WIZ KID AND BANKY W IN KENYA FOR SHUGA SHOOT

Joining the star studded cast of the second season of MTV Shuga are Nigerian music stars Banky W and Wiz Kid. The two are curently on set of MTV Shuga in Nairobi.
Shuga series two, subtitled Love, Sex, Money, series will be expanded from three to six episodes and develop the complex emotional storylines first explored in Shuga. Their roles are yet to be revealed but they join a Kenyan cast of singer Avril (Miss B'Have) Nick Ndeda (Angelo), Nancy Wanjiku (Baby), Brenda Wairimu (Dala), Edward Nyanaro (Rayban) and Ikubese Emmanuel - a.k.a. 9con - (Femi).



Also returning for the second series of Shuga are Sharon Olago (Violet), David Omwange (Skola), Nick Mutuma (Leo) and Antony Mwangi (Kennedy) and Valeri Kimani (Sindi).
The first series of Shuga was filmed in Kenya in August-September 2009. Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi.
The six-part series will be premiered on Valentine’s Day 2012 (14 February).

AVRIL BAGS ROLE AS MISS B’HAVE IN SHUGA II

Ogopa DJ artiste Avril has bagged a role in the second MTV drama series, Shuga that starts filming this week in Nairobi.
Avril who will play the role of a character called Miss B’have will be joined by other Kenyan personalities like Nick Ndeda (Angelo), Nancy Wanjiku (Baby), Brenda Wairimu (Dala), Edward Nyanaro (Rayban) and Ikubese Emmanuel - a.k.a. 9con - (Femi).
Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o, who played the pivotal character of Ayira in Shuga, returns on the other side of the camera as co-director alongside South African veteran Teboho Mahlatsi.
Commented Lupita, “Shuga was such a groundbreaking series and I am so thrilled to be working on the project again! This time I’ll really have my hands full as I will be both in front of and behind the camera but I can’t wait to be involved in the sequel to this incredible story.”
Also returning for the second series of Shuga are Sharon Olago (Violet), David Omwange (Skola), Nick Mutuma (Leo), Antony Mwangi (Kennedy) and Valerie Kimani (Sindi).
Other actors chosen at the public casting a few weeks ago are Christopher Otieno and Wairugi Mutero. Wairugi will be playing the role of Njoki (a party girl who loves to live in the moment) while Christopher will be cast as Slim, a small-time gangster.
Shuga: Love, Sex, Money is sponsored by MTV Base, The Staying Alive Foundation, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and The Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG).

MO FAYA SELECTED FOR SUNDANCE THEATRE LAB

Top Kenyan thespian Mumbi Kaigwa will join other East African filmmakers and entertainers selected for the second Sundance Institute Theatre Lab on Manda, Lamu for a two-week exchange and development program.
The Sundance Institute Theatre Lab kicks off on July 17 till July 31 and will also feature other participating artists from East Africa including Andnet Dagnew (Ethiopia), Philip Luswata (Uganda), (Kenya), Schollarstickar Luwi (Tanzania), Pili Malundila (Tanzania) and Angel Uwamahoro (Rwanda). In addition to the Fellows, Creative Advisors for the Lab are: Hope Azeda (Rwanda), Lynn Nottage (USA), Stew (USA), Indhu Rubasingham (UK) and Liesl Tommy (USA/South Africa).
The selected filmmakers will join Mumbi who played the lead lady, Anna Mali in the theatrical release of Mo Faya. Eric Wainaina who played DJ Lwanda wrote the play. Anna seduced DJ Lwanda to keep him away from the slums and fighting for the rights of it’s inhabitants of Kwa Maji. When the government and media turn a blind eye to the decapitated bodies in the streets, DJ Lwanda must return home to expose the truth. But at what cost?
The cast also included Dan Chizi Aceda, Atemi Ayungu, Valerie Kimani and Peter King among others.
"For 25 years, Sundance Institute's Theatre Program has been discovering and developing new work, always with a focus on richness and diversity of storytelling," said Keri Putnam, Executive Director of the Institute. "Now in its fifth year, the East Africa initiative reflects our commitment to connecting with the stories and histories of other cultures, and supporting artists who can share them with global audiences."
"The insight and feedback we received for last year's charter Theatre Lab on Manda affirmed our belief that cultural exchange informs arts and artists on a deep level," said Himberg.
Sundance Institute East Africa is a program to support the work of theatre artists in East Africa, as well as to create exchange and exposure opportunities between U.S. artists and East African writers, directors, and performers.

