“The Little Mermaid” grosses KShs.22.6B despite hate reviews and competition from “Fast X”.
Disney movie “The Little Mermaid is currently showing in cinemas across Nairobi. The movie, which is a live-action adaptation of the 1989 original animated film of the same name, this time starring black actress Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Rated PG by the Kenya Film and Classification Board, the film, much like the original follows Ariel, the youngest of King Triton’s daughters, as she longs to discover more about the world beyond the sea. While visiting the surface, Ariel falls for the dashing Prince Eric despite mermaids being forbidden to interact with humans. To counter the rule, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life and her father’s crown in jeopardy.
The film, despite being a remake of a Disney classic, has been subject to ongoing backlash from racist quarters condemning Disney for casting a black actress in the role of “The Little Mermaid”. Deadline, however, reports that since its premiere the movie has grossed KShs. 22.6B ($164M) globally.
In Kenya, however, media personality Pinky Ghelani hosted a mother-daughter event at the CineMax hall in which she spoke about the black mermaid backlash ahead of the film’s showing. Celebrities Wahu, Maureen Waititu, Kalekye Mumo and more were also in attendance.
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Directed by Rob Marshall the film stars in addition to Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy.
“The Little Mermaid” will continue its cinema run in Kenya all through the Madaraka Day holiday and weekend.
With the end of the critically acclaimed drama’s fourth and final season, dedicated fans of “Succession” now know the answer to the series’ central question: Which of the Murdoch-esque Roy family siblings will prevail?
Oh, and — for those who haven’t yet watched, here’s the spoiler alert.
The whopping 88-minute finale on Sunday evening, which concluded HBO’s hit series chronicling a billionaire media mogul and his children’s struggles to take over the family company, Waystar Royco, left viewers reeling — because none of the Roy siblings won.
In the episode, Shiv Roy took one final turn against her brother Kendall, blowing up his plans to keep their late father’s company and become CEO by voting to let their media empire be acquired by a Swedish tech giant, GoJo.
The series-long tussles between the three key siblings turned into an actual tussle, as a screaming match descended into a wrestling match, with the nihilistic Roman declaring the trio “nothing” in the end. And Shiv’s no-longer-estranged husband and soon-to-be-baby-daddy, Tom Wambsgans, triumphed as the new chief executive, with Cousin Greg by his side despite last-minute treachery.
In the finale’s closing shot, Kendall stares in despair toward the water. And the credits roll.
“I put my marker down on Tom and Greg,” said Jennifer Gould, an Oregon-based trusts and estates lawyer, minutes after she finished watching the show, “and I was right.”
“Succession” always has been about the membership of its audience, not its size, and its popularity among the coastal media and agenda-setting groups that the show depicts and attracts means the finale will likely leave a cultural mark. #Succession was trending No. 1 on Twitter on Sunday night, followed by Shiv, Kendall, Greg and Tom Wambsgans.
The Emmy-winning show even permeated the discussion around the debt limit in Washington on Sunday when a deal was reached just hours before the finale aired. A White House official ended a call with reporters by telling them to “enjoy Succession.”
More recent prestige TV finales are a better analogue for “Succession” than those of the network behemoths of decades past. For example, “The Sopranos” suddenly cutting to black to the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” in 2007 set the standard for both talkability and inscrutability.
But “Succession” left its own unanswered questions. Did far-right presidential candidate Jeryd Mencken, who the Roys’ network questionably declared the winner, actually ascend to the White House? Will the GoJo deal really be finalized? Do Tom and Shiv make their marriage work?
“I will be thinking about this for a while,” Gould said.
Pamela Soin, a management consultant in New York City, and a group of friends have watched every “Succession” episode this season with a serious ritual, but Soin only watched the final episode with her father — a new convert — because of the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the U.S.
“I feel like it was the closest thing to a succession if they didn’t pick one of the siblings,” Soin said.
Soin’s father, who had only watched the pilot earlier Sunday before dozing intermittently during the finale, declared his hope for a family reunion to save their dad’s company.
Not so much.
“Where we left it is: Those three kids with all their personalities — they lost control of everything due to their characters and who they are as people,” Soin said.
