Sibongile in 2002 - along the way creating a new sound that combined kwaito with Marabi.

The group’s 2003 release Kwela was also a huge success, selling over 300 000 units. After a 2 year break, Mafikizolo, is back with their 7th album Six Mabone - a classic car of the 60s.
Theo Kgosinkwe, the male member of the duo, says: "In the 60s, Six Mabone had the same status asBMW today. And our music is enjoyed by the young and the old. We are taking our fans back and forth." The latest album is the second without Tebza who was killed in a road rage accident three years ago. Recorded with a live band the new album has blues and swing elements but maintains the afro pop, kwela and marabi which have become their trademark.

Muthoni the Drummer Queen: Muthoni the Drummer Queen (DQ) is a singer, songwriter, flow-poet, creative and social entrepreneur. This MTV MAMA Nominee has English, Kikuyu, Kiswahili and awesome at her linguistic disposal, Muthoni blends styles as diverse as salsa, kwaito, afro-rock, taarab, rap, Floetry and R&B on an intoxicating fusion of sounds. Across a broad spectrum fans and critics alike have understood that she is inspired by love, relationships, politics, and new spirituality, her sound is a conscious call to live, dream and hope in curiosity, courage and strength. Delivered sometimes in song and “Floetry” (spoken poetry) her work is an experimental, entertaining and stirring display of artistry is nothing short of intergalactic.

TICKETING INFO:
Advance tickets at all DORMANS outlets: Ksh 1,000
Pesapal: http://tickets.pesapal.com/
KCB Advantage customers can buy their special discounted tickets at their branches.
Door charges: Adults: Ksh 1,300. Children over 5years: Ksh 400
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For more information visit www.blanketsandwine.com or http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120046462448&v=wall