MKEKA: SOMA's screening 'Lemonade'-Beyonce, Dance Garage, Natural Hair TZ launch, The Beat July'16...

Twitter: @CarolAnande Instagram: @CarolAnande Facebook: @CarolAnande

When The Irish Embassy celebrated the East Uprising in TZ

The Irish Ambassador to Ireland
Fionnuala Gilsenan at her residence on the
1st day her embassy celebrated
100 yrs since the Easter Rising in Ireland

On the 16th and 17th of June the Irish Embassy celebrated the Easter Rising; an event that occurred in April 1916. Which paved way for the independence of Ireland from England.

This year marking 100 years since that event, the Ambassador to Ireland Fionnuala Gilsenan in TZ through her embassy, focused on celebrating the women who paved way for this monumental event in their history. So on the 16th at her residency was a cocktail party, with the Guest of Honor being renowned poet from Ireland Ms Vona Groarke.

On the second day the Irish Embassy together with SOMA Learning & Readership Agency. Hosted a panel discussion; placing the limelight on the women in Ireland & Tanzania. The later who as well played a key role in the struggles for Independence in Tanzania during the 1960's.

Both events played a key role in inviting Poets, including myself who performed on the second day at SOMA. Where the Director of SOMA Mme Demere Kitunga, as well as the Irish Ambassador urged story tellers present to shed more light on the women, who've played key roles in our histories.

Vona Groarke

Renowned Poet from Ireland Ms Vona Groarke
reciting some of her works, as the GOH
at the celebration of 100 years since the
Easter Rising in Ireland with a special
focus on women, Held at the
Irish Ambassadors residence in DSM

Left-TZ Poet & Interior Architect Sandra Mushi,
Director of SOMA learning & readership
agency Demere Kitunga & the
Irish Ambassador to TZ
Mme Fionnuala Gilsenan exchanging words

Rita Bowen reciting a section from
the last chapter of Ulysees, at the
Irish Ambassador's residence
in DSM, in line with the celebration
of 100 years since the Easter Rising in Ireland

Among the guests at the Irish Ambassador's
residence Jenerali Ulimwengu (2nd right) exchanging words

Mme Demere Kitunga, welcoming guests
as the host from SOMA, for the celebration
of 'Women in Liberation
in both Ireland & Tanzania

The Panel on the 2nd day at SOMA stirred by
Usu Mallya (middle) with Vona Groarke (left) and Jane Namara (right)

Mme Sikudhani a.k.a. Nitendeje reciting
her poems at the celebration of '
Women in Liberation' held at SOMA recently

Carol Anande (yours truly) performing
a poem with percussion at celebration
of 'Women in Liberation in Tanzania
& Ireland' at SOMA Book Cafe

Ms Zuhura Seng'enge
reciting her poetry at SOMA recently

Vona Groarke, on the panel
discussion highlighting
the women liberation
movement during the Easter Rising in Ireland

Audiences at the Irish Ambassador's residence
on the 1st day of the celebration of 100 days since the Easter Rising in Ireland

Banners highlighting the efforts made by women
from Ireland in helping the country gain
Independence from the Easter Rising back in the early 1900's

Natural Hair Tanzania official launch at AZURA

On the 2nd of July at Azura Gym in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam. A movement was launched by a group of brave young women under the steering of Adiah Omary.

"Rasmi nilianzisha hiki kikundi mwezi wa pili mwaka huu, nilikuwa natuma picha mwenyewe Instagram, facebook sema Viola J. Masawe ambaye tulikutana kwenye mtandao bila kuonana, Aliniambia kwa nini tusianzishe 'group'? Tulivyoanza tulikuwa wengi, zaidi ya mia moja ila si unajua tena, bahati mbaya wengine waliondoka, sasa hivi tupo 57.

Tukamua kwa nini tusizindue kikundi chetu, basi tukatafuta hela, tukajipanga tukafanya...Malengo yetu haswa ni kubadilisha taswira. Wanawake wengi wanadhani kubaki na nywele zao za asili ni ushamba. Mwingnie akiwa na nywele zake za asili sijui anaonekanaje kwenye jamii. Sisi wa 'Natrual Hair Tanzania' tunataka tuwaambie jamii kwamba, unaweza kuwa na nywele zako za asili na bado ukawa mrembo."

The event was a success and in the future sponsors like EATV, Mohmmed Entertprises, Zuri Salon and Azura are willing to sponsor the group's events. Adiah insisted that the group's future plans include starting their own salon, as well as manufacturing and selling hair products for natural kinky hair. Alss visiting young girls in schools to re-affirm to them that their own natural hair is beautiful.

You can watch two videos below with interviews from the group members...