SHUGA 2 ALL ABOUT THE LOVE SEX AND MONEY

MTV Networks Africa, The Staying Alive Foundation, PEPFAR and the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG) are to renew their ongoing partnership to produce the second series of hard-hitting sex-and-relationships, HIV and AIDS drama, Shuga, in Kenya. The initiative, funded extensively by the U.S. Government through PEPFAR, will work closely with the Government of Kenya to ensure the programme fits within Kenya’s existing HIV prevention strategy.



Shuga series two, subtitled “Love, Sex, Money”, and associated digital, events and marketing activity will be supported by HFG Global and HFG’s Kenya office through their brand, G pange. The new series will be expanded from three to six episodes and develop the complex emotional storylines first explored in Shuga. Principle photography for the series goes into production in Nairobi in August 2011 and will premier on Valentine’s Day 2012 (14 February) and broadcast around.
Shuga: Love, Sex,Money will be directed by South African director Teboho Mahlatsi and produced by award-winning South African production house, The Bomb Shelter.
The predominantly Kenyan cast for Shuga: Love, Sex, Money will be announced in July 2011. The series will introduce new characters and storylines while additionally endeavouring to motivate and realize specific changes in sexual behaviours. Among the issues likely to be explored in Shuga: Love, Sex, Money are HIV testing, stigma, condom use, gender inequity and the role of multiple concurrent partnerships in driving the HIV epidemic.



First aired in Kenya in November 2009 on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and terrestrial stations Citizen TV, KTN, NTV and KBC Channel One, Shuga reached viewers in 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and more than 70 TV stations worldwide. It continues to be widely viewed in countries such as Zambia, South Africa and Jamaica, among others, together with a facilitator’s guide for peer educators to engage young people in open discussions and to motivate behaviour change.
The global success of Shuga as a vehicle for HIV and AIDS messaging for youth consumption was undeniable. In May 2010, Shuga won a prestigious Gold award at the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany in the “Public Relations: Health” category, for its vivid and uncompromising focus on love, emotions and sexual behaviour amongst Kenyan youth.



“Shuga had a profound impact on the attitudes of Kenyan youth,” commented Lydia Murimi, Country Director, HFG Kenya. “Research conducted by Johns Hopkins University/Centre for Communications Programs reported increased intentions for HIV testing, decreased intentions for multiple sex partners, improved attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS and increased usage of accessible health and social services among the youth. We hope to be able to replicate that with the sequel as well as introduce new elements that will emerge from our youth studies.”
Georgia Arnold, Senior Vice President, Executive Director, Staying Alive Foundation commented, “Shuga showed the world that drama and public health messages can work together to effect genuine attitudinal change. Shuga: Love, Sex, Money will build on this foundation to generate real behavioural change in sexual health while also entertaining and engaging youth audiences.”



Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa said: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive reception that Shuga has received in Africa and around the world. This has been an incredible award-wining campaign for us that has proven to be changing young people’s attitudes towards HIV and AIDS. We are excited about the opportunity to continue the series with the objective of reaching more and more people.”
The first series of Shuga was filmed in Kenya in August-September 2009. Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi. With a raw and uncut view on the lives of sexually active young Kenyans, Shuga spot lit the risks associated with unprotected sex and the party-hard lifestyles of urban Kenyan youth, told through the interlinked tales of characters Ayira (Lupita Nyongo), Ty (Pepe Haze), Felix (Tumisho Masha), Violet (Sharon Olago), Skola (David Omwange), Sindi (Valerie Kimani), Leo (Nicholas Mutuma), Kennedy (Antony Mwangi) and Virginia (Eva Kanyang'onda).

