Featured Poet: Benson Kimani (Winner 2011 Kwani? Open Mic Slam)
Featured Artist: Anto and Paragasha Band

MC: Cindy Ogana
Date: 7th February 2012
Time: 7 -9 pm
Venue: Insomnia Club (Eternity City), 3rd floor of the T-MALL (Off Langata Road-Mbagathi way roundabout)
Entry: 200 Ksh

Benson Kimani
Benson Kimani is a 24 year old poet/rapper and he’ll be the first to admit that he suffers from low self esteem  and finds rejuvenation in music and poetry. He is an avid hip hop devotee,  and lists Jay Z, Nas, Biggy, Tupac and the Kenyan group 125 among artists he is most influenced by. Benson won the Slum Africa championship last year, as well as the November 2011 Kwani? Open Mic Slam.

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.