Miss Viola Masawe,
one of the co-founders of 'Natural Hair Tanzania'

Ladies listening to tutorials
given on how to take care of their natural mane's at the launch

Miss Adiah Omary representing her natural mane
as the founder of the movement 'Natural Hair Tanzani

Among the group members
of 'Natural Hair Tanzania' at their launch event

The Beat Festival July'16

Peter Masima an experienced
Zeze, Irimba player
performing solo at
The Beat Festival July'16

On the 1st of July from around 10pm at Paparazi Club in Slipway, DSM, The Beat Festival once again gave us compelling musicians on it's stage. Among them Jagwa Band who had the crowds begging for more with their lively mchiriku music. Mzungu Kichaa gave an acoustic performance which I enjoyed on his cool looking guitar...

The star of the night in my opinion was Peter Masima hailing from Dodoma, who plays traditional Tanzanian instruments including the Irimba of the Gogo and the Zeze of the coastal tribes. He simply mesmerized the audience with his expert concentration skills which involved him playing the Zeze or Irimba as well as 'Manyanga' which he had around his feet and singing with lyrics that were funny as well as being enlightening.

You can listen to Peter on a video here below...

Mzungu Kichaa giving an unplugged
performance at The Beat Festival of July'`16

Audiences at The Beat July'16 at Paparazi Club in Slipway DSM

The lead singer for JAGWA
band doing his thing at The Beat festival July'16

The lo-fi Keyoboard player for Jagwa
Band of Mchiriku Music
performing at The Beat July'16

The Percussion players for JAGWA band of Mchiriku Music

SOMA screens Beyonce's 'LEMONADE' with Kelsi Brooks

On the 9th of June at SOMA, was the screening of the latest album by Beyonce Knowles 'Lemonade'. The album which was launched worldwide as a docu-film. Greatly touched New Orleans native Kelsi Brooks, who is currently in Tanzania. She was so touched by this album that she thought to share it and gain views from other members on the same.

Let me also add that no copyright was infringed as the album was shared from her purchase of the same via iTunes. Which as soon as the video stopped on the projector screen she didn't lend it to no one.

The vivid portrayal of people of color particularly African Americans, was deeply appreciated by the crowd. As well the way in which this main stream artist has used her platform to shine the limelight on social issues plaguing the African American community. in her country
Issues that resonate with the larger African community in the world.

Left Demere Kitunga & Elieshi Lema founders
of E&D publishers and owners of SOMA
present at the screening of Lemonade
with Ma Elieshi giving her views on the album

Kelsi Brooks shutting down her laptop
after screening 'Lemonade'
the visual album by Beyonce Knowles at SOMA in DSM

Ms Tulanana Bohela (standing) sharing an opinion
on the discussion that ensued
the screening of 'Lemonade' at SOMA

Kelsi Brooks (standing)

Dance Garage kicks off at the National Museum in Dar

On the 24th of June, at the National Museum HQ in Dar es Salaam a dance performance was debuting for the public called 'Dance Garage'. Under the steering of Aloyce Makonde (a veteran dancer who is one of the founders of another dance platform called 'Visa2Dance')and Isack Abeneko of ASEDEVA.

The performances were riveting, I particularly enjoyed watching Tiko from T-Africa, he was electric on that stage. Also Aloyce Makonde with his solo piece 'Msomi Magololi' which explored the fate of graduates in our country. Was so well presented what with the dancer at some point dishing out copies of a mock job application letter to his audience.

Reading "The heading above is highly concerned. I am a Tanzanian male aged...I am a university graduate who achieved three degrees...I hope my request will be highly considered and worked out.." As you can see the letter gives obvious hints to the egg & chicken problems in our education systems.

Not forgetting DDI also did a fabulous job, the way these boys triple somersault and crank is jut special.

This is one platform to look out for...

Isack Peter of ASEDEVA (right) and Tiko of T-Africa dance group

The group DDI doing their their street dance piece

Percussionist Kauzeni Lyamba on stage
performing the background acoustics for Aloyce Makond

Aloyce Makonde in his solo piece 'Msomi Magololi'

Dancers from DDI

Dancers of Dance Garage take a bow...

MUDA dancers giving a teaser
at the end of the show for
the next performance on the 29th of July

Music Smash brings Rashid Pembe's Sax

Mr. Rashid Pembe na 'Sax'
yake akitumbuiza ndani ya Music Smash

On the 22nd of June at the Goethe Institut in DSM in the evening, an event now fast becoming a popular art bash called 'Music Smash'. Began with the promise of a wonderful lineup including Mr Rashid Pembe, a veteran musician in Tanzania who has been with several bands including 'Police Jazz' back in the days of Nyerere and now with his own band Mark Band which has toured various countries outside of the continent.

We first heard Remitone in his duo with Aurelie from France, they gave beautiful Afro pop songs that were lovely to hear, with the live accompaniment of Marahaba Band. We then heard Rashid Pembe on stage, you can sample a bit of his performance in the video below. He was a delight to listen to, just a delight.

Then we had Dar Creators Band on stage, this group just gets your eyes glued to the stage non stop. It's a band that incorporates traditonal tanzanian 'Ngoma's' with a multitude of African percussion as instruments. They easily won the audience with their infections lively energy.