Extraordinary three-piece South African Kwaito band TKZee are expected to thrill the crowd with an energetic performance at the Leisure Gardens in Mamba Village, at the 34th edition of Blankets and Wine, coming after a one month freeze due to bad weather.
The show, which organizers says will have two months worth of energy, will feature a host of varying talent from around the continent, including Zimbabwean singer Queen Mashie and Ethiopian Jazz lass Meklit Hadero.
The local ingredient to this vast spectrum that comes together on June 3 will be Monique Kabuye, an afro-soul singer who recently launched her debut album “Colour: Black”.
TKZee add to the line of high profile talent that has become a more and more common feature at Blankets and Wine, and also further cement the musical bond between South Africa and Kenya.
Other South Africans who have graced the stage include the funky Liquideep, the ethereal Thandiswa Mazwai, and the spirited Mafikizolo, and many more names have been whispered as possible visitors to the city in the sun.
TKZee, also known as Tokollo Magesh, Kabelo Mabalane, and Zwai Bala, have a whooping ‘7 studio albums and a string of chart topping hit singles’, according to a statement from Blankets and Wine.
TKZee have been to this neck of Africa before, with Zwai once posing as a judge on the talent search competition Coca Cola Pop Stars.
Unbeknownst to him, one of the people he judged and even commended in the 2004 competition is now fellow musician Monique, who is ecstatic to be sharing the stage with him.
“He judged me during the contest, and even said something like I had stood out with my performance. It’s amazing to me that I will be part of Blankets and so will he,” she told Capital Lifestyle.
This is Monique’s biggest music platform and she is excited to be sharing her music with a larger audience.
“I’ve had such a start stop career. But I stayed the course, and I am so excited to be part of one of East Africa’s finest events. I have lots of surprises up my sleeve. I will perform Get Up and Go, L-O-V-E and the title track from my album, among other things.”
It will also not be Meklit’s virgin visit, her last encounter with Nairobi being an exhilarating performance at the Tribe hotel last year.
Advance tickets for this bonanza are going for Sh1,300 on Pesapal (http://tickets.pesapal.com/order.aspx/7528e951-1ecc-4b51-9b37-214d1c1d692a/blankets-and-wine-xxxiv), and will be available at select Dormans outlets (Karen, Yaya, Mama Ngina Street, Sarit Centre, Westgate Mall) from Monday May 21.
Tickets for children above the age of 5 are being sold at Sh500, while those below 5-years get in free of charge. Tickets at the gate will go for Sh1,500.
TKZee – Dlala Mapantsula
http://www.tkzee.co.za/
Meklit Hadero – Soleil Soleil
http://www.meklithadero.com/
Queen Mashie – Gona Rinorapa
http://www.queenmashie.net/
Monique Kabuye – Colour Black (Live Perfromance)