SHUGA SEASON 2: Shuga Returns To Kenya

Shuga the local HIV and AIDS drama series Season two will be on your screens shortly ! This was announced at a Media Event yesterday 21 June 2011 at the Hilton Hotel.Below is the Press release. 

You can catch a glimpse of the event on this slideshow

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

 
Nairobi, 21 June 2011: MTV Networks Africa, The Staying Alive Foundation, PEPFAR and the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG) are to renew their ongoing partnership to produce the second series of hard-hitting sex-and-relationships, HIV and AIDS drama, Shuga, in Kenya. The initiative, funded extensively by the U.S. Government through PEPFAR, will work closely with the Government of Kenya to ensure the programme fits within Kenya’s existing HIV prevention strategy.

Series two, subtitled “Love, Sex, Money”, and associated digital, events and marketing activity will be supported by HFG Global and HFG’s Kenya office through their brand,

The new series will be expanded from three to six episodes and develop the complex emotional storylines first explored in Shuga.   Principle photography for the series goes into production in Nairobi in August 2011 and will premier on Valentine’s Day 2012 (14 February) and broadcast around.

The predominantly Kenyan cast for Shuga: Love, Sex, Money will be announced in July 2011.  The series will introduce new characters and storylines while additionally endeavouring to motivate and realize specific changes in sexual behaviours.  Among the issues likely to be explored in Shuga: Love, Sex, Money are HIV testing, stigma, condom use, gender inequity and the role of multiple concurrent partnerships in driving the HIV epidemic. 

First aired in Kenya in November 2009 on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and terrestrial stations Citizen TV, KTN, NTV and KBC Channel One, Shuga reached viewers in 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and more than 70 TV stations worldwide.  It continues to be widely viewed in countries such as Zambia, South Africa and Jamaica, among others, together with a facilitator’s guide for peer educators to engage young people in open discussions and to motivate behaviour change. 

The global success of Shuga as a vehicle for HIV and AIDS messaging for youth consumption was undeniable. In May 2010, Shuga won a prestigious Gold award at the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany in the “Public Relations: Health” category, for its vivid and uncompromising focus on love, emotions and sexual behaviour amongst Kenyan youth.

“Shuga had a profound impact on the attitudes of Kenyan youth,” commented Lydia Murimi, Country Director, HFG Kenya. “Research conducted by Johns Hopkins University/Centre for Communications Programs reported increased intentions for HIV testing, decreased intentions for multiple sex partners, improved attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS and increased usage of accessible health and social services among the youth. We hope to be able to replicate that with the sequel as well as introduce new elements that will emerge from our youth studies.”

Georgia Arnold, Senior Vice President, Executive Director, Staying Alive Foundation commented, “Shuga showed the world that drama and public health messages can work together to effect genuine attitudinal change. Shuga: Love, Sex, Money will build on this foundation to generate real behavioural change in sexual health while also entertaining and engaging youth audiences.” 

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa said: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive reception that Shuga has received in Africa and around the world.  This has been an incredible award-wining campaign for us that has proven to be changing young people’s attitudes towards HIV and AIDS. We are excited about the opportunity to continue the series with the objective of reaching more and more people.” 

The first series of Shuga was filmed in Kenya in August-September 2009.  Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi. With a raw and uncut view on the lives of sexually active young Kenyans, Shuga spot lit the risks associated with unprotected sex and the party-hard lifestyles of urban Kenyan youth, told through the interlinked tales of characters Ayira (Lupita Nyongo), Ty (Pepe Haze), Felix (Tumisho Masha), Violet (Sharon Olago), Skola (David Omwange), Sindi (Valerie Kimani), Leo (Nicholas Mutuma), Kennedy (Antony Mwangi) and Virginia (Eva Kanyang'onda).  

For more information about Shuga: Love, Sex, Money log onto www.mtvshuga.com or   www.g-pange.com.

Kenyan Serial Killer Philip Onyancha :Funny Photos!

The recently arrested, self confessed serial Killer Phillip Onyancha startled Kenyans with his shocking revelations that he had killed 17 victims majority being women,prostitutes and children.He still continues to startle Kenyan's in a ridiculous albeit funny way .Thanks to the internet, photoshop and a witty mind that have conjured the below photo that is doing the rounds around the Internet on Facebook and the blogosphere.

in the manipulated witty photo he is pictured being interviewed as a guest in popular television show hosted by the former CNN anchor Jeff Koinange.Count on Kenyans to make fun out of any situation !

Nollywood's Nkem Owoh Kidnapped !

I hardly watch Nigerian movies, but upon persuasion from my sister , i recently devoted some time to watch some Nolly-wood movies one day.In particular i watched the comedy DVD" Osuofia in London I & II( the latter being more hilarious) starring Nkem Owoh and from that day his movies have never ceased to amaze me.

Nkem Owoh is a particularly gifted actor ,always entertaining and hardly dissapoints his audience.That being the case, i did not kindly receive the news that Nkem Owoh had been kidnapped at Enugu-Port Harcourt Nigeria via Bella Naija's Blog earlier this month.

The Kidnappers however released Nkem Owoh unharmed after a negotiated ransom of Nigerian Naira One point Four Million was paid.Nkem Owoh has several accolades to his name including the 2008 African Movie Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in A Leading Role in the movie "Stronger Than Pain" .

It is really disappointing to see Africa take up the culture of kidnapping. However for Nigerian Movies , i find Nkem Owoh's movies watchable as compared to some of Nolly wood's stereotype movies featuring Witchcraft(Juju) ,Love Portions,the usual story lines .. etc that leave  much to be desired.Nkem has persuasively managed to convince  and arouse a truly African audience that keenly follows and watch his movies.This coming from a Kenyan blogger just illustrates his success.Congrats Nkem ,may the evil doers not suppress your apparent talent to shine within the continent and globally.

However without doubt Nolly-wood's film industry and cinematography is far much advanced than Kenya's Riverwood productions.

Kenya's NTV's Top Comic Show

Kenya's undisputed top comedian Daniel NdambukI a.ka Mwalimu Kingangi aka Churchill(of Churchill Live fame) has set out for a search of who is Kenya's top new stand up comedian in a reality tv talent search television show dubbed "Top Comic" show that began to be televised on Tuesday July 6 2009 & Thursday the new re branded Nation Media Group TV station NTV.

The Top Comic show is embracing technology with the Facebook Page constantly updating the fans on the show, photos of the Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi auditions,plot outlines etc. The show will feature and be hosted by among others ..Churchill, Maina Kageni, Tony Njuguna, Eric Omondi ...etc.

15 contestants will be chosen to enter into the Top Comedy talent academy whereupon the search for Kenya's next 'top comic' will begin. This is an ingenious idea that will definitely keep Kenyans entertained. Keep to this blog for best reviews, opinions, tit bits on the show.

To download audition forms , here is a link

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