King of the dance floor back home

Popular singer and dancer Kanda King returned to Nairobi last weekend after being away for close to one month on a performance tour of Germany.

The flamboyant Kanda, one of the best stage show dancers in Kenya, says the tour was an eye-opener for him, given that he got an opportunity to interact with various other artistes. Kanda said he was encouraged by the reception he got from the audience there.

“As a result of the kind of reception I got there, the tour organisers have invited me there again in March,” said Kanda. It was his third visit to Germany.

The tour, like the previous one, was sponsored by the Kenya Development Associates, led by the Frankfurt-based Kenyan-born promoter Mickie Ojijo and Anna Prokop, who lives in Gauting, Germany.

Last month, Kanda performed in Frankfurt and Cologne among other German cities.

Very inspiring

Ms Prokop, who is currently on a two-week visit to Kenya to sign up artistes for another German tour, said Kanda was very inspiring throughout his stay there. “During our next Germany road show, we have invited Kanda to perform again alongside other up-and-coming artistes whom we look forward to signing soon,” she said.

The road show from March to April will also be used to promote Kenyan tourism in Germany. The organisers intend to invite artistes from Tanzania and Uganda as well. “The idea is to make the tour ideal for East Africans living in Germany,” said Ms Prokop.

The tentative dates for the shows are Berlin (March 13), Munich (March 20), Zurich (March 27) and Cologne (April 4). Last year, KDA also invited rapper Jua Cali to Germany where he staged a series of shows, notably the Kenyan night show on November 7.

Special award

It was during this show that he received a special award from Kenyans living in Germany. For Kanda, it is meanwhile back to work at home with his African Rhythms band known for popular songs like Ndani ya Box, Huyu Dada and the latest Haki Yangu.

Kanda and his group are also working on a DVD for a new single Oh lalala! “Our fans both in Kenya and Germany should be looking forward to the best of our music, “ he said.

Others teaming up with him in the band are singers Mondele, Villy Mapenzi, rapper Son, dancers Khadija and Mamiwata and drummer Kass Kass.