KENYA'S finest world music star, Eric Wainaina will, for the first time, hold an exclusive, live performance in Uganda at the Zamani Fest, a unique blend of contemporary live African music.

The King of Benga rhythm will, together with the Mapinduzi Band, perform this Sunday at Emin Pasha Hotel in Nakasero. The show is sponsored by Club Beer and Air Uganda.

The concert is targeting only 400 people with tickets going at sh50,000. Interestingly, the crowd will sit on mats as they watch the three-hour show.

Zamani, (Kiswahili for once upon a time), is a musical initiative through which musicians perform with a live band as opposed to pre-recorded CD instrumental tracks.

The first Zamani concert was held in April, "Wainaina, who is rated among the 100 most influential Kenyans, appeals to the young and the old," says Pamela Abonyo of Phat Music & Entertainment, the organisers of Zamani.

Wainaina, was influenced by artistes such as Youssou N'dour, Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba, is artistically diverse and viewed in Kenya as a lyrical genius.

His first record, Sawa Sawa, released in 2001 remains one of the highest selling solo albums in Kenya.

His music also receives considerable international appeal. In addition to his 2001 KORA Award for Best East African Artiste, he was further nominated for the Artiste of the Decade Award in 2005 alongside Miriam Makeba, Youssou Ndour and Hugh Masekela. Twende Twende is his second solo album.