Coke studio Africa hosts second viewing party in Nairobi featuring Kenyan artist Nyashinski & the Band Beca

On Sunday (22nd September) Coke Studio Africa hosted an exclusive viewing party in Nairobi, showcasing its 7th episode that featured East Africa’s only MTV EMA nominee: Nyashinski (Kenya) in music collaborations with the iconic Mafikizolo. Nyashisnki did a cover of the South African duo’s mega hit “Khona” with Mafikizolo delivering a sweet ballad in their cover of Nyashinski’s “Malaika”. Nandy (Tanzania), Betty G (Ethiopia), Shellsy Baronet (Mozambique), Bisa Kdei (Ghana) and Eddy Kenzo (Uganda) also featured on the episode.

Nyashinski with Anyiko
Nyashinski with Anyiko

Coke Studio artists: The Band BeCa were among a host of guests including celebrities, influencers and Kenya’s top media who joined Coca Cola Executives, Coke Studio Africa band, staff and production crew members at the viewing party held at Kiza Lounge. With a September premiere that was received with raving reviews, Coke Studio Africa – 2017 is now on its eighth week with Kenya’s The Band BeCa and Avril set to feature on this weekend’s episode 8 scheduled for 29th Oct on Citizen TV. The Kenyan produced Pan-African music show displays the best of Kenyan music and talent alongside Africa’s best of the best. Other Kenyan stars on the show this year include Sauti Sol, Dela and Khaligraph Jones.

Coke Studio aims to inspire and introduce Africa’s music talents to a new and wider audience through interaction, collaboration and cooperation among-st musical artists while also building a strong brand connection with Africa’s young and growing population. Coke Studio Africa has given Kenyan artists a platform to meet other artists and top music producers from Africa to share ideas and collaborate. It breaks the wall of both geographical and genre differences by enabling collaborations across the continent and beyond.

Coke Studio
Coke Studio

Several key collaborations between the Kenyan artists and other African acts were born during the show’s recording. Nyashinski and Yemi Alade (who were paired on the show last year) just released the music video to Yemi’s new Swahili song “Nakupenda”. Sauti Sol has already recorded collabos with Falz and Patoranking during their stint at the show’s 2017 recording. Dela and Cameroon’s Locko were featured on Coke Studio Music Producer: Masterkraft’s new album. Avril confirmed that post her Coke Studio recording she has recorded a new song produced by Shado Chris, who was her resident Coke Studio Music Producer.

This year’s Coke Studio comprises 11 one-hour episodes. Episode 9 will feature the season’s highlights with episode 10 being the anticipated ‘Global Fusion Edition’ that will feature the show’s international guest star: Jason Derulo alongside Kenya’s Dela alongside other African stars. The season finale will be a special Christmas episode. All episodes continue to display 5 segments: a Remix/Fusion, Throwback, Covers, Cultural Exchange and the Big Break.

Coke Studio
Coke Studio
Coke Studio
Coke Studio

Lit photos from Coke Studio’s exclusive viewing party at popular club

On Sunday (10th September) Coke Studio Africa hosted an exclusive viewing party at Kiza Lounge, Nairobi, in celebration of the premiere of highly anticipated 2017 edition of the Kenyan produced Pan-African music show, this year dubbed Coke Studio Africa – 2017.

Coke Studio divas: Dela and The Band BeCa joined a host of guests including Coca Cola Executives, Coke Studio Africa band and production crew, celebrities, influencers and Kenya’s top media at the premiere event.

Coke Studio launch (photo courtesy)

Now in its fifth year in Kenya, Coke Studio Africa continues to display the best of Kenyan music and talent as well as from their African counterparts. The Kenyan artists set to feature on the show this year include “Yego” hitmaker Khaligraph Jones, Kenya’s comeback king of the “Mungu Pekee” and “Malaika” hits: Nyashinski, award-winning music group Sauti Sol, the sassy “Nikimuona” singer Avril and the fast rising girl duo – The Band BeCa.

Coke Studio aims to inspire and introduce Africa’s music talents to a new and wider audience through interaction, collaboration and cooperation amongst musical artists while also building a strong brand connection with Africa’s young and growing population. Coke Studio Africa has given Kenyan artists a platform to meet other artists and top music producers from Africa to share ideas and collaborate. It breaks the wall of both geographical and genre differences by enabling collaborations across the continent and beyond.

Coke Studio launch (photo courtesy)

Several key collaborations between Kenyan artists and other African acts have been born through Coke Studio meet-ups. Since their inception on the show, Africa’s Best Group from Kenya Sauti Sol have gone on to orchestrate collaborations with artists they have met on the show. These include “Africa” with Nigerian songbird Yemi Alade, “Unconditionally Bae” with Tanzania’s Alikiba and “Oya Come Make We Go” with Nigerian music icon: 2Baba, among others. Bahati, the “Barua” hitmaker was on Coke Studio season 4 last year to collaborate with Lydia Jazmine and Kiss Daniel, after which he followed up on his time on the show and did a collabo with Uganda’s beloved “Sitya Loss” singer and BET award-winner Eddy Kenzo in the song “Barua Kwa Mama”. Other major collabos off Coke Studio include Nyashinski and Yemi Alade (who were paired on the show last year) in Yemi’s new Swahili song “Nakupenda”. King Kaka and Hip Hop Pantsula from South Africa also produced “Tulia Tu”. Self-made top Kenyan rapper, Khaligraph Jones has also collaborated with M.I Abaga from Nigeria in “Black Bill Gates” from his acclaimed mixtape.

Coke Studio launch (photo courtesy)

Coke Studio Africa – 2017 also promises to deliver and spark more music collaborations beyond the show. In fact, some have already been recorded while others are still in the pipeline.

Coke Studio Africa provides a platform for our Kenyan artists to express their views to life and spread their wings across borders. Music has a way of conveying messages and uniting people and as Coca-Cola, we are happy to connect with our consumers through music,” said Lucy Odour, Marketing Manager – Kenya.

Dubbed Coke Studio Africa – 2017, this year’s show comprises 11 one-hour episodes. The first 8 episodes will be brand new episodes with episode 9 being the season’s highlights. Episode 10 already dubbed the ‘Global Fusion Edition’ will feature the show’s international guest star: Jason Derulo alongside Kenya’s Dela. The season finale will be a special Christmas episode.

Each one of the show’s episodes will have 5 segments. The second segment will be a Remix/Fusion, a section that will cleverly bring back childhood memories fondly known to Kenyans as TBT. Here artists will select ‘throwback’ music and perform their own rendition of it. The other segments will include Covers, where paired artists do each other’s songs, the Cultural Exchange, the Big Break platform and then performances of original tracks will bring the episodes to a close.

Coke Studio launch (Courtesy)
Tracy Wanjiru at Coke Studio launch (Courtesy)

 

Exclusive: Jason Derulo to feature as guest star on Coke Studio Season 5

After flying in Trey Songs last year, Coke Studio Africa returns for its fifth season with the American R&B artiste Jason Derulo as the guest star.

Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo

Derulo who is best known for hit songs such as Swalla and talk dirty will be joining some of the biggest African artists who will part of the amazing Coke Studio season 5.

Like most professional artiste….Derulo does not play around when it comes down to giving a good performance.

Jason Derulo

For the lucky fans who will be present, I am pretty sure they will have an unforgettable time watching these artists come together and of course the special performance from Derulo.