Conclusions to hit TV series can be hit-or-miss. The bloody 2013 ending of Walter White’s story on “Breaking Bad,” and Don Draper’s more zen ending on “Mad Men” in 2015 generally satisfied their finicky fans. The 2019 conclusion of “Game of Thrones” — the last big finish for an HBO show — generally did not. Endings are hard to pull off, and disappointment tends to be the norm, to which the makers of “Seinfeld” and “Lost” can attest.
For Kendall fans who assumed he would ultimately succeed, Sunday’s finale was a shock.
“A lot of people will be very upset with this ending,” Soin said.
Suraj Nandy, a 20-year-old college student from Bengaluru, India, said he was counting down the hours until Sunday’s finale. While the episode aired at 6:30 a.m. local time, Nandy won’t be able to tune in for a few hours because he had to take his sick cat to the veterinarian.
Nandy hopes he won’t come across any spoilers in the meantime.
“I’m completely avoiding every social media platform until I get to watching it,” he wrote in a Whatsapp message a half-hour before the episode aired. “Taking no chances!”
Celine Dion has announced the cancellation of her Courage world tour as she continues to battle with a neurological disorder.
Celine announced the news via a statement on her website announcing that she was unable to perform on her world tour, adding she’s “working really hard to build back her strength.”
‘It is with tremendous disappointment that we have to announce today the cancellation of the Courage World Tour. I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%,” the statement read.
She further added that while she was disappointed, it was unfair to keep postponing dates.
“It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again,” she added.
In December, Dion, 55, had shared she’d been diagnosed with a neurological disorder known as Stiff Person Syndrome.
In her statement she also reassured fans that she was not giving up.
“I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!”
In recent years, the beauty industry has witnessed a significant shift towards sustainability, driven by growing consumer awareness and concern for the environment.
Embracing this global trend, beauty companies are recognizing the importance of sustainable practices to meet consumer expectations and reduce their environmental impact.
With a growing market for beauty products in Africa, particularly in Kenya, beauty companies are bringing sustainable beauty to the continent’s emerging market.
Leading the charge in Kenya is the global beauty brand Garnier which rolled out its green Beauty preposition on Thursday. With this new offering, Garnier hopes to tap into a growing demand for naturally sourced products.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, Garnier Global President said, “We are delivering natural sustainable products that deliver high efficacy thanks to the power of green sciences that reconcile nature and science.”
Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Beauty
Garnier’s commitment to sustainable beauty practices brings numerous environmental benefits. First and foremost, the company prioritizes the use of natural and organic ingredients, minimizing the reliance on synthetic chemicals and harmful substances. This shift not only promotes healthier and safer beauty products but also reduces the release of potentially harmful substances into the environment during manufacturing and product usage.
Consumer Benefits of Sustainable Beauty
The shift towards sustainable beauty by companies like Garnier benefits consumers in several ways. Firstly, sustainable products often prioritize natural and organic ingredients, which are gentle on the skin and less likely to cause irritation or allergies. By avoiding harsh chemicals, consumers can enjoy healthier and more skin-friendly beauty solutions, resulting in better overall well-being.
As Garnier continues its journey towards sustainability, it sets an inspiring example for other beauty companies to follow, ultimately shaping a greener and more ethical future for the beauty industry.
Embu county, Kenya, is set to be the location for the latest ‘Sundowner Sunset Event’.
The renowned KBC English Service will host the exciting event that promises to captivate country music enthusiasts and showcase the incredible talent within Kenya’s country music scene.
The event will take place on June 3, at the Izaack Walton Inn. English Service presenters John Obongo Jr, Catherine Ndonye and John Karani will serve as the day’s emcees.
With a focus of promoting local talent and cultural tourism, the event was organised in collaboration with Tembea Kenya.
Popular for its country music show, the show will feature some of Kenya’s most talented country singers including Kareh B. and Kate Karaoke. Expect the two to deliver soul-stirring performances.
Embu County, with its scenic beauty and welcoming atmosphere, provides the perfect backdrop for an evening filled with harmonious melodies and toe-tapping rhythms. As the sun sets and casts a golden hue across the landscape, the Sundowner promises an enchanting ambiance that will create lasting memories for attendees.
