2018 has been a good one for the entertainment industry. Lots of new talent, creativity on another level, successful Album launches and positive vibes from both local and international fan base.
At the heart of it all was Safaricom, pushing artiste beyond their limits and supporting them all the way up to the top. To promote local talent and grow the industry Safaricom has spear headed quite a number of successful inventions, activities and events that have crowned the entertainment industry with tremendous steps towards its growth and development.
Here are 7 successful ways Safaricom has supported music in 2018
1. SONGA music app
It was launched in February to offer an all-inclusive music streaming service to consumers as well as an additional platform for artistes to sell their music.
The App provides one-touch access for music across all major genres giving subscribers convenience of listening to their favourite music on their smartphones.
2. In mid-March, SONGA by Safaricom hosted top Tanzanian performer Diamond Platnumz for his ‘a boy from Tandale’ album launch at an exclusive event at the Kenya National Theatre.
3. Safaricom Jazz Festival kicked off in February this year and was headlined by BWB (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown) who were supported by Kenyan bands The Limericks, Mambo Tribe and Ghetto Classics.
In May, to commemorate the International Jazz Day, Manu Dibango and 12 Kenyan bands performed at the Carnivore Grounds. And breaking new grounds, in October jazz moved to the park in Hells’ Gate, Naivasha on Mashujaa Day. Proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated to the Ghetto Classics music programme, which has been the Safaricom Jazxz beneficiary since 2014 and has so far received an estimated KES 60 million, funds that have benefitted 1,400 children from Nairobi and Mombasa.
Proceeds from the 2018/2019 Edition will see the Ghetto Classics Schools program extend to Kisumu.
4. Safaricom also announced the launch of Twaweza Live in May.
The experience focused on growing and nurturing local music talent by giving artistes a chance to perform live in concerts across the country.
5. BLAZE Summits were held Mombasa, Kisumu and Thika.
After the pod sessions where young people under 26 years of age were given mentorship by Kenya’s finest entrepreneurs, artistes, techies and farmers.
Caleb Karuga of Wendy Farms, Bryan Wanyama of Matwana Matatu Culture and Wycliffe Waweru of Play Guru Ltd – a bicycle assembly line, were among a rich-pool of mentors present at the summit imparting knowledge, insights and counsel to the thousands of knowledge-hungry youth who thronged the venue.
Other mentors included; video director, J Blessing, serial entrepreneur Erick Kinoti, singer-songwriter Fena Gitu, comedian MCA Tricky, music producers and film makers Enos Olik and Tosh Gitonga, on-screen stars Abel Mutua and Catherine Kamau among others. This year, the summits focused on transforming Kenyan youth through training programs designed by partners to build entrepreneurial skills.
In line with this, BLAZE partnered with the Safaricom Foundation and Generation Kenya to introduce their youth empowerment programme – Wezesha – to offer skills training and entry level job placement opportunities to young Kenyans in the financial services, retail, hospitality, customer services and manufacturing sectors.
This was done with the aim of connecting the youth to employers and helping to resolve Kenya’s unemployment challenge. After the enlightening mentorship sessions, they were then entertained by Khalighraph Jones, King Kaka and Timmy Tdat among others.
6. In September, Safaricom sponsored Redsan “Baddest” album launch at the Carnivore Grounds.
7. At the end of November, Safaricom supported King Kaka to launch his fifth studio album dubbed “ Eastlando Royalty”.