ERIC FILES SUIT OVER THE PATERNITY OF VALERIE’S SON

Things are heating up as both Eric Wainaina and Valerie Kimani prepare for a court case over the paternity of Valerie’s son.
Eric has filed a suit on Wednesday January, 19, at the High Court in Nairobi court to try and force Valerie to conduct a DNA test on the baby boy who was born on July 5, 2010 at Aga Khan Hospital.
According to the Weekend Star, The Twende Twende star wants the paternity test before assuming his parental responsibility obligations as set out in the Children’s Act to provide the child with shelter, clothing, medical care, education and give him parental guidance in religious, moral, social and cultural values. “In the event that the paternity test confirms that I am the biological father of the child, I am ready and willing to assume parental responsibility over the child as provided for under the Children’s Act,” says Eric.
In the court papers, Eric insists that her refusal to allow the paternity test has adversely affected his personal life and put a psychological strain on his family. The case is yet to be allocated a hearing date.
The two were romantically linked on stage in a political musical called Mo Faya. The musical was authored by Eric and produced by his wife, Sheba Hirst.
Eric played the Kwa Maji slum star DJ Lwanda and Valerie his love interest in Syombua. The musical was staged at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in September 2009 and at seven sold out-out shows in Nairobi in October 2009.

VALERIE KIMANI ON PAM AWARDS AND COMEBACK

Though singer Valerie Kimani missed out on receiving the Ugandan Pam Award for Best Female Kenya which went to Wahu, the nomination is “rewarding” for her.
The Besame Mucho star told Hot Secrets, “To be nominated is a real honour, and especially to be placed in the same category with heavyweights such as Wahu, Amani and Suzanna Owiyo is quite a reward in itself. The prospect of my music getting into new territory is also very rewarding for me as an artist. And after being
away from the industry for quite some time it's such a wonderful welcome.”
Valerie was one of the performers at the Sierra Jazz Festival at the Bomas of Kenya early this month which was headlined by jazz maestro Jonathan Butler.
“I'm mainly focusing on getting my fans to see and hear more of my work. I'd like them to experience my band and my sound more. I feel I have grown and I'm challenging myself to soar to even greater heights,” she said.

EXCLUSIVE: VALERIE KIMANI BREAKS SILENCE

Controversial singer Valerie Kimani is back to the music scene and right back into the limelight. Valerie spoke to Hot Secrets about her hiatus, getting her baby boy and loosing friends.
“I'm getting back on my feet, keeping my head up. I tell you growing up can sometimes can be very painful and embarrassing but I'm taking it all in stride. I'm thankful to my family and my fans who have stood by me and allowed me the grace to be human,” she said.
Valerie was the talk of the town when she became pregnant with her first-born child and the identity of the kid’s father was still clandestine.
“His name is Zion. He's so adorable. He's 2 months now and already holding his head up and smiling at the faces he recognises. I almost lost him at birth that's why I named him Zion, the apple of God's eye. He's my little miracle. I also gave him my father's name Kimani in honour of my dad who is the most honourable man I know.”



Life for her has not been smooth sailing and the only friend who stuck by her side was Karen Lucas a.k.a Kaz. “During this period I unfortunately lost some friends but then I also gained some very valuable friendships. And Karen is one of the many who stood by me from the very beginning. Having had to overcome some painful experiences herself and simply refusing to give up, she felt like it was the perfect place for me to begin my own comeback and encouraged me to do so. Getting back on stage doing what I love to do is the only way I can say thank you to all those who appreciate what I do.”




Her comeback was at Kaz’s farewell party at the Tribe. “I was a little nervous and a bit emotional. It's been almost a year since I stepped on stage and I have to be honest with you at some point I didn't think I would be strong enough to get back. My parents were there to support me and some people in the audience later told me that as I sang they had tears in their eyes as well. It's like all my songs had new meaning. It was beautiful. I later got on stage with Sauti Sol, which was a blast!
So, What should we expect from you as Valerie the artiste and actress? “I'm looking forward to performing at this month's edition of The Stage alongside my (s)hero Suzanna Owiyo and at the beginning of next month at the October edition of A Singer, an Artist and a Poet. I'm also preparing to shoot another music video as we speak. My sophomore album is also in the works. I'm concentrating on this while flirting with the idea of getting back on the theatrical stage later in the year, who knows.”
Her parting shot was to inform her fans, she can be reached on her Twitter and Facebook accounts “to catch up”.