Bridget Kendi, better known as Bridget Blue has finally released the lyric video and audio for her new single “Kesho.”
The new single, which was initially previewed to her fans before its release, comes five months after releasing the track “Grateful.”
“Kesho” which showcases Blue’s soulful voice is an uplifting song about perseverance, learning how to fail and trying yet again. Sporting both English and Kiswahili lyrics, it is the chorus that truly brings the song together:
“Nitajaribu tena kesho,
Nitaamka upya na nisongee
Ata wakipenda kunivunja
Mambo yakizidi unga
Sitashindwa kujivuta
Kesho naamka upya.”
The song was composed and arranged by the renowned Jibril Blessing, with production by Thee talented SOFRESH. This isn’t the first the two have worked together, in 2022, they worked on the song “Woman”.
Bridget Blue is one of the more new age underrated Kenyan artists whose genre leans more toward RnB or alternative music.
The song is available to stream on all digital platforms.
The Mobile Film Festival Africa has announced the official selection for the second edition of the festival. The selection includes 54 films from 21 African countries.
The selection comes from a pool of 886 films from 40 African countries as compared to 497 films from 38 countries in the first edition, a 78 per cent increase.
The second edition employs the same rules that previously made it successful: 1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film. This unique format promotes equal access by removing financial barriers through the use of mobile phones and free registration to the festival while valuing the creativity of filmmakers who are challenged to tell a compelling story in one minute.
The selected films tackle important societal questions throughout all cinematographic genres: comedy, fiction, thriller, documentary and more.
Speaking about the selection, Bruno Smadja, the founder of the Mobile Film Festival Africa said, “It’s the beginning of a great edition thanks to the generous and enthusiastic participation of young creators from all over the continent. Above all and as you will discover it, their films are particularly committed: committed to this planet that we mistreat, committed to women’s rights, committed against child labour and committed to the migratory crisis.”
Further adding that the festival was committed to sharing these films as widely as possible.
“At the Mobile Film Festival, we are proud to be able to share all of these young Africans’ visions with as many people as possible, in Africa and around the world. This is how we make their voices heard.”
The four Kenyan films selected for the festival are:-
PAASWAAAD (Password) | Shandra Daisy Apondi | Kenya
Macho Nne (Four Eyes) | Neha Manoj Shah | Kenya
First Gig | David Waronja | Kenya
Red Cycle | Artsy Solomon | Kenya
The festival is part of the “Rabat, African Capital of Culture” program where KShs. 6,260,600 ($46,000) in creative grants will be awarded to the winners and nine prizes with scholarships which allow the winners to make a film by professional means.
With a guestlist that boasted equal parts wealth, fame and glamour, amfAR returned to the French Riviera Thursday for its Cannes gala to raise money for AIDS research.
Queen Latifah hosted the 29th edition with Eva Longoria, Fan Bingbing and Rebel Wilson among the stars walking the red carpet. Also in attendance were models Elsa Hosk, Heidi Klum, Coco Rocha and Winne Harlow. The gala attracts many of the top names attending the nearby Cannes Film Festival.
Eva Longoria
Attendees arrived at the famous Hôtel Du Cap, Eden Roc where the evening started with sunset drinks and canapes looking out to a giant super yacht moored up in the bay.
This was followed by a dinner of asparagus and truffle starter and seared salmon main course while guests enjoyed a night of performances that Gladys Knight kicked off.
Bebe Rexha and Adam Lambert also performed.
“I’m very honoured to be singing tonight for this cause and seeing amazing people on the carpet and … beautiful fashion all in the name of raising money for HIV, AIDS, research,” Lambert said before the gala.
Heidi Klum
Halsey closed the show.
The auction featured an array of artwork, diamond jewels, and experiences.
The centrepiece was a unique Aston Martin sportscar, the first of its type in the world which was auctioned off by Eva Longoria and sold for 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million).
Jordan Dunn
The engine cover is signed by F1 drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso and the car will be presented at a Grand Prix of the buyer’s choice and then delivered anywhere in the world.
Other top lots included a pair of white gold Chopard earrings set with diamonds and emeralds sold for 275,000 euros ($295,000) and a Damien Hirst portrait of Leonardo DiCaprio reached 1.2 million euros ($1.29 million).
