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Damola Durosomo
Jan. 16, 2019 12:22PM EST

Violent Attack at Kenyan Hotel Ends With 14 Dead

The remaining hostages were freed after a 17-hour standoff between militants and Kenyan security forces on Wednesday.

The final hostages in the violent terrorist attack which took place at the DusitD2 Hotel in Naoribi's affluent Westlands district yesterday have been freed after a 17 hour standoff between Kenyan security forces and Al Shabab militants.

In a speech this morning, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the rescue mission over, stating that there were 700 people rescued and a total of 14 casualties. He also stated that all of the attackers had been killed in the operation, according to Quartz Africa. "Every person that was involved in the funding, planning and execution of this heinous act will be relentlessly pursued," added Kenyatta.

Many recalled the events of the deadly 2013 Westgate Mall Siege in which 71 people were killed. The attack was also at the hands of Al Shabab.

Kenyans took to social media on Tuesday and Wednesday to rally, with several using social media to gain information on loved ones who were missing and share resources for those affected by the attack.

Many Kenyans are expressing sadness at the loss of well-known sports journalist and football fan Kenyan James Oduor, also known as Cobra who died inside the hotel on the eve of his birthday, notes The Daily Nation. He was tweeting during the attack, asking those on the outside for information on what was taking place at the hotel.



Thousands of people online including celebrities and members of the international community are sharing messages in remembrance of the victims, using the hashtags #Pray4Kenya, #14Riverside and #riversideattack.







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(Youtube)

7 Gengetone Acts You Need to Check Out

The streets speak gengetone: Kenya's gengetone sound is reverberating across East Africa and the world, get to know its main purveyors.

Sailors' "Wamlambez!"Wamlambez!" which roughly translates to "those who lick," is the cry the reverberated round the world, pushing the gengetone sound to the global stage. The response "wamnyonyez" roughly translates to "those who suck" and that should tell you all you need to know about the genre.

Known for its lewd lyrics and repetitive (often call and response) hooks, gengetone makes no apologies for belonging to the streets. First of all, most artists that create gengetone are grouped into bands with a few outliers like Zzero Sufuri riding solo. The songs themselves often feature a multiplicity of voices with screams and crowds coming through as ad libs, adding to this idea that this is definitely "outside" music.

Listening to Odi wa Muranga play with his vocal on the track "Thao" it's easy to think that this is the first, but gengetone fits snuggly in a history of sheng rap based on the kapuka style beat. Kapuka is onomatopoeically named, the beats have that repetitive drum-hat-drum skip that sounds like pu-ka-pu-ka-pu. Artists like Nonini were asking women to come over using this riff long before Ochungulo family told them to stay home if they aren't willing to give it up.

Here's seven gengetone groups worth listening to.

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Photo by Monirul Bhuiyan via GettyImages

Former President of Botswana Ian Khama Condemns Zimbabwean Government

Former Botswana President Ian Khama has condemned Zimbabwe's government and joined solidarity with #ZimbabweanLivesMatter.

Former President of Botswana, Ian Khama, has condemned Zimabwe's Zanu PF-led regime in a voice recording broadcasted by eNCA. Khama, known for being outspoken, has critiqued Zimbabwe's violent treatment of journalists and civilians. He voiced out concerns about alleged recent human rights violations which Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa continues to deny. The voice recording follows after southern African states' representatives hosted a webinar to critically discuss political affairs in the region.

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J Molley Enlists Costa Titch and Yanga Chief in New Single 'Ang'na Stress' From Upcoming Mixtape

Listen to J Molley's new single 'Ang'na Stress' featuring Costa Titch and Yanga Chief.

In his new single, J Molley expands his scope as he collaborates with artists one wouldn't have predicted. Yanga Chief and Costa Titch spread their sauce on "Ang'na Stress", rapping and singing mostly in South African indigenous languages IsiZulu and IsiXhosa alongside J Molley's English raps.

"Ang'na Stress" is catchy and has mass appeal, it should get decent spins on radio. The song will appear on J Molley's upcoming mixtape All Is Fair In Love & War. The project is the hip-hop artist's first mixtape, and will be a follow-up to his EPs, Dreams Money Can Buy (2017) and Leader of the Wave, a Playlist by J Molley (2018).

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Somali President Replaces Former Prime Minister Ahead of Elections

President Mohamed Abduallahi Mohamed has announced Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble as Somalia's new prime minister ahead of upcoming elections.