Showbiz goes corporate

SHIRLEY GENGA and CAROLINE NYANGA

For the past two consecutive weekends Nairobi youth have been treated to the best of music and sports.

Sprite organised the biggest talent and sports show at the University Of Nairobi Grounds two weeks ago, while Safaricom capped the showbiz scene with a star-studded Face Off concert at The KICC last weekend.

Both events were teeming with youth as they sang along or cheered on the stars.

The Sprite activation involved graffiti competition, freestyle rapping contest, three on three basketball challenge, dance battles and performances. In fact, the show provided the youth with an opportunity to express their creativity and nurture their budding talent. And celebrities arrived for the showpiece. Vibe City host Eve D’Souza was on hand to go live at around 11am on her show.

And the minute Eve went on air, hundreds of youth made their way to the venue. Soon other celebrities showed up including Laura Walubengo, Nick Odhiambo, Mwafrika and Big Ted among others.

On stage hype man DNG and DJ Nijo kept the youth busy with great music while last year’s winner of Sprite Emcee Africa Kenya Point Blank showcased his rhyming prowess.

Kimya and Abbas took the stage and entertained audience with great hits from K-South Flavour tracks to new hits. But the crowd seemed to wait for Redsan. The ragga star romped on stage raising the roof with his hits as the crowd sang along.

We had to step in for Pulse Editor CEO who was one of the judges for talent but had to leave to attend Chaguo La Teeniez Awards to present an award.

Maureen Sika, Brand Manager-Kenya for Coca-Cola East and Central Africa said that Sprite wanted to give opportunity to talented youth to realise their dreams. "There is a generation of alternative latent talent and Sprite offers an opportunity for them as individuals to positively express themselves," she said.

The well attended show was beehive of activity as 3 on 3 basketball competition got underway, and graffiti contest.

And last weekend was yet another party as Safaricom Face Off party was on cards.

By 2pm the KICC courtyard was teeming with youth as DJ Wesley and Mo kept the crowd grooving to the latest hits. As the party rocked MC Churchill dressed in his Gor Mahia jersey, G Money and Alemba entertained the crowd with wisecracks as celebs arrived in style.

Soon the show was underway as Eko Dydda stepped up onstage to give an electrifying performance.

Gospel rapper Juliani was also a revelation performing live. Wahu, Nonini, P Unit, Mustapha, M.O.G, Hey-Z, Ngashville, Dunco Wyre, Proff, Tyrical and Shanky Radics thrilled. But the contest was between the affable Redsan and first-rising gospel singer Daddy Owen. Both brought the roof down in style although Daddy Owen was a revelation for the evening.

The show also saw bootylicious Ogopalettes Marya and Avril announce that they are not push-overs in showbiz.

The essence of the event was to activate Safaricom users to access Facebook directly by dialing *544# and participate in the Facebook King and Queen Competition. Stephen Musyoka garnered 23,000 hits and was crowned the Facebook King while Wanjiru Waruinge got 7,600 votes and earned the title of Facebook Queen. They each received an Apple Mac Book Pro, a Samsung Jet and a one-year unlimited access to Safaricom Live.