Featured Poet: Check Mate
Featured Artist: Anto and Paragasha Band

MC: Cindy Ogana
Date: 8th May 2012
Time: 7 -9 pm
Venue: Club Soundd
Entry: 200 Ksh

Check Mate
The ever resilient Checkmate Mido is a human beatbox, poet, musician and actor. He is known for his thought provoking poems and incorporating beatboxing into his performances. In December 2010, at the annual Kenya Music Week, held at the Sarit Centre, he co-released, and is now promoting his 6track EP called “Broken City” with Kennah as his first foray into recording an album, which apart from the two, features various artists such as world renowned percussionist “Tenpar Tella”. Broken City was again relaunched at the secrets lounge on the 3rd of March 2011. http://nairobinow.wordpress.com/concertalbum-launch-kennah-checkmate-live-unplugged-mar-3-2011-secrets-lounge/ Apart from writing his own music and poetry, he had a hugely successful debut as an actor appearing in the popular play “Mayors’ Diary” performed by Ethnic Productions in collaboration with Adcents media (now Kilele Productions), in which he starred as the title character the Mayor. He also played a role in the thriller ''Death & The Estate'' (as Spencer-The Family Lawyer)staged at the Kenya National Theatre from 9th-11th December 2011. Having featured in festivals such as Wapi (words and pictures) in 2011 and Kinanda Arts Festival he has performed at various other poetry nights such as slam Africa, Kwani and Wamathai.

Checkmate can be found at:
www.reverbnation.com/checkmatemido
www.myspace.com/iamcheckmate
en-gb.facebook.com/people/Checkmate-Mido/1355927392
Cell no: 0732 321 374
Email: dembede.mido@gmail.com ·

Profiler: Imelda Ofuyo Cell no: 0734 222 566
Email: imelda.ofuyo@gmail.com

Anto and Paragasha Band
There is a new revolution in African music and African sound and Antony Mwangi aka ANTO is one of the leading revolutionaries enchanting Kenyans and soon Africa and the world with a sound that has been described as 'The fresh export of the world'. He is presently 24 years old yet his spontaneity and sheer musical vocal brilliance is testimony to years of experience in musical performance.  "He started to sing when he was only three years old", says his mother, Mrs. Lucy N. Ndung'u "Roberta Flack's 'Killing me softly' was the first song he hummed along to." Since then Anto has performed for the former President of Kenya and even held a private performance for the late Cardinal Maurice Otunga first Kenyan to become an archbishop and a cardinal. His's performances are a showcase of a young man's pursuit of worldly truth as he churns music that demystifies love, hate, pain, joy, childhood, poverty, war, hope and more than anything else he is an ambassador of a new African and Universal Renaissance.

Backed by a 6 piece band, Anto's real world comes alive when on stage and he electrifies the atmosphere combining his unique wide vocal range with a tinge of poetry and dance moves that shake even the calmest of souls to embrace and celebrate life. No stage however big is great enough as music is the platform that unites us all and with a crowd of 2 or 20,000 people he delivers and delivers to the utmost. His musical influences is centered along music that turns an ear with a specific liking for Jazz influences including Nina Simone, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock and African Legends; Angelique Kidjo, Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Miriam Makeba and at home, Kenyan Carol Atemi (African Songbird.). No doubt Anto has developed a unique repertoire of musical genre. This talented young man even makes up songs on cue - on a subject of the audience's choice! His lively style of performance and audience engagement have earned him accolade both as a singer and event host.