Lori Harvey
DiCaprio, an amfAR regular, slipped in undetected by cameras to enjoy the entertainment but did not come to the stage to present the winning bidder with his prize.
The annual runway show curated by Carine Roitfeld was this year dedicated to designer Vivienne Westwood and saw a trail of top fashion models showing off a series of designs on a makeshift catwalk through the diners. ‘Jewelry and accessories are not part of this lot’ states the catalogue as the whole collection was auctioned off to the highest bidder an impressive 600,000 euros ($644,000) to the sound of Tina Turner’s “The Best.”
Guests ended the night dancing into the early hours at the afterparty, held by the hotel’s swimming pool.
AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $600 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide.
In a move in line with Africa Day, Spotify is celebrating Kenya’s classic songs and their artists with a playlist aptly dubbed ‘Zilizopendwa.’
The 110 songs on the playlist were curated to help fans capture an emotion of nostalgia from what is considered the golden age of music, passed on from one generation to another. With a limited number of radio options and Rhumba, Soukous, Lingala and jazz ruled the airwaves.
The playlist boasts the great Les Wanyika’s “Sina Makosa”, Them Mushrooms’ “Kazi ni Kazi”, Gabriel Omolo’s hit “Lunchtime” and Mbilia Bel’s Nakae “Nairobi” among others.
According to Spotify, these uniquely African songs have a huge fan base, and are fan favourites across the generations, spanning Gen X and surprisingly, Gen Z. Data shows a hunger for the culture, musicality, song composition and fashion and style of this nostalgic era.
Speaking about the playlist, Spotify’s East Africa Editor Maxwell Nguku said that the curation process had to reflect not only fan favourites throughout the years but music that would immediately be tied to a memory.
He further stated that songs like “Zangalewa” by Zangalewa and “Mamou” by Franco & Madilu System had meaning behind the lyrics. These popular songs cut through internal borders and transcended regions and enjoyed a lot of airplay back in the day.
“Back in the day, music contained a lot of advice. For example, there’s a song called “Shauri yako” by Orchestra Super Mazembe, and they talk about how to make money or how to spend. You will find a lot of nuances in the song,” says Maxwell.
The playlist also features oldies from other African countries meant to inspire and celebrate Africa Day.
As friends and family looked on, rapper Fetty Wap on Wednesday apologized for his actions and said he was “exactly where I’m supposed to be,” before a judge sentenced him to six years in federal prison for his role in a New York-based drug-trafficking scheme.
The “Trap Queen” rapper, whose legal name is Willie Maxwell, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to a conspiracy drug charge that carried a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The sentence was handed down in federal court on Long Island.
Maxwell told U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, “Me being selfish in my pride put me in this position today.” His lawyers had suggested he turned to selling drugs because of financial hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maxwell was arrested in October 2021 on charges of participating in a conspiracy to smuggle large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and other drugs into the New York City area.
The New Jersey-born rapper and five co-defendants were accused of conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between June 2019 and June 2020.
Prosecutors said the scheme involved using the U.S. Postal Service and cars with hidden compartments to move drugs from the West Coast to Long Island, where they were stored for distribution to dealers on Long Island and in New Jersey.
Maxwell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, the top charge in an indictment against him, admitting that he participated in a massive drug trafficking racket. The plea, which pertained only to cocaine, spared him from a potential life sentence if he had been convicted on all the charges he faced.
Maxwell’s lawyers had hoped for the minimum five-year prison term, while prosecutors sought a longer sentence.
“This is a sad day,”′ defense attorney Elizabeth Macedonio said. “This is a kid from Paterson, New Jersey who made it out.”
She said Maxwell “accepts responsibility for his conduct.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Caffarone said the prosecution was not about Maxwell’s fame as a performer.
“The defendant did actually sell drugs,” Caffarone said. “The defendant did actually sell cocaine.”
Seybert told Maxwell, “You’ve got a lot going for you. See if you can put it together.”
Maxwell rose to prominence after his debut single, the melodic but grungy “Trap Queen,” reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2015. The song talks about a lover having your back — even if that means helping you cook and sell